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

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Instead of a Bonus Action, I would allow HM to be applied when the Ranger hit's with an attack
Any thoughts on if this is too good?

It's not. It's where the feature should be at, because that's how Tasha Favored Foe worked, and that already got ignored most of the time, because of the concentration requirement. Giving us a Favored Foe that can trigger multiple times in a round sounds just about right, and switching between concentration effects like that (like Zephyr into HM) would feel a lot better.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Though I do agree we don't want Ensnaring Strike concentration to be unbreakable.

Is that really a worry? It is a bad spell - doesn't work on Large+ targets, its DC to do anything at all is based on a very secondary stat for most Rangers, it can be cancelled with ease if there are any minions around... And also, Entangle exists.

Its only function is to drop flying targets (that are not flying magically, or they will just remain gently hovering), if you don't have Tridents around to Topple them with.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Editions do not exist in isolation from each other. The 5e warlock is a pew pew blaster because the original warlock was a pew pew blaster. Eldritch blast is intimately associated with the warlock identity. They are not going to come along and present the warlock as a class that turns constructs, because what a D&D warlock is has already been established.

Okay but I wasn’t trying to make the warlock not a pew pew blaster, or into a class that turns constructs, at most i was just trying to expand the scope of what they pew pew with.

 

[Belen]

Favored Enemy: Hunter's Mark does not require concentration when used on a Ranger's favored enemy. (Of course, you'd need to select enemy types again)

Basically, it makes favored enemy cool and gives it a free HM cast.

 

[FrogReaver]

While so far my '24 Ranger is happy with the class, I am considering one change to HM.

Instead of a Bonus Action, I would allow HM to be applied when the Ranger hit's with an attack (both initial casting and moving it once the original creature is killed. Spell slot is expended but no additional action neccessary.

I got the idea because in last Friday's session, she accidentally both cast HM and used a bonus action attack in the same round. We caught it the next round (and took her BA for that round as a result) but really, it didn't seem like overkill and I realized after that applying the mark on an attack that hits could really help the action economy for the Ranger. I would still allow it to be applied as a bonus action if the Ranger doesn't want to do damage with it (for tracking purposes or the like)

Any thoughts on if this is too good?

More damage from a single bonus action attack probably isn't going to break the game, but it may be a big enough change to unbalance the Ranger subclasses or the Ranger with other classes depending on how tightly they were balanced to begin with. It also would have some major multiclass repercussions.

What I can say with certainty is that it would boost a level 5 Hunter ranger's DPR while dual wielding with the dual wielder feat/fighting styles/etc to ~36.5 from ~32.3. Making the level 5 ranger probably the most damaging PC in the game at that level (they were already a very high damage class for that level). Considering that Ranger's actually get solid out of combat boosts in 5e. Climb and Swim speed. Expertise in 3 skills. Ability to remove a level of exhaustion every short rest. Along with many of his spell slots being freed up due to the free casts of hunters mark.

I wouldn't call the change game breaking, but it would be a concern.

 

[FrogReaver]

You can, by just picking any class other than Ranger, who don't have features that actively clash with the rest of the class options.

A very basic part of the game is deciding what action and bonus action to use when. Most classes face this choice regularly, or can depending on build choices.

 

[FrogReaver]

then you make ability broader for whole ranger class,

I.E:

1st level: Replace bonus HM with bonus 1st level spell slots, for RANGER SPELLS ONLY, no extra Shield or Silvery barb cheese here. Please... Or you can pick 1st level RANGER spell and get that bonus castings for that spell only if this is too much of a versatility.
13th lvl: you cannot lose Concentration on a RANGER SPELL while you are consciuos.
17th lvl: while you are Concentrating on a RANGER SPELL, you have advantage on all attacks
20th lvl: while you are Concentrating on a RANGER SPELL, you deal extra d6 damage. Damage type is chosen from Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison or Thunder.


You get same number of extra 1st level slots, but now not forced into HM
You get nonbreakable concentration, pretty useful for gish. Paladins got their weaker version with Cha bonus to Con saves and 7 levels earlier.
While concentrating on nature magic, your combat is improved with both 17th and 20th level abilities. And your capstone still sucks to be in theme with the ranger class for last 10years.

The problem is....

Non-Hunter's Mark Rangers don't need those boosts at all. You are relegating Hunter's Mark Rangers to 2nd class again, because hunter's mark is usually weaker than most other ranger spells.

TLDR - your proposed fix makes Hunter's Mark Rangers suck in comparison.

 

[FrogReaver]

class should really not spend it's resources to salvage 1st level spell into tier3, especially not a concentration spell

They should when everything else with the class is perfectly fine.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The concern is WIS and DEX cover a lot of skills already, common saving throws, attacks and AC, and in the ranger's case the DC of his spell list that would exceed other spell casters. That's already a lot so adding in STR too because why?

As I said. I think it is no good idea to boost 3 stats by 4. Does not look balanced even if it is.

Removing concentration from hunter's mark and upgrade to d10 would be a big upgrade and worthy of a capstone.

At that point, a ranger could use swift quiver and add 4 or 5 d10 every round. And advantage on all attacks.

So maybe this is my houserule!

I guess this simple fix will easily buff the capstone to 5/5.
Maybe also make it castable at will too. And as a free action.

 

[SkidAce]

Ah. You can use Hunter's Mark stealthily!

You just need to pre-emptively cast it on a mouse while in a secluded spot, then you have an hour to find your real target, at which point you squeeze the pocket mouse dead (well, 0 hitpoints, maybe you just gently choke it unconscious until its services are needed again) and then you can change the Hunter's Mark target without shouting magic words.

Evil necro flavored ranger FTW.

I kinda like it.