D&D General What is appropriate Ranger Magic

[Laurefindel]

Spellcasting is a good way to quantify and balance abilities that may or may not be supernatural in nature (i.e. hunter’s mark) but I otherwise would prefer a ranger class that doesn’t appear blatantly magical. I would also prefer a D&D game that tunes the “magic level” dial and “everything goes fantasy” down a few notches.

Right now, D&D feels like a metal band trying to outdo the others by cranking up the ‘verb…

 

[Minigiant]

Right now, D&D feels like a metal band trying to outdo the others by cranking up the ‘verb…

This one goes up to 11.
11 fantasy.

 

[Corinnguard]

Because none of them are committed to high fantasy rangers. The Paizo ranger is similar to the ENP one in fantasy. And the KP one isn't very high fantasy in it's ranger elements.

I think we're going to need a poll on whether or not D&D is High Fantasy, Low Fantasy or Medium Fantasy.

 

[James Gasik]

I think we're going to need a poll on whether or not D&D is High Fantasy, Low Fantasy or Medium Fantasy.

I'd vote Medium. To be truly Low Fantasy requires a lot of modification. To be truly High Fantasy would probably require adding many more magic items* to a campaign and revising or ditching attunement as a mechanic.

*or equivalents, like boons and such.

 

[Minigiant]

I think we're going to need a poll on whether or not D&D is High Fantasy, Low Fantasy or Medium Fantasy.

It's high fantasy as long as the primary spellcasters keep their stuff.

 

[Corinnguard]

I'd vote Medium. To be truly Low Fantasy requires a lot of modification. To be truly High Fantasy would probably require adding many more magic items* to a campaign and revising or ditching attunement as a mechanic.

*or equivalents, like boons and such.

I would also vote Medium. In a High Fantasy setting, magic use is commonplace at all levels of society.

 

[Minigiant]

I'd vote Medium. To be truly Low Fantasy requires a lot of modification. To be truly High Fantasy would probably require adding many more magic items* to a campaign and revising or ditching attunement as a mechanic.

*or equivalents, like boons and such.

I would also vote Medium. In a High Fantasy setting, magic use is commonplace at all levels of society.

That's High magic not high Fantasy.

D&D assumes heavily reality warping magic spells, monsters, and effects.

Rangers are expected to hunt troublesome ancient dragons and great wyrm.

Frequency is a setting to setting thing.

 

[James Gasik]

That's High magic not high Fantasy.

D&D assumes heavily reality warping magic spells, monsters, and effects.

Rangers are expected to hunt troublesome ancient dragons and great wyrm.

Frequency is a setting to setting thing.

You'll have to help me, when is high fantasy =/= high magic?

Sure, you can have high fantasy where magic items aren't all over the place, but you still have people and creatures with incredible abilities about that serve the same purpose quite a lot of the time.

Now if you mean that the protagonists aren't necessarily wielding powerful magic in order to deal with high order threats, I guess, but there's usually some explanation as to why/how they are able to accomplish these feats- faerie godparents, seventh sons of seventh sons, born lucky/under a certain star, prophecy, and so forth.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

You'll have to help me, when is high fantasy =/= high magic?

Sure, you can have high fantasy where magic items aren't all over the place, but you still have people and creatures with incredible abilities about that serve the same purpose quite a lot of the time.

Now if you mean that the protagonists aren't necessarily wielding powerful magic in order to deal with high order threats, I guess, but there's usually some explanation as to why/how they are able to accomplish these feats- faerie godparents, seventh sons of seventh sons, born lucky/under a certain star, prophecy, and so forth.

Id say 3rd Age Middle Earth or original DL; the world is alive with magic yet only a few rare ones are able to tap or wield it.

 

[CreamCloud0]

You'll have to help me, when is high fantasy =/= high magic?

Sure, you can have high fantasy where magic items aren't all over the place, but you still have people and creatures with incredible abilities about that serve the same purpose quite a lot of the time.

Now if you mean that the protagonists aren't necessarily wielding powerful magic in order to deal with high order threats, I guess, but there's usually some explanation as to why/how they are able to accomplish these feats- faerie godparents, seventh sons of seventh sons, born lucky/under a certain star, prophecy, and so forth.

i think it's the difference between how powerful the magic that exists is in the setting is VS how common magic is in the setting

DnD has some wild powerful sorcery being thrown around with it's 9th level spells, wildshape, gods, the planes, and that's the sort of thing that determines the bar for the level of fantasy, there could only be one single 20th level wizard in the setting and that would be low magic, but the level of fantasy would still be the same because those 9th level spells are what the biggest magics around are capable of and are what determines the level of fantasy.

or that's my understanding of the distinction at least.