D&D 5E Tasha's really improved and changed the feel of Rangers

[Older Beholder]

I made a ranger using Tasha's recently, an Earth Genasi Swarmkeeper.

Now, I don't really have much to judge it against as I'd never played a ranger previously. Also the campaign is a single storyline starting at level 8 (our regular campaign just finished a major story arc, and the DM wanted to take a break from it) where we play as yesterdays heroes that come out of retirement a couple decades after saving the city in an epic battle to face a new threat.

So, starting at a higher level isn't something I've done before in 5E, making it hard to judge having not played through the lower levels.

But I liked the flexibility provided with all the additional optional choices given in Tasha's. It was really easy to create the 'mountain ranger' I had envisioned, filling out a lot of elements from the characters backstory with matching in game mechanics and abilities.

 

[Azzy]

I really like the druid cantrip fighting style. It opens up a lot of new ways to play a ranger

I don't... As a fighting style, it competes with other desirable fighting styles. Also, rangers (and, by extension, paladins) should have cantrips as a class feature like all the other spellcasters.

 

[Mordhau]

The big issue I had with the Ranger I made earlier this year remains the bonus action economy. It's still very easy to get yourself into trouble where you can't use a major ability you built a character around due to bonus action conflict.

 

[Minigiant]

bowshot or dagger at the throat is little less loud than gunfire or frag grenade.

but, let's compare Hunter's mark to modern night vision goggles or infrared. Or using darkvision spell. It would be an equivalent of putting on goggles while stalking someone and yelling in the dead of night: NIGHT VISION!! and then continue to try to be stealthy.

Darkvision lasts 8 hours with no concentration.
Why wait until you start sneaking?

A ranger who waits until they are in shouting distance with their prey to cast darkvision wasn't made to do laps and pushups after failed nighttime exercises by their mentor.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I think if the fighter's niche was pushed a little to include the '' spell less specialized monster slayer'', this would give it more thematic oomph, and then the ranger with spells could lean harder into the 4e Warden side of it, channeling nature to defend nature or the borderland folx.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

The point is that the Fighter could do it as part of an attack, not they're the only one to do it. They'd just be BETTER at it. Everybody can use Shove, but the Fighter can attack while goading.

That was the point I was making, but your wording comes across like you think you’re correcting me, so it may not have been clear.

 

[Horwath]

Darkvision lasts 8 hours with no concentration.
Why wait until you start sneaking?

A ranger who waits until they are in shouting distance with their prey to cast darkvision wasn't made to do laps and pushups after failed nighttime exercises by their mentor.

Sometimes you track someone during daylight and they can just slip in some cave opening or sewer, waiting for them to go ahead 300 or so feet can mean losing them, especially if it's a hard surface to track or they go through water part of the time so you need more or less constant visual lock.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The big issue I had with the Ranger I made earlier this year remains the bonus action economy. It's still very easy to get yourself into trouble where you can't use a major ability you built a character around due to bonus action conflict.

This is a general issue with 5e. "how do I expect to use my one and only bonus action" is a big thing for even casual optimisation, and a major trap if you don't plan to the last detail.

"Favoured Foe" was specifically designed to help rangers in that regard, and why you can't stack it with Hunter's Mark.

 

[Horwath]

This is a general issue with 5e. "how do I expect to use my one and only bonus action" is a big thing for even casual optimisation, and a major trap if you don't plan to the last detail.

"Favoured Foe" was specifically designed to help rangers in that regard, and why you can't stack it with Hunter's Mark.

TWF should be merged into Attack action, then most of bonus action economy problems with martials go away.
They you can chose one or two spells/abilities that use Bonus action and you are good to go.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

TWF should be merged into Attack action, then most of bonus action economy problems with martials go away.
They you can chose one or two spells/abilities that use Bonus action and you are good to go.

I can think of a number of ways to exploit that in a few seconds, and it pushes rangers back into boring hunters mark dependence. And hurts archers.

And for certain rangers, there is still competition between hunters mark and commanding a pet.


Not that you couldn't do that, but it's not a "simple" solution, it would require a major reworking across the board.