D&D (2024) What type of ranger would your prefer for 2024?

[Yaarel]

From my experience

A spell-less ranger is never agreed on of what it can do by more that 20% of those asking for it.

And many mostly would be happy with or just want to play a fighter/rogue multiclass.

So a spellcasting ranger is the best ranger for the core D&D ranger.

Then maybe an alternative fightery roguish class of another name in a future book.

Personally, I would like to see the Fighter split into two separate classes.

• Knight (heavy infantry): heavy armor, heavy weapons, heavy equipment.
• Skirmisher (light infantry): light armor, high mobility, athletic stunts, guerilla, streetfighter.

Generally, the Knight comes with aristocratic education and leadership, but perhaps the Skirmisher can as well.

 

[Yaarel]

But, if it’s an Animal Handling check, why does it need to be a class specific ability? Why do we need a class specifically to make use of an already existing skill? Rogues are no longer the only ones who can Find and Remove Traps. Now, anyone with the right skill can do it. A Ranger having special animal skills, or special tracking skills (and have that be their niche) made sense when there wasn’t a skill system. There is now.

So, a Ranger needs to be more than just someone who can do things that someone with a really high Survival or Animal Handling skill can do. D&D has decided that means Nature magic is what separates Rangers from Scouts or Fighters.

Well, ...

That is kinda why I earlier mentioned how Ranger makes a better background than a class.

Pretty much what the Ranger is today is a "skirmisher" who can spellcast.

 

[Yaarel]

Because it's a reliable one that doesn't depend on the fickleness of the die.

A background feat might also grant a reliable use of an ability (skill) check. But yeah.

 

[le Redoutable]

Personally, I would like to see the Fighter split into two separate classes.

• Knight (heavy infantry): heavy armor, heavy weapons, heavy equipment.
• Skirmisher (light infantry): light armor, high mobility, athletic stunts, guerilla, streetfighter.

Generally, the Knight comes with aristocratic education and leadership, but perhaps the Skirmisher can as well.

A knight using Etiquette and Honour

 

[Yaarel]

A knight using Etiquette and Honour

Or in 5e parlance, Persuasion and History.

 

[Vaalingrade]

A background feat might also grant a reliable use of an ability (skill) check. But yeah.

Being able to be competent at a skill check without being a Bard or Rogue goes against everything Bounded Accuracy stands for!

 

[Vaalingrade]

A knight using Etiquette and Honour

They only get Honor if they're hunting the Avatar.

 

[Horwath]

How about the very descriptions of the classes and the spell lists themselves. Or the descriptions in the spells. Or the fact that these are unique to certain classes.

There's a million details you're overlooking. Oversimplifying.

few spells that are specific, in general they are not

Firm voice does not equal yelling; indeed, it only refers to being confident and steady, no stuttering. So if you're accusing me of underexaggerating, well, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, because you're certainly overexaggerating. A firm voice is not incompatible with hiding.


Random youtubers translating a video game which is exaggerated for extra effect? That's not evidence of anything. Do you need to make grunts or go "Hiyaaa!" when making weapon attacks now? Because tthat's in D&D video games too. Or starting every combat with something like "You shall fall by my hand!"

Sometimes, things are in games because they make the game more evocative and exciting, not because its true to the source material.

they say it's based on 5E, so...

also, as with all, 5E rules are vague and incoherent so DM has to make 100s of rulings instead of writing everything clear, with DC and examples, you can always fall back to 3.5.

There it states: Verbal,
A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide
a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice.

them go to Listen skill:
People talking; DC 0
Battle; DC -10

strong voice should be that it is heard in battle, so that would be DC -10.

since there is no rule in 5E how much and when do you get penalties on Perception, as of course there is non. Why should devs write the rules, not like it's their job, again we fall back to 3,5e and -1 per 10ft of distance.

So average person hears spellcasting from 200ft, a (very)good sentry with maybe +10 Perception will hear it at 300ft.

 

[Horwath]

What is your view on short-rest spell points? (Level+1 pool, cost=slot, max cast level/2 round up.)

I'm more in; delete short rest, base everything on long rest.
As an Action you can spend am HD for healing,
5th level, up to two HDs
11th level, up to 3 HDs
17th level, up to 4 HDs
some classes at certain levels might improve this to Bonus action.
or remove HDs and just recharge 25% of max HP, 2×prof bonus per day.

HDs recharge at long rest.

so you have at-will, and long rest recharge.

 

[DEFCON 1]

The game has literally offered non-Vancian variants for 40 years.

And if you don't like it when it changes, you can just Rule 0 it right?

Exactly! So why get all bent out of shape over any of it?