D&D General Seeking Input: A moment of prayer for the Ranger

[Rushbolt]

One of the things that could be done with the 2024 Ranger involving Wisdom is to replace their STR-based saving throws with a WIS-based saving throw. This would give them a better chance to resist psychic attacks from supernatural beings like the Fey that live in the wilderness.

Actually, if you look at the D&D Next Playtest 10 (9/19/2013) from Internet Archive you will see the Monk and Ranger both have initial saving throw proficiencies in WIS and DEX. I believe the WIS was switched to STR at the last minute to prevent the classes from having two strong saves initially while the other 10 classes only have one. I feel it was a mistake 11 years ago, and I still do. My opinion is that the 2014 Ranger and 2014 Monk started off with a low enough power level that those save proficiencies could have been kept. The fact these classes don't have WIS save proficiency doesn't even make sense. Imagine a Bard or Paladin without proficiency in CHA saves. However, if you want to absolutely limit the classes to one strong save proficiency I still feel you start with WIS, but I think INT is a better choice than STR for the second proficiency. Both classes actually have multiple skills related to INT. This gives them better resistance to any mind affecting attack including a Mind Blast from a Mind Flayer. Also, it differentiates the Monk from the Rogue and the Ranger from the Fighter better.

I know a lot of people see the Monk and Ranger as high mobility classes. After reviewing the 2024 Rules I have to respectfully disagree. The Ranger has very little speed in my opinion, and does not skirmish well as written. There's no extra ability to Dodge, Disengage, or Dash written into the class. That's just not true of the Monk so I could actually see the argument for a Monk to start with DEX saves, but I fail to see how this Ranger should have them. There's a bit of movement speed at level 6 for the Ranger, but even Barbarians get that and they really aren't usually considered DEX based. I would have loved for the Ranger to start out with WIS saves and then at level 6 the class picks up CON or DEX saves in addition to Roving. I don't really feel Roving by itself entices players into staying with the class after they get their Extra Attack at 5. CON saves would be for melee Rangers and DEX saves for ranged Rangers. Those two words were strange to put together. I may end up house ruling these minor changes as an option for players who want them. I don't really feel the change would make the Ranger too powerful. After all, isn't there a half-caster that gets a significant bump to all six saving throws at that level?

 

[abirdcall]

Actually, if you look at the D&D Next Playtest 10 (9/19/2013) from Internet Archive you will see the Monk and Ranger both have initial saving throw proficiencies in WIS and DEX. I believe the WIS was switched to STR at the last minute to prevent the classes from having two strong saves initially while the other 10 classes only have one. I feel it was a mistake 11 years ago, and I still do. My opinion is that the 2014 Ranger and 2014 Monk started off with a low enough power level that those save proficiencies could have been kept. The fact these classes don't have WIS save proficiency doesn't even make sense. Imagine a Bard or Paladin without proficiency in CHA saves. However, if you want to absolutely limit the classes to one strong save proficiency I still feel you start with WIS, but I think INT is a better choice than STR for the second proficiency. Both classes actually have multiple skills related to INT. This gives them better resistance to any mind affecting attack including a Mind Blast from a Mind Flayer. Also, it differentiates the Monk from the Rogue and the Ranger from the Fighter better.

I know a lot of people see the Monk and Ranger as high mobility classes. After reviewing the 2024 Rules I have to respectfully disagree. The Ranger has very little speed in my opinion, and does not skirmish well as written. There's no extra ability to Dodge, Disengage, or Dash written into the class. That's just not true of the Monk so I could actually see the argument for a Monk to start with DEX saves, but I fail to see how this Ranger should have them. There's a bit of movement speed at level 6 for the Ranger, but even Barbarians get that and they really aren't usually considered DEX based. I would have loved for the Ranger to start out with WIS saves and then at level 6 the class picks up CON or DEX saves in addition to Roving. I don't really feel Roving by itself entices players into staying with the class after they get their Extra Attack at 5. CON saves would be for melee Rangers and DEX saves for ranged Rangers. Those two words were strange to put together. I may end up house ruling these minor changes as an option for players who want them. I don't really feel the change would make the Ranger too powerful. After all, isn't there a half-caster that gets a significant bump to all six saving throws at that level?

This is a good example of multiclassing limiting design.

It would be bad for them to have more saving throw proficiencies because of the ability to multiclass to get them which is probably partly why they didn't have them to start with.

I could get behind added saving throws as they level. I wonder if people would find that kind of passive defense fun.