D&D 5E It's official, WOTC hates Rangers (Tasha's version of Favored Foe is GARBAGE)

[DnD Warlord]

Psidie is still here! You get twice your Proficiency in psi die and they disappear whenever you use them instead of when you roll a 1 too many times.

Thank you

 

[Sacrosanct]

Favored Foe does have limited uses, which is another problem - you can only use it your Prof bonus per long rest!

Compare this to the Paladin, who uses spell slots for their iconic feature, and whose spell slots jack up the power considerably, and that is NOT concentration, and I see a bit of a discrepancy.

Likewise, I find it a little silly that the Ranger cannot use its limited repertoire of spells alongside their class features. Paladins can smite and use smite spells at the same time, and Artificers can use their infusions while having concentration spells active. Paladins can even smite more than once per turn! Why is it that Rangers are the only ones who get a core mechanic that so heavily runs interference with spellcasting? Seems like an uneven design to me!

I suppose my immediate answer is that FF doesn't use spell slots and smite does. That's no small thing.

 

[Shardstone]

I suppose my immediate answer is that FF doesn't use spell slots and smite does. That's no small thing.

I think I would rather Favored Foe use spell slots and NOT use concentration as compared to using concentration and NO spell slots - that way as a Ranger I can still make use of my big ol' list of concentration spells!

 

[Sacrosanct]

I think I would rather Favored Foe use spell slots and NOT use concentration as compared to using concentration and NO spell slots - that way as a Ranger I can still make use of my big ol' list of concentration spells!

Then you run into issues of having FF and HM up at the same time, which is thematically redundant and more meta-gamey than anything else.

Also, I think from a damage standpoint, rangers are fine. Several subclasses (Hunter, monster slayer, gloom stalker, etc) all have abilities that add damage to attacks anyway that don't use up spell slots, which paladins don't get. FF is allowing the ranger to essentially get HM without needing to blow spell slots, which adds a ton of flexibility. I think that's getting lost. i think people are focusing on the DPR bit and/or viewing this in a white room arena style where it doesn't factor in usability for out of combat scenarios, or when you have several encounters a day. If FF saves me from blowing spells I'd normally use for HM, then that allows me to help heal my allies, or increase my movement (jump, longstrider), or be able to still use spells (including those concentration spells you seem to be worked up about) when otherwise I'd have been out of spells due to previous encounters.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Then you run into issues of having FF and HM up at the same time, which is thematically redundant and more meta-gamey than anything else.

Yes, but this should have never been a separate thing from Hunter's Mark to begin with!

The UA version that enhanced Hunter's Mark was way better way to handle this.

 

[Kurotowa]

Out of a counted 55 spells, 28 are Concentration. That's more than half the Ranger spell list. And now I have to choose between using half my spell list or damage increase?

Okay, but what's stopping you from using them? FF has limited uses and doesn't persist when the target dies for reapplication. Unlike HM you're not going to have it up for a majority of combat type. So there's no reason to to take those spells that HM always crowded out and use them in the fights where you're not using FF.

 

[Undrave]

Yes, but this should have never been a separate thing from Hunter's Mark to begin with!

The UA version that enhanced Hunter's Mark was way better way to handle this.

Hunter's Mark shouldn't take concentration for Rangers (and it shouldn't take up a spot on their 'known spell' list). It would be a good class feature for 'em. they could get a few free uses of it before they get their full spell casting and then they can use it more often by spending slots or simply use their slots for other things.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Yes, but this should have never been a separate thing from Hunter's Mark to begin with!

The UA version that enhanced Hunter's Mark was way better way to handle this.

Again, many ranger subclasses already have a way to increase damage per round without requiring spells or concentration. HM was always just a bonus option that you could choose or not choose to use. Just like FF.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Hunter's Mark shouldn't take concentration for Rangers (and it shouldn't take up a spot on their 'known spell' list). It would be a good class feature for 'em. they could get a few free uses of it before they get their full spell casting and then they can use it more often by spending slots or simply use their slots for other things.

And this is exactly how UA handled it!

Favored Foe
1st-level ranger feature (replaces Favored Enemy)
You can call on your bond with nature to mark a creature as your favored enemy for a time: you know the hunter’s mark spell, and Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it. You can use it a certain number of times without expending a spell slot and without requiring concentration— a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. When you gain the Spellcasting feature at 2nd level, hunter’s mark doesn’t count against the number of ranger spells you know.

 

[Xeviat]

The UA favored foe did something the Tasha's version doesn't: the Tasha's version has no utility. Hunter's Mark can be used on a target who you want to track, so it supports the danger's core schtick of being a Hunter.

Hunter's Mark should have always been a class ability. The Ranger could have been built on the Rogue chassis to allow for a bit more bonus damage too.