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Ranger Rehash
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 6665843" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>Thanks <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>Ok, I'm going to dive right into some more critique (some is based on your changes, and some is old stuff I'm just now noticing):</p><p></p><p><strong>Skills & Wilderness Expertise:</strong> Why do you feel the need to make special Ranger quasi-skills? I would just add more skills to the list of skills they can choose from. Much more elegant.</p><p></p><p><strong>Precision Dice:</strong> Nothing mechanically wrong with this. However, it's awfully similar to the battlemaster fighter. and you get it at level 1 vs. a battlemaster fighter's level 3! The thing is the battlemaster fighter is all about managing superiority dice as a resource within a single combat, so it's a distinctly tactical approach. I'm not convinced that's the feel the ranger should have. Rangers strike me more as the types to engage in long-term strategies of guerrilla warfare, reconnaissance, outlasting the enemy, etc. The tactical angle of dice recharging after a short rest doesn't feel distinctly "ranger-y" to me. Instead, I would use a damage mechanic that emphasizes the ranger's unique approach to combat: scouting, knowing the enemy, and exploiting their weaknesses. YMMV.</p><p></p><p><strong>Ranging Stride:</strong> This looks like a feature that should improve with level, at least in terms of the speed bonus it grants.</p><p></p><p><strong>Scrying Adept:</strong> Still not sure when "proficiency with any magic item that deals with clairvoyance or divination mag- ic, including spell scrolls, crystal balls, wands of detection, etc" would come into play.</p><p></p><p><strong>Guardian - Home Field Advantage:</strong> That seems like a major bonus for a class that can already wear medium armor. Hmm. No other class gets an AC-boosting feature that good. I think a Guardian Ranger would have the best AC in the game!</p><p></p><p><strong>Guardian - Honed Senses:</strong> That seems flat-out OP. Essentially ANY scenario that could involve senses/balance the character gets proficiency in? Shoot, there are so many scenarios I can think of that qualify. Probably too broad of a bonus.</p><p></p><p><strong>Guardian - Pass without Trace:</strong> OTOH this is a little under-powered. Probably should apply to the whole adventuring party rather than having the number of creatures increase. Say 8 companions and be done with it. These are the sorts of abilities you want to apply to the entire party or not at all.</p><p></p><p><strong>Guardian - Forgotten Lore:</strong> I like it! Only change I'd make is that "casting from spell books" isn't usually an option for ANY spellcaster. Better to leave that bit out, as it's prone to abuse.</p><p></p><p><strong>Guardian - Ranger-Knight:</strong> One precision die to grant the entire party a +4.5 bonus to hit and +4.5 damage is probably OP given that most parties have characters who can make multiple attacks. Even if you only allowed each character to benefit from this on ONE of their attacks, it is still VERY VERY powerful. Are you balancing this based off a spell or another class' feature?</p><p></p><p><strong>Slayer - Slayer's Fury:</strong> I don't think this damage boost is necessary, and actually some added utility would do this sub-class well. Since this is the "monster hunter" build, maybe some sort of boon that you gain from tracking a monster? If I think of something else I'll let you know...</p><p></p><p><strong>Warden - Spellcasting:</strong> Nothing in the sub-class flavor you describe seems to indicate they would have access to Wizard spells. I know there's a bit of 1e nostalgia here (and I appreciate that as much as the next gamer!), but I actually think it's anachronistic for the Warden. I think the Guardian sub-class captures the 1e vibe perfectly. If you do agree with my critique, then you may also want to change Warded Step.</p><p></p><p>Overall, it looks very good <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>I may post up my attempt at a revised ranger in another thread, coming at it from a slightly different angle. Might be fun to compare notes!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 6665843, member: 20323"] Thanks :) Ok, I'm going to dive right into some more critique (some is based on your changes, and some is old stuff I'm just now noticing): [B]Skills & Wilderness Expertise:[/B] Why do you feel the need to make special Ranger quasi-skills? I would just add more skills to the list of skills they can choose from. Much more elegant. [b]Precision Dice:[/b] Nothing mechanically wrong with this. However, it's awfully similar to the battlemaster fighter. and you get it at level 1 vs. a battlemaster fighter's level 3! The thing is the battlemaster fighter is all about managing superiority dice as a resource within a single combat, so it's a distinctly tactical approach. I'm not convinced that's the feel the ranger should have. Rangers strike me more as the types to engage in long-term strategies of guerrilla warfare, reconnaissance, outlasting the enemy, etc. The tactical angle of dice recharging after a short rest doesn't feel distinctly "ranger-y" to me. Instead, I would use a damage mechanic that emphasizes the ranger's unique approach to combat: scouting, knowing the enemy, and exploiting their weaknesses. YMMV. [B]Ranging Stride:[/B] This looks like a feature that should improve with level, at least in terms of the speed bonus it grants. [B]Scrying Adept:[/B] Still not sure when "proficiency with any magic item that deals with clairvoyance or divination mag- ic, including spell scrolls, crystal balls, wands of detection, etc" would come into play. [B]Guardian - Home Field Advantage:[/B] That seems like a major bonus for a class that can already wear medium armor. Hmm. No other class gets an AC-boosting feature that good. I think a Guardian Ranger would have the best AC in the game! [B]Guardian - Honed Senses:[/B] That seems flat-out OP. Essentially ANY scenario that could involve senses/balance the character gets proficiency in? Shoot, there are so many scenarios I can think of that qualify. Probably too broad of a bonus. [B]Guardian - Pass without Trace:[/B] OTOH this is a little under-powered. Probably should apply to the whole adventuring party rather than having the number of creatures increase. Say 8 companions and be done with it. These are the sorts of abilities you want to apply to the entire party or not at all. [B]Guardian - Forgotten Lore:[/B] I like it! Only change I'd make is that "casting from spell books" isn't usually an option for ANY spellcaster. Better to leave that bit out, as it's prone to abuse. [B]Guardian - Ranger-Knight:[/B] One precision die to grant the entire party a +4.5 bonus to hit and +4.5 damage is probably OP given that most parties have characters who can make multiple attacks. Even if you only allowed each character to benefit from this on ONE of their attacks, it is still VERY VERY powerful. Are you balancing this based off a spell or another class' feature? [B]Slayer - Slayer's Fury:[/B] I don't think this damage boost is necessary, and actually some added utility would do this sub-class well. Since this is the "monster hunter" build, maybe some sort of boon that you gain from tracking a monster? If I think of something else I'll let you know... [B]Warden - Spellcasting:[/B] Nothing in the sub-class flavor you describe seems to indicate they would have access to Wizard spells. I know there's a bit of 1e nostalgia here (and I appreciate that as much as the next gamer!), but I actually think it's anachronistic for the Warden. I think the Guardian sub-class captures the 1e vibe perfectly. If you do agree with my critique, then you may also want to change Warded Step. Overall, it looks very good :) I may post up my attempt at a revised ranger in another thread, coming at it from a slightly different angle. Might be fun to compare notes! [/QUOTE]
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