Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana: Another New Ranger Variant

*Deleted by user*

 

[Frostmarrow]

Tracking.

I'd like to chime in on tracking. The problem with tracking is that it provides answers on what might be coming up next. The thing is the DM might not know because the DM hasn't planned that far a head. This gives the ranger an ability that doesn't really fit into gaming procedure. Also, it's situational - something I think we agree on the ranger needs to get away from.

I suggest tracking instead grants an ability that is not dependent on what happens next. So, when the ranger successfully tracks the ranger could receive a 'get out of jail free card' chosen from the following list:

Prepared: A huge bonus to the next save. Good for when hunting orcs across a plain, before encountering the Medusa, or when entering a dragon's den.

Camouflaged: A huge bonus to the next opposed stealth/spot contest. Good for when scouting enemy defences, infiltrating the crypt of Strahd, or when disappearing from the town square and the sheriff's prying eyes.

Determined: A huge bonus to the next attack roll. Good for taking down the white stag, making a surprise get away attempt, or when leading an ambush against the evil oppressors.

With experience the ranger might be able to extend the boon to a companion, the party, or even to all soldiers under the ranger's command.

If tracking worked like this the ranger would track more often (defining the character in the process) and it would not require the DM to make promises of future events.

 

[Azurewraith]

Tracking.

I'd like to chime in on tracking. The problem with tracking is that it provides answers on what might be coming up next. The thing is the DM might not know because the DM hasn't planned that far a head. This gives the ranger an ability that doesn't really fit into gaming procedure. Also, it's situational - something I think we agree on the ranger needs to get away from.

I suggest tracking instead grants an ability that is not dependent on what happens next. So, when the ranger successfully tracks the ranger could receive a 'get out of jail free card' chosen from the following list:

Prepared: A huge bonus to the next save. Good for when hunting orcs across a plain, before encountering the Medusa, or when entering a dragon's den.

Camouflaged: A huge bonus to the next opposed stealth/spot contest. Good for when scouting enemy defences, infiltrating the crypt of Strahd, or when disappearing from the town square and the sheriff's prying eyes.

Determined: A huge bonus to the next attack roll. Good for taking down the white stag, making a surprise get away attempt, or when leading an ambush against the evil oppressors.

With experience the ranger might be able to extend the boon to a companion, the party, or even to all soldiers under the ranger's command.

If tracking worked like this the ranger would track more often (defining the character in the process) and it would not require the DM to make promises of future events.

I think if your tracking something the DM must know whats coming as your not just going to randomly go and im going to track at my table that would get you a big fat you spot 5sets of tracks behind you. Generally you only track if prompted such as chasing down a band of orcs or the Dm mentions tracks or some such.

Then there's all ways winging it.

 

[Frostmarrow]

I think if your tracking something the DM must know whats coming as your not just going to randomly go and im going to track at my table that would get you a big fat you spot 5sets of tracks behind you. Generally you only track if prompted such as chasing down a band of orcs or the Dm mentions tracks or some such.

Then there's all ways winging it.

I'm thinking most classes indulge in rituals that are worthwhile. Wizards study, Clerics pray, and Warriors don heavy armor. I think tracking is very much a ranger ritual but sadly it's not in the player's interest to do so.

So if tracking is a full round action that grants a bonus on what happens next the player would chose to spend time doing it. I've found that tracking is a flavorful thing to do but it rarely pays.

It would also give the ranger a reason to be. The ranger would be the go to guy when attempting things that simply must not fail. Like shooting the hanged man's rope or knocking out a single guard.

As it is now the player might track and ask the DM "Are they taking the hobbits to Isengard, or what?" And the DM thinks "Rats! I was planning an escort the merchant mission" and goes "Well, you don't know but you can see a lonely merchant in the distance". Tracking doesn't follow gaming procedure, in my opinion.

If tracking worked as I suggest the other ranger abilities could be sorted under it making the design of the class sleeker and less fuzzy.

 

[Manbearcat]

I actually think this playtest variant is pretty cool both thematically and as a compelling suite of PC build resources to call upon. I wander if Ambuscade would work better mechanically if it was (a) moved down a few levels and (b) something like (obviously this needs cleaned up jargon-wise) "On the highest creature's initiative + 10, the Ranger can make a single attack and move up to its speed or use the Dash Action (thus allowing a "double move") and move up to its speed. If the Ranger then meets the conditions to qualify for Stealth, they can attempt a Stealth check."

That helps with level dipping and mitigates "Bonus Action" hijinx and brutal nova potential while keeping the stealthy sniper/skirmisher deal.

 

[Minigiant]

Tracking.

I'd like to chime in on tracking. The problem with tracking is that it provides answers on what might be coming up next. The thing is the DM might not know because the DM hasn't planned that far a head. This gives the ranger an ability that doesn't really fit into gaming procedure. Also, it's situational - something I think we agree on the ranger needs to get away from.

.

I don't get that.

Why would a party be tracking if the DM doesn't have a plan.

When you track, it's typically for a reason.
You're searching for a wanted VIP who escaped.
You are hunting a target.
You are looking for the way a group went so you can go another way.
You're following raiders back to camp.
You're recalling the steps of amnesiac.
You're looking for a path to a place of interest.
Some reason.

The DM 97% of the time created that reason.

All the ranger's tacking ability do is give you a higher chance to success and the ability to bypass most forms of hiding one's tracks.

The problem isn't preparedness. The problem is few DMs create reasons to track in the first pace. Many times they sip it or have NPCs just give the info on where to go.

 

[TwoSix]

View attachment 70230

 

[transtemporal]

I can't disagree more. I really enjoy this concept. This finally makes me interested in playing a ranger!

Yeah, I agree. This is actually kind of interesting... but just with quick scribbling, ftr20 still seems superior (4 attacks a round and one AS round of 8) to rgr1/ftr19 (3 attacks a round, 6 at the start of every encounter and one AS round of 6).

A one-level dip (or 5) would seem more compulsory for rogue. 2 sneak attacks at the start of every encounter is huge (and yes I realise you have to do some work to get the sneak but certainly doable).

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Yeah, I agree. This is actually kind of interesting... but just with quick scribbling, ftr20 still seems superior (4 attacks a round and one AS round of 8) to rgr1/ftr19 (3 attacks a round, 6 at the start of every encounter and one AS round of 6).

Try ranger 1, fighter 12, assassin 7. Develops faster and does more damage at level 20. Still gets full ASIs.

 

[transtemporal]

Try ranger 1, fighter 12, assassin 7. Develops faster and does more damage at level 20. Still gets full ASIs.

Ohhhh, now you're talkin'!

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Ohhhh, now you're talkin'!

Since we're already being grotesque with Ambuscade, you might as well go full-on grotesque with odd multiclassing dips. I present to you

Myron the Mobile Myrmidon, Meretricious Mercenary Merciless of Mycenae
Half-elf Eldritch Knight 11 (Sharpshooter), Assassin 3, Sorcerer 5, Ranger 1.
Str 12 Dex 20 Con 16 Int 12 Wis 9 Cha 16 [originally 9 17 12 14 15 13 after two rolls on BrockJones.com]
Feats: +2 Dex, Sharpshooter, Lucky, Mobile
Fighting Style: Archery
Standard assassination sequence:
Pre-buff: Enhance Ability (Dexterity) for advantage on Stealth and initiative (for +17 and advantage on Stealth)
Ambuscade Round: Longbow for 3x 2d8+15 (Sharpshooter) +4d6 (sneak attack) + Quickened Scorching Ray IV for 5x 4d6
Surprise round: Longbow for 3x 2d8+15 (Sharpshooter) + Action Surge Longbow for 3x 2d8+15 (Sharpshooter) + 4d6 (sneak attack) + Quickened Scorching Ray IV for 5x 4d6
Regular turn: Longbow for 3x 1d8+15 (Sharpshooter) + 2d6 (sneak attack) + Cunning Action or Convert 3rd level slot to Sorcery Points (will use Lucky if needed to win initiative)
Total value of Assassination Sequence: 21d8+50d6+180 points of damage = (449 * Hit %) points of damage at a cost of an Action Surge, 4 Sorcery Points, and both 4th level spell slots.

Against AC 19, his hit % during the assassination round(s) is 75% vs. AC 19 with the bow and 80% with Scorching Ray, so he'll do roughly 449 * 75% = 336 points of damage to a Adult Red Dragon, killing it[1]. Against an Ancient Red Dragon his hit rates are 58% and 64% respectively during assassination, so call it 449 * 60% for 269 points of damage.

After the initial round he falls back on an attrition strategy of Cunning Action (Hide) + 3 Longbow Attacks per round for 40.94 points of damage per round against an adult red, 28.6 against an ancient red. Compare vs. a normal fighter 20 doing 39.9 damage per round against the adult red or 28.20 against the ancient red and you see that the multiclass abomination hasn't actually lost any DPR against tough foes--the lost attack is made up for by advantage from Cunning Action plus the sneak attack bonus damage. True, the normal fighter 20 has an extra Action Surge and access to 4th level spells like Polymorph, and two more uses of Indomitable per day--but I think Myron would be a lot more fun to play at every level from 11 to 20. Plus Myron can do awesome things like Quickened Blink, Quickened Hypnotic Pattern, and Quickened Hold Person IV when he wants to.

[1] Edit: Yeah, I forgot, Red Dragons are immune to Scorching Ray. But let's pretend it's a silver dragon or something instead, okay? so I don't have to re-do all the math.