D&D (2024) UA Ranger (Playtest 6)

[A2Z]

So that they feel like terrain-based benefits, which they said were heavily requested in the feedback to the last Expert UA. At least this way they can say they checked that box, without making the feature in question actually be dependent on being in any specific terrain type.

I don't know, I think a stronger narrative for rangers is "survivalist", independent of any specific terrain. I think they're the only class who's abilities are location dependant. They shouldn't be.

 

[Horwath]

I don't know, I think a stronger narrative for rangers is "survivalist", independent of any specific terrain. I think they're the only class who's abilities are location dependant. They shouldn't be.

Deft explorer should steal from Scout's subclass feature.

You gain Proficiency and Expertise in Nature and Survival.

 

[darjr]

Here is the video with the ranger bits pulled out.

 

[Horwath]

Here is the video with the ranger bits pulled out.

In short:

"So the Ranger in our previus playtest was super popular, so our goal in this version is to dump on it"

 

[mellored]

Conjure Barrage; you wont make a bad spell good, by make it a free preparation. At least give it one free use per day. Or better yet, replace it with Fireball. You can refluff it as rain of arrows.

5.
Conjure Volley, Now, if this was instead of that dreaded 9th level feature, we would be talking. at 17th level it's OK but nothing special.
One free usage would not hurt.

These spells let you chose your targets.

So when your barbarian gets swarmed, you can drop a conjure on him without a problem.

 

[Horwath]

These spells let you chose your targets.

So when your barbarian gets swarmed, you can drop a conjure on him without a problem.

9th level, your Wisdom is going to be 16 at best, most probably 14.
That is DC 14/15 for 22,5 av dmg. for a 3rd level slot that is your prime at that level. Maybe if you get 20 mooks in AoE it will be worth it.

 

[Emberashh]

I don't know, I think a stronger narrative for rangers is "survivalist", independent of any specific terrain. I think they're the only class who's abilities are location dependant. They shouldn't be.

My idea that I took forward into my take on the OG Natural Explorer is that you get both universal traits and terrain specific ones, with the caveat being that you only get one Terrain, which in this context is more than enough.

An Open Sky specialization for instance would be Prairie/plains focused, and its benefits would gear towards a mounted playstyle, buffing mounts for you and your party and enhancing the use of mounts in and out of combat.

But then on top of that, the base ability Call of the Wild itself confers universal benefits, enhancing yours and your parties ability to engage with any particular terrain.

You could change these, with effort, but the idea is that if the party wants to stack these, they'll need multiple Nature classes (Ranger, Druid, Beast Master, Hedge Mage) to do it, as all 4 share variants of Call of the Wild and, thus, terrain specialization.

Its a fair bit underbaked atm, as my game has morphed considerably from what it was when I originally set it down, but the basic idea is still there.

 

[mellored]

9th level, your Wisdom is going to be 16 at best, most probably 14.
That is DC 14/15 for 22,5 av dmg. for a 3rd level slot that is your prime at that level. Maybe if you get 20 mooks in AoE it will be worth it.

Well you wouldn't use it against a single target, obviously.

But hitting 4+ isn't hard with that big area and friendliness. Not an all the time spell, but a useful one in a fairly common situation.

And it's not like you need to use it. It's just an extra know spell.

 

[Horwath]

And it's not like you need to use it. It's just an extra know spell.

I know, but that is the point. It eats into class resource pool.

Can I buy a proficiency or expertise instead? thank you.

 

[mellored]

I know, but that is the point. It eats into class resource pool.

Can I buy a proficiency or expertise instead? thank you.

You still get expertise at 9, in addition to 3rd level spells.

Not taking anything away.