D&D (2024) How to simply fix Ranger in 2024.

[Horwath]

Easy, remove mandatory feature of Hunter's mark and all of its "improvements".

At levels 1,13,17 and 20 ranger gets a feat slot.

If that is too much then remove the +1 ASI from feats at those levels.


EDIT:
2 more solutions:

A;
Divine Hunter:
1st level; Replace bonus HM with bonus Divine favor spell
13th lvl: increase damage of Divine favor to 1d8
17th lvl: advantage on all attacks while you have Divine favor cast on yourself
20th lvl: increase Divine favor damage to 2d6

B;
Ranger, the concentrator:
1st level: Replace bonus HM with bonus 1st level spell slots, for RANGER SPELLS ONLY, no extra Shield or Silvery barb cheese here. Please...
13th lvl: you cannot lose Concentration on a RANGER SPELL while you are consciuos.
17th lvl: while you are Concentrating on a RANGER SPELL, you have advantage on all attacks
20th lvl: while you are Concentrating on a RANGER SPELL, you deal extra d6 damage. Damage type is chosen from Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison or Thunder.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

For most of the haters I guess following fix would have sufficed:

Remove all hunter's mark related features. Full stop.

 

[pukunui]

I’m leaning more toward keeping hunter’s mark but removing concentration, so I would only need to replace Relentless Hunter at level 13. (And beef up Foe Slayer at 20th.)

 

[Minigiant]

Ranger is strong. They don't need more feats.

The fix for Ranger is flavor.

Ranger "needs" alternative Hunter's Mark spell options.

Beastmaster's Mark.
Stalker's Mark.
Warden's Mark.

 

[Horwath]

I’m leaning more toward keeping hunter’s mark but removing concentration, so I would only need to replace Relentless Hunter at level 13. (And beef up Foe Slayer at 20th.)

if that is 1st level feature, I would not mind the whole hunter's mark feat chain.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Don't play it.

 

[mellored]

What issue are you trying to "fix"? Their lack if identity?

Not that I am against invocations.

 

[Horwath]

What issue are you trying to "fix"? Their lack if identity?

getting rid of mandatory feature that "eats" your Concentration slot.
that is simply bad design.

Not that I am against invocations.

hmm. 4 slots for warlock invocations might not be bad also on ranger. hehe.

 

[mellored]

getting rid of mandatory feature that "eats" your Concentration slot.
that is simply bad design.

I don't see why.

You have enough uses you can drop it for any other concentration spell whenever you want.

Cast web, and when they get out switch to hunters mark.

Running conjure animals and hunters mark would and multiattack with Nick would be too much.

hmm. 4 slots for warlock invocations might not be bad also on ranger. hehe.

If you want a feat with no ASI that is ranger themed... that's an invocation.

 

[Minigiant]

getting rid of mandatory feature that "eats" your Concentration slot.
that is simply bad design.

That's not bad design.

You get 2-6 free uses of HM. That's not mandatory. That's extra.
This is the part the community gives stuck on.

If you do 2 short rests between long rests then it doesn't cover all your encounters until level 5. Then there is the possibly to have more than 3 encounters per day (as you should).

Then you have more free castings to reapply after dropping concentration due to damage or casting another concentration spell.

The only real problem.with Ranger is WOTC doesn't design cool spells for it like they do for full casters.