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

[Horwath]

A seperate attack is too much rolling. Best to keep it a typical AoE damage.

But I like the idea in general.

Also, I don't see a need for both spells. They are too similar. And you don't really benefit from 2 shapes with a friendly spell.

So...

Conjure Barrage: increase the damage of Conjure Volley by 1d8, and increase it's size by 10'.

rolling save for every target is the same number of rolls.
This way the player has the fun of rolling.

 

[Chaosmancer]

I prefer to have locate creature on the druid list.

Well, Druid's don't get a list of extra spells always prepared. But it seems rangers do.

 

[Chaosmancer]

There is the fighting style in Tasha's that grants two cantrips, and so if they brought that one into the PHB it'd be an interesting choice.

I dunno, this Ranger seems fine. Lost cantrips and Concentration on Hunter's Mark, but gained Weapon Mastery and Wis mod free casts of HM. Deft Explorer seems fine, the ability to change out one environment on a Long Rest means that the Ranger shouldn't really ever feel like they picked the wrong ones. They lost the "No Evocation" restriction, so complete access to the Primal spell list now.

I would take cantrips over weapon masteries in a heartbeat. We already had the free casts of Hunter's Mark, so we just gained the concentration and nerfing it to now only do the normal amount of damage with high level slots. Which also increase the duration, which also prevent you from casting any concentration spells.

I'd be fine with Deft Explorer if it was advantage on survival, history, investigation and nature rolls for the land type.

Foe Slayer seems better, but I'm in the camp of "put the capstones at 18th, not 20th" because I'd like to actually play with them in the unlikely event I ever adventure past level 10.

It is not better.

The original one was bad, let's not lie, but this one first requires you have Hunter's Mark up. If you have a different concentration spell or lost Concentration, no capstone. And that kills it. Sure, you can add wisdom to hit when you miss, instead of choosing before, but this is 20th level. This sucks.

 

[Shardstone]

It’s funny, I’m usually one of the most vocal spellcasting ranger haters, and I was actually pretty cool with this version. I mean, obviously I still wish there was a non-spellcasting version available, but for a spellcasting ranger, this is one I could live with.

Deft Explorer is pure upside compared to the last UA - you still get expertise in a skill of your choice, and now you also get advantage on some nature-related checks. You get two terrain types and can swap one of them out on a long rest, which means it’ll basically always be active.

Hunter’s Mark requiring concentration again is of course a big nerf, but I saw it coming. They’ve tried it multiple times now, it keeps proving overpowered. We need to let this one go.

All of the subclasses got significant improvements, and they all get to do cool things that aren’t just spells.

Still don’t like that Barrage and Volley are spells, but this is clearly a hill WotC wants to die on, so whatever. I give up. The ranger isn’t going to be the survivalist character I want it to be, it’s just the primal analogue to paladins. I can live with that.

It's just, what is overpowered about 1d6 bonus damage per turn for a spell slot?

 

[fuindordm]

I"ve never seen Conjure Barrage used since 2014. Is it really iconic?

 

[Horwath]

I"ve never seen Conjure Barrage used since 2014. Is it really iconic?

yes it is.
Iconically bad.

 

[WanderingMystic]

So the concept with conjure barrage and conjure vollie being iconic is the concept that the ranger has AoE attacks, since they love the idea of making everything spells this is how they have accomplished this. I do think that both spells would be greatly improved by making it an attack roll vs targets in the area as opposed to the saving throw.

 

[Maxperson]

Deft Explorer is pure upside compared to the last UA - you still get expertise in a skill of your choice, and now you also get advantage on some nature-related checks. You get two terrain types and can swap one of them out on a long rest, which means it’ll basically always be active.

If it's always going to be active, just give them all terrain types up front and be done with it.

 

[Charlaquin]

If it's always going to be active, just give them all terrain types up front and be done with it.

But, again, it was added specifically in response to requests for terrain-specific features. This way, it can feel like terrain-specific features, without actually being reliant on the DM to allow it to work.

 

[Horwath]

But, again, it was added specifically in response to requests for terrain-specific features. This way, it can feel like terrain-specific features, without actually being reliant on the DM to allow it to work.

then it should be an option, for those who do not want a favorite terrain, they get expertise instead.