Dragon #308 previews new ranger and barbarian!

[Storminator]

As has been already pointed out, "tank armor" is a fallacy.

Snipped the rest of it, just wanted to point out there are a couple rules from Arcana Unearthed that boost the tank armor. I'll be swiping those for my game...

PS

 

[Michael Tree]

Doesn't say, BUT Urban Arcanna does have a "Wildlord" Advanced Class which has an ability called "Animal Empathy" which allows them to improve the attitude of an animal or magical beast by making a Handle Animal check. What are the odds they'll be similar?

I suspected it might be something like this. So "animal empathy" is very much like "tracking": a class ability that lets the character use a normally sub-standard skill in a useful new way, to encourage characters to take that uncommon skill.

 

[Michael Tree]

Snipped the rest of it, just wanted to point out there are a couple rules from Arcana Unearthed that boost the tank armor. I'll be swiping those for my game...

Oh? Do tell.

 

[Felon]

I suspected it might be something like this. So "animal empathy" is very much like "tracking": a class ability that lets the character use a normally sub-standard skill in a useful new way, to encourage characters to take that uncommon skill.

Yeah, I love those type of abilities in a d20 character. It beats the heck out of handing out a flat bonus to a skill, as is all-too-often the design habit with non-combat oriented classes (e.g. Smart, Dedicated, & Charismatic Hero, Star Wars' Tech Specialist).

Of course, Hide in Plain Sight is of that same vein, and I really don't care for it. At least the shadowdancer needs to be close to shadows. I hope the Ranger's HiPS feature has some sort of restrictions as well.

 

[Felon]

Oh? Do tell.

Tell? See for yourself!

 

[Kai Lord]

Of course, Hide in Plain Sight is of that same vein, and I really don't care for it. At least the shadowdancer needs to be close to shadows. I hope the Ranger's HiPS feature has some sort of restrictions as well.

Probably only works in the woods.

 

[Merlion]

Well I'll weigh in here, albeit it rather late.
I like it. I like it a lot. the bonus feats or whatever exactly the are are spaced a bit wider than I expected, but then they get other interesting things. Adding Woodland Stride was brilliant...in fact the only thing like a real complaint I can make is that they didnt add Trackless Step also(rangers being the master trackers, it would make sense for them to be able to evade such skills as well).
I dont know that uncanny dodge would make MORE sense than Evasion. I think either one makes sense as they both essentialy represent hyper awareness/reflexes. Obviously the choose Evasion over Uncanny Dodge because of the Barbarian.
/rant on: Ok I dont mean this to offend anyone but I cant believe 1) that they are people out there saying they dont like the Hide In Plain Sight ability(in general) because its silly and I can believe even less than 2) their are people on the boards who dont know how its "supposed to work" for those who have it. I'm going to talk about the second thing first since it relates to the first. Shadowdancers can only do it within 10 feet of some sort of shadow besides their own. It seems pretty obvious that they are able to semi-supernaturaly use shadows to hide themselves even when they have nothing else to hide behind or arent actualy IN the shadows. And I'm sure that the Ranger will have a restriction similiar to that involving plants or natural terrain or something. I just dont see how in the context of DnD thats any more "silly" than a Paladin's Divine Grace or a Rogue with Slippery Mind. /rant off
Back to the Ranger. I love the camoflauge thing I've long thought rangers should have something like that. Hide in Plain Site is a nifty addition to. they do seem to finaly be at least somewhat addressing the issue of core classes giving little reason to stick with them.
And, to all the people endlessly quibling over what a "ranger" is, and wether the revised ranger fits the name: Get over it already. the DnD Wizard doesnt really fit a lot of the characters that bear that name on which it is based, themeaticaly(with the whole spell preperation thing and all). That doesnt mean it shouldnt be called a wizard.

 

[shilsen]

And, to all the people endlessly quibling over what a "ranger" is, and wether the revised ranger fits the name: Get over it already. the DnD Wizard doesnt really fit a lot of the characters that bear that name on which it is based, themeaticaly(with the whole spell preperation thing and all). That doesnt mean it shouldnt be called a wizard.

Nice point. It's fascinating how many people get their knickers in a twist when a D&D class doesn't perfectly match a historical or fictional character who has absolutely nothing to do with the game.

 

[Remathilis]

I'm still hoping someone acidently typed "Evasion" instead of Uncanny Dodge.

Oh well, I'm not going to complain about rangers and barbarians, they look like they done well for themselves. Fighters will still be a popular choice I think, because they are so versatile and generic.

NOW GIVE ME MY FREAKING BARD INFO!!!!!!!!!!

 

[theoremtank]

I'm not sure if adding Uncanny Dodge to the Ranger's class features is any better than Evasion.

Barbarians and rogues already have this feature. Too many classes with the same features is not interesting. In 3.0e, the ranger/rogue multiclass was very desireable. If you gave the 3.5e ranger Uncanny Dodge also, then there is little incentive to multiclass to rogue. Sure sneak attack is nice but that alone is probably not enough for me to give up spells, bonus feats, and higher level ranger class features.

I know it should be hard to surprise a ranger but perhaps it would be better if a unique class feature was designed to handle this.