D&D General Why does the Hunter subclass for the 2014 & 2024 Ranger not have bonus spells?

[Corinnguard]

Does anyone have an idea as to why the Hunter subclass for the 2014 & 2024 Ranger does not have bonus spells? All of the other Ranger subclasses in both the 2014 & 2024 Ranger have them AFAIK. I ask because the Hunter subclass for Laser Llama's Alternate Ranger does give them bonus spells.

Alternate Ranger by laserllama

Alternate Ranger by laserllama - Created with GM Binder.

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Here's what LL's version of the subclass has terms of bonus spells:

3rd- Expeditious Retreat, Snare
5th- Locate Creature, Pass Without Trace
9th- Conjure Volley, Nondetection
13th-Faithful Hound, Freedom of Movement
17th-Swift Quiver, Tree Stride

 

[Nikosandros]

Neither the Hunter nor the Beast Master get bonus spells. This is also true in the 2014 PHB.

 

[Mephista]

Note that Beastmaster also does not get any additional spells. And, while Winter Walker does indeed get spells, its only one per level instead of two.

 

[Mephista]

Hunter also has slightly stronger damage boosts than Fey and Gloom early on. 1d8 on practically every turn instead of 1d4 (or 2d6 WIS per day) at level 3. At level 7, Gloom and Fey offer mental saves, wherein Hunter gives Disadvantage on enemy attacks - much more frequent. Winter Warden seems to be doing a mix of mix of both.

They seem to be mentally splitting the sub-classes into two groups "spell-heavy" and "melee-heavy" - Hunter and Beastmaster deal more damage upfront, wherein Fey and Gloom are more reliant on magic, and thus get spell lists.

 

[Ramhorn]

I think that it's fine that the Hunter and Beastmaster don't get additional spells as they are more martial focused than some other subclasses.

While it's not a class optimized for combat, you are offered a lot of flexibility in the ways you can build your character for exploration and combat. Personally I've always wanted to try a Beast Master that uses its animal companion as a mount.

 

[Horwath]

Hunter could have been a subclass for all HM BS that is tacked on base class.

Bonus spells for Hunter
1. Hunter's mark, DOH!
2. See invisibility
3. clairvoyance
4. Dimension door
5. Hold monster

 

[Horwath]

as they are more martial focused than some other subclasses.

hmm:
Beast strike:
use your spell attack modifier,
damage bonus on attack: Wis mod.

so much for being more martial...

guess it's Magic initiate: Druid and Shillelagh or bust with this subclass also.

 

[TwoSix]

Does anyone have an idea as to why the Hunter subclass for the 2014 & 2024 Ranger does not have bonus spells? All of the other Ranger subclasses in both the 2014 & 2024 Ranger have them AFAIK. I ask because the Hunter subclass for Laser Llama's Alternate Ranger does give them bonus spells.

I'm shocked that a talented 3pp designer has a more cohesive design scheme than WotC; shocked, I tell you.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'm shocked that a talented 3pp designer has a more cohesive design scheme than WotC; shocked, I tell you.

It's also a larger and more complex design scheme as well... not something the WotC designers have really cared to give to the playerbase. Not when most players who play D&D are casual and thus unconcerned with having dozens of fiddly mechanical bits to think about every single turn. They let the 3PPs fool around with that stuff, which is why Morrus' Advanced 5E and LaserLlama's designs exist.

 

[Ramhorn]

hmm:
Beast strike:
use your spell attack modifier,
damage bonus on attack: Wis mod.

so much for being more martial...

guess it's Magic initiate: Druid and Shillelagh or bust with this subclass also.

The Hunter subclass, even the 2024 one as far as I recall, doesn't offer any features that scale off of your spellcasting modifier. While it's not optimal, you could have a Hunter or Beastmaster in the party who can contribute to combat as a flex tank or ranged fighter who also has useful tools for exploration and utility spells.

Just because the Ranger has access to Druidic Warrior as a Fighting Style doesn't mean you have to lean into it. At the end of the day, Rangers are half casters but they aren't Artificers. As long as your wisdom modifier isn't 0 or negative you can get mileage out of many of their spells.