D&D 5E (2024) The Problem with Treantmonk's Hunter's Mark

[tetrasodium]

Because they are too short.

Like Tracking.

Tracking monsrers require either a table or several paragraphs to feel meaningfully worth investment.

Look at the ranger spell list. Half of it is "skill entries" written as spells.

D&D reuses spells to not rewrite skill.

Hunters mark is literally focusing on someone.

5e does, we used to have worthwhile skill systems with subsystems of their own like dms best friend if you go back the ranger spell list was largely pulled from druid but a few levels behind back then

Spoiler: edit: For example

The skill writeup for survival alone in the PHB to go with that was about 3/4 of a page across pg83/84 & included the following line back then "
Survival does not allow you to follow difficult tracks unless you are a ranger or have the Track feat (see the Restriction section below).
"

 

[Lord Twig]

It’s such a minor boost though. And in the bladesingers corner it’s not even clear if the tradeoff to pick up hunters mark is actually worth the cost.

Like that HM change doesn’t materially change where those classes rank.

It’s like a millionaire getting a penny richer.

The issue goes all the way back to my original post. Improving Hunter's Mark for everyone does not improve the Ranger relative to everyone else.

The current problem (one of them) is that Hunter's Mark is a primary feature of Ranger, and it is underwhelming. They added features that improved Hunter's Mark at 13th, 17th, and (unfortunately) 20th, but it was not enough. Improving the spell itself, instead of putting the fix into the Ranger class means that if another class can make better use of Hunter's Mark (like the Bladesinger Wizard) they will STILL be better at it. Using a 3rd level spell slot to get concentration free Hunter's Mark for 8 hours is no big deal for a full Wizard. Or a 5th level slot at higher levels so it lasts for 24 hours.

Vengence Paladin and other classes that grab the spell through Fey Touched or a 1 level dip into Ranger don't need the buff. It is a strait Ranger that needs to be improved.

(Honestly Vengence Paladin shouldn't have it at all (IMHO) and I house rule that they get Wrathful Smite instead of Hunter's mark as one of there Oath Spells.)

 

[ECMO3]

I’m struggling to find a practical use case on a non ranger where this is particularly strong. It still costs bonus actions. You still need extra attacks to really make use. If you decide you want to melee you still need to worry about concentration on whatever concentration spell you cast.

Like, Vengance Paladin or maybe bladesinger seems to be ideal for this, but it mostly seems like a minor power boost at most on either.

1d6 on all attacks is pretty huge. Consider a 15th level Barbarian does an extra 3 damage per attack while ragingin and that usually uses BPS which is not a very reliable damage type.

This does more damage than that for an entire day with a 3rd level slot, without concentrating and with a more reliable damage type.

 

[ECMO3]

It’s such a minor boost though. And in the bladesingers corner it’s not even clear if the tradeoff to pick up hunters mark is actually worth the cost.

Fey Touched is one of the best feats for a Bladesinger so I don't get why it would not be worth it.

TBH I don't think I have played a bladesinger that did not have this feat. Now I never got Hunter's Mark with it before, usually I got Hex, Command or Dissonant Whispers.