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: NoneHit 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.
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.
Experience requirements like Magic-user, attack bonuses and saving throws like Cleric
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
Level Progression
Experience requirements like Magic-user, attack bonuses and saving throws like Cleric
This is great! Any reaction bonus with canines (normal and magical)?
ReplyDeleteThat 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.
DeleteSomething 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.