D&D 5E (2014) Convince me that the Ranger is a necessary Class.

[Horwath]

Spellcasting (Primal)
Ranger Spell List Access
Weapon mastery
Favored Enemy (Ranger Spell 2/Day)
Medium Warrior (med armor and martial weapons)

I don't envy someone who has to balance spells with armor training and weapon proficiency

again 3 of those are write and forget. it's 1 minute work and done.

only thing is Spellcasting+Favored enemy, one feature with 4 spells.

by that, fighter has the most at 1st level, yet it's the simplest class.

 

[MoonSong]

If he can photograph giants and dragons, we've got bigger problems. Or an isekai.

I was isekai'd to a fantasy world and all I brought with me was a camera.

 

[Minigiant]

again 3 of those are write and forget. it's 1 minute work and done.

only thing is Spellcasting+Favored enemy, one feature with 4 spells.

by that, fighter has the most at 1st level, yet it's the simplest class.

The issue is you are still writing 2 feats that refer the the Spellcasting system and one to the Weapon Mastery system.
All which have scale up.

I mean. There is a reason why no one printed it and made millions.

There's no way to Feat-ize D&D's NeoVancian Spell slot system without angering 50% the fanbase like 4e did.

 

[MoonSong]

You see this in 2024. Every subclass was shifted up to start at 3 to nerf multiclass cherry picking.

And then sorcerers had to pay for everybody's sins.

 

[Mercurius]

I'm not reading 78 pages, but...

Why is the word necessary relevant at all? I'm not sure anything in D&D is necessary. Rangers are fun for those who like them. It isn't really the right word, but for them they're necessary.

 

[Horwath]

And then sorcerers had to pay for everybody's sins.

this is true, some middle ground should have been struck here.


every subclass starts at 1st level but it gets minor features, but that helps define the class.

Dragon sorcerer can be 1st level without any problem.

Battlemaster could get only 2 dice(d6) and 2 maneuvers at 1st level.

Scout rogue can get skill proficiency at 1st level and then expertise and reaction movement at 3rd level

Gloomstalker can get darkvision and bonus spells at 1st level and Dread ambusher at 3rd level.


simplified: proficiencies(skills, tools, weapons, armor) and spells at 1st level
"stronger" features at 3rd level.

 

[ECMO3]

again 3 of those are write and forget. it's 1 minute work and done.

only thing is Spellcasting+Favored enemy, one feature with 4 spells.

by that, fighter has the most at 1st level, yet it's the simplest class.

This sounds elegant, but I think you will run into problems in play. In most tables there are people who do not understand their PC abilities and they rely on the DM to frequently tell them how their character works. Grouping many of the options into a class makes this a lot easier on the DM.