I hear Rangers suck. Is this true?

[Dr. Zoom]

billd91 wrote:
Change the way they get favored enemy bonuses. The ultimate total of their bonuses is +20. Currently, at 1st level they get 1 point (+1 vs enemy A). At 5th level they gain net 2 (+2 vs enemy A, +1 vs enemy B, for a net change of 2 points in bonuses) . At 10th level, they gain 3, at 15th they gain 4, and at 20th they gain 5.

I count 15. 1+2+3+4+5.

zerovoid wrote:
They also get TWF, which is of little use, since using a shield or a two handed weapon is usually better.

Actually, a ranger can use a shield as his off-hand weapon. He can even spike it for 1d6 damage. He can take shield expert as a feat and use it as a weapon and get the AC value at the same time. I am starting a dwarven barbarian/ranger soon who will use this tactic.

 

[Squire James]

Good Things about Rangers:

1. +1 per level BAB and d10 hit dice, like fighters.

2. Good class skills, with a decent number of skill points.

Bad Things about Rangers:

1. Too much Good Stuff at level 1, then nothing much after that. For instance, a Polymorph Self spell is not necessarily very powerful if you consider that a Druid of that level is doing it 5 times a day (albeit limited to animals) and tossing Firestorms to boot!

2. Favored Enemy ability at the mercy of the DM, and in many cases the bonuses don't make too much of a difference (especially if they pick something that cannot be critically hit).

3. Poor saves compared to many semi-spellcasters. They should probably get good Reflex saves.

I think the Bad Things can be fixed without giving a Ranger a power advantage over other character classes (except against Favored Enemies, where they SHOULD be better!). Taking the Bad Things one at a time, I suggest these changes:

1. Track at level 1. Choose a bonus feat from a short list of "Ranger feats" at levels 2 and 3 (the list should contain Ambi, TWF, the bow feats, and 5-7 others; NOT Weapon Specialization). If the player desires a Ranger without spell abilities, he may choose another bonus feat at the levels he would normally gain a level of spells (levels 4, 8, 11, and 14 if he has good enough Wisdom to gain bonus spells).

2. A +1 to a Favored Enemy occurs every 2 levels, starting at level 2. This gives the level 1 Ranger some time to decide what runs around in that campaign, and might even give time to form a logical basis to hate their enemy before getting bonuses to fight them. The +1 may be added to an existing Favored Enemy to a maximum of +5, or be applied to a new enemy.

Favored Enemy bonus applies to these factors: attack rolls, skill checks (as noted in the PHB), saving throws against Favored Enemy magical effects, and save DC against the Ranger's spells. Note the replacement of damage bonus with attack bonus... if he really wants a damage bonus the Ranger should be encouraged to choose Power Attack as a feat. The attack bonus applies even if the Favored Enemy is not subject to critical hits (as would the damage bonus if Power Attack is used). I would even consider letting the Favored Enemy bonus be added to BAB for Power Attack purposes (but not others, like number of attacks).

3. Reflex saves use the same progression as their Fortitude saves.

 

[Crothian]

"3. Poor saves compared to many semi-spellcasters. They should probably get good Reflex saves. "

Who are you comparing them to? The only other caster like the ranger is the Paladin, and they have the same saves. The real spell casters (Bard, Clereic, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard) all have good Will and maybe something else. So, if anything should be changed about the rangers saving throws by comparing it to other spellcasters, it should get goo Will saves.

 

[Nightfall]

He's probably not allowing these because he's familiar with all of the d&d stuff.

Well he's a fool then, just because he cannot handle the power trips of others. Silly Dm. I mean it would be ONE thing if he didn't run a GH type of world...but you THINK he'd want archmage pr-class along with Divine Disciple. (Still think there's more that could have been done with Defenders of the Faith)

 

[Squire James]

I am comparing them to Paladins and Bards primarily. Paladins have a level 1 class ability that tends to make all their saving throws "good saves" even though only Fortitude will increase quickly. Bards, for all their other shortcomings (that's another thread), get 2 good saves.

Actually, I waver between declaring the other good save Reflex or Will. I think they should get one of them, but letting them save like monks would be too much! I went with Reflex saves, because I tend to think of them more as stealthy warriors than steadfast warriors (though they can be either or both according to ability scores).

 

[Kai Lord]

Don't forget that your Ranger can start off with an animal companion, too!

Rangers can't cast Animal Friendship until 4th level.

 

[byxbee]

Is it this guy's fault that Rangers suck and will miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season?
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I was waiting to see this one....

 

[Crothian]

Is it this guy's fault that Rangers suck and will miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season?
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I was waiting to see this one....

Your Standards are too high. As a Blue Jacket Fan I'm just happy we aren't in last place this year.

 

[RogueJK]

Don't forget that your Ranger can start off with an animal companion, too!

Rangers can't cast Animal Friendship until 4th level.

True, but this character will be starting at 10th level. So he could start with an animal companion.

 

[Nightfall]

Your Standards are too high. As a Blue Jacket Fan I'm just happy we aren't in last place this year.

I'll be happy if the Flyers can prove to me that the deserve to be in Stanely Cup contention. So they better DAMN well beat those non-studdly Sens.

Oh and I hope for that Habs sake they upset Boston! I know it's good for either city IF they win a playoff round BUT I have to admit, I'm a fan of old school hockey.