D&D (2024) Ranger playtest discussion

[GMforPowergamers]

Hunters mark not costing concentration for the Ranger is also huge. Not only do you not have to worry about it getting lost because you are damaged, you can also have another concentration spell up at the same time.

i hope we see heex work for warlock that way

 

[Ruin Explorer]

In the video, the tone of Crawford seems to worry that they think this version of the Ranger is too powerful and may need to be nerfed at some later date.

Holy hell really? If he thinks that about this, then WotC really do have it in for Rangers. This is not a powerful class/subclass. Low DPS, mediocre utility, not tanky. It's arguably better in the Exploration pillar than it was, but given it should be KING of the exploration pillar, well, that's not saying much lol.

 

[Minigiant]

First Glance.

They powered up the ranger by taking out all the flavor.

Favored enemy deflavored. Subclass deflavored. Tier 3 and 4 stuff still weak.

More when I get off work.

 

[Vael]

I didn't get that read from Jeremy, it read more as "this is a playtest, nothing is set in stone".

Assuming other prepared spellcasting classes will follow the same prepared spells = spell slots, it is amusing that the Ranger will have more spells available to it than its Druid cousin, since Rangers get 2 cantrips, 2 1st level spells and Hunter's Mark.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Remember spells are going to change too. Conjure Barrage could get buffed.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Remember spells are going to change too. Conjure Barrage could get buffed.

However they had spells changing in this playtest packet. Conjure Barrage was not on that list - and if there was any time to buff conjure barrage then it was now.

Meaning we have to talk about this and feedback it if we think it should happen.

 

[Puddles]

I think Favoured Enemy should be renamed something like “Readied Hunter” if this is the rule they are going for. The rule seems neat, it just lacks much association with the rule it is replacing.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Remember spells are going to change too. Conjure Barrage could get buffed.

the lowering the spell slot intrigues me

I think if you 'down cast' fireball down to a 2nd level spell cut the AoE down and lower the damage 2d it would STILL be good.

 

[Clint_L]

A bit underwhelmed. Why not just make Hunter's Mark a class feature that doesn't use a spell slot? It's basically mandatory to keep rangers competitive.

The extra expertise is nice; better than the extra languages, but I would like to see Survival become an automatic class feature. Rangers should always have advantage on survival checks. It's the entire basis of their class flavour.

Oof, that level 11 conjure barrage "feature" is weak; hunters should automatically add an extra d8 to the damage dice.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

A bit underwhelmed. Why not just make Hunter's Mark a class feature that doesn't use a spell slot? It's basically mandatory to keep rangers competitive.

I think Hex and Hunters mark should both be class features, and deal d6's equal to half your prof (so 1,2 or 3 d6)
I think sneak attack should be lowered to d4 at first level then at 2nd d4s equal to prof at 2nd and up grade to d6 at level 4ish and maybe d8's in the teens for levels.

The extra expertise is nice; better than the extra languages, but I would like to see Survival become an automatic class feature. Rangers should always have advantage on survival checks. It's the entire basis of their class flavour.

at least they suggest it.

Oof, that level 11 conjure barrage "feature" is weak; hunters should automatically add an extra d8 to the damage dice.

I don't understand why it is a spell not just a multi attack feature.