D&D 5E (2024) Ranger Pet Spell

[Minigiant]

My belief is that part of the grief behind the Ranger class is that several class features were linking to a single spell. Favored Enemy and other features only benefit Hunter's Mark and doesn't affect other spells nor were other spells created for those features to expand the class to other archetypes of ranger. Why it wasnt expanded to Ensnaring Strike is baffling to me.

One type of spell that could have been explained to Favored Enemy is a beast summoning spells. Animal allies are an important aspect of some but not all Rangers.

But if Ranger's had a class exclusive 1st level summoning spell that it could cast without spell slots, how would you prefer its options be done?

Would you be okay with generic stat blocks you could flavor or do you want specific ones?

How granular? A few or cover a lot?

Or just have Summon Dog and forget the rest?

 

[aco175]

Is this meant to be a combat attacking thing or more like a wizard familiar? Seems like what it can do affects the choices of what I think its power is. If it is a 1/rest power that lasts for (1d4) rounds at first level and bumps from there I can see one thing. If it is an always around thing that reforms or resummons if it dies and can scout and climb or fly, and can I have monkey to tie this rope off, and can I have a dolphin to swim me around, and can I have... Then I might just say a dog.

 

[Horwath]

For favored enemy alternate usage;

at 5th level you can use 1 charge of feature to cast Summon Beast
at 7th level you can use 2 charges to cast it at 4th spell level

at 9th level you can use 2 charges of feature to cast Summon Fey
or 3 charges to cast it at 4th level

at 13th level you can use 3 charges of feature to cast Summon Elemental
or 4 charges to cast it at 6th level
at 17th level you can use 4 charges of feature to cast Summon Dragon
or 5 charges to cast it at 6th level

at 20th level, you can spend 6 charges of favored enemy feature to cast any of these spells at 8th spell level.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Okay i'm going to have to go with 'other' because i can only pick a single option in the poll, and that's better than only picking one of my multiple choices,

preface this with i do not think that any form of animal companion is an essential part of the ranger experience, however i by no means mean to exclude it as an option from anyone, i just don't think having one ought to be forced on everyone who picks the class.

i think find familiar should be on the basic ranger spell list, perhaps with an expanded familiar selection (either the terrain specified list or the any beast of CR 1/4 or less) and then the second spell which covers both the adventure/combat role selections.

 

[Minigiant]

Okay i'm going to have to go with 'other' because i can only pick a single option in the poll, and that's better than only picking one of my multiple choices,

preface this with i do not think that any form of animal companion is an essential part of the ranger experience, however i by no means mean to exclude it as an option from anyone, i just don't think having one ought to be forced on everyone who picks the class.

i think find familiar should be on the basic ranger spell list, perhaps with an expanded familiar selection (either the terrain specified list or the any beast of CR 1/4 or less) and then the second spell which covers both the adventure/combat role selections.

The idea is that at level 1 you choose between Hunter's Mark, Ensnaring Strike, and this spell for Favored Enemy and all the related class features.

 

[Tigris]

I Think this should be just subclass specific. Different subclasses can get different uses for favored enemy like it is with the druid.


This would also not add more complexity to the main class which I prefer.

Having a more complex feature which now could also be used to summon crestures which is more complex makes it just harder to build a simple ranger.

My belief is that part of the grief behind the Ranger class is that several class features were linking to a single spell. Favored Enemy and other features only benefit Hunter's Mark and doesn't affect other spells nor were other spells created for those features to expand the class to other archetypes of ranger.

I think hunters mark was chosen because it is quite neutral. You can focus on 1 enemy and do more damage. Does not need a specific flavour or build.

Also what many people overlook is that level 13 and 17 normally a ranger would not get any feature so getting a small upgrade to a low level spell is a nice bonus and its a good option B to have.

(The level 20 feature is bad and having so many subclasses depend on this as well).

 

[CreamCloud0]

The idea is that at level 1 you choose between Hunter's Mark, Ensnaring Strike, and this spell for Favored Enemy and all the related class features.

fair, but all that stuff i said can still apply in that framework right? rangers getting FF with expanded choices could still happen independently of the choice for the animal companion favoured enemy spell.

 

[Minigiant]

I think hunters mark was chosen because it is quite neutral. You can focus on 1 enemy and do more damage. Does not need a specific flavour or build.

Also what many people overlook is that level 13 and 17 normally a ranger would not get any feature so getting a small upgrade to a low level spell is a nice bonus and its a good option B to have.

(The level 20 feature is bad and having so many subclasses depend on this as well).

I agree. Hunter's Mark was also chosen because it was nonoffensive to fans in of itself. Its a highly rated spell.

The issue is that Favored Enemy has no other options so you HAVE to cast it in order to use it (not forced to use it). It becomes a solid back up spell at high levels.

Letting players choose between it and other spells would be great.

Level 1: Favored Enemy
You always have either the Ensnaring Strike, Hunter’s Mark, or (THIS 3RD SPELL) spell prepared. From now on this is your Favored spell. You can cast your favorite spell twice without expending a spell slot, and you regain all expended uses of this ability when you finish a Long Rest.

The number of times you can cast the spell without a spell slot increases when you reach certain Ranger levels.

Level 13: Relentless Hunter
Taking damage can’t break your Concentration on your Favored Spell.

 

[Minigiant]

fair, but all that stuff i said can still apply in that framework right? rangers getting FF with expanded choices could still happen independently of the choice for the animal companion favoured enemy spell.

Basically you learn one spell from a list and you get proficiency free uses per long rest.

 

[Tonguez]

I would choose Terrain Expanded and Adventure role so you get the creatures you want
I'd just let ranger pets be a standard companion rather than a spell, though I do suppose spell levels are a useful tool for managing them. Im just loath to have every thing be magic.

I would require magic for other upgrades though (infusing pets with elemental/fey energy) and Drakewarden should be a subclass