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Rangers in 5e
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<blockquote data-quote="Khaalis" data-source="post: 5826606" data-attributes="member: 2167"><p>JMHO, but this goes back to having to define what one means when using the term "Ranger". </p><p></p><p><strong>The modern definitions are:</strong></p><p>* an official in charge of a forest, nature reserve, etc. aka 'forest ranger' or 'warden' (UK)</p><p>* WWII soldier specialized in surprise raids and attacks in small groups (aka Commando)</p><p>* a soldier specially trained in guerilla warfare, especially in jungle terrain</p><p>* a person who ranges over large areas; a rover</p><p>* one of a body of armed troops employed to police a district (e.g. Texas Rangers)</p><p>* (UK) a member of the senior branch of the Guides (Ranger Guide)</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Tolkien Archetype:</strong> Secretive, independent groups of extensively trained grim and hardy warriors skilled with sword, bow and spear also known for their keen senses and great tracking ability; patrolled the boundaries of Eriador and Ithilien, defending their territories from evil forces.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>General Gaming:</strong> In most fantasy games/fiction, rangers are mostly synonymous with archers and hunters. They are woodsman skilled at surviving in the wild. They may be lumped in with Fighters or Rogues but can often be a separate tree of classes all their own. Archery is generally their favored skill, although most can fall back on swordplay if necessary. Rangers may also be skilled in some form of wilderness or nature magic. They may be very good at fighting a specific type of enemy, and often take on the role of The Hunter against such foes. Rarely, a Ranger may have access to guns as well as bows. Common sub-classes of the ranger archetype in these games:</p><p>* Sniper Ranger</p><p>* Bow and Blade Ranger</p><p>* Beastmaster Ranger</p><p>* Dual Wielding Ranger</p><p>* Trapper Ranger</p><p>* Magical Ranger</p><p></p><p></p><p>When you look at the modern definition, it pretty much defines the martial aspects of the ranger as we know it. In general, the ranger archetype covers:</p><p>* More skilled with a bow than the 'average' fighter, generally because they are game hunters.</p><p>* Skilled with other forms of combat, often dual-weapon and stealth.</p><p>* Stealth/Stalking/Hunter skills</p><p>* Detecting and Creating hunting traps</p><p>* Tracking and leaving no trail</p><p>* Taming/Training animals</p><p>* Medical/Herbal skills</p><p></p><p>Only rarely, mostly in D&D and 1 or 2 other sources do rangers have any minor magical skill.</p><p></p><p>Thus I would like to see the base ranger be the Commando/Scout/Hunter archtype. It could be a standalone class to maintain verisimilitude with older versions, or better yet be a build option under the Fighter class. I do think an "option" should be allowed to have the magical ranger, but it shouldn't be the core build. It appears that most people don't prefer the magical Ranger over the martial, except those that see the Ranger as the Paladin equivalent to the Druid.</p><p></p><p>As for Fighter Archers vs. Ranger Archers, I would have to disagree. Throughout history, most archers fit the Ranger archetype far more than the Fighter archetype. Even in military use archers were lightly armored and armed. Yes heavy warriors could use bows, but not to the extent of a trained archer. If Ranger is going to a sub-class of Fighter then there is your Archer Fighter. If Ranger remains its place as a stand-alone class, then this should be one of their primary choice for combat training (and it should be better than a generalist fighter).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Khaalis, post: 5826606, member: 2167"] JMHO, but this goes back to having to define what one means when using the term "Ranger". [b]The modern definitions are:[/b] * an official in charge of a forest, nature reserve, etc. aka 'forest ranger' or 'warden' (UK) * WWII soldier specialized in surprise raids and attacks in small groups (aka Commando) * a soldier specially trained in guerilla warfare, especially in jungle terrain * a person who ranges over large areas; a rover * one of a body of armed troops employed to police a district (e.g. Texas Rangers) * (UK) a member of the senior branch of the Guides (Ranger Guide) [b]Tolkien Archetype:[/b] Secretive, independent groups of extensively trained grim and hardy warriors skilled with sword, bow and spear also known for their keen senses and great tracking ability; patrolled the boundaries of Eriador and Ithilien, defending their territories from evil forces. [b]General Gaming:[/b] In most fantasy games/fiction, rangers are mostly synonymous with archers and hunters. They are woodsman skilled at surviving in the wild. They may be lumped in with Fighters or Rogues but can often be a separate tree of classes all their own. Archery is generally their favored skill, although most can fall back on swordplay if necessary. Rangers may also be skilled in some form of wilderness or nature magic. They may be very good at fighting a specific type of enemy, and often take on the role of The Hunter against such foes. Rarely, a Ranger may have access to guns as well as bows. Common sub-classes of the ranger archetype in these games: * Sniper Ranger * Bow and Blade Ranger * Beastmaster Ranger * Dual Wielding Ranger * Trapper Ranger * Magical Ranger When you look at the modern definition, it pretty much defines the martial aspects of the ranger as we know it. In general, the ranger archetype covers: * More skilled with a bow than the 'average' fighter, generally because they are game hunters. * Skilled with other forms of combat, often dual-weapon and stealth. * Stealth/Stalking/Hunter skills * Detecting and Creating hunting traps * Tracking and leaving no trail * Taming/Training animals * Medical/Herbal skills Only rarely, mostly in D&D and 1 or 2 other sources do rangers have any minor magical skill. Thus I would like to see the base ranger be the Commando/Scout/Hunter archtype. It could be a standalone class to maintain verisimilitude with older versions, or better yet be a build option under the Fighter class. I do think an "option" should be allowed to have the magical ranger, but it shouldn't be the core build. It appears that most people don't prefer the magical Ranger over the martial, except those that see the Ranger as the Paladin equivalent to the Druid. As for Fighter Archers vs. Ranger Archers, I would have to disagree. Throughout history, most archers fit the Ranger archetype far more than the Fighter archetype. Even in military use archers were lightly armored and armed. Yes heavy warriors could use bows, but not to the extent of a trained archer. If Ranger is going to a sub-class of Fighter then there is your Archer Fighter. If Ranger remains its place as a stand-alone class, then this should be one of their primary choice for combat training (and it should be better than a generalist fighter). [/QUOTE]
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