What is the best ranger class?

[Sir Edgar]

I know this has been discussed many, many times, but I'm curious to know if anyone has come to any conclusions. I already know about the major ones, but which ones do you like? Please post the links or information here, if you can. Thanks.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Here are my changes. I tried to keep it simple.

Caster Level changed to class level minus 3 instead of 1/2 class level (paladin, too).

Favored Enemy bonuses start at +2 instead of +1, so that at level 20 the ranger's favored enemy bonuses are +6, +5, +4, +3, and +2.

6 skill points instead of 4 (I do this for the bard, too).

Dump the virtual two-weapon fighting/ambidexterity for one real feat gained at 2nd level.

 

[Chun-tzu]

I like the Ranger in Book of Hallowed Might. Some other alt.rangers are pretty cool, but range pretty far from the PHB Ranger, which can potentially be a problem when looking at good Ranger prestige classes. It's toned down from the alt.ranger on Monte's website (which is overpowered, at least a bit).

I've also seen an alt.Ranger here that basically combines the Barbarian and Ranger into one class. Features like fast movement and damage reduction really fit the rugged huntsman well. I can't remember which poster came up with the idea, but hopefully someone else can point you to it (if you're interested).

The alt.rangers in Path of the Sword didn't really do much for me.

 

[Khorod]

Concrete Buddha had bbn/rgr Alt.Ranger, can't find the thread though.

Are you asking about a tweaked ranger to improve the core one, or entirely different approaches to the ranger and his role in the game?

 

[Crothian]

I've been playing MC ranger for the past 10 month and haven't found it overpowered at all. At first I thought it might be but we've had no problems with it at all in the game.

 

[corridor]

Ditto on the MC ranger. We have one in our party that is actually something of the weak-sister of the group. And we are pretty far from munchkin players.

 

[haiiro]

Thus far, I like the mercenary ranger from AEG's Mercenaries the most. Instead of fixed abilities, it offers a host of "ranger options," and these include all of the abilities of the PHB ranger, as well as others. It also adds favored terrain, and handles the FE bonus differently (you don't have to pick new groups). It's basically a ranger toolkit, and I like that concept.

 

[mikebr99]

I will also vote for the MC Ranger that is found for free on his website www.montecook.com

But if you think it is a little overpowered, then try another alt. version in "The book of Hallowed Might"... also by Monte Cook.

There is an Alt. Paladin in there also.

And a pretty good version of a Cleric/Wizard PrC!!!

Mike

 

[Argus Decimus Mokira]

Hey
I use the Woodsman class from WoT instead of PH rangers. Since normal d&d doesn't use Defense or Reputation scores, I dropped those and replaced them with the normal spellcasting progression of the PH ranger. Works pretty good, encourages non-melee and melee fighting styles, and gets around the (IMO) somewhat useless favored enemy ability.
Later

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I personally use a modified version of the Athas Ranger (removing things that are more culturaly based on Dark Sun adding things more inline with my setting).

I also have AEG's Ranger (as listed above), but it's more of a regional class.

While I don't use the Core Ranger, I have used it and MC's Ranger to derive a few Prestige Classes, as they both come across as Military Specialists (like Green Beret or similar) than "Rangers" per the classical sense.