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Message: <blockquote data-quote="doctorbadwolf" data-source="post: 8546690" data-attributes="member: 6704184">Okay, so it's not as much that the BM is frustrating, though damage mitigation would be simpler and more user friendly than several ways to heal the thing. It's more that the Ranger has multiple intersecting points of frustrating limitation, and the BM is just the subclass that illustrates this dynamic most clearly. So the frustrating mechanical conflicts within the Ranger's design (or in the general design of 5e that seems to hit the Ranger harder than many other classes) are: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Very limited Spellcasting, with a spell list that speaks to versatility but can't really deliver due to the tiny amount of spells known (I feel like I'm using a 1/3 caster that traded cantrips for more spell slots, at low level, and I'm not sure I think the trade was worth it). Ritual casting would help, or simply more new spells known as you level than is the case. Tasha's helps a bit, in that I've got 3 more spells than I'd have without it, but it's not comparable to prepared casters. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I'd simply fix this by having Ranger have the same number of spells known (or a few more) as the paladin has spells prepared. Or make the Ranger a prepared caster, so their toolkit is much more broad than it currently is.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Nearly every offensive spell, and most of your other spells besides, are concentration. You cannot nova like a paladin, and you can't even buff the team offensively, which feels like something the ranger should be good at. The PHB Ranger even has to spend spell slots (and concentrate I think), in order to use one of it's exploration powers that isn't a spell!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The action economy is pretty bad. The ranger is hyper reliant on the bonus action, and few subclasses mitigate this at all. Favored Foe does in theory, but it is pretty much always less powerful than casting hunter's mark. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In the case of the BM, you need to use your bonus action to cast your bread and butter combat spells, to command the beast to attack, to use some ranger class features, and several of your best support spells. The melee ranger simply cannot be a dual wielding beast master.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One benefit the BM does have, is that you can have the beast attack in a round where you cast an action spell. Of course, I feel like most ranger subclasses get their main damage buff even when using a turn to cast an offensive spell, but I could be wrong.</li> </ul></li> </ul></blockquote>

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