Giving rangers an advantage in tracking

[PeterDonis]

This topic has come up before, I'm sure, but I've got a simple house rule suggestion to give rangers an advantage in tracking over other classes (e.g., a barbarian or druid who takes the Track feat). The Track feat description in the PHB says that you must move at half speed while tracking; if you move at normal speed you suffer a -5 penalty to the check. Allow rangers to move at normal speed while tracking without this penalty; if a ranger wants to track "carefully" (moving at half speed), give him a +5 bonus to the check.

Thoughts?

Peter Donis

 

[Crothian]

How about just giving Rangers a bonus to tracking of +1 per 2 levels? I think having a bonus that grows with the class would be better then just a flat bonus at an early level. Give people a reason to stick with the class.

 

[PeterDonis]

I saw this suggestion over on the WotC boards after I'd made the above post. My only potential misgiving is that 1/2 levels may be a bit much (that means a ranger 20 has +33 to Wilderness Lore when tracking if the skill is maxed out, not counting any Wisdom bonus, which seems high to me, but YMMV). Maybe 1/3 levels or even 1/4 levels, or maybe give +1 at 1st level and another +1 at 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th (similar to the favored enemy bonus progression). The last suggestion combined with my original suggestion might work best--a significant advantage starting out but also a progression with level.

Peter Donis

 

[Crothian]

Well, +10 over 20 levels is not that great a bonus. Okay, it is a nice bonus but a magical item that give +10 to wilderness lore (not just tracking) costs only 2000gp. So, it is really easy (good or bad) to get these type of bonuses early on in one's character.