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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 6446117" data-attributes="member: 92511">I'll just agree to disagree about the "spellcaster rangers" being an integral part of the ranger niche. Yes, they always had access to spells...at "higher" [for 1e] levels. As for the hang up on "names", the ranger, unabashedly, is based on the character of Strider/Aragorn. Everything about the D&D Ranger was based on that. It is why and how the D&D ranger was constructed for 1e. So, yes, a ranger classed PC would absolutely say "I am a Ranger." Specifically for the purpose of differentiating themselves from "mere" scouts or woodsmen or other miscreant rovers.But, from my perspective, the flavor -which is perfectly fine flavor in/of itself for something that is not a Ranger- is unnecessarily limiting for the concept/framework of the base class. They did a magic-using Fighter subclass. A magic-using Thief...er...excuse me, "Rogue" subclass. There's really no excuse or reason that they couldn't have done a magic-using Ranger subclass, with the ranger being the nature/survival-skill-based warrior with forgotten/secret lore as its base framework. Hunter, Beastmaster, and "Nature's Adept" or whatever title for a magic-using-from-level-3 on subclass. That being said, I see no reason a magic-using ranger subclass option would be necessary, at all, with something like the Eldritch Knight or Ancient's Oath Paladin or even the Arcane Trickster options, which, with a simple refluff to nature/Druid spell list could give you a nature magic-using warrior, no problem.So, with that in mind, spellcasting isn't really integral to the ranger niche [even after recent editions], since that "niche" is easily duplicated/presented by other options in the game. With Barbarians being reskin-able as the nature/survival skill-based warrior -maybe Battlemasters or straight up Thieves for that matter, given the nature of skills in 5e-, it's almost like "the Ranger" divested of its Aragorn-esque roots isn't even necessary as a base class at all.</blockquote>

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