One of many extra fascinating issues in regards to the Pugilist is the sheer selection explored in its subclasses. Take the Canine and Hound, as an illustration.
The brand new Pugilist class on D&D Past from Sterling Vermin is all about being a form of dirty man. Pugilists aren’t nobles, not usually; they’re road brawlers, and constantly individuals who have troubles set earlier than them. They’re down, sure, however they don’t seem to be out.
Pugilists lend themselves nicely to gritty characters who need to present that they are often “a rowdy” if they need. So when you resolve to roll up a Pugilist since you desire a character who has that canine in them, think about for a second a personality that additionally has that canine exterior of them, too. Which is strictly what the brand new Canine and Hound subclass is all about.
The Canine And Hound – Which Is Which?
At its coronary heart, the Canine and Hound is a pet/companion-based subclass. Just like the Beastmaster Ranger or the Battle Smith Artificer, it revolves round you having the ability to battle alongside a companion. On this case, because the title suggests, it’s a cool canine. And right here’s the place the 5.5E guidelines replace comes into play.
As a result of lessons that depend on companions, and even summon spells that do, have all been form of unified within the re-creation. Now as a substitute of summoning a creature out of the Monster Handbook (or probably new books with monsters in them), options that grant you a companion, be it an animal companion or a demonic ally you’ve known as forth, have a tendency to present you entry to a single entity. Normally it’s a “spirit” of some type. You name down a demonic spirit otherwise you make a bond with an animal spirit – so you’ll be able to then heal it or summon it again once more ought to it fall in fight.
The Canine and Hound differs barely. The ethos is identical, however as you’ll see within the titular characteristic, the execution is a little bit completely different. It’s a technique you’ll be able to inform it’s a third get together class/subclass and never essentially WotC official. All of it begins with Brawler’s Greatest Good friend at degree 3. This allows you to “summon and type a bond with a wild or stray canine, which pulls power out of your bottomless nicely of resilience.” So it’s simply an precise canine. Not a canine spirit. Not a hound-like fey. However an precise canine who will get magically harder.
Like all companions, although, your companion makes use of a devoted stat block. On this case, it’s the Hound. It grows in energy as you do, has an AC primarily based off your Structure modifier, and in a battle may be ordered to Chunk a foe, dealing an okay quantity of injury however probably grappling, knocking a goal susceptible, or pushing a goal away from the Hound. A pleasant bevy of tactical choices. After all, it takes your Bonus Motion to take action (or you’ll be able to commerce in one in every of your assaults).
For those who don’t order it to do something, all it will possibly do is Dodge and transfer wherever. If it dies, you’ll be able to revive it for two Moxie Factors, or, a little bit crueler, you’ll be able to type a magic bond with a brand new canine on the finish of a Lengthy Relaxation. However just one Hound at a time.
The opposite degree 3 characteristic, Mutt with Moxie lets your Hound profit from a few of your Moxie talents. It could actually achieve non permanent hit factors, assault instead of you with the one-two punch, and may act everytime you stick and transfer. It’s an effective way to get a little bit additional mileage out of a fight companion.
Larger Degree Hounds
At greater ranges, the bond between Canine and Hound deepens. Beginning at degree 6 you achieve Coordinated Assault, which helps you to and your Hound battle a little bit nearer. In sport phrases, because of this when you assault somebody close to your Hound, your Hound can use a Response to present your assault Benefit and make you hit tougher. Plus the Hound now offers Power injury, so it will possibly keep aggressive towards monsters with Resistance.
At degree 11, Hound’s Greatest Good friend helps you to use your Response to swoop in and assault an enemy ought to they aim your Hound. You may solely transfer as much as half your pace, however you’ll need to be shut anyway. Particularly since, with the Hound offering you with benefits in fight, it’s probably they’ll get focused at the very least as soon as.
At degree 17, the subclass reaches its zenith with Off The Chain. This potential goes off each time your Hound turns into Bloodied or takes injury whereas it’s Bloodied. You must use your Response (not the Hound’s) nevertheless it offers them an enormous pile of Short-term Hit Factors, boosts your hound’s motion pace, and lets it Chunk without having a Bonus Motion. You are able to do this as soon as per Lengthy Relaxation without cost, and after that it prices 3 Moxie Factors.
All in all, not dangerous. Particularly since there’s not an excessive amount of that could be a drain in your Moxie Factors, exterior of getting a couple of put aside to revive your Hound if it’s worthwhile to. I believe it modifications up the playstyle of the category, with out diluting an excessive amount of. The Hound serves as a complement to your sensible brawler.
Try the Pugilist and all six subclasses on the hyperlink beneath!
