Ranger - likes and dislikes?

[Acquana]

If you really wanna know what sucks about Rangers, it's the angst. Think about it for a sec. How many rangers in your games haven't spent time sitting in the dark/woods/place where they like to be alone and pouting? Exactly.

As far as rules I'm actually pretty cool with them. I likes me some favored enemy.

 

[TheLe]

Favored Enemy

I find the favored enemy feature to be a bit to DM-controlled. As in "it kicks in when the DM wants it to be".

Is there any way to make it better?

`Le

 

[JVisgaitis]

I find the favored enemy feature to be a bit to DM-controlled. As in "it kicks in when the DM wants it to be".

Is there any way to make it better?

Do something similar to the Paladin's smite ability.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Yep. "Giant-class" creatures. You still have the same problem, but not nearly as often. How often does a party go without encountering orcs, goblins, ogres, kobolds, giants, lizardmen, etc?

I find the favored enemy feature to be a bit to DM-controlled. As in "it kicks in when the DM wants it to be".

Is there any way to make it better?

`Le

 

[dagger]

Does anybody have the list of the "giant class" creatures from 1e PHB?

 

[jcfiala]

I find the favored enemy feature to be a bit to DM-controlled. As in "it kicks in when the DM wants it to be".

Is there any way to make it better?

`Le

One option is to tie the bonus to a successful check on Survival, or the appropriate Knowledge skill. If the check is successful, the ranger discovers something about his target which gives him a bonus of 1/5th his ranger level - or else set the reward to his degree of success? For every 5 by which the Ranger makes a DC (ohh... call it) 15 Survival check, the Ranger gets an additional +1 to hit and damage and such. (So, 15-19 rolled is +1, 20-24 is +2, etc...)

 

[dagger]

The complete expanded "giant class" list from 1E Unearthed Arcana is as follows:


bugbear
cyclopskin
dune stalker
ettin
flind
giant
gibberling
gnoll
goblin
grimlock
hobgoblin
kobold
meazel
norker
ogre
ogre mage
ogrillon
orc
quaggoth
tasloi
troll
xvart

"When fighting humanoid-type creatures of the "giant class," listed hereafter, rangers add 1 hit point for each level of experience they have attained to the points of damage scored when they hit in melee combat. Giant class creatures are listed on Table 66. Example: a 5th level ranger hits a bugbear in melee combat, and the damage done to the opponent will be according to the ranger's weapon type, modified by his Strength, and +5 (for his or her experience level) because the opponent is a bugbear (a "giant class" humanoid)."


Man I like 1e Rangers...

 

[Steverooo]

More on Favored Enemies here. Quite a discussion on whether or not the bonuses apply if the Ranger doesn't know what he's fighting... and HOW he knows! I, myself, am firmly in the camp of "it always applies, regardless". YMMV.

No real answers on making it apply whenever the Player wants, though. The Smite option works, but is too limited, IMO.

As I said, before, my solutions are:

1) The bonuses always apply, regardless of whether or not the Ranger knows what he's fighting.
2) Favored Enemy (X) adds Knowledge (Whatever contains X) to the Ranger's skill list (this is already determined, in 3.5e), AND the Ranger may add his or her Ranger level to any such rolls, only when trying to know things about his or her favored enemies, being treated as skilled even if unskilled. For example, FE: Undead adds Knowledge (Religion) to the Ranger's skill list, and a first level Ranger would add +1 to his Knowledge (Religion) rolls to know the DR of a Skeleton, even if he hadn't taken Knowledge (Religion), yet, but would be treated as unskilled if trying to recognize the "Holy" Symbol of the evil temple it was guarding!

Again, I don't worry about the FE Bonuses applying whenever *I* want, as I have played long enough to know that ANYTHING will show up, sooner or later. Hunters are patient...

 

[Steverooo]

Other Things I'd Like to See:

1) Spontaneous Casting of all Ranger spells. Their selection is small, and terribly weak, and many of the spells not particularly useful. Making casting spontaneous would fix that.

2) An option for a larger hit die. I gave my version, above. Others can be generated.

3) Medium Armor Proficiency. Aragorn wore chainmail, and Mithral FullPlate counts. This is more a "point it out", but a Ranger CAN be a front-line combatant with a Mithral Chain Shirt & Dastana. The base 15 AC, with two +1 bonuses @ 1,000 GP, plus a +1 Buckler (and +1 Shield Bonus) is much easier to come by than the cost of +2 armor! Then add in DEX and any Dodge...

4) Should FE Bonuses add to Attack & AC (as a Dodge Bonus, similar to Dwarves against Giants)? Is that TOO powerful? I haven't decided, yet... That would make a Ranger more deadly against his FEs, if he concentrated, than a Fighter, as he could have from +4 to +10 to Attack/AC...

 

[CRGreathouse]

Like:
d8 HD (should be slightly less tough than fighters)
Wide skill selection
New 3.5 special abilities

Dislike:
Having 'only' two paths -- three to five would be better, especially if some had one special ability in place of a feat
Favored enemy, though I'm not sure what to replace it with. Certainly not a "favored terrain".

Unsure:
Spells
6 skill points per level (3.5 added too many skill points to too many classes)