Ranger Combat Styles

[Astalanya]

Has anyone got a list of alternate ranger combat styles out there? The two-weapon fighting and archery work very nice, and all, but they're frankly a bit bland in a campaign where I've got several people interested in working with a ranger-dominant party. We could really use some diversity.

If I remember, there might've been a few more options in a recent Dragon magazine but I'm not able to recall which. If you have your own variants, websites you could point me to or anything, I'd be much obliged.

One busy DM, I don't have time to make my own unless forced.

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

I saw those, too. Maybe two or three months back. I'll have to check. I've been meaning to compile them all together myself for my house rules document.

 

[The Human Target]

Agile Combat:
Mobility
Spring Attack
Whirlwind Attack

Archery:
Rapid Shot
Manyshot
Improved Precise Shot

Mounted Combat:
Ride-By Attack
Spirited Charge
Trample

Power Combat:
Cleave
Improved Bull Rush
Great Cleave

Tactical Combat:
Combat Expertise
Improved Trip
Whirlwind Attack

Two-Weapon Combat:
Two-Weapon Fighting
Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Greater Two-Weapon Fighting

Unarmed Combat:
Improved Unarmed Strike
Improved Grapple
Stunning Fist


I picked these up somewhere.

 

[Cheerful Coffin]

It's called Dr@gon..

There's also the Urban Ranger someone spoiled me too, I wrote it down somewheres but now I can't find it.

That's like.. eight versions of the ranger right there..

 

[The Human Target]

It's called Dr@gon..

There's also the Urban Ranger someone spoiled me too, I wrote it down somewheres but now I can't find it.

That's like.. eight versions of the ranger right there..

They have an Urban Ranger variant in Unearthed Arcana. I didn't know those had been in Dragon, I had copied the off the net somewhere. I had made a crossbowman path as some point. I can't remember what it is off the top of my head though.

 

[TheLe]

So a "combat style" is just a listing of 3 feats that you get for free? That's it?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

So a "combat style" is just a listing of 3 feats that you get for free? That's it?

Yep. A ranger gets 1 at level 2, 1 at level 6 and 1 at level 11.

 

[The Human Target]

So a "combat style" is just a listing of 3 feats that you get for free? That's it?

Don't you like, design d20 stuff?

 

[Quickleaf]

My recommendation is talk to your players about what kind of combat styles they want their rangers to have. Maybe someone wants to play a Mongol-type horseback archer. You'll be surprised at the results you get, and you might get some players to create some very cool new feats.

That said, I've always thought it'd be cool if a ranger's combat style and their favored enemy were linked somehow. So, as an example, I present...

"The Giant Killer"
Req: Favored enemy (giants)

1st feat -- Jack Be Nimble (+1 AC versus giants, which increases to +3 AC when they attack you using their reach. You may occupy the space of any giant, even if they are only one size category larger.)

2nd feat -- Jack Be Quick (When occupying the same space as a giant, you can use the giant itself as 25% concealment from its own attacks only.)

3rd feat -- Jack Jumps Over the Candlestick (As a readied action you can make a Jump check to leap onto the back of a larger enemy (DC 15 for 1 size greater, DC 20 for 2 sizes, and DC 25 for 3 sizes). Once on the creature's back, not only do you gain 50% concealment from the creature's attacks (unless it slams its back against something or tries to roll you off on the groun), and any attacks the creature makes against you that miss have a 50% chance of hitting itself!)

 

[Sravoff]

"The Giant Killer"
Req: Favored enemy (giants)

1st feat -- Jack Be Nimble (+1 AC versus giants, which increases to +3 AC when they attack you using their reach. You may occupy the space of any giant, even if they are only one size category larger.)

2nd feat -- Jack Be Quick (When occupying the same space as a giant, you can use the giant itself as 25% concealment from its own attacks only.)

3rd feat -- Jack Jumps Over the Candlestick (As a readied action you can make a Jump check to leap onto the back of a larger enemy (DC 15 for 1 size greater, DC 20 for 2 sizes, and DC 25 for 3 sizes). Once on the creature's back, not only do you gain 50% concealment from the creature's attacks (unless it slams its back against something or tries to roll you off on the groun), and any attacks the creature makes against you that miss have a 50% chance of hitting itself!)

cool

-Sravoff