Replacing the Ranger's Favoured Enemy

[Quartz]

I'm in a mulling things phase. Consider a campaign without many monsters, where most of the combat is against a quite small class of creatures, mainly humans. The Ranger's Favoured Enemy ability doesn't work - humans, undead (and undead humans at that), and animals covers it, so the Ranger is getting a bonus in almost all his combats. So if I wished to replace it in toto, with what should I replace it?

I could simply abolish the class, saying that you can just multiclass Fighter and Rogue.

Added Feats are not the way to go - that's intruding on the Fighter.

Hmm... has anyone invented new combat styles? Allowing the ranger to have two combat styles might be interesting...

 

[smootrk]

In the Unearthed Arcana there are rules for Favored Terrain, an official replacement for 'enemy' (as far as UA is official material - it is all optional stuff).

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/c...nts.htm#favoredEnemyVariantFavoredEnvironment

 

[Paraxis]

You could limit it to certain groups instead of races, like worshipers of cults and evil subgroups. Other than that maybe let them get animal companion at level one and let it work at full level not half, or give them skirmish or sudden skrike (not sneak attack, just so its a bit different then rogue) I would give them this at same levels they got favored enemies.

 

[Lopke_Quasath]

The SRD has (from Unearthed Arcana) (or look for yourself at http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#paladin)

Paladin

The paladin who takes an active role in hunting her foul enemies must give up her defensive powers.

Gain

Favored enemy (as ranger; may only select aberrations, dragons, giants, monstrous humanoids, evil outsiders, or undead).

Lose

Lay on hands, turn undead, remove disease.

Just reverse it for the ranger. Lay on hands and remove disease gives the "Aragorn healer" aspect to your ranger class. If your campaign is undead heavy, having some extra turning (starting at 4th level) is cool.

It also gives you an idea of scale it you want it to replace it with something else.

 

[Quartz]

An interesting thought, but that impinges too much on the Paladin IMHO (and vice versa). How about some of the Druid abilities other than wildshape?

 

[Nyaricus]

You could use the Scout (from Complete Adventurer) or the Wilderness Rogue (from UA) instead of the Ranger. Both have less BAB, more skills, etc, but it's a thought, anyways.

Another thing could be giving Sneak Attack or Skirmish when a new Favoured Enemy would be gained.

You could give + to speed, the Druids Woodland Stride ability, and some other tidbits too (from PrCs, etc) as well.

Anyways, neat thread with tons of ideas

 

[Talic]

Complete Warrior has a No Spells ranger variation. Perhaps those abilities could replace the favored enemy instead of giving up spells.

 

[Nyaricus]

Complete Warrior has a No Spells ranger variation. Perhaps those abilities could replace the favored enemy instead of giving up spells.

Dude, the "no spells" varients give spell-like abilities - basically the exact same thing. WotC really steamed me up with that piece of crap

Don't worry, I know you're just the messanger, but everytime those "Spell-less" varients come up *ugh*

Besidesw, from a balance POV, you are just doubling up on alot of their spells - kinda pointless since they already have them!

 

[Lopke_Quasath]

On the idea of druids and replacing spells, why not remove Favored Enemy from the ranger, along with the usual ranger spells, and give them the full Druid spellcaster levels. No Spontaneous Summon swapping, no other druid abilities, just the spellcasting levels.

Those rangers could then have the other option of swapping their Combat Style for a full animal companion instead of the usual one-half effective druid level.

Then remove the Druid class entirely from your campaign.

Make a PrC for the wild shape ability (not like the Bear Warrior PrC from Complete Warrior, but full wild shape capability. The current PrCs with wild shaping that come to mind are either limited, or require the wild shape ability as a pre-req), if any ranger wants to go that route.

I don't think that is TOO overpowered, but you would have to playtest it.
(This is where people come in and tell me that's overpowered )

Cheers

P.S. I would actually like to hear feedback if this idea is too overpowered. After writing it out I am considering it for my campaign world. Thanks!

 

[Land Outcast]

It is overpowered

FULL wildshape capability? (hold, I've been toying with creating a PrC which gave (and did not require) Wild Shape)
I'd go for wildshape capability of /type/ and add on top of it, benefits every 2 levels:

Options: While wild shape gains

+1 Natural AC per PrC level
+3 damage with natural weapons per 2 PrC levels
+1 enhancement bonus to natural weapons per 3 PrC levels
+10 ft. speed (all) per 3 PrC levels
+1 Improvement of Maneuverability per 3 PrC levels
+1 Enhancement to [ability scores] per 2 PrC levels
+10 hp per 2 PrC levels

... Now, that'd be overpowered... maybe

P.S.: maybe make it a full blown 15 lvl PrC... then the abilities wouldn't be far too crazed, some of them requiring lvl 5 in this PrC, others requiring 10 lvls in this PrC