Ranger - likes and dislikes?

[drothgery]

Hey, I didn't do it, WOTC did. You tell him he has a fricking d8 for hit points.

He's got a 20 con; he can live with a d8 hit die. He's frickin' Aragorn.

 

[Enkhidu]

Is that the varient where you get a bonus feat every time you'd get a spell level?

Nope - it was a synthesis of WoT's Woodsman (from which I took the name) and some abilities I found in AEG's Path of the Sword (from their Outdoorsman). In the end, it looked like this:

BAB: Full
HD: d10
SP: 6/lvl - skill list identical to current Ranger list
Saves: Good Fort (only)
Specials:
1) Favored Terrain (+2 to Survival, Listen, Spot, Hide, and AC in favored terrain, as well as an extra 5' of movement - add 2 terrains at 1st lvl and then add 2 more at level 8 and 15 and increase the previous terrain(s) by one each time - terrains are things like Cold Forest, or Temperate Plains)
2) Bonus Feats: Tracking at 1st, Improved Initiative at 2nd (only in light armor or less), bonus from fighter list at 4th, 9th, 14th, and 19th; also able to take Weapon Specialization at level 6

That was it in a nutshell.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Hey, I didn't do it, WOTC did. You tell him he has a fricking d8 for hit points.

The D20 Modern version has even fewer hp - Dedicated doesn't make you so tough, no? Besides, Aragorn never gets hit. How would you know how many hit points he gets?

 

[Nebulous]

I like the idea of ranger as consummate, mystical hunter – I wish his shtick was more along the lines of hang back, study the adversary for as long as possible, and deliver a lethal or crippling blow. That would make playing one interestingly tense and different, I think. The spells and favored enemies (or favored terrains) could play into this. And perhaps instead of having an animal companion he should have the ability to very easily recruit animal help from his surroundings.

hmm. sounds like an assassin multi-class. That might work. The idea sounds sorta similar anyway...

 

[Nyaricus]

I like the idea of ranger as consummate, mystical hunter – I wish his shtick was more along the lines of hang back, study the adversary for as long as possible, and deliver a lethal or crippling blow. That would make playing one interestingly tense and different, I think.

You just described the Archer Class from Iron Heroes to a tee. If you don't play that game, may I suggest you pick up a copy from your FLGS, or at least flip through it?

 

[iwatt]

You just described the Archer Class from Iron Heroes to a tee. If you don't play that game, may I suggest you pick up a copy from your FLGS, or at least flip through it?

Or an Executioner with wilderness skills thrown into the mix. Iron heroes rocks

 

[Imp]

I've peeked at IH – what I'm describing sounds closer to the Executioner... as I understand it there's a lot of incentive for Archers to specialize in Rapid Shot and just sit around machine-gunning everyone.

The Ranger class is sort of assassin-like already, or at any rate is a pretty good lead-in to the prestige class, if you ditch Wisdom and invest in Intelligence instead...

 

[Voadam]

I dislike the spells, limited weapon mastery paths, and animal companion. Should have intimidate and sense motive on class skills for the bounty hunter class. Favored enemy should add to appropriate knowledges and skills should be on ranger list.

I really like all the little flavorful stuff like tracking bonuses, evasion, bonus endurance, and lots of skill points.

I like FFG's Wildscape expanded weapon mastery paths and spell-less versions.

Should have some more wilderness tough guy themed customization abilities built into the class.

 

[sniffles]

About the only thing I don't like about the ranger class is not getting an animal companion until 4th level.

 

[Mercule]

Dislikes:
- d8 HD: WTF? "I live in the woods. I run all day. I stand against the foes you don't see. But, I'm not as hearty as that city-born fighter who relies on a sheet of metal to stay alive." I can see an argument for d12, but giving them d8 is daft.

- Divine magic. Rangers aren't "one with the land". That's druids. Rangers are the guys who learn whatever is necessary to fight the fights they choose. Some of that happens to be magic. I'm okay with that. But it's a tool, not some spiritual quest.

- Druid lite. Again, rangers are more special forces than natural warriors. Sure, you can use the class to represent that archetype, but it should really represent Aragorn and his like.

- Two weapon fighting. What's this got to do with being a ranger? I can see it as a cool concept, but it shouldn't be a class ability. Just do away with the combat styles entirely. Let the other class abilities gird the ranger in combat.

Likes:
- Full BAB. These guys are squarely in the warrior camp.

- Skills. Rangers are survivalists of the highest degree. They should have great skills.

- Tracking. See "Skills".

Undecided:
- Animal Companion. I can see it, but I don't think I like it as a "manditory" thing. Both ranger and druid might be better served by having the special option of an animal companion under the Leadership feat.

- Favored Enemy. Listed here only because I'd like to see the option of Favored Terrain become a core rule.

- Evasion. This probably belongs in "dislike", but I'd like it if it were replaced by Uncanny Dodge and/or DR. Again, these are the guys that can crouch for hours, in a thunderstorm, watching their "prey". That toughens a guy up.

Really, my vision of what the Ranger should be would make the Barbarian a bit redundant. In fact, start with the Ranger. Give him d10 HD. Merge the two skill lists (if needed). Drop evasion. Drop combat styles. Grab the Uncanny Dodge and (maybe) DR from Barbarian. Consider dropping Favored Enemy (replace w/ DR?). Now you've got a Ranger.

Edit: Oh, and keep the spell list, but call it "arcane", not "divine".