Alternate ranger abilities?

[javcs]

One of my players is looking to make a ranger, but doesn't really want the favored enemies ability. I'm willing to let him swap it out for something, but I can't find an alternative ability.

Are there any alternatives to the ranger's favored enemies ability?

 

[Mighty Veil]

Paladin's Lay on hands, turn undead (or turn elemental), remove disease. [source: Unearthed Arcana]

Favored enviroment.

The other Combat Style.

 

[VonRichthofen]

What about handing out something homebrewed? Something flavorful & not too strong, like 1d4 Sudden Strike whenever a FE would be acquired? A 5ft. enhancement bonus to land speed?

 

[VonRichthofen]

Paladin's Lay on hands, turn undead (or turn elemental), remove disease. [source: Unearthed Arcana]

Favored enviroment.

The other Combat Style.

The Unearthed Arcana material is not from 3.5 SRD, right? Or am I missing something?

I personally wouldn't give him the second combat style, for that would make it very tempting to use the class as a 2-6 level dip only.

At 6th level, you'd have the equivalent of 6 bonus feats (as long as you remain lightly armored), two good saves, full BAB, tons of skill points & all the other ranger goodies except FE. You could ditch your weak animal companion for the very versatile Distracting Shot alternative class feature really get a little too much out of these 6 levels...

 

[Klaus]

Since Unearthed Arcana is OGC, it won't be added to the SRD. But you can find it in several websites that host on-line SRDs, usually titled "Variants".

 

[Mistwell]

The Unearthed Arcana material is not from 3.5 SRD, right? Or am I missing something?

I personally wouldn't give him the second combat style, for that would make it very tempting to use the class as a 2-6 level dip only.

At 6th level, you'd have the equivalent of 6 bonus feats (as long as you remain lightly armored), two good saves, full BAB, tons of skill points & all the other ranger goodies except FE. You could ditch your weak animal companion for the very versatile Distracting Shot alternative class feature really get a little too much out of these 6 levels...

It's 3.5. Unearthed Arcana is just a WOTC book of optional rules.

 

[Thurbane]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#ranger

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/c...nts.htm#favoredEnemyVariantFavoredEnvironment

 

[VonRichthofen]

Since Unearthed Arcana is OGC, it won't be added to the SRD. But you can find it in several websites that host on-line SRDs, usually titled "Variants".

Sorry, and what's uhh...that?

http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/unearthedArcana.html

Granted, it is not the whole UA material (as noted), that's why I asked whether it was part of the SRD...

Well, I'll keep on searching for an UA variant that lets you substitute FE for turn undead & lay on hands - allthough Cha is a ranger dump stat, this sounds much more versatile than FE bonuses - might be interesting.

 

[javcs]

I think I'm going to let him replace his FE bonuses, with:

Favored Enemy Alternative Class Feature: Swift Hunter (Ex):
Whenever the ranger would gain FE, he instead gains a cumulative +5ft increase in his base speeds, and +1d6 damage whenever he meets sneak attack requirements or skirmish requirements (target denied Dex or flat-footed, or ranger moves 10ft+), but no range limit (because FE has no range limit, and it will be less total damage). 1st level +5ft, +1d6, 5th level +10ft, +2d6, 10th level +15ft, +3d6, 15th level +20ft, +4d6, 20th level +25ft, +5d6.
EDIT: Applies only when in light/no armor, and carrying no more than a light load.

Badly worded, I know.
Is that balanced?

 

[SteelDraco]

That's way more powerful than the Favored Enemy stuff.

I think the movement increases would be comparable. Giving skirmish, sneak attack, and movement increases is way better than Favored Enemy, which is very circumstantial, and not a great ability anyway. I can't think of any reason why you'd take FE if this was an option.