Options for replacing ranger companion?

[Terath Ninir]

Heck, when I play a ranger, I usually cherry pick it for the 1st three levels. (Yes, I'm weird, and think Endurance is worth picking up. ) I get out before I have to deal with companions and spells. But my wife isn't a munchkin, and is in it for the actual ranger abilities, so she'll like that rules change.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I can't get at my DMG now because it is in a room with a sleeping baby, BUT

I seem to recall that in the 3.0 DMG it gave a boxed example of character class changes to fit a concept - something like a ranger animal hunter that didn't want other favoured enemies but got a mount like a paladin? If you have the 3.0 DMG it might be worth checking up that example to see what it is like and if it gives you any additional clues.

If you wanted to offer a simple and not very powerful trade-out, you could allow them to swap the animal companion (which the druid gets at 1st) for nature sense (+2 survival and know(nature) (which the druid also gets at 1st).

That would be a low powered alternative.

If you wanted to offer something more useful but which still seems in character with rangers you could give them fast movement +10ft just like the barbarian gets.

Cheers

 

[Nifft]

IMC, the Ranger PC isn't a big fan of animals. He's chosen to worship the god of storms and the hunt.

So, he lost Wild Empathy and his Animal Companion. He gained a Divine skill bonus (+1/4 levels) to four Ranger skills, and got a few more spells added to his Ranger spell list (doom, bane, call lightning, etc.)

-- N