D&D 5E (2014) Paladin and Ranger Are Backward

[doctorbadwolf]

I honestly feel the ranger is best as a rogue archetype or variant. Sneak attack for sniping. Light armor. Expertise stealth and survival. Maybe some spells like the arcane trickster. And I think the bonus action move for a ranger would be sweet. Imho. I know thoughts would vary.

Like with the fighter, I’d need a lot more of a character’s mechanics to live in the subclass to be satisfied with that.

But yeah the rogue is a vastly better home for the ranger than the fighter.

 

[Minigiant]

The Ranger really should be a prep class and all the subclasses should have additional spells known.

I'd do you one better.

The Ranger really should be a prep class and all the favored enemies, favored terrains, and subclasses should have additional spells known.

Hunter: hunter's mark, conjure barrage
Favored Terrain Forest: entangle, spider climb
Favored Enemy Dragon: absorb elements, protection from energy
Favored Terrain Desert: create or destroy water, blur
Fravored Enemy Humaniond: alarm, wind wall

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I'd do you one better.

The Ranger really should be a prep class and all the favored enemies, favored terrains, and subclasses should have additional spells known.

Hunter: hunter's mark, conjure barrage
Favored Terrain Forest: entangle, spider climb
Favored Enemy Dragon: absorb elements, protection from energy
Favored Terrain Desert: create or destroy water, blur
Fravored Enemy Humaniond: alarm, wind wall

I like that idea. Mostly for favored terrain, because I do think that preparing special “banes” for, and salves against, different creatures is a more thematic route.

 

[Xeviat]

I'd do you one better.

The Ranger really should be a prep class and all the favored enemies, favored terrains, and subclasses should have additional spells known.

Hunter: hunter's mark, conjure barrage
Favored Terrain Forest: entangle, spider climb
Favored Enemy Dragon: absorb elements, protection from energy
Favored Terrain Desert: create or destroy water, blur
Fravored Enemy Humaniond: alarm, wind wall

OH I like that.

An idea I've been wanting try out was a spell list based on what terrain you're in when you long rest. That would be an interesting "favored terrain" feature.

 

[Sithlord]

The main conflict is that person assume rangers can hang in melee whereas the D&D rogue cannot and is not expected to stay in the frontline as an option.

I kinda agree with that. It’s just every other aspect of the class scream rogue to me.

 

[jmartkdr2]

The main conflict is that person assume rangers can hang in melee whereas the D&D rogue cannot and is not expected to stay in the frontline as an option.

You could fix that with subclass features, but it might end up being a lot for a subclass.

 

[Minigiant]

You could fix that with subclass features, but it might end up being a lot for a subclass.

Nah. It's more than what subclasses do.

 

[Minigiant]

I kinda agree with that. It’s just every other aspect of the class scream rogue to me.

True.

The ranger is a Fighter who sacrifices versatility for roguery, druidism, and magic.

 

[GlassJaw]

I'd do you one better.

The Ranger really should be a prep class and all the favored enemies, favored terrains, and subclasses should have additional spells known.

Hunter: hunter's mark, conjure barrage
Favored Terrain Forest: entangle, spider climb
Favored Enemy Dragon: absorb elements, protection from energy
Favored Terrain Desert: create or destroy water, blur
Fravored Enemy Humaniond: alarm, wind wall

I definitely wouldn't go this direction. This just exacerbates the problem of the ranger being highly reliant on the campaign/DM for its abilities to function.

I'm firmly in the camp that the ranger needs a rework (although UA & Tasha's has helped a lot) but making their abilities more specialized is not the answer.

 

[Minigiant]

I definitely wouldn't go this direction. This just exacerbates the problem of the ranger being highly reliant on the campaign/DM for its abilities to function.

I'm firmly in the camp that the ranger needs a rework (although UA & Tasha's has helped a lot) but making their abilities more specialized is not the answer.

The idea is that these are on top of what the ranger gets. These are bonus spells known.