Level Up (A5E) Rangers: Missing Fighting Style

[Galahadred]

I noticed that there isn't a Ranger Class Feature where one might pick a fighting style, but the "Trained Accuracy" feature that Rangers get at 2nd level says, "At 2nd level, you learn to maintain a level of discipline that spills over into everything you do. This perpetual state of focus allows you to perform incredible feats. When using Trained Accuracy, the bonus to attack rolls from Fighting Style: Archery becomes a +2 bonus to damage on ranged weapon attacks." (Emphasis mine).

So, it looks like Rangers were maybe supposed to get the same Fighting Style choice that they would get in D&D 5e, but it was accidentally omitted.

 

[kerleth]

I noticed this too. My assumption was exactly the opposite though. I was assuming it's supposed to be "If you possess Fighting Style: Archery, when using Trained Accuracy the +2 bonus to attack becomes a +2 bonus to damage." Figured it was put in their as a just in case because they were worried about the attack bonus stacking and gutting bounded accuracy or other exploits.

 

[Satirical Bard]

I think @kerleth has it right. I had the same question on discord and they said it relates to multiclassed rangers. If that's true I really think that should be made more clear in the text.

 

[Galahadred]

I think @kerleth has it right. I had the same question on discord and they said it relates to multiclassed rangers. If that's true I really think that should be made more clear in the text.

If that's true, not getting a Fighting Style is a big hit to LU Rangers. I doubt the Exploration Knacks make up for it.

 

[Composer99]

At 2nd level, LU rangers get combat maneuvers, Trained Accuracy (the bonus to attacks or damage part), and, if you pick it at 2nd level, Hunter's Target. If anything, their second level would be overloaded if they also got a Fighting Style on top of that.

 

[Satirical Bard]

Hunter's Target alone is +1/+3 (1d6), which is better than the archery or dueling fighting styles in tier 1, and about as good in tier 2 when extra attack kicks in.

 

[Galahadred]

Hunter's Target is fine, but it's really just a replacement for the 5e casting of Hunter's Mark. So, LU Ranger gets Hunter's Target and some uses of Trained Accuracy, while 5e Rangers get Fighting Style Archery and some casts of Hunter's Mark.

All in all, it probably does work out to be about the same power level, I suppose, but I was hoping for a little bit more, since they're giving up their other utility spells (unless you take the right Archetype).

 

[Satirical Bard]

Hunter's Target gives a +1 to hit, and if you don't move, trained accuracy gives another +1 to hit, which adds up to the +2 from archery. That's situational, to be sure, but common for backline archers.

 

[Faolyn]

Hunter's Target is fine, but it's really just a replacement for the 5e casting of Hunter's Mark. So, LU Ranger gets Hunter's Target and some uses of Trained Accuracy, while 5e Rangers get Fighting Style Archery and some casts of Hunter's Mark.

All in all, it probably does work out to be about the same power level, I suppose, but I was hoping for a little bit more, since they're giving up their other utility spells (unless you take the right Archetype).

Well, they also get the maneuvers and exploration knacks, which add a lot.

 

[Mike Myler]

That clause is there for multiclassers and also for compatibility (there's an O5E feat in Tasha's for picking up a fighting style).