D&D General Rangers should be built on a primary and secondary stat

[Steampunkette]

Hot takes on stat spread for classes:

1) Constitution shouldn't be an ability score we bother with because it's too central to every character's survival.
2) Every subclass should be at level 1 and provide a guideline for 'most important' attributes through subclass structure.
3) Subclasses should be able to collapse needs at level 1. A 'Casty' Paladin subclass should make Cha the casting stat.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Hot takes on stat spread for classes:

1) Constitution shouldn't be an ability score we bother with because it's too central to every character's survival.

This is one which I'm always torn with. On one hand it does feel a bit like just a stat tax, due to every character basically needing it as their 2nd or 3rd highest stat, while it's not used for any skills or directly as a stat you think about.

On the other hand, keep away from my 8 con monk!

Sometimes you just want to make wtf builds involving con (highest or lowest stat) which sure aren't meta, but can be great fun to play.

 

[sevenbastard]

Maybe Ranger just needs to be a sub class of multiple diffrent classes.

Build outdorsey rangerery subclasses for Fighter, Barbarian, Rogue, Paladin, Bard, and Druid.

I don't know if solving the Ranger is even possible at this point so maybe just give up on it relagate it to a subclass and shove the Warlord in the PHB.

 

[Steampunkette]

This is one which I'm always torn with. On one hand it does feel a bit like just a stat tax, due to every character basically needing it as their 2nd or 3rd highest stat, while it's not used for any skills or directly as a stat you think about.

On the other hand, keep away from my 8 con monk!

Sometimes you just want to make wtf builds involving con (highest or lowest stat) which sure aren't meta, but can be great fun to play.

I can certainly understand that. Raistlin Majere wouldn't be quite so much of a character without a low Constitution score dictating his narrative, too.

 

[Horwath]

I'm still baffled how we have so few half-casters, and yet people are still determined to remove the few we have and turn them into subclasses. I'd rather have more half-casters, not less.

I dont like them much either, it's cool idea, but their spells come online too little too late.
So I like any version of spell-less ranger there is.

as for half casters, here is my version of spell progression for them:

right table is modified spell slots and spell levels.
you get new spell levels as fast as full caster but at reduced spell slot count.

 

[Horwath]

Hot takes on stat spread for classes:

1) Constitution shouldn't be an ability score we bother with because it's too central to every character's survival.

yes.
5E is basically, 80% of characters have 14 CON, 19% have combinations of 12 or 16 and 1% is everything else
just delete the stat, move con saves to STR(it would help balance of STR vs. DEX) and give everyone +2 HP per level. have HDs heal max amount when used.

2) Every subclass should be at level 1 and provide a guideline for 'most important' attributes through subclass structure.

also add universal advancement levels for all subclasses:
1,3,6,10 and 14.

3) Subclasses should be able to collapse needs at level 1. A 'Casty' Paladin subclass should make Cha the casting stat.

agree.

 

[Minigiant]

I'm still baffled how we have so few half-casters, and yet people are still determined to remove the few we have and turn them into subclasses. I'd rather have more half-casters, not less.

Because people want to emulate other lower fantasy character tropes not realizing that those characters would be half casters in the High Fantasy High Magic D&D.

 

[Steampunkette]

yes.
5E is basically, 80% of characters have 14 CON, 19% have combinations of 12 or 16 and 1% is everything else
just delete the stat, move con saves to STR(it would help balance of STR vs. DEX) and give everyone +2 HP per level. have HDs heal max amount when used.

Honestly... I'd spread it out a -little- more than that!

Con save against Poison? Str.
Con save against Petrification? Cha.

Anything Con would cover that is "Remain Self" should go to Charisma. Anything that's purely durability over to Strength.

Then shift a few Wisdom saves over to Intelligence... maybe Illusions? To help balance out the overall utility of saving throws across the board.

also add universal advancement levels for all subclasses:
1,3,6,10 and 14.

1, 3, 7, 13, 15, 18.

Six levels gives more range for design, and putting in break points of 2, 4, 6, 3, 3 makes plenty enough room at low levels for the core class to assert itself while allowing the subclass to better define the late-game progression when the core class is mostly just expanding on where it already stands!

 

[Minigiant]

Hot takes on stat spread for classes:

1) Constitution shouldn't be an ability score we bother with because it's too central to every character's survival

Nah.

Warrior classes should be able to run on 10 Con.
Warrior classes should have bonus HP or get bonus HP from STR and CON.

2) Every subclass should be at level 1 and provide a guideline for 'most important' attributes through subclass structure.
3) Subclasses should be able to collapse needs at level 1. A 'Casty' Paladin subclass should make Cha the casting stat.

If the fanbase is willing to heavily restrict multi-classing, sure.

I would have loved to unify subclass levels.

1st, 3rd, 7th, 13th, 15th, 18th

 

[Minigiant]

I dont like them much either, it's cool idea, but their spells come online too little too late.
So I like any version of spell-less ranger there is.

The problem with half casters is... And I know I harp on this


...they need custom spells.

WOTC and a lot of the community refuses to make spells for paladin ranger and Artificer....

But wizards ..