Like many, I find the base chassis of the Ranger underwhelming.
In my opinion, this is in large part due to the "Natural Explorer" ability only working in a specific favored terrain. If that terrain is not encountered, the Ranger really isn't any better at exploring than the rest in the party. I find this regrettable; the Ranger is the quintessential outdoorsman, and as such should be competent on every terrain.
Would it break the game if the benefits of Natural Explorer applied to every terrain - as if every terrain was "favored"?
As a reminder, this would mean the that Ranger would, in all terrain:
None of these abilities seem overpowered to me. All of this is stuff that a Ranger should be good at, period.
So why not give it all to the Ranger?
Now having all terrain favored right at level 1 might encourage dipping Ranger too much. Instead, the Ranger could gradually become a master of all terrains. I suggest the Ranger learns two favored terrains at level 1, and learns one additional favored terrain every level after that.
This means the Ranger would become master of every terrain at level 7, which seems reasonable to me. By level 7, most of the troublesome environment challenges can be solved by magic anyway.
In my opinion, this is in large part due to the "Natural Explorer" ability only working in a specific favored terrain. If that terrain is not encountered, the Ranger really isn't any better at exploring than the rest in the party. I find this regrettable; the Ranger is the quintessential outdoorsman, and as such should be competent on every terrain.
Would it break the game if the benefits of Natural Explorer applied to every terrain - as if every terrain was "favored"?
As a reminder, this would mean the that Ranger would, in all terrain:
- Allow group travel through difficult terrain without losing speed
- Never get lost
- Always remain alert to danger while traveling
- Move stealthily at normal pace when alone
- Find twice as much food when foraging
- When tracking creatures, learn their exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area.
None of these abilities seem overpowered to me. All of this is stuff that a Ranger should be good at, period.
So why not give it all to the Ranger?
Now having all terrain favored right at level 1 might encourage dipping Ranger too much. Instead, the Ranger could gradually become a master of all terrains. I suggest the Ranger learns two favored terrains at level 1, and learns one additional favored terrain every level after that.
This means the Ranger would become master of every terrain at level 7, which seems reasonable to me. By level 7, most of the troublesome environment challenges can be solved by magic anyway.