Sword Coast Legends Survey; Plus Ranger Feedback Results!

Interesting stuff on the ranger.

But a whole survey on Sword Coast Legends. Hm. I don't even know what it is, really. And said as much when I answered.

 

[Minigiant]

What rules would a scout need to justify a class or archetype? What makes it stand out in terms of a DnD adventurer, why would you need to play a scout that a Ranger or Rogue isn't already adept at doing?

I mean DnD is a group effort. While it's nice to go off on your own, you're supposed to work in a group and being a scout wherein you spend all of your time ahead of the party, couldn't you just be a Rogue who scouts, skirmishes and runs away? I guess I have a hard time seeing where a scout becomes a reason to group up as opposed to a role in your former life before you became an adventurer.

I could see the scout class as the mobility class. More than the Rogue which is a sneak first and Monk which is a face puncher.

My ideas for a scout class are:
Bonus speed
Make an attack after a Dash or Disengage action
Bonus damage if you move before you attack
Resist or Disadvantage to opportunity attacks against it.
Increased Vision

I'm thinking like the assault class from XCOM. Suck up all the opportunity attacks then big damage to the squishies in the back.

 

[dmnqwk]

I'm thinking like the assault class from XCOM. Suck up all the opportunity attacks then big damage to the squishies in the back.

It sounds like you're after a Guerrilla fighter, not a scout. Which definitely could be a nice Ranger archetype!

Guerrilla Warfare
- 3rd level. Your movement speed is increased by 10' while wearing no armour or light armour, and not using a shield.
- 3rd level. When you make a (wisdom) Perception check you may add double your proficiency bonus to it, provided you are proficient with the skill.
- 7th level. When you are hit by a melee attack you may use your reaction to move back 5'. If you move out of range of the attack it misses instead. After you use this feature you may not use it again until after a short rest.
- 11th level. While in your favoured Terrain, you are immune to attacks of opportunity.
15th level. Choose one: 1) If you move at least 20' before making a melee attack, the first hit this turn forces the opponent to make a Strength Saving Throw (DC 8+prof+dex) or be knocked prone. 2) Once per turn when you hit with a ranged attack up to 15' away, the target must make a Dexterity Saving Throw (DC 8 + prof + dex) or have their movement reduced to 0. An opponent who saves against this is immune for 24 hours.

To me, this would satisfy the kind of abilities you want but it definitely doesn't feel like a scout to me but I guess it would satisfy the Skirmisher you were thinking of as well.

 

[renevq]

It sounds like you're after a Guerrilla fighter, not a scout. Which definitely could be a nice Ranger archetype!

Guerrilla Warfare
- 3rd level. Your movement speed is increased by 10' while wearing no armour or light armour, and not using a shield.
- 3rd level. When you make a (wisdom) Perception check you may add double your proficiency bonus to it, provided you are proficient with the skill.
- 7th level. When you are hit by a melee attack you may use your reaction to move back 5'. If you move out of range of the attack it misses instead. After you use this feature you may not use it again until after a short rest.
- 11th level. While in your favoured Terrain, you are immune to attacks of opportunity.
15th level. Choose one: 1) If you move at least 20' before making a melee attack, the first hit this turn forces the opponent to make a Strength Saving Throw (DC 8+prof+dex) or be knocked prone. 2) Once per turn when you hit with a ranged attack up to 15' away, the target must make a Dexterity Saving Throw (DC 8 + prof + dex) or have their movement reduced to 0. An opponent who saves against this is immune for 24 hours.

To me, this would satisfy the kind of abilities you want but it definitely doesn't feel like a scout to me but I guess it would satisfy the Skirmisher you were thinking of as well.

I'd also thought of that, but more along the lines of an ambush specialist (kind of backwards engineered from the UA Deep Stalker):
Level 3: During the first turn of combat, if you have advantage against an enemy you may make an additional attack against him; enemies have disadvantage on opportunity attacks during this turn. Also, you may choose an organization as a favored enemy instead of a monster type.
Level 7: Increase your movement by 10' when wearing no or light armor.
Level 11: You gain advantage on Wisdom saves against enchantment and compulsion effects.
Level 15: When you take the Hide action in a Favored Terrain, you gain the benefits of the Invisibility spell.

 

[dmnqwk]

How about Ranger: Stalker goes along the lines of:

Level 3: If you move at least 20' straight towards a foe and succeed with a melee attack, the target must succeed at a Strength Saving Throw (8+prof+dex) or be knocked prone and you can make an additional melee attack against the creature as a bonus action.
Level 3: Your movement speed is increased by 10' when wearing light armour or no armour, and not using a shield.
Level 7: Once per day while in your favoured terrain you may cast the Invisibility spell on yourself and anyone within 30'. 18th level you can cast it twice per day.
Level 11: When you are the target of an attack of opportunity you may use your reaction to cause it to automatically miss.
Level 15: Once per turn, if you have advantage on the attack roll, you deal an additional 5d6 damage.

 

[GX.Sigma]

So I finally got around to taking this survey, and found it very strange that it never asked me "Do you still play SCL?" or "When was the last time you played SCL?" or "Why did you stop playing SCL?" or "What could we do to make you want to play SCL again?"

All I said was that I like Illydia and I'd add Druids, but since I stopped playing that game 3 days after it came out and feel no motivation to ever play it again (and didn't get a chance to say that in the survey), I feel like my feedback isn't very helpful.