D&D (2024) The Lackluster Ranger

[Corinnguard]

here is mine:

Divine Strength instead of HM

at 13th level increase DS damage to d6

at 20th level, increase damage to 2d6(ranger's capstone currently is beyond horrible)

17th level functions that you have advantage while having DS casted.

I was thinking of the Ranger's Quarry feature from Laser Llama's Ranger class and the Level Up Ranger's Hunter's Target feature.

 

[Horwath]

I was thinking of the Ranger's Quarry feature from Laser Llama's Ranger class and the Level Up Ranger's Hunter's Target feature.

I'm liking the best Ranger's quarry from SW5E

Star Wars 5e

sw5e.com

 

[Corinnguard]

I'm liking the best Ranger's quarry from SW5E

Star Wars 5e

sw5e.com

LL's Ranger's Quarry works pretty much the same way as the one in that SW5e class.

You focus your senses to hunt as a predator of the wild. Also at 2nd level, you can use a bonus action to mark one creature you can see as your Quarry, gaining the benefits below:

*Whenever you damage it with an attack, you deal bonus damage equal to a roll of your Quarry Die, which is a d4.
*Whenever you make an ability check to track or locate it, you can add one roll of your Quarry Die to your d20 roll.

These benefits last for 1 hour but end early if your Quarry is slain or if you mark another creature as your Quarry. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. When you have no uses left, you can expend a spell slot to use this feature again.

When you reach 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th levels in this class, both the duration of Ranger's Quarry and the size of your Quarry Die increase, as indicated in the Ranger table

 

[Horwath]

LL's Ranger's Quarry works pretty much the same way as the one in that SW5e class.

You focus your senses to hunt as a predator of the wild. Also at 2nd level, you can use a bonus action to mark one creature you can see as your Quarry, gaining the benefits below:

*Whenever you damage it with an attack, you deal bonus damage equal to a roll of your Quarry Die, which is a d4.
*Whenever you make an ability check to track or locate it, you can add one roll of your Quarry Die to your d20 roll.

These benefits last for 1 hour but end early if your Quarry is slain or if you mark another creature as your Quarry. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. When you have no uses left, you can expend a spell slot to use this feature again.

When you reach 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th levels in this class, both the duration of Ranger's Quarry and the size of your Quarry Die increase, as indicated in the Ranger table

that is good also,

but I do like at-will version, even if it's limited to once on your turn.

 

[CreamCloud0]

instead of any form of mark ability i would rather the ranger simply dealt an extra 1d6(later 1d8) on every attack they make, like a weaker but more consistent sneak attack, hunter's mark becomes a purely tracking spell 'you target a creature you can see, their tracks or that you can name, you have advantage on survival or nature checks to track or on any check to recall information about the target, 1 hour, no concentration'

 

[Horwath]

instead of any form of mark ability i would rather the ranger simply dealt an extra 1d6(later 1d8) on every attack they make, like a weaker but more consistent sneak attack, hunter's mark becomes a purely tracking spell 'you target a creature you can see, their tracks or that you can name, you have advantage on survival or nature checks to track or on any check to recall information about the target, 1 hour, no concentration'

Ranger’s Quarry​

Scout: 1st, 5th, 9th, and 17th level
You learn how to effectively read and track your prey. Once on each of your turns, you can choose a creature you can see within 120 feet and mark it as your quarry (no action required). For the next hour, you gain the following benefits:

• Once per turn, when you hit the target with a weapon attack, you can deal 1d4 additional damage to it of the same type as the weapon’s damage. This die changes as you gain scout levels, as shown in the Ranger’s Quarry column of the scout table.
• You have advantage on any Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) check you make to find it while it’s on the same planet as you.

You can only have one creature marked in this way at a time. Beginning at 5th level, you can use your reaction to mark a creature when it enters your line of sight, provided it is within range of your Ranger’s Quarry.


The duration increases to 8 hours at 9th level and 24 hours at 17th level.


this from SW5E does exactly that.
it's a poor mans sneak attack and gives tracking bonuses.
and leaves spell slots for something important.

 

[Neonchameleon]

A few notes:

1. The ranger really is a jack of all trades; I've been calling it the hedge wizard and it's thematically bland
2. In 2023 the ranger was probably the premier ranged damage dealer but with no defensive tech other than weak self healing and defensive spells was at best a glass cannon on the front lines
3. The ranger is probably still the best ranged weapon user but the deserved sharpshooter nerf hit the ranger's default strategy hard
4. Two weapon fighting got a lot better but also makes you a target
5. All the ranger's front line rivals other than the barbarian got tougher; the fighter got extra seconds wind and usable Indomitable, the rogue got slipperier, the monk got parry, the paladin got lay on hands as a bonus, and even the cleric got much bigger spike self healing from buffs to cure spells, and druids gained the front line sea druid and the moon became more flexible, while Bladelocks are now functional
6. The ranger's skill rivals got better; fighters and barbs can second wind out of combat, and rogues get to never roll below a 10 several levels earlier.
7. The ranger more or less held steady
8. It's not a bad balance when your worst class is the bland but competent jack of all trades (is it really worse than the rogue anyway?)

 

[TwoSix]

As a hypothetical, where would the ranger fall in the power scheme if it was a full caster? Assume a small, themed selection of 6th-9th level spells.

This is not an actual recommendation for a corrective course of action! Just curiosity.

 

[Minigiant]

yeah, that is a problem with any class that want to be a hybrid of 3 classes. Or more.

but one thing that I hate about 2024 ranger is:
Mandatory Hunters mark.

why?

because it's a feature that comes with a penalty.
and penalty is that it uses concentration

You got it backwards.

Divine Favor was supposed to have concentration.

The sole issue is that

Paladin has

Divine Favor +1d4
Radiant Strikes +1d8

Removing concentration will not make up for free 1d8 radiant damage or a free attack.

Even if HM lost Concentration, most people would still be upset.

Name a 1st level or 2nd level Ranger spell that adds 4.5 DPR?

 

[CreamCloud0]

Ranger’s Quarry​

Scout: 1st, 5th, 9th, and 17th level
You learn how to effectively read and track your prey. Once on each of your turns, you can choose a creature you can see within 120 feet and mark it as your quarry (no action required). For the next hour, you gain the following benefits:

• Once per turn, when you hit the target with a weapon attack, you can deal 1d4 additional damage to it of the same type as the weapon’s damage. This die changes as you gain scout levels, as shown in the Ranger’s Quarry column of the scout table.
• You have advantage on any Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) check you make to find it while it’s on the same planet as you.

You can only have one creature marked in this way at a time. Beginning at 5th level, you can use your reaction to mark a creature when it enters your line of sight, provided it is within range of your Ranger’s Quarry.


The duration increases to 8 hours at 9th level and 24 hours at 17th level.


this from SW5E does exactly that.
it's a poor mans sneak attack and gives tracking bonuses.
and leaves spell slots for something important.

this is marking for damage though, only targets one creature and only triggers once per turn, i don't see how this is at all similar to what i proposed.