Dragon #308 previews new ranger and barbarian!

[RigaMortus]

I think several classes are just mixtures of other concepts with a little spice added in.

Ranger = Fighter/Rogue
Paladin = Fighter/Cleric
Bard = Rogue/Sorcorer
Psychic Warrior = Fighter/Psion

I personally wonder why these classes weren't Prestige Classes to begin with. *shrug*

IMO, the Ranger = Fighter/Druid... They are still nature lovers, yes?

I do think they should have some stealth abilities, but only as they apply to the wilderness. Where as a Rogue's stealth abilities are more universal (can be used in wilderness, dungeons, cities, etc.).

 

[RigaMortus]

Actually, "Hide in Plain Sight" is a name of an ancient Samurai ability... You can explain it to players in any number of ways.

* Lying flat in a dip while camouflaged.

I bet your players would be pissed if you described it like this, and the opponent succeeded in his Spot check, and then walked over and attacked them while they were laying prone when they never actually suggested they were doing that.

* Hiding against stone while wrapped in a stoneflage cloak (thus appearing like a boulder, etc.)

And when there is no stone to press their body against or they are not wearing a stoneflage cloak? What if you were in a flat open field on a sunny day? How do you describe it then without putting the players into potentially dangerous situations (such as laying prone in attempting to hide from an aggressive enemy)?

* Running through a door and around the corner (along the wall) while in sight, then pressing against the ceiling and upper door jamb before the pursuer runs through the doorway, turns, and sees you've disappeared.

This isn't Hiding in Plain Sight though... This is, running away from an enemy then when he gets out of sight, quickly looking for a place to hide.

 

[RigaMortus]

Wow. I think the essential problem with the Ranger (as has been pointed out already) is that nobody agrees on what it should be.

Perhaps the Ranger is really the Jack of All Trades, and the Bard is just a Fighter/Mage?

 

[Morte]

I'm starting to wonder if 3.5 is going to be a whole lot of give, give, give for everyone.

I rather wonder if 3.5 is going to be give, give, give for the non-casting classes. Those melee classes we've heard about (ranger and barb) look somewhat more powerful than before. Fighters may also be getting a less obvious boost through the various "Improved" and "Greater" combat feats appearing on the list.

I wonder whether WOTC are taking an undeclared stab at the "casters are more powerful at high levels" thing. Especially given the change to Haste, which now looks more useful to fighter types than casters.

 

[RigaMortus]

I hope the 3.5 Ranger's updated spell list takes advantage of his new abilities. Spells that help out Archery, TWF, animal companion, stealth, etc...