Thursday, October 19, 2023

Houndmaster, an OSE Class

This was born out of a discussion with my partner, broadly on the topic of having the Druid-style play of animals as followers, but getting rid of the spells and other such trappings.

Combined with my love for the class of the same name from the Darkest Dungeon, and here we have it! Also in my game I plan on removing the default 11 morale score for War Dogs (as per Advanced OSE) and instead have them use normal follower morale, since that makes the Houndmaster’s ability more notable.


The Houndmaster

Requirements: None
Hit Dice: 1d6
Maximum Levels: 10
Weapons and Armor: Houndmasters can use any weapon, and can wear all armor except plate. They can’t use shields.

Description

Houndmasters are people who have an almost supernatural bond with dogs. They know how to train and command them better than anyone and are often the ones developing new breeds of dogs. Often found in the courts of rulers or nobles who enjoy dogs, the Houndmaster can also be found out adventuring with their four legged friends. 

In the Greylands Houndmasters have a strong inclination towards Beast worship, maintaining small shrines and giving offerings to Brother Dog.


Abilities


Animal Bond: You feel a strong bond with your dogs. As a result you can’t have non-dog followers. You can have a maximum of 3 dogs with you at first level, and then +1 to that maximum for every 2 levels after that (so 4 at level 3, 5 at level 5, 6 at level 7, etc).

Special Training: Under your care and training hunting dogs and war dogs become a lot more effective and dangerous. They gain the following benefits.
  • Your dogs have their morale set at 11.
  • Your dogs add your character level to their max HP
  • Your dogs add your character level to their damage rolls
  • At level 5 your dogs get +2 to their to hit rolls. At level 9 that bonus increases to +5
Emotional Support Dog: Once you reach level 2 you can designate one of your hounds to be your support dog. Once per day, you can spend a turn petting and soothing your support dog, allowing you to restore 1d3 HP both to yourself and to it. If your support dog dies you lose 1d4 hit points (this can’t bring you below 1 HP and can’t kill you). You must spend a downtime action to train a new dog for the role.

Level Progression


Experience requirements like Magic-user, attack bonuses and saving throws like Cleric

2 comments:

  1. This is great! Any reaction bonus with canines (normal and magical)?

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    Replies
    1. That is also a possibility! I personally would just adjudicate that on a case by case basis, but that makes sense for a thing this class would be good at.

      Something I also didn't write here, since it relates to how I plan on handling hirelings availability, is that war dogs won't be just a thing you can buy off an equipment list, they ahve to be available. But if a Houndmaster is looking for dogs, they is always at least one they can find! Similar to the boon that Medved gives for War Bear hirelings in the Primordial Beasts post I wrote up.

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