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

[Horwath]

Yes it's about an origin feat in power.

+ 1 spell prepared
+2 spell slot


5e already gives out too many skills as is so additional skills via skill expert would be over doing it and be both the useless which will just cause another argument

some people like more skills, some less.
maybe just give origin feat for free here.

How is do it is

Level 1: Favored Enemy
You are adept at focusing on a single foe. You always have the Hunter’s Mark, [SPELL TWO] or [SPELL THREE] spell prepared.

You can cast the chosen twice at level 1 without expending a spell slot, and you regain all expended uses of this ability when you finish a Long Rest.

This number increases to 3 at ranger level 5, 4 at ranger level 9, 5 at ranger level 13 and 6 at ranger level 17.

this is OK solution is you are keen on more spellcasting for ranger
Divine strength would be OKish choice as it adds some damage so similar to HM
level 13 should be reworked then, maybe boost DS from d4 to d6 or even maybe d8.

maybe HM here can steal from other similar feature that if it's cast without Conc, it gives bonus damage for 1minute only and then keeps tracking bonuses for 1hr to leave the "rangery" feel of the spell.

Can't use reliable talent It's a rogue feature

it's only rogue feature until it's not only rogue feature, and being 6 levels later, for about 80-90% of campaigns, it's rogue only feature.

That's as lazy as we claim WOTC is

yeah, I know. this just spitballing it for powerlevel from other capstones.

 

[Minigiant]

some people like more skills, some less.
maybe just give origin feat for free here

Unless the game is going to dedicate a subsystem with clear actions and effects to skills, the Ranger is a dedicated spellcaster.

Now the problem with just an origin fee is that simply there isn't an origin free that grants two additional spell slots and 1 additional spell.

AND should your feat doesn't scale.

And this is the crux of the issue. Wizards would have to "grow a pair" and either:

Firmly defined the class
OR
Create additional content for the class.

 

[mellored]

That's the core issue.

The Ranger 1st level feature would have to be choosable options.

And this would have to be spells or a pseudo+Invocations system.

The first level feature is spells...

 

[Horwath]

The first level feature is spells...

THE other 1st level feature.

 

[Minigiant]

THE other 1st level feature.

Also spells

 

[Horwath]

Also spells

currently it's a spell, not spells.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

This is also the problem,

while I hate the idea of this mechanic on a full single class ranger, as a fighter you would be dumb to not take one level dip of ranger.
4×Long rest you get +1d6 to probably 6 attack in 1st round.
5th level fighter/1st level ranger.
TWF, 3 attacks, action surge 3 attacks

why is it better on fighter than on ranger:
1. heavy armor
2. Con saves
3. Action surge 1st round burst
4. No conflict with Concentration, unless you go with EK
5. extra-extra attack later on

Yes, there are probably a few levels where the ranger multiclass is terriffic damage wise.
It is just not easy to find the right level to dip, as the fighter has fantastic features at nearly every level.

 

[Horwath]

Yes, there are probably a few levels where the ranger multiclass is terriffic damage wise.
It is just not easy to find the right level to dip, as the fighter has fantastic features at nearly every level.

2nd level is good choice,
Action surge is not really valuable at 2nd level, so 1st you get damage riders, then you get action surge.
3rd level is 2nd level fighter, 1st level ranger,
HM->TWF->Action surge, that is 4 attacks in 1st round for 2d6+3 damage.

also ranger provides you with extra skill and 2 more masteries.

 

[Minigiant]

currently it's a spell, not spells.

You get 2 uses.

So spells plural.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Every class has decision points in the action economy.

It's not just action economy. It's that with the CONCENTRATION economy, blocking you from most of their other combat spells. The fact that subclasses built around spending their bonus action every round already (say, Horizon Walker and Beastmaster), get particularly screwed over is just icing on the cake.

The only difference here is you seem the be under the false impression that rangers should be entitled to have hunter's mark up at all times just because they have hunter's mark.

If it has to be their class feature, you'd imagine it should work with the rest of their class features, yeah. A Barbarian is not prevented from Reckless Attacking if they Rage, sort of a deal.

It doesn't change the fact the game goes to level 20 and there are players who play those levels. We can't just pretend they don't exist because it suits our argument better if they don't.

If 90%+ of play happens at levels that are not in that range, then yes, we can.