Beast Master
This class is available as Open Game Content.
Back to main page.

Description:
Many druids and rangers become so attuned to the ways of animals that they become beast masters. Though a beast master is physically tough, he mainly relies on the assistance of his animal companions to survive. A beast master will eventually gain several animal companions that he can employ to fill a variety of roles. Additionally, beast masters can communicate and tame animals with impressive skill. By their nature, beast masters tend to live in wild, though it is not uncommon for one to be pulled into an adventure.

Requirements:
Feats: Track
Skills: Handle Animal 8 ranks, Listen 4 ranks, Spot 4 ranks, Survival 8 ranks
Special: Wild Empathy, Animal Companion

Hit Die: 1d10
Skill Points: 4 + Int Modifier
Class Skills:
Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), and Use Rope (Dex)

Level	Attack	Fort	Reflex	Will	Special
1	+1	+2	+0	+0	Reflexes of the Beast (+1), Will of the Beast (+1), Strong Wild Empathy, 2nd Animal Companion
2	+2	+3	+0	+0	Greater Animal Companions (+1 Hit Die)
3	+3	+3	+1	+1	Speak with Animals
4	+4	+4	+1	+1	Eye of the Beast
5	+5	+4	+1	+1	3rd Animal Companion
6	+6	+5	+2	+2	Greater Animal Companions (+2 Hit Die)
7	+7	+5	+2	+2	Reflexes of the Beast (+2), Will of the Beast (+2)
8	+8	+6	+2	+2	Speed of the Beast
9	+9	+6	+3	+3	4th Animal Companion
10	+10	+7	+3	+3	Greater Animal Companions (+3 Hit Die)

Class Features:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: simple weapons, martial weapons, light armor Wild Empathy (Ex) - A beast master can improve the attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check made to improve the attitude of a person. The beast master rolls 1d20 and adds his beast master level and his Charisma modifier to determine the wild empathy check result. The typical domestic animal has a starting attitude of indifferent, while wild animals are usually unfriendly. To use wild empathy, the beast master and the animal must be able to study each other, which means that they must be within 30 feet of one another under normal conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time. A beast master can also use this ability to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2, but he takes a -4 penalty on the check. If the beast master has levels in another class that also possesses wild empathy (such as the druid or ranger) then those effective levels stack with the beast master's level. Animal Companion (Ex) - See the druid class in core rulebook I for details about this ability. If the beast master has levels in another class that also possesses an animal companion (such as the druid or ranger) then those effective levels stack with the beast master's level. Reflexes of the Beast (Ex) - The beast master gain the listed bonus to his Reflex saving throws. Will of the Beast (Ex) - The beast master gain the listed bonus to his Will saving throws. Strong Wild Empathy (Ex) - Like the alpha of a pack, the beast master can rule over any animal. The beast master gains his Strength bonus to all Wild Empathy and Handle Animal checks, in addition to his Charisma modifier. 2nd Animal Companion (Ex) - The beast master gains a second animal companion. However this animal companion functions as if the beast master's effective level is 1/2 what it was for his first animal companion. For example, a druid 5/beast master 1 would have a first animal companion that would be based off of a 6th level druid. And the beast master would also a second animal companion that would be based off of a 3rd level druid. Greater Animal Companions (Ex) - All of the beast master's animal companions gain the listed amount of bonus hit die. This is addition to the bonus hit die the animals normally gain for being animal companions. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion’s base attack, base save bonuses, skills, and feats. Like the bonus hit die earned for being an animal companion, these bonus hit die do not increase the animal's size. Speak with Animals (Su) - The beast master can Speak with Animals (as the spell) a number of times per day equal to his beast master level. Use the beast master's class level for any level based effects. Eye of the Beast (Su) - The beast master can see, hear, and smell through one of his animal companions. The distance between the animal and the beast master can be as far as one mile per beast master level. Use of this ability is limited to what the animal senses, any magical effects in effect on the beast master do not confer to the animal (such as Detect Magic). If the beast master loses one or more of his senses then he may use the animal to see or hear. If this is done during combat to negate blindness then the beast master does not suffer from the normal affects of being blind, however he will suffer a -2 penalty to attack rolls and enemies still gain a +2 bonus to hit him. When the beast master uses this ability he loses his own senses. The beast master can only use this ability on one of his animal companions at a time. 3rd Animal Companion (Ex) - The beast master gains a third animal companion. However this animal companion functions as if the beast master's effective level is 1/3 what it was for his first animal companion. For example, a druid 7/beast master 5 would have a first animal companion that would be based off of a 12th level druid. The beast master would also a second animal companion that would be based off of a 6th level druid. And a third animal companion that would be based off of a 4th level druid. Speed of the Beast (Ex) - The beast master and all of his animal companions have their speed increased by 10 feet. 4th Animal Companion (Ex) - The beast master gains a forth animal companion. However this animal companion functions as if the beast master's effective level is 1/4 what it was for his first animal companion. For example, a druid 9/beast master 9 would have a first animal companion that would be based off of an 18th level druid. The beast master would also a second animal companion that would be based off of a 9th level druid. A third animal companion that would be based off of a 6th level druid. And a forth animal companion that would be based off of a 4th level druid.