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

[Horwath]

So as long as you don't take any other concentration spells, your fine with it?



This is well beyond a revision. But here is what I would do.


Level 1:Hunter's Mark, at-will, concentration, +1d4 to d12 scaling by ranger level.
No spells.
Level 2: Hunters Invocations
Level 3: subclass

limit to once per turn and drop concentration

...

Hunters Invocations
Level 2:
Healing herbs
Speak with Animals
Expertise
Snare
Alarm
...

Level 5:
Elemental resistance
Spiked trap
Grappling Arrow
Beast Sight
...

Level 9:
Spirit Beasts: (Conjure Animals)
Guerilla Leader: (concentration, allies get + stealth
Shining Mark: (Hunters Mark can't hide)
...

this I like.

 

[Horwath]

If concentration doesn't work, then why are you concerned about other concentration spells?

But sure, use a bow with +2 to hit. That's more damage as well.

keeping 150ft away sure helps with keeping concentration

 

[Horwath]

I think the ranger should have gotten con saves instead of dex. I mean they are wanting to survive in the wilderness where con saves are much more common.

I would go with dex and con.
yes, it's 2 "strong" saves, but that can be one of rangers advantages at 1st level.

 

[ECMO3]

And if you don't use Rage then how many barbarian levels do you thrown away?

I think this really illustrates the main problem.

Rage is a core part of the Barbarian, both mechanically and thematically; Barbarian is the Rage guy

Most don't view Hunter's Mark as class defining. Ranger does not mean Hunter's Mark man to most players.

 

[Minigiant]

Side note

Why is there no Trapper subclass?

Because the designers in WOTC are not attuned with modern ranger archetypes that were not in 3,0e.or earlier.

 

[Minigiant]

I think this really illustrates the main problem.

Rage is a core part of the Barbarian, both mechanically and thematically; Barbarian is the Rage guy

Most don't view Hunter's Mark as class defining. Ranger does not mean Hunter's Mark man to most players.

The issue is WOTC.

They aren't creative with Ranger magic and don't partake of the high magic fantasy media that display Hunters Mark variants.

 

[RoughCoronet0]

Rangers get 2-4 attacks as they level and gets a damage bonus from their subclass.

Taking away concentration just lets rangers get a damage boost while concentrating on Spike growth or Conjure Woodland Beings.

I hope you have no power gamers at your table.

My entire group is full of power gamers, and we use a lot of homebrew that make both monsters and PC more powerful.

Like I said, I’m tweaking things for my table specifically, I k ow this would not be a solution for most.

 

[Horwath]

The issue is WOTC.

They aren't creative with Ranger magic and don't partake of the high magic fantasy media that display Hunters Mark variants.

one simple design note.
Never make core class/subclass feature that uses concentration on a spellcaster that cannot be traded/used for non-concentration feature.

 

[ECMO3]

The issue is WOTC.

They aren't creative with Ranger magic and don't partake of the high magic fantasy media that display Hunters Mark variants.

Changing Hunter's Mark to work more like Cleric Channel Divinity would help a lot. Make it not a spell, then you could have a core use, and maybe that is 1d6 extra damage on attacks for a minute, but then some thematic subclass specific abilities.

 

[ECMO3]

Rangers get 2-4 attacks as they level and gets a damage bonus from their subclass.

Taking away concentration just lets rangers get a damage boost while concentrating on Spike growth or Conjure Woodland Beings.

I hope you have no power gamers at your table.

I am not a fan of taking away concentration as a fix as that does not get to the core problem of the features.

That said power gaming is not much of a concern given the other classes and multiclass builds. Making HM concentration-free is not going to make Ranger's competitive with the strongest classes in the game.