Unearthed Arcana Unearthed Arcana: Modifying Classes & Spell-less Rangers

WotC's Rodney Thompson takes a look at how to customize and modify character classes in the latest Unearthed Arcana article, including an example of a spell-less ranger similar to Lord of the Rings' Strider (an often asked-for class option). There are aslo notes about each of the other classes, discussing what to be careful about changing.

The article is here.

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[Dausuul]

Good stuff in this one. I love the new take on the favored soul. The spell-less ranger is also excellent.

I do have a quibble with the ranger's "Herbal Poultices" ability, which is the limit that you can only carry a number of poultices equal to your Wisdom mod. What, do they reach critical mass and explode if you carry too many? Do we need a poultice miscibility table to resolve what happens? If there are two rangers in a party, and one is slain, can the second one pick up the first one's poultices, or will that also trigger explosions? This is a good example of a limit meant to serve a game purpose (prevent rangers from loading up on poultices) without enough thought given to how it affects the fictional world.

I would write it a bit differently:

As you travel, you keep an eye out for healing herbs. Each day you spend in a wilderness or rural area, you find enough herbs to create a number of poultices equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). These herbs, and any poultices made from them, lose their potency 24 hours after being harvested.

Accomplishes the same goal, but makes a lot more sense in terms of the fiction.

 

[Chimpy]

Interesting. I think I'd rather have these kind of modifications in a published book or pdf doc though, so all players had potential access to the same builds. I can understand that some players dig making up their own mechanical features though.

 

[SkidAce]

I count this as proof they have my computer bugged. We made a divine sorcerer origin months ago, months I tell you! (Of course, most of making a favored soul / divine sorcerer is common sense and looking at the dragon sorcerer template, so I SUPPOSE they could have invented it themselves, much like the wheel was invented in various locations...I suppose.../grumble)

 

[MoonSong]

If you use it, or had fun doing it, it's not wasted. I don't think WoTC will come to your home and steal your books because you use your version over theirs.

But I no longer can put it in a big book of suggested house rules I hope to sell for pennies. The maneuvers could still work.

 

[Staffan]

OK, this is the kind of stuff I like - explanations of why classes get certain stuff and how to modify them without breaking stuff. Good job.

 

[halfling rogue]

anyone have a link to the direct pdf?

 

[MoonSong]

I count this as proof they have my computer bugged. We made a divine sorcerer origin months ago, months I tell you! (Of course, most of making a favored soul / divine sorcerer is common sense and looking at the dragon sorcerer template, so I SUPPOSE they could have invented it themselves, much like the wheel was invented in various locations...I suppose.../grumble)

Well, I had a spelless ranger using superiority dice too. And I did a favored soul sorcerer at some point too: http://www.enworld.org/forum/5earchetypes/showentry.php?e=10&catid=member&entryuserid=6689464 curiously they gave it the features I considered but rejected for fear of being too powerful.

 

[TerraDave]

anyone have a link to the direct pdf?

http://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/UA3_ClassDesignVariants.pdf

 

[halfling rogue]

[MENTION=22260]TerraDave[/MENTION] - thanks!

 

[Raunalyn]

Using this article, I can easily see how to create the Dark Sun bards. Remove spellcasting, add in sneak attack and assassination, maybe some utilities that have to do with poisons, and BAM!!