UA Prestige Ranger

[dcollins]

Here's a glitch that someone pointed out during character creation last night. Note that I haven't got either Unearthed Arcana or the 3.5 PHB at the moment, so I'm working a bit from memory.

- One of the options is for the Prestige Ranger to be a bow-expert, requiring at least one archery feat for that.
- The spellcasting prerequisite is clearly biased towards someone picking up Druidic levels in advance.
- But, a Druid's "oath" prohibits them from using a bow. (And that oath is still in effect even if they multiclass.)

Can anyone clarify or resolve this glitch? Is the end result really that Prestige Rangers cannot use bows? Not looking for house rules.


EDIT: Hmm, I think I may have figured out the answer from the 3.5 SRD, but I'll let someone else confirm it. (Consider this a rules puzzle.)

 

[mikebr99]

Here's a glitch that someone pointed out during character creation last night. Note that I haven't got either Unearthed Arcana or the 3.5 PHB at the moment, so I'm working a bit from memory.

- One of the options is for the Prestige Ranger to be a bow-expert, requiring at least one archery feat for that.
- The spellcasting prerequisite is clearly biased towards someone picking up Druidic levels in advance.
- But, a Druid's "oath" prohibits them from using a bow. (And that oath is still in effect even if they multiclass.)

Can anyone clarify or resolve this glitch? Is the end result really that Prestige Rangers cannot use bows? Not looking for house rules.


EDIT: Hmm, I think I may have figured out the answer from the 3.5 SRD, but I'll let someone else confirm it. (Consider this a rules puzzle.)

Hey D.
Druids are only prohibited from wearing metal armor... they just don't know how to use bows.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency:​

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Druids are proficient with the following weapons: club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, sickle, shortspear, sling, and spear. They are also proficient with all natural attacks (claw, bite, and so forth) of any form they assume with wild shape (see below).
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Druids are proficient with light and medium armor but are prohibited from wearing metal armor; thus, they may wear only padded, leather, or hide armor. (A druid may also wear wooden armor that has been altered by the​

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ironwood spell so that it functions as though it were steel. See the ironwood spell description) Druids are proficient with shields (except tower shields) but must use only wooden ones. A druid who wears prohibited armor or carries a prohibited shield is unable to cast druid spells or use any of her supernatural or spell-like class abilities while doing so and for 24 hours thereafter.
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Mike​

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[Setanta]

Can anyone clarify or resolve this glitch? Is the end result really that Prestige Rangers cannot use bows?

Couldn't a Druid take rapid shot and use it with a sling? Sure, not as good as a bow, but it would meet the requirements, and slings aren't as bad in 3.5 with the STR bonus to damage and all.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Druids aren't prohibited to use a bow, BUT they have to spend a feat to be proficient with them.

 

[mikebr99]

Druids aren't prohibited to use a bow, BUT they have to spend a feat to be proficient with them.

Or be Elven...

 

[dcollins]

Hey D.
Druids are only prohibited from wearing metal armor... they just don't know how to use bows.

Right, but they were prohibited in 3.0, which is the only book I have here physically.

 

[Christian]

Couldn't a Druid take rapid shot and use it with a sling? Sure, not as good as a bow, but it would meet the requirements, and slings aren't as bad in 3.5 with the STR bonus to damage and all.

Rapid Shot won't help much with a sling, since you need a move action to load one ...

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Right, but they were prohibited in 3.0, which is the only book I have here physically.

If you use a 3.5 book with your 3.0 books you will run into problems like that. Seems pretty minor though.

 

[Setanta]

Rapid Shot won't help much with a sling, since you need a move action to load one ...

Sure, but you a druid could still take the feat to qualify for the PrC...