D&D General Ranger Identity Patch (+)

[doctorbadwolf]

This brings up the idea of figuring out a way to differentiate the Ranger by making it the epitome of a mid-weight "skirmisher" class. I still think that a ranger on their own should be the highly alert class (rarely surprised, hard to get the drop on), and mostly focused on ambushes and guerrilla warfare tactics. However, it should also be that a Ranger working with allies, whether that be their animal companion, a rogue, another ranger, or an entire party should be a terrifying thing to come across.

I'm not 100% sure how to go about achieving that mechanically (esp. in 5e), but I like the idea in principle.

OH, and I like the idea of using Pass Without Trace as a model for how the ranger helps the whole team succeed, and having features that do a similar thing but for athletics checks, and another for movement speed, and another for keeping watch, etc.

Basically, since the buff also affects the ranger it is still quite useful when the ranger is solo.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

personally i don't care about my ranger having a pet, though i'd happily agree to them having find familiar on their spell list.

Ranger should have the equivalent of Find Steed, not find familiar

 

[CreamCloud0]

Ranger should have the equivalent of Find Steed, not find familiar

eh, they can have both/either, but more ranger archetype characters i can think of tend towards smaller animals as their helper rather than their mounts, unless the mount is a dragon (in which case it's pushing into a different archetype there) or something else notable the mount is typically just that, a mount, if they have one at all and aren't travelling by foot.

 

[Minigiant]

You might need to move “combat pet” into the major power category and leave the middle-power pet to scouting buddies, but overall I think this approach could work.

I just fear making a combat pet equal to half casting is damage near impossible.

 

[Horwath]

I just fear making a combat pet equal to half casting is damage near impossible.

maybe add more pets, but then that goes into Conjure spell problems with too much actions per turn.
But I do agree that ranger could be spell-less as a core class and half-casting be a subclass feauture.
Honestly same goes for AT and EK, 1/3rd casting is just bad.

maybe beastmaster can gain bestial features in addition to having a beast companion.
But probably still limited to single companion

 

[Minigiant]

maybe add more pets, but then that goes into Conjure spell problems with too much actions per turn.
But I do agree that ranger could be spell-less as a core class and half-casting be a subclass feauture.
Honestly same goes for AT and EK, 1/3rd casting is just bad.

maybe beastmaster can gain bestial features in addition to having a beast companion.
But probably still limited to single companion

Half casting id too powerful to be equal to a pet without the combat pet being disruptive.

Half casting is powerful. Its a lot of spell slots. Third casting is really powerful with 2 good spells and not doing 6+ encounters. But I think you cant make a pet as strong as a 1/3 caster.

But optional 1/2 casting will suck up too much design space to work. It'll be the strongest choice 90% of the time. Spellcasting is only matched by getting actual magic items. Trading it for a combat pet would be a self nerf 90% of the time.

 

[Horwath]

Half casting id too powerful to be equal to a pet without the combat pet being disruptive.

Half casting is powerful. Its a lot of spell slots. Third casting is really powerful with 2 good spells and not doing 6+ encounters. But I think you cant make a pet as strong as a 1/3 caster.

But optional 1/2 casting will suck up too much design space to work. It'll be the strongest choice 90% of the time. Spellcasting is only matched by getting actual magic items. Trading it for a combat pet would be a self nerf 90% of the time.

that is why I said that beastmaster could sink some subclass "points" into self buffs.
natural attack, natural armor, more speed, better vision, skill bonuses, poison and resistance to poisons,

as for design goals, and hopefully some version that will have some universal subclasses(biggest mistake of 2024 not having them),
take spell-less class:
add half-casting to them with some small features that support synergy,
code subclass levels at: 1,3,6,10&14
that is now global power budget for ALL subclasses.