I LOVE my beastlord. I PL'd one a while back and it's a total ................ wait for it ................... beast!
Seriously, though. Get the beast some decent weapons and a pet focii earring and he puts out some great dps along with useful utility and buffs. In a pinch he could heal, as well, but I don't use him that way and don't mem heals.
Pro tip: Unless you have something for Iksars/Trolls/Ogres ... DEFINITELY choose a good/neutral class. The Iksar Beast took sooooooooooooo much more experience to PL that I had to move him to a new PL group because the good cleric and bard in the PL'ee group got too far ahead in levels.