D&D 5E Please tell me your cool Ranger stories

[Aurelio]

I just started a new campaign as a Ranger and I'm loving her thus far. We're only level two, but the backstory I wrote for her is very fun to RP and I wreck all types of face, although this apparently flattens out at higher levels. My problem is that I'm a very "the grass is always greener on the other side" sort of player - I'm a terrible altoholic in every MMO that I pick up - and I'm already thinking of rolling other classes. I find myself imagining this character as a single-target juggernaut of a Fighter or an incomparably versatile Rogue, but I know that this sort of thing is just in my head.

So to keep myself motivated, I wanted to ask you high level Rangers out there, what are your the coolest, funniest, most badass accomplishments that would have been impossible as any other class? What was the most creative way you've utilized Favored Enemy? When did your skill at tracking save the day, or ability to camouflage yourself get you out of an untenable situation? When did your Ranger spells make you feel like more than a watered down Druid? I'm planning on becoming a Hunter, so how did you Hunters use your archetype features to shine brighter than any other class in combat?

Thanks you in advance for helping a guy out with what is probably the most first world'ish a problem he's ever had - I appreciate your replies!

 

[KingsRule77]

I'm running a home game and my friend is a hunter ranger. I am consistently surprised by his combat ability. He uses a long sword with either one or two hands or a long bow. I forget what ability it is but he does extra damage to any enemy that isn't at full health. So as soon as a bad guy is nicked by a pebble his damage seems to go through the roof(relatively). He hasn't used many spells yet but his skill set makes him an effective teammate with rogues/casters/other warrior types. He's very much a 'glue' guy. The player is also pretty sharp and creative too.

 

[redrick]

We just had a 6th level ranger join our group. She's using the Horde Breaker feature, which allows her to gain a second attack (without using a bonus action!) whenever a creature is within 5 feet of her first attack. Since she already gets 2 attacks from her "extra attacks" feature, this means that she can fire off 4 attacks into a group without ever having to use any sort of action surge feature. It won't come up every combat, but she was able to chew through 4 wolves in one turn this Thursday, and she's gotten at least one use of the horde breaker feature in every combat encounter so far. She has the +2 bonus from the archery fighting style, so she is pumping out something like +9 on her attack rolls, and has the sharpshooter feat which allows her to ignore cover penalties and disadvantage from long range, so she can rain death from anywhere in the battlefield against anybody who isn't standing behind a wall with a roof over their head.

The ranger has lots of really cool out-of-combat features, but I find, as a DM, these can be the kind of situations that often get ignored when there isn't a ranger in the party. I like to ask my party for a survival check when resting outdoors — this determines how effectively they set up their campsite, including camouflage, making it harder for wandering monsters to find the sleeping party and sneak up undetected. Being able to determine the exact number of creatures being followed is also pretty useful.

 

[Sacrosanct]

We just had a 6th level ranger join our group. She's using the Horde Breaker feature, which allows her to gain a second attack (without using a bonus action!) whenever a creature is within 5 feet of her first attack. Since she already gets 2 attacks from her "extra attacks" feature, this means that she can fire off 4 attacks into a group without ever having to use any sort of action surge feature. .

Horde Breaker can only be used once a turn, regardless of # of attacks.

 

[redrick]

Horde Breaker can only be used once a turn, regardless of # of attacks.

Well, shucks, looks like you're right. This is what I get for having players start a new class at high level. Still, 3 attacks per turn while still having a bonus action available is nothing two shabby. (So, if 2-weapon fighting, she could use horde breaker to attack 3 times as a normal attack and then once with an off-hand attack, right?)

 

[Sacrosanct]

Yeah, I think so. 2 normal attacks +1 horde breaker +1 bonus off hand.