Desert "Ranger" needed pronto!

[Kilmore]

Okay, I thought I had a week to dig this up, but...

The guy who was supposed to DM this weekend had an essential player cancel due to a real life problem, which we're cool with.

"So now what are we gonna do tomorrow?"

All eyes on me.

A lot of what I'm planning revolves around a new NPC (the first effective one of the campaign if she survives). She's a 2nd level ranger. So far I think I'm gonna cook her up outta the PHB, but I don't wanna miss out on any cool character concepts presented somewhere else. Oh, and she's a desert elf (any ideas there appreciated as well) and has to be able to function in a city.

Anyways, the setting is in a homebrew setting and is about like Tunisia or Morocco, but I'm quite flexible about historical accuracy. It has been a part of an empire from up north for a long time, but there is still some conflict of cultures.

So if anyone knows where a cool desert ranger class is, please let me know. Or if someone has a NPC that hits the spot, and they don't mind sharing, even better.
I should be able to swing it by myself, but any help would be nice. Thanks in advance.

 

[Klaus]

You can't go wrong with basing in historical desert-types, so here's my suggestion:

Go ranger (as per PHB), but trade Ambi- and TWF for Point Blank Shot and Mounted Combat, and take Mounted Archery as her 1st level feat (Rapid Shot at 3rd). Also, take away Medium Armor Proficiency, and give instead Good Fort and Ref saves.

Place Wilderness Lore through the roof, and she can live with just a 10 Str, as long as Dex, Con and Wis are high enough. And a Composite bow. And a warhorse trained for desert (or a camel).

When time comes to have spells, consider trading plant-based spells (like entangle) for stuff that helps survive (like goodberry).

Game On!

 

[Nifft]

Elfquest -- The Comic

Anyone remember the Desert Elves in this ancient comic book series? They were nifty.

So, based on them, here's my suggestions:

-2 Str, +2 Dex -- no Con penalty, but they are more slightly built.

Brown skin, red hair -- I don't know if your campaign involves people specifying hair & skin color, but this is a good desert combo.

Instead of "Detect Secret Doors within 5 feet", give them "Water Scent" ability. They can smell water within 100 ft., and can take a full-round action to determine which direction it is in.

+2 to saves vs. Fire

Bonus 1st level Ranger spell: Create Water

That's all I got for now.

-- Nifft

 

[johnsemlak]

Necromancer Games' Necropolis has a desert ranger class varient, I believe.

 

[JeffB]

Necromancer Games' Necropolis has a desert ranger class varient, I believe.

Exactly what I was going to reccomend.

 

[CCamfield]

AEG's Mercenaries has a specific "nomad" class, as well as a Dune Runner prestige class.

Other than that... some of the ranger variants that involve favored terrain might be good. (There's also one in Mercenaries, but that's by the by.)

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Another excellent Ranger, assuming versatility is more important than combat prowess, is the Dark Sun Ranger at Athas.org.

 

[Ghostwind]

You can find a desert ranger variant prestige class known as a "medjay" in Bastion Press' Egyptian Gods pdf... Probably not quite what you're after since it's a PrC, but it is something you can gain access to quickly enough....

 

[LostSoul]

Re: Elfquest -- The Comic

So, based on them, here's my suggestions:

That's a great suggestion. Perhaps, though, instead of the "Detect Water" ability, you could let them use Intuit Direction to dowse water.

I'd also axe the bonus spell, unless you're just adding it to the 1st level Ranger list.

Otherwise, I think the PHB Ranger is just fine. Nothing about the PHB Ranger specifies a particular environment.

 

[Kilmore]

Okay, I've bought at least two weeks. They don't even know she's a ranger, just that she's handy with a bow.

Interesting session. Not the best I've run, but not the worst. The party made some poor decisions, and they got pretty well thrashed, but everybody's alive.