D&D 5E Convince me that the Ranger is a necessary Class.

[Mind of tempest]

Then why not take it a step further and go the old GURPS route: no classes, just a point buy method to build your PC by buying abilities?

The answer to my question is convenience. You don't have to spend time building if you've preassembled the outline in advance for commonly desired archetypes. That is why the question, to me, is whether an archetype is served by the presence of the class.

also defined area helps with balancing and building a setting fiction.

 

[Flights of Fancy]

We should have as many classes as is needed to do something well, not one more and not one less.

I disagree. If you can't express your concept using one of the core four classes, with subclasses, specialties, feats, etc. then...

go the old GURPS route: no classes, just a point buy method to build your PC by buying abilities

At most you have a fighting class, skill class, spell class; then you add the combinations of each: fighting-skill, fighting-spell, skill-spell, and fighting-skill-spell, for a total of seven "core" classes.

Every class concept can be expressed by one of those seven once subclasses, etc. are added.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I disagree. If you can't express your concept using one of the core four classes, with subclasses, specialties, feats, etc. then...


At most you have a fighting class, skill class, spell class; then you add the combinations of each: fighting-skill, fighting-spell, skill-spell, and fighting-skill-spell, for a total of seven "core" classes.

Every class concept can be expressed by one of those seven once subclasses, etc. are added.

Okay do the monk properly?

Secondly, using your own idea we should cut out the cleric as it is a spell caster(the cleric is the greatest aberration of dnd classes, followed by those derived from it)

 

[TiQuinn]

Nevermind - didn’t realize this was threadcromancy.

 

[Corinnguard]

Then why not take it a step further and go the old GURPS route: no classes, just a point buy method to build your PC by buying abilities?

Or how about the Mutants and Masterminds route where you have to pay for everything (ability scores, attack bonus, defense bonus, saves, skills and powers aka class features)? All within a set power limit. The only neat thing about the M&M route is that you get to design how your powers will work through power levels, extras, flaws and power feats.

If you can't express your concept using one of the core four classes, with subclasses, specialties, feats, etc. then...

...you can make a new core class.

Secondly, using your own idea we should cut out the cleric as it is a spell caster(the cleric is the greatest aberration of dnd classes, followed by those derived from it)

It is weird that the cleric, which is supposed to be the divine equivalent of the Wizard, tries not to look like a wizard.

 

[CreamCloud0]

He requested it be deleted.

ah well, if it was their own decision fair enough, still a shame to see them leave, i'd had some good conversations with them, did they give a reason?

 

[Mind of tempest]

Or how about the Mutants and Masterminds route where you have to pay for everything (ability scores, attack bonus, defense bonus, saves, skills and powers aka class features)? All within a set power limit. The only neat thing about the M&M route is that you get to design how your powers will work through power levels, extras, flaws and power feats.


...you can make a new core class.


It is weird that the cleric, which is supposed to be the divine equivalent of the Wizard, tries not to look like a wizard.

clerics also have no presence in the base literature not even in myth or legend that much.
we got more for martial artists and psions than clerics beyond the literal social role.

 

[Horwath]

Best way to go.

Best way for 4 classes would be:

warrior, no spells
half-caster, gish
adept, 2/3rd caster
full caster

 

[ECMO3]

For me spells are the paragon of the Ranger class and the current class does not have enough of them, especially Arcane spells. You would need to give Rogues a lot more spells to have them absorb Ranger IMO.

 

[Flights of Fancy]

Okay do the monk properly?

Which monk?

Secondly, using your own idea we should cut out the cleric as it is a spell caster(the cleric is the greatest aberration of dnd classes, followed by those derived from it)

It depends on how granular you want to be. I would be fine with three as I said for the base, with four as the combinations of those three.

...you can make a new core class.

Which is bloat and entirely unnecessary when subclasses and specialties and feats suffice. It depends on how much overlap you have between the "new core class" you want to make and what already exists, how it functions, its role.

did they give a reason?

Moving on like @DND_Reborn did. They are tired of D&D and the bloat, power creep, etc. you've heard ezo go on about. I play-test their stuff, but still have more interest in D&D so hang around here from time to time. Without ezo to keep me updated, I'll probably be around a bit more.