D&D 5E (2014) Ranger

[Zelc]

The 3rd level class ability shouldn't increase damage by too much. Going by a Fighter, it should only increase your damage by a bit less than 5%. Can anyone think of a way to have the pet acting independently but not increasing the Ranger's damage by more than ~5% at level 3?

 

[Abdomens]

I can understand the desire for a more martial ranger, less reliant on spells.

I personally don't have an issue with the spells, but couldn't you look at a lot of the spells as simply abilities that the ranger draws upon? Hunter's Mark, Volley, etc. They are just done using the mechanics of spells, but they are not magic per se.

 

[Chriscdoa]

I don't have the PHB. Does it actually say anything to the effect of "your animal companion does nothing unless you use your <resource> to direct it"? Because if it doesn't I think it's an unwarranted leap to assume it can't act.

If it does say that it is ridiculous. So I can tame an animal and have it follow me around making 2 or more attacks per round entirely on his own while I go about my business...but if I'm a ranger and decide to form an animal companion bond with it, it becomes a mindless automaton that can't act unless I'm specifically telling it what to do? Yeah, right.

Now, it makes sense if you are summoning a creature and you have to exert your will to keep it under control that it might only be able to act as your direct it with your action (especially if the creature has a stronger combat presence than you do), but not for an animal companion.

About rangers in general, I wouldn't consider DPR or combat presence as a sole indication of class balance. If it has more out of combat utility than a fighter, paladin, or barbarian (and again, I don't know if it does) it must have less of a combat presence in order to be balanced.

This is all my issue.
summoned conjured or animated monsters get to attack without using a caster action. Its not clear on charmed.

For ranger: "the beast obeys your commands as best it can. It takes it turn on your initiative, t though it doesnt take an action unless you command it to.
on your turn you can verbally command the best where to move (no action where by you)
You can use your action to verbally command it to take the attack, dash, disengage, dodge, or help action.

I think thats pretty clear. The only reason to have an ac over a tamed animal is that it adds your prof bonus to its stats and gets better hp.

Since druids dont even get an ac i'm thinking of writing an animal companion feature that the party can take as a group.

 

[Daern]

My player had a 3rd level Ranger (human colossus hunter) with a Heavy Crossbow and the Crossbow Expert feat tonight. A lot of damage.

 

[Chriscdoa]

The 3rd level class ability shouldn't increase damage by too much. Going by a Fighter, it should only increase your damage by a bit less than 5%. Can anyone think of a way to have the pet acting independently but not increasing the Ranger's damage by more than ~5% at level 3?

if that was the only issue then summoned creatures should need commanding.
At level 5 we can use conjure animals to get 8 1/4 CR animals (same as a companion). They can all attack for free, admittedly without the prof bonuses. Now this spell can also be cast by rangers, so how come summoned animals (all 8 of them) attacking without using actions is ok, but an animal companion must use an action. If the action granted the prof bonus to attack and damage, fair enough, or just to choose a new target, but for every attack it doesn't make sense.

Level 5 ranger - attack my pet. panther attacks on +7 to hit, 1d6+5 damage...

Level 5 druid - summons 8 panthers. on the next round all 8 panthers attack, +4 to hit, 1d6+2 damage (x8), plus the druid gets to do an attack as well.

Level 9 ranger - attack my pet. panther attacks on +8 to hit, 1d6+6 damage...And the ranger can use his extra attack to attack himself!! But the companion is still only a panther (with 36hp) and can only use one attack until Lvl11. Ranger can now cast conjure animals but...

Level 9 druid - casts conjure animal to summons 16 panthers as above, or 4 brown bears. on the next round if using bears, bite +5 , 1d8+4 damage AND claw +5, 2d6+4 damage...each.

Yes the spell requires concentration...but it's just an example. IF the concern is having the animal companion attack for free unbalances the class, why do summoned creatures not follow the same rules? the spell also scales by level, but the ranger is still stuck with a 1/4 CR pet. so no lions, tigers or bears...ever.

 

[Chriscdoa]

My player had a 3rd level Ranger (human colossus hunter) with a Heavy Crossbow and the Crossbow Expert feat tonight. A lot of damage.

sounds like next playtest rather than 5E.
the colossus slayer bonus is quite nice, but then you can't have the companion...or some other nice bonuses...

 

[Uller]

I dont have the phb yet but the ac rules sound a little lame. I would like to see it in action first but it seems a house rule is warranted: when not commanded directly, your AC will naturally defend itself and you. It will stay nearby and will generally attack the nearest foe or a foe that most threatens you or it. If you want it to do anything more complicated or specific you must use an action to command it.

Another option would be to rule that commanding your ac uses concentration.

 

[jadrax]

Pretty sure shortening Animal Companion to AC is going to get pretty confusing.

 

[Zelc]

Yes the spell requires concentration...but it's just an example. IF the concern is having the animal companion attack for free unbalances the class, why do summoned creatures not follow the same rules? the spell also scales by level, but the ranger is still stuck with a 1/4 CR pet. so no lions, tigers or bears...ever.

One is a 3rd level spell and is compared against Fireball, the other is a 3rd level class feature and is compared with critting on 19. Fireball deals 8d6 damage in a big radius. Critting on 19 adds less than 5% to your DPR.

 

[TwoSix]

so no lions, tigers or bears...

Oh my!