Allowing Rangers too much power???

[Garrett843]

I had thought of giving a ranger in my campaign a ring....(I have not yet thought of a name for this item however) but what it would do is give the rangers animal companion the same progression as if the ranger lvls actually were druid lvls instead. I am not sure if this would make the ranger class way to overpowered but I would like others opinions on this topic. Thanks.

 

[shilsen]

I don't think it's overpowered, but I'd suggest that you let the ranger count as a druid of 3 levels lower for purposes of an animal companion. I've house ruled that in my campaign and it worked quite well. I also did that for ranger caster level, incidentally.

 

[Garrett843]

When you say you did it for caster lvl you don't mean that you gave them the higher lvl spells of a druid do you?

 

[Garrett843]

I actually really like that idea and might have it that that is what the ring does instead of the animal companion.

 

[shilsen]

When you say you did it for caster lvl you don't mean that you gave them the higher lvl spells of a druid do you?

No. They still use the ranger spells and progression. Only their caster level goes up.

I actually really like that idea and might have it that that is what the ring does instead of the animal companion.

Glad to help.

 

[Inigo Carmine]

My group house ruled that ranger counts as druid level -2 for purposes of an animal companion.

Otherwise, animal companions start to become useless around level 9 or so because their contribution to combat is almost negligible and most things will kill them in one hit (or a stray AoE) by that point.

 

[Falling Icicle]

My group has always ruled that Rangers use the same progression for animal companions as Druids, and it has never been a problem. Druids get full spellcasting progression, wild shape, and lots of other goodies that are quite powerful on their own. We see no good reason why the Ranger should have a weaker companion. I've always seen the Ranger as part hunter, part beastmaster anyway. This nonsense in 3.5 was simply a carryover from the 3.0 animal friendship spell, and since Rangers have half the caster level of a Druid, they just made them use half their level for their animal companion in this edition.

 

[monboesen]

My group has always ruled that Rangers use the same progression for animal companions as Druids, and it has never been a problem. Druids get full spellcasting progression, wild shape, and lots of other goodies that are quite powerful on their own. We see no good reason why the Ranger should have a weaker companion. I've always seen the Ranger as part hunter, part beastmaster anyway. This nonsense in 3.5 was simply a carryover from the 3.0 animal friendship spell, and since Rangers have half the caster level of a Druid, they just made them use half their level for their animal companion in this edition.

Personally I think that is a bit much. The ranger got a MAJOR boost from 3.0 to 3.5 and is a very viable class in it's own right. Giving them a that much stronger animal companion would IMO give them to much melee power.

 

[Garrett843]

Does everyone therefore agree that if I were to give a ranger a ring that allowed them to progress in spellcasting ability the same as a druid that the ranger would basically become a far higher ECL than what his actual lvl was.

What if I were to add something like if you wish to use this item you may not progress in the ranger class or any other for 3 lvls and then you would gain the full abilities of this item. Or would it be best to make it something like a legacy item?

 

[monboesen]

Does everyone therefore agree that if I were to give a ranger a ring that allowed them to progress in spellcasting ability the same as a druid that the ranger would basically become a far higher ECL than what his actual lvl was.

What if I were to add something like if you wish to use this item you may not progress in the ranger class or any other for 3 lvls and then you would gain the full abilities of this item. Or would it be best to make it something like a legacy item?

I dont see any way to allow a ranger to cast spells as a druid on the same level and be fair.

My first reaction is to say do not use this item at all.

The only solution that comes close is by using gestalt rules, but they are not meant to be used for just one character, but for the whole group.

Somehow I have gotten the impression that you are a new DM, I'm not sure if it is so. But if it is I would advice you to stick pretty close to the rules as written for the players+their items and pour your creativity into the adventure and the encounters/foes.


Maybe if you try explaining why you would like to use this item/give the ranger the power to cast spells as a druid it would be easier to help you.