Expanded Ranger Spell List?

[comrade raoul]

Perhaps a way to "fix" the ranger is to expand the spell list, giving them more useful spells. Out of the PHB, my suggestions would include, by spell level:

1st: Endure Elements, Expeditious Retreat, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Resistance, True Strike
2nd: Barkskin, Blur, Bull’s Strength, Cat’s Grace, Darkvision, Endurance, Flame Blade
3rd: Gust of Wind, Keen Edge, Resist Elements, Water Breathing
4th: Haste, Protection from Elements

Under this system, rangers now have many of the good low-level combat buffs and some helpful utility and resistance spells suited to their "nature" role.

I also lean towards reclassifying ranger spells as arcane, rather than divine. They would be subject to arcane spell failure; as a special ability, they might be able to avoid arcane spell failure when casting spells from their list in light armor.

 

[JDRay]

Given these spell list adds, and the fact that the Monte Cook Ranger fixes the TWF/Ambi issue (or, at least, gives you a choice to do without it), I think we can declare the Ranger fixed.

Good choices for additions.

 

[Crothian]

I don't think adding spells really helps anything. They still get very few spells per level. If you want more spells, there are many new ranger spells in many suppliments.

 

[Shirt Guy John]

I don't think adding spells really helps anything.

I beg to differ, here. I think that changing a class' spell list can completely change the effectiveness and flavor of a class.

After all, if you were to give a Sorcerer access only to Fire spells, he'd be hard put to be anything other than a fire-mage.


I personally like the spell list, but I wouldn't change them to arcane. From the materials given, they would either have to spontaneously cast the spells, or they would use books. Either way, I think praying to nature, or just revering it or whatever they do is a better concept if you're keeping the Ranger as a Nature boy.

 

[Crothian]

Wll, he's not restricting it severly or adding a bunch of spells that makes a huge difference. And the number of spells cast is still the same. You can access to a thousand sspells, but if you can only cast 2 a day, who good is that really?

 

[lobo]

Suggestions

Perhaps a way to "fix" the ranger is to expand the spell list, giving them more useful spells. Out of the PHB, my suggestions would include, by spell level:

1st: Endure Elements, Expeditious Retreat, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Resistance, True Strike
2nd: Barkskin, Blur, Bull’s Strength, Cat’s Grace, Darkvision, Endurance, Flame Blade
3rd: Gust of Wind, Keen Edge, Resist Elements, Water Breathing
4th: Haste, Protection from Elements

I would leave the spells as divine, for casting purposes. Also I would address the two weapon fighting issue incase someone wants another version of the Ranger, perhaps one feat instead of the two virtual feats. I use a house rule that replaces the virtual feats with three feats at levels 1,4, and 8. As far as spell progression goes, the Ranger only needs a little boost in ability, he is not a full time spell caster. With the spells you suggest adding to the Ranger spell list, the Ranger would stack up well with the other warrior classes.

 

[Steven McRownt]

I am playing a Ranger/Thief, in one campaign led by a freind of mine. Basically monte cook's revision, with feats instead of spells. That makes him much more close to fighter. ....and no one complain the fighter class ...so it must be a good one alt.ranger!!!!!
My character required something closely related to a light and fast warrior than a heavy armored one, and good BAB, so the choice was nearly obliged (even because having as favored enemy humans and improved favored enmy enemy my blows run deep in their flesh!!!!!)

Anyway, a fighter oriented ranger loose much of his flavor if it is not multiclassed with something else. And feats for spell could be an option, not a fixed rule for rangers.

It's not enough to wider the spell list, remain to divine magic, if he doesn't gain more spells. It is simply useless, until you draw ranger specific spells like the one by Monte....

Steven McRownt

 

[Plane Sailing]

Personally I think that changing the rangers spell list would be a great idea. As it is, his spells are mostly of extraordinarily limited use (even compared to the Paladin - who gets things ranging from Bless Weapon to Holy Weapon. Magic Fang just doesn't compare!).

I remember I wondered long ago whether it would have been more interesting to make the Ranger class use Arcane magic (after all, it always did originally). It would differentiate them as an Arcane fighter from the "Divine fighter" paladin, and give a more specific reason for them to generally fight in light armour, to reduce arcane spell failure .

IMO both of these would be good calls.

I would go with all your additions to the spell list, and add one from my own campaign:

Foebane. 4th level Ranger spell.
Cast on a weapon, it gives that weapon the "bane" property against one of your nominated favoured enemies for 1 minute per level.
(sort of the rangers equivalent of Holy Weapon).

Cheers

 

[Steven McRownt]

Ranger casting arcane magic ....uhm.... it is something that wotc call "bladesinger" !!!

If you want to make the bladesinger being a class, i think that you should start givin' a ranger just one good save (reflex?), perhaps rougish BAB, without doubt d8 HD, so you can count on a reasonable amount of arcane spell.

Thinking about arcane spell failure, we have this house rule: the bonus given by his inherent casting ability (intelligence for wizards, charisma for sorcerers and bards) actually lower for an equal amount of percentile the chance of arcane casting failure (i.e. a 14 in intelligence lower the percantage by 2%; we have a feat, "true combat casting" that double this percentage, and thus allow an arcane spellcaster to cast in light armour nearly without problems.

...A new ranger, casting arcane, could have -as a class feature- a "-1% per level" in order to slowly dump the arcane casting failure.

What do you think?

Steven McRownt

ps I think too that a casting ranger should have arcane spells and no divine, to be the arcane counterpart of the divine casting fighter, also known as the paladin.