D&D (2024) Ranger 2024 is a bigger joke than Ranger 2014:

[UngeheuerLich]

You are not equipped to have this discussion, disengage.

Yes. My lack of intelligence is showing.
I have to succumb to you, cunning master.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Disengage, block or report.

Stop cluttering the thread with your child-like argument, please.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Disengage, block or report.

Stop cluttering the thread with your child-like argument, please.

I think I use all 3.

You are correct. Would have been the best choice from the beginning.

 

[Chaosmancer]

The way it is presented, yes - weapon mastery is use of technique and strategy in fight, it showcases skill of the user. Monk lacking it is officially "team moron who doesn't know how to fight, jsut swings their arms and hopes to hit soemthing". And yes, you can flavor your attacks as using techniques, but flavor is always free anyway.

Nope, that is not the feel the monk gives off in any way, shape or form. Instead it gives the feeling so specializing in unarmed combat, instead of learning advanced weapon techniques.

 

[Umbran]

You are not equipped to have this discussion, disengage.

I will now remind you you were doing jokes about it yourself. I do not think you care one iota. I tihnk you're so mad ...

Mod Note:

And now I will remind you that you are making this discussion personal, and I think you've gone far enough to be removed from the discussion.

Next time, try being kind to people, even if you disagree with them.

 

[MerricB]

It is peculiar, IMO, because - as far as I can tell, it first appeared in SR2 and was only used for rangers.

Note that the bonus is against "Giant-class" creatures, not "giants".

But what makes things giant class?

You have to go back to the original three D&D booklets. The third one - The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures - contained within it random encounter tables. For dungeons (based on monster level) and for the wilderness (based on terrain type).

The wilderness tables had subtables. And in those tables was... "giant types".

The Strategic Review article (Vol 1, No 2) defines their special bonus as: "All Rangers gain a special advantage when fighting against monsters of the Giant Class (Kobolds - Giants). For each level they have gained they add +1 to their damage die against these creatures, so a 1st Level Ranger adds +1, a 2nd Level +2, and so on."

Gygax made a few modifications to the list in AD&D:
"When fighting humanoid-type creatures of the “giant class”, listed hereafter, rangers add 1 hit point for each level of experience they have attained to the points of damage scored when they hit in melee combat. Giant class creatures are: bugbears, ettins, giants, gnolls, goblins, hobgoblins, kobolds, ogres, ogre magi, orcs, and trolls."

But that's the origin of "giant class" monsters - it's from a random wilderness encounter table in OD&D.

Cheers,
Merric

 

[Nikosandros]

I had indeed mentioned that it was a giant class and not giants. I had however missed the earlier reference, so it was not introduced in SR2. It still makes no sense to call those creatures "giant types".

 

[Dragonhelm]

1. Ranger spellcasting:
why does it still have Verbal components on it's spells?
Hard to be stealth, guerilla warrior when you need to use your class abilities by shouting from top of your lungs...

Why would anyone be shouting at the top of their lungs when casting a spell?

A ranger is sneaky, so maybe he whispers. If he wanted, he could speak in a normal voice. Or go all bardic and do a song. Personally, I'd lean towards a Kevin Conroy Batman voice, but more as a whisper.

It's just flavor. If it doesn't work as written for you and your group, simply reflavor it.

 

[Azzy]

I'm more interested in the butt smack move.

Unfortunately, Twerking Strike is a feature of the Dance Bard. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

 

[Horwath]

Why would anyone be shouting at the top of their lungs when casting a spell?

A ranger is sneaky, so maybe he whispers. If he wanted, he could speak in a normal voice. Or go all bardic and do a song. Personally, I'd lean towards a Kevin Conroy Batman voice, but more as a whisper.

It's just flavor. If it doesn't work as written for you and your group, simply reflavor it.

spellcasting was always in clear and strong voice.

And yes, 5E is not precise in this as it is not precise in many things, so if we default to 3.5e Perceptions(Listen) DC for spellcasting would by -10 or 0 if being generous.

maybe 5E24 will be more clear about those specifics.