Alternative for Ranger´s Animal Companion

[StreamOfTheSky]

I thought it was an awful suggested alternate ability! It is of no help to the ranger, only to friends that he is with. Since the ranger is the quintessential loner, it seemed a surprising choice.

I would have thought it more reasonable if the effect were reversed, allowing the ranger to treat a foe as flanked if anyone has hit it since your last turn.

I've noticed that also, a lot of new Ranger spells are designed to help sneak attack. Is rouge/ranger just a really common multiclass (I've never seen it once, myself), or are they starting to get the idea that a ranger should get some sneak attack in the next edition?
/tangent

If you extrapolate from the Druid variant in UA, you could give up the companion and take a -4 on Wild Empathy checks for Fast Movement and Rage (with same progression of uses per day) and eventually Tireless Rage, but none of the boosted features (like indomitable will or mighty rage). The only problems are that a) the druid's companion is better and b) the druid also gives up spontaneous casting ability. However, the companion difference isn't huge, especially if you use the common houserule of Druid level = Ranger level -3. Second, as a combat-oriented character, the +4 bonuses from Rage won't be as big a deal, nor can they be combined w/ Wildshape for abuse. Overall, I think it's a fair trade.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't have the book in front of me, but I seem to recall that the creature is considered flanked for the next attack - regardless of what it is.

+2 to that wizard's ray spell

A flanking bonus only applies to melee attacks, so the ray spell won't benefit.

The example also specifies that a rogue ally will add sneak attack damage to a successful melee attack.

-Hyp.