D&D (2024) The Lackluster Ranger

[ECMO3]

I don't think the spellcasters are doing that well outside spikes.

Bladesingers, Valor Bards and Bladelocks are doing pretty well actually.

 

[Minigiant]

Do you have a link for this

Search Ranger in almost every D&D 5e forum, blog, video site, or subreddit.

The community fixates on individual elements to create a vague concept of primarily 3 ideas, each exclusionary to the other.

 

[Corinnguard]

Search Ranger in almost every D&D 5e forum, blog, video site, or subreddit.

The community fixates on individual elements to create a vague concept of primarily 3 ideas, each exclusionary to the other.

You have actually looked at them all?

 

[Minigiant]

You have actually looked at them all?

90%

There's probably very little heavily distributed D&D ranger design content on the internet I haven't seen that isn't behind a paid wall.

 

[Zardnaar]

Bladesingers, Valor Bards and Bladelocks are doing pretty well actually.

Only at highest levels using CME.

Bladelocks are an *.

 

[ECMO3]

Search Ranger in almost every D&D 5e forum, blog, video site, or subreddit.

The community fixates on individual elements to create a vague concept of primarily 3 ideas, each exclusionary to the other.

A blog or subreddit is not the same as a WOTC survey. In the video from July JC said the new 2024 PHB Ranger was revised based on the feedback and that it was a "brand new class" addressing the concerns of the players.

Key things that he said they changed to meet the feedback from the community include:

1. Spell casting from level 1 and now making spell casting an integral part of the Ranger.
2. Ranger is the quitesential hybrid character fusing magic and martial.
3. Make it easier for Ranger players to get Cantrips and nudge it more into magic/spellcasting
4. "Supernatural" ability to be invisible instead of needing to hide.

He also pointed out that the Ranger "ranges" and that means traveling far and wide and roving, but he did not really hit on the other things you mentioned.

 

[ECMO3]

Only at highest levels using CME.

Bladelocks are an *.

Valor Bards and Bladesingers using their version of extra attack are doing pretty well most levels on raw damage, even without CME. With a ton of spell slots, Wrathful Smite available on Shadow Touched and Hex available with Fey Touched they are right there with full martials on melee damage and they are beating most full martials at ranged weapon damage.

Also keep in mind they can get CME at level 10 and 7 respectively, so they have that spell right there in tier 2 and 3, the bladesinger having it available for 14 out of 20 levels.

What they are missing is the versatility from Weapon mastery, but in terms of damage they do pretty well.

 

[Minigiant]

A blog or subreddit is not the same as a WOTC survey. If the video from July JC said the new 2024 PHB Ranger was revised based on the feedback and that it was a "brand new class" addressing the concerns of the players.

Key things that he said they changed to meet the feedback from the community include:

1. Spell casting from level 1 and now making spell casting an integral part of the Ranger.
2. Ranger is the quitesential hybrid character fusing magic and martial.
3. Make it easier for Ranger players to get Cantrips and nudge it more into magic/spellcasting
4. "Supernatural" ability to be invisible instead of needing to hide.

He also pointed out that the Ranger "ranges" and that means traveling far and wide and roving, but he did not really hit on the other things you mentioned.

It's not just a blog or subreddit.

It's EVERY blog, video, forum, or subreddit.

However you are missing the core to my point.

Those are the only requests that are backwards compatible.

Every other thing people requests is not backwards compatible to the 2014 nonPHB ranger content.

1. You can't make spells option
2. You can't make Hunter's Mark not a spell
3. You can't make the range's focus on Rangers the beast
4. You can't make the ranger a full Martial
5. You can't force a new exploration system
6. You can't add a new survival system and make it mandatory in order to make the Ranger valid in every campaign if it was survival based.

The Design team just rejiggered popular things in the ranger class that were in the PHB, Xanatars, and Tasha's.

The only option was to make more Ranger spells or Tasha's features core.

Because 90% of what is asked for on ENworld, Reddit, YouTube, Twitter, Blue sky, RPG.net, and the various blogs and forums are not backwards compatible.

 

[Zardnaar]

Valor Bards and Bladesingers using their version of extra attack are doing pretty well most levels on raw damage, even without CME. With a ton of spell slots, Wrathful Smite available on Shadow Touched and Hex available with Fey Touched they are right there with full martials on melee damage and they are beating most full martials at ranged weapon damage.

Also keep in mind they can get CME at level 10 and 7 respectively, so they have that spell right there in tier 2 and 3, the bladesinger having it available for 14 out of 20 levels.

What they are missing is the versatility from Weapon mastery, but in terms of damage they do pretty well.

Wrathful Smite is only d6/ level vs 2d8 a real smite.

You also need to blow a feat on it. Paladins and Rangers get that free so opportunity cost they've picked up GWM as well plus smite/HM or both if you're an avenger.

 

[ECMO3]

Because 90% of what is asked for on ENworld, Reddit, YouTube, Twitter, Blue sky, RPG.net, and the various blogs and forums are not backwards compatible.

I don't agree with the 90% number, probably closer to 50% IMO. These forums are also both not representative of the player base as a whole AND the people that are dissatisfied are those that are most vocal in the forums.

An actual survey, if you had data on it, would be a much better metric.