Preview: Dog & Hound, v0.2

You'd still need to find a clean way to handle the power boost at 17. I was just suggesting some sort of chart of the current/changed stats at each level. I'd post a pic of what I worked up, but can't figure out how here on Patreon.

Ben Fowler

I am worried about buffing the DC for the prone saving throw because it's already really good just to have a chance of doing it on each attack. The hit die question is really good...and maybe, yeah, the best / cleanest thing to do would be to write completely original statistics for the hound rather than referring to an existing beast.

Benjamin Huffman

I tried to make myself a chart of hound stats (which honestly might the easiest thing to include in the archetype write-up to ensure there's no confusion about what changes to make, especially when there is a change in the base template at 17), which revealed a few more questions that I've started alluding do in a reply above. 1. How are the hit die handled in general (the wolf's starting 2d8 + 1d8/pugilist level, or just 1d8/pugilist level?) and at the 17 shift. At 17 does it have 17d8, 19d8, or 17d8+5d10? 2. Should your proficiency bonus apply to the DC to save versus prone from the rider on the attack? What about to the hound's skills?

Ben Fowler

Keep the feedback coming everybody, I'll put out a v0.3 by the start of next week with these points in mind.

Benjamin Huffman

Just realized that this wording (and probably even the original wording) is gonna play havoc with the change at 17 when the base stats change... hmmm.... Maybe just make a table of all the appropriate stats at each level? Changing to a dire wolf suddenly impacts speed, hit die, and save dc vs prone as well. There's no easy way to change the base animal without probably restating things in the level 17 feature about how to modify it.

Ben Fowler

The 14th-level Unbreakable feature.

This update is awesome!

caind2

What other moxie abilities are there than those 3 if you take this archetype? Other archetypes might use moxie, but with this one I believe those are the only 3 options.

Ben Fowler

“Your hound’s maximum hit points increase as you level. Its maximum HP increases by 18 when you gain this feature, and by an additional 6 every time you gain a level in this class. It also gains a d8 hit die for every level you have in this class.”

Ben Fowler

In the incapacitated or absent paragraph, you may want to specify that the hound still acts on your turn, just to prevent confusion. In Mutt with Moxie, you may want to specify that it only gains benefits when you use *certain* moxie abilities. Otherwise, it sounds like it'll gain some nebulous benefit that isn't included whenever you use *any* moxie ability, not just the three that are specified. Other than that, I love the new direction you took with the class. I agree that the more mundane approach makes it less complicated overall and much more approachable from a lore standpoint. It's an awesome revision!

Perhaps you can look to the Revised Ranger's Beast Master Conclave for ways to word the hit point and hit die increases. Even separating that into two sentences could alleviate some of the confusion.

It's the former. Any ideas for clearer language? And yeah...I'm also vaguely concerned about the undesired pokemon reference.

Benjamin Huffman

But I do like the new direction with the features, and the new level 17 feature.

Ben Fowler

The language on Brawler’s Best Friend is a little unclear regarding level-ups. Its total max HP is always its base hp plus 6x your pugilist level, or does it gain 6x your pugilist level in max HP every time you level? I get the wordplay on Arcanine Bite, but I can’t help but think of the Pokémon every time I look at that name.

Ben Fowler

Seems better, less mystic more practical.