Chris Thomasson playtest (Sep-26)

[Irda Ranger]

Mostly good news, but I'm a bit worried about the Ranger at this point. This is the second time now we've seen the Ranger as "the bow guy" in a 4e Playtest, with no other versions of Ranger offered yet. I personally prefer an "archer Ranger" or a "TWF Ranger", but I really hope the Ranger isn't locked into one particular fighting style either way.

 

[Aloïsius]

Well, I guess the light armored TWF specialist is probably a fighter/rogue anyway. While the ranger strikes from the distance.

Hey ! I hope they have got sniper stuff ! Nothing screams more like ranger than beeing able to dispatch quietly the sentinel with one head shot.

 

[Glyfair]

This is the second time now we've seen the Ranger as "the bow guy" in a 4e Playtest, with no other versions of Ranger offered yet.

IIRC, they are going with 5 specific PCs in playtesting now. If Chris is running his group through the same playtest stuff as the outside playtest groups, it might just be that this ranger is an archer.

Then again, I have no problem if the ranger is an archer type. They can certainly fit the other types elsewhere.

 

[Cadfan]

Why was the ranger ever the two weapon fighter anyways? Where did that originate? I always assumed it was because the removal of the minimum dex requirements is necessary for a decent two weapon fighter without sneak attack, but did it start before then? Somewhere at or before the era of a certain double scimitar wielding ranger of a dark complexion?

 

[Glyfair]

Where did that originate?

2nd edition PHB.

Somewhere at or before the era of a certain double scimitar wielding ranger of a dark complexion?

Apparently after, as that's the rumored origin.

 

[Lorthanoth]

I thought that it was to emulate Aragorn waving a torch and a sword in his confrontation with the Nazgul.

 

[Zurai]

I thought that it was to emulate Aragorn waving a torch and a sword in his confrontation with the Nazgul.

Nope. Rangers were pure archers pre-Drizzt (and for a while post-Drizzt, too).

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Nope. Rangers were pure archers pre-Drizzt (and for a while post-Drizzt, too).

Really? I don't remember 1E Rangers much, but I sure don't remember either them or 2E Rangers having any significant "archery-related" abilities. It's been a long time though, I admit.

Edit - Doing research, it looks like you're dead wrong. 1E Rangers have 2d8 HP at first level, tracking, surprise, arcane and divine spells, extra damage against giants and humanoids, but I see nowt about archery.

2E Rangers have their specialized enemies, their animal friendship, tracking and other abilities, and I remember I personally let them specialize in bows like as if they were Fighters, but I thought that was a house rule.

So if anything, the "ranger as bow-shooter" deal seems to come from, what, the D&D cartoon? Not the rules, where two-weapon stuff pre-dates archery stuff. Of course, my info may be incomplete/wrong.

Hey ! I hope they have got sniper stuff ! Nothing screams more like ranger than beeing able to dispatch quietly the sentinel with one head shot.

Uh, I beg to differ. Nothing screams "expert archer" like that, but most expert archers in fantasy fiction are not "Rangers" by D&D standards, i.e. every single one of them is an expert tracker and woodsman, and friendly with animals (and currently in 3E, but hopefully gone in 4E, gains bizarre Divine spells for no readily apparent reason).

Rangers shouldn't be limited to, nor have the monopoly on, ranged weapon expertise.

 

[Benben]

Nope. Rangers were pure archers pre-Drizzt (and for a while post-Drizzt, too).

And Drizzt got his dual wielding from his Drow heritage in 1st ed.

 

[Beckett]

Nope. Rangers were pure archers pre-Drizzt (and for a while post-Drizzt, too).

Buh? Under Unearthed Arcana was required to take proficiency in a number of melee weapons (sword, dagger, spear or axe iirc). With no armor restrictions, great damage bonuses against humanoids, and greater HP averages than the fighter through the early levels, the ranger was an excellent melee combatant.

True, with UA, he was one of two classes that could specialize in a bow, but that would use up all of his first level weapon proficiencies.