D&D (2024) Ranger playtest discussion

[UngeheuerLich]

But that's the trick, it's ALL spells.

Spells are what they use to cover 90%* of magical effects. It's why many invocations end up being access to a spell (slow, bane, mage armor). It's why a robust psionics was abandoned for psionic spells and subclasses. Spells are a known quantity, an understood mechanic, and an easy way to expand the game later. In short, they are the hammer WotC has elected to use, and everything else is just a nail.

If it helps, think of spells akin to 4e powers, save they are explicitly magical.

And feats will cover the rest.

 

[TwoSix]

This is a lot of food metaphors. Are we sure Ranger isn't just pineapple pizza?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

This is a lot of food metaphors. Are we sure Ranger isn't just pineapple pizza?

It was until yesterday.
Now it is magharita.

 

[TwoSix]

It was until yesterday.
Now it is magharita.

So we're saying the ranger is bland, but it's looking for its lost shaker of salt?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

So we're saying the ranger is bland, but it's looking for its lost shaker of salt?

And some extra topping...

 

[Charlaquin]

Wait, what interesting exploration abilities did the 5e Ranger have to lose in the first place?

Natural Explorer, Primeval Awareness, Land’s Stride…

 

[FireLance]

In my somewhat jaded, looking back at 4E perspective, rangers need to have spells because there's a vocal contingent who is going to be upset at any powerful ability from any class that's explicitly called out as non-magical. I recall the most common answer to the question, at what level should a ranger be able to non-magically create the effects of Leomund's tiny hut was effectively "never".

So, it seems to me that the best way to get around it is to make the spell-less ranger a subclass and give them ways to expend spell slots to create effects that are flavored as non-magical (including the ability to create a non-magical equivalent of Leomund's tiny hut when they can cast third-level spells).

 

[Horwath]

Natural Explorer,

Horrible. nothing lost here

Primeval Awareness,

Even worse

Land’s Stride…

This was actually somewhat useful, and about 6 or 7 levels too late.

 

[Charlaquin]

But that's the trick, it's ALL spells.

Spells are what they use to cover 90%* of magical effects. It's why many invocations end up being access to a spell (slow, bane, mage armor). It's why a robust psionics was abandoned for psionic spells and subclasses. Spells are a known quantity, an understood mechanic, and an easy way to expand the game later. In short, they are the hammer WotC has elected to use, and everything else is just a nail.

If it helps, think of spells akin to 4e powers, save they are explicitly magical.

Well, I want rangers’ magical abilities to be among the 10% that aren’t spells. A couple of spells might be acceptable, particularly if they’re rituals. But for the most part, waving magic wands and chanting incantations is just not a ranger thing to do in my book.

 

[Gladius Legis]

Natural Explorer, Primeval Awareness, Land’s Stride…

Natural Explorer, you mean that ability that, if it came into play at all, dealt with the exploration pillar by ... skipping it entirely?

Primeval Awareness, you mean that ability that was literally less precise in your favored terrains than out of it? And that you only ever used at all when you had spell slots left over for the day? And didn't tell you anything beyond what a few skill checks could?

Land Stride, I'll give you. I'd like to see that return in some form.

But those other two? Nah, good riddance to bad rubbish.