Focused Ranger

[DJCupboard]

I don't know if this is the right place or if this belongs in house rules (or if this has already been asked before), but I was curious what we all thought would be a good progression for a ranger that only ever gets one favored enemy.

~Dave~

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but the existing ranger can be pretty focussed - e.g. takes Humans as his first favoured enemy, bumps it again at 5th, bumps it again at 10th (so at that point he is +6 humans, +2 something, +2 something else). Could eventually end up at +10 vs humans by the time he is 20th level, and that is pretty focussed!

On another tack, I think that the DMG has an example of a possible ranger variant in a sidebar for a ranger that only ever has 1 favoured enemy but gains a paladin-like mount in compensation (I can't remember whether this was 3.0 or 3.5 DMG though).

Cheers

 

[DJCupboard]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but the existing ranger can be pretty focussed - e.g. takes Humans as his first favoured enemy, bumps it again at 5th, bumps it again at 10th (so at that point he is +6 humans, +2 something, +2 something else). Could eventually end up at +10 vs humans by the time he is 20th level, and that is pretty focussed!

Yeah, I think in terms of the bunus you add, focusing on just one favored enemy (ie not having any other favored enemies at all), shouldn't increase your plusses any more, but maybe you could start adding the plusses to more things (attacks, ac, saving throws, etc.). I'm not sure how easy it would be to break the ranger doing this though.

Something like at 5th level, add you bonuses to saving throws against their spell-like and SU attacks

at 10th level, add to your AC against their attacks (or maybe just half the bonus to AC)

at 15th level add to crit confirmation rolls (or maybe just half the bonus).

at 20th level add to attacks (or maybe just half the bonus).

~Dave~

NOTE: Maybe a Mod should move this to House Rules?

 

[Plane Sailing]

NOTE: Maybe a Mod should move this to House Rules?

I felt it was OK leaving it here for a while, because someone might have come across variants for rangers among the various official rulesets which might be related to what you're looking for (like my DMG reference).

I can easily move it House Rules at any point though - shall I give it another day here first?

 

[DJCupboard]

shall I give it another day here first?

Can't hurt

 

[Nifft]

You could regard the Slayer as a very focused Ranger. With some Psion or PsiWarrior in it.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Shazman]

It sounds a lot like the Foehunter PrC from 3.0 or the sworn slayer PrC from Dragon. It seems to be a bit too focused for a base class unless it's a modified version like the undead stalker or witch from the DMG. It would definitley need some other abilities to make up for it's lack of flexibility. The main weakness of the ranger is the fact that their signature class ability only comes into play against a certain type of creature. Only one favored enemy would amplify that weakness.