Is the 3.5e Ranger yours?

[Henry]

Seeing as how the Ranger, for the entire LIFE of the D&D class, has never been "spell-less", it's still surprising to me to have someone who wants him to be.

I can understand the desire to represent a "Robin Hood/Aragorn" type, however, and D&D is still missing it. The D&D ranger that represented Robin and Aragorn would possess class abilities, or choices of class abilities, that gave him the kinds of scouting abilities that the 3.5 Ranger gets through spells.

Aragorn for instance, was a healer, but healed with natural plants, herbs and lore. He could cross terrain efficiently, he could hide, stalk and track, but was not a caster. These need to be extraordinary or at least supernatural class abilities to model this.

However, the 3.5 Ranger is a great class, and one that I will gladly use - once we start playing 3.5 games.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Seeing as how the Ranger, for the entire LIFE of the D&D class, has never been "spell-less", it's still surprising to me to have someone who wants him to be.

My history is not with D&D. I played 1E once or twice, 2E 10-15 times. 3E was the first version that really attracted me to the game. By the time you can cast the spells they are nearly worthless. I still believe the ranger should be without spells. No Spells

 

[Ghola]

It's closer than the 3.0 ranger was, but so far Midnight's Wildlander is the closest I've seen to the archetype. I've always had a hard time wrapping my head around the spellcasting angle.

Ditto!

 

[shadowlight]

I like the 3.5 Ranger a lot more than the 3.0 version (my wife's playing one and loving it). But I also don't understand why they cast spells... I wish there was an option to gain feats (weapon focus and weapon specialization for example) instead of spells.

 

[Pants]

I can understand the desire to represent a "Robin Hood/Aragorn" type, however, and D&D is still missing it.

Fighter/Rogue would work fine for both of them.

I really like the 3.5 Ranger, but I'm not adverse to seeing what can be done when the fighting styles and spells are removed. I'd also replace Evasion with Uncanny Dodge, but that's a nit pick.

 

[Nifft]

IMO, the 3.5e Ranger is Good Enough(tm) that I no longer feel required to replace it with another class.

-- N

 

[shadow]

Sort of, but I still don't really like it that much. My problem is the focus on "combat styles". To me the option of combat styles is really a half-@$$ed solution to the complaints about two weapon fighting. Now a ranger can be a master archer OR A TWO WEAPON FIGHTER! In my opinion, the archetypical ranger is not focused around combat. Sure the ranger is a skilled fighter, but he is also a skilled tracker and woodsman! The fast tracking ability is nice, but what about the favored terrain, and similar abilities that I've seen in so many alt-rangers?

 

[maddman75]

Seeing as how the Ranger, for the entire LIFE of the D&D class, has never been "spell-less", it's still surprising to me to have someone who wants him to be.

Seems to me in 3e that you have an advantage you never had in BD&D, 1e, or 2e. If you want your wilderness scout to have some nature magic, just have him take some levels in druid. Well, assuming your DM ignores that silly oath thing.

 

[Mercule]

Seems to me in 3e that you have an advantage you never had in BD&D, 1e, or 2e. If you want your wilderness scout to have some nature magic, just have him take some levels in druid. Well, assuming your DM ignores that silly oath thing.

Exactly. And for my vision of the Ranger, I'd multiclass into a Wizard. Solves well for all three scenarios: 1) Nature/Divine spells, 2) Arcane spells, and 3) No spells.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I vote Yes. The only thing that doesn't fit 100% is the spellcasting, but D&D is magic-heavy, and the ranger casts nature spells, so it's right enough. He shouldn't cast wizard spells at all, and his list fits IMO. If you don't want them, go the Rokugani way: every time the ranger would gain another spell level, the ranger gets a bonus feat instead (but no weapon specialization, that's fighter stuff!).