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

[FrogReaver]

I just went and reread the old favored foe.

It’s concentration. Does extra 1dX damage on an attack per turn, X scales with level.

The only real benefit of using it over hunters mark is it doesn’t require any bonus actions, not even to apply.

I really don’t understand the like of this feature and the hate for hunters mark. Doesn’t make any sense to me.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

The only real benefit of using it over hunters mark is it doesn’t require any bonus actions, not even to apply.

Yes. It does nothing to the concentration issue, but you can just reactively change that to FF when it seems worthwhile, or if you don't want to commit any real resources to a fight. It's actually free, because it doesn't require you to stop and spend bonus actions, cutting into whatever else you were going to do.

And still, I often didn't end up using all of the FF charges anyway, because keeping the concentration going on something else (like a multi-encounter Pass Without Trace) was more worthwhile than a tiny bit more damage.

 

[mellored]

I agree. That said a dex based fighter doesn’t really get significantly more defensive features either.

Defensive Duelist is pretty strong now.
But that applies to rangers as well.
Rogues have a reaction.

 

[FrogReaver]

Defensive Duelist is pretty strong now.
But that applies to rangers as well.
Rogues have a reaction.

Right but I said features and that’s not a fighter feature.

 

[ECMO3]

The only real benefit of using it over hunters mark is it doesn’t require any bonus actions, not even to apply.

Yeah this is a huge benefit. You use it AFTER you hit and it does not use a bonus action. You can also crit fish with it.

It is also more damage at level.

It is not the cat's meow but at mid-to-high level it is better than HM. The reason is you usually have something better than HM (or FF) to concentrate on. On the relatively rare occasions when that is not the case you squeeze off a use of Favored Foe or 3, without using a bonus action, between the better spells that are going to be bread and butter concentration.

Also Bonus actions are relatively valuable on a Ranger. At high level it is competing with Nature's Viel and at all levels it is competing with two-weapon fighting. Even if you are comparing it to other 1st level Concentration spells there is Ensnaring Strike which is generally going to be better.

 

[mellored]

Right but I said features and that’s not a fighter feature.

Extra feats is a fighter feature.
So... kinda.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Defensive Duelist is pretty strong now.

Good that you mentioned that. It's very solid now, basically a poor man's Shield spell.

 

[ECMO3]

Defensive Duelist is pretty strong now.
But that applies to rangers as well.
Rogues have a reaction.

Defensive Dualist is good now, but I think the cat's meow for Rangers and Rogues in 2024 is going to be Shadow Touched with Wrathful Smite.

 

[FrogReaver]

Yeah this is a huge benefit. You use it AFTER you hit and it does not use a bonus action. You can also crit fish with it.

It is also more damage at level.

It is not the cat's meow but at mid-to-high level it is better than HM. The reason is you usually have something better than HM (or FF) to concentrate on. On the relatively rare occasions when that is not the case you squeeze off a use of Favored Foe or 3, without using a bonus action, between the better spells that are going to be bread and butter concentration.

Also Bonus actions are relatively valuable on a Ranger. At high level it is competing with Nature's Viel and at all levels it is competing with two-weapon fighting. Even if you are comparing it to other 1st level Concentration spells there is Ensnaring Strike which is generally going to be better.

So essentially the same use case we keep saying is for the free hunters mark casts that you keep saying you wont use…

 

[FrogReaver]

Extra feats is a fighter feature.
So... kinda.

K. Kinda. Kinda not.