By iwatt (Ian Watt)

The beastmaster is a villain class that will allow DMs to use a different type of villain spellcaster. It is also intended as a simple conversion tool for modules in which druids are used as antagonists. It's based on the Dreaded Sorceror from Mastering Iron Heroes, and makes reference to tables contained there.


Beastmaster:

The Beastmaster is a villain class designed to produce antagonists who use their connection to nature as a weapon. It was designed with the following archetypes in mind:
• The powerful and feared tribal shaman.
• The shapechanger with a mystic connection to animals.
• A cult leader who, through sacrifices and ancient spells, has bound the power of the elements to himself.

The generic name for the class is Beastmaster. More flavorful names include Shaman, Witch Doctor, and Drune.

CR: 3-20

Type: Humanoid

Abilities: A beastmaster’s abilities depend on his CR. Swap Int for Wis from the Dreaded Sorcerer abilty scores for the appropriate CR.

Skills: CR+3+ relevant ability modifiers in Concentration, Handle Animal, Listen, Survival, Knowledge Nature.

Feats: a beastmaster has Improved Initiative only.

Hit Dice: A beastmaster gains HD according to his CR (using d6).

Base attack and Defense: a beastmaster has a poor rating in both.

Saving throws: Excellent Fort and Will, poor Ref.

Weapon and armor abilities: A beastmaster is proficient in light armor (usually Hide) and simple weapons.

Arcane Bolt (Su): as dread sorcerer. A beastmaster uses Wisdom instead of Intelligence as a modifier in this attack. The bolt must have an energy desciptor from among the following: fire, cold, lightning, acid.

Animal Companion(Ex): A beastmaster may begin play with an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures are also available: crocodile, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the beastmaster on her adventures as appropriate for its kind.
A CR 3 beastmaster’s companion is completely typical for its kind except as noted below. As a beastmaster advances in level, the animal’s power increases as shown on the table.
A beastmaster of CR 4th or higher may select from alternative lists of animals (see below). Should she select an animal companion from one of these alternative lists, the creature gains abilities as if the character’s druid CR were lower than it actually is. Subtract the value indicated in the appropriate list header from the beastmaster’s level and compare the result with the CR entry on the table to determine the animal companion’s powers. (If this adjustment would reduce the beastmaster’s effective CR to 0 or lower, she can’t have that animal as a companion.)

CR Bonus HD Natural Armor Adj. Str/Dex Adj. Bonus Tricks Special
1st–2nd +0 +0 +0 1 Link, share spells
3rd–5th +2 +2 +1 2 Evasion
6th–8th +4 +4 +2 3 Devotion
9th–11th +6 +6 +3 4 Multiattack
12th–14th +8 +8 +4 5
15th–17th +10 +10 +5 6 Improved evasion
18th–20th +12 +12 +6 7

CR 4 or Higher (CR –3)
Ape (animal) Dire weasel
Bear, black (animal) Leopard (animal)
Bison (animal) Lizard, monitor (animal)
Boar (animal) Shark, Large1 (animal)
Cheetah (animal) Snake, constrictor (animal)
Crocodile (animal)1 Snake, Large viper (animal)
Dire badger Wolverine (animal)
Dire bat

CR 7 or Higher (CR –6)
Bear, brown (animal) Dire wolf
Dire wolverine Elasmosaurus1 (dinosaur)
Crocodile, giant (animal) Lion (animal)
Deinonychus (dinosaur) Rhinoceros (animal)
Dire ape Snake, Huge viper (animal)
Dire boar Tiger (animal)

CR 10 or Higher (CR –9)
Bear, polar (animal) Shark, Huge1 (animal)
Dire lion Snake, giant constrictor (animal)
Megaraptor (dinosaur) Whale, orca1 (animal)

CR 13 or Higher (CR –12)
Dire bear Octopus, giant1 (animal)
Elephant (animal)

CR 16 or Higher (CR –15)
Dire shark1 Triceratops (dinosaur)
Dire tiger Tyrannosaurus (dinosaur)
Squid, giant1 (animal)

Animal Affinity(Su): Once per round as a standard action a beastmaster can shapeshift into a animal. The animal shape he assumes is the same as that of his animal companion.* All physical statistics are identical, but the dread druid must apply his current wounds to his new hitpoint total. For example, a CR10 beastmaster (42 max hp) who has suffered 12 hitpoints in damage transforms into a dire bear (105 max hp) actually has 93 hp (105-12).

Natural Shield (Su): A beastmaster can thicken his skin to protect himself from harm. The beastmaster gains natural armor (passive bonus to defense) equal to his Challenge Rating divided by 4 and rounded down, with a minimum of 1. This ability works in animal form as well, and can be shared with the animal companion as well.

Nature summoning (Su): Once per hour, a beastmaster can call upon any animal or elemental with a Challenge Rating equal to his own CR–3. This ability requires a full- round action, and the creature appears within 100 feet of the beastmaster. It manifests at the start of his next action and may take its own actions as normal. It obeys the beastmaster’s commands to the best of its ability. It remains for 1 round per CR. If the creature’s Challenge Rating would be below 1, the beastmaster must summon a creature with a CR less than 1.


* Beastmaster's could possibly have more than one alternate form, but this villain class focuses on KISS (keep it simple stupid). DMs should have the combat statistics of the animal companion at hand, making the shapechanging process less time consuming. If DMs want to include alternate forms the creatures a beastmaster can transform into are limited power-wise to those he can could choose for an animal companion.
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Thanks to madfox and ENWSoul who helped develop this villain class