alternatives for a ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

alternatives for a ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cadwyn
03-29-07, 02:05 PM I'm making a ranger, but I dont want a Animal Companion...since I have a tendency to forget them.

Are there any other alternative class features than Distracting Shot (PHBII)?
crimsonwolf
03-29-07, 03:36 PM http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Classes-Base.pdf
Shadowhowler
03-30-07, 10:35 AM Check out Unearthed Arcana, if you have acsess to it. In there they give options for switching out just about any class ability you don't like and exchanging it for one thats more in tune with the 'flavor' you are trying to capture with your character idea.

The Barbarian or Scouts incressed Movement, for example.
SilvercatMoonpaw
03-30-07, 10:39 AM You don't need UA to see its options. They are available here (http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/variantClasses.htm). My advice is to start by backtracking the machanic that gives sorcerers/wizards an animal companion.

You could always just use the Scout (if you have it), which is rangery without Animal Companion or spells. Just a suggestion.
The_Shaman
03-30-07, 10:45 AM There are some variant rangers in CoV, including one that lets you have slightly better spellcasting. Mind you, you can simply not have a companion, or PrC your way out.
glitch_wraith
03-30-07, 10:47 AM Oops. Should have read your post better. Ignore this post.
Coven
03-30-07, 02:25 PM Did you mean distracting attack from PHB 2? I rather like that ability, especially if there is a rogue in the party and the rogue will like you for it.
The_Shaman
03-30-07, 02:57 PM He might, but you can flank with an animal -and if your animal is a good grappler, the rogue will also be more than happy to take advantage (grappling denies dex bonus to AC and threatening squares :) ).
Chimaera2000
03-31-07, 04:49 PM You don't have to worry about an animal companion being turned into paste by a monster with Distracting Attack, though. You can also cause multiple enemies to be flanked with Distracting Attack (say, if the party is in melee with different monsters), which the animal companion can't do.

As an aside, I personally love the idea of the house-ruling the ranger to have an animal companion as a druid of their level, both for the flavor (a hunting companion) and to give the ranger a boost.
Shadowhowler
03-31-07, 07:46 PM As an aside, I personally love the idea of the house-ruling the ranger to have an animal companion as a druid of their level, both for the flavor (a hunting companion) and to give the ranger a boost.

That works for me... being that I am a 2nd edd player and in 2nd, Rangers had animal companions and Druids did not... :)
danielinthewolvesden
03-31-07, 11:01 PM In Dungeonscape you can trade it in for Trapfinding.
Shadowfax7
04-01-07, 09:32 AM In Dungeonscape you can trade it in for Trapfinding.
No, you can't. You can trade in Track and Swift Tracker for Trapfinding and Disable Device as a class skill.
The_Shaman
04-01-07, 12:34 PM Sounds like a good idea - at least track you can get as a feat.
Shadowfax7
04-01-07, 01:29 PM Sounds like a good idea - at least track you can get as a feat.But the purpose of the OP's thread is looking for an ability to exchange his Ranger's Animal Companion for.
danielinthewolvesden
04-01-07, 01:30 PM Right, sorry. But note that an Animal companion can also be a Mount or a small animal for a scout. It does not have to be a combat animal.
Waterhammer
04-01-07, 03:47 PM You could start from scratch. Multi-class as a scout/duskblade. Gives you uncanny dodge. I always thought the ranger should have that anyway. You just need to burn a feat for track.
The_Shaman
04-01-07, 03:58 PM But the purpose of the OP's thread is looking for an ability to exchange his Ranger's Animal Companion for.

I'd trade it for a feat, or - to represent its (somewhat) growing usefulness, a short progression. Would +1d6 sudden strike every 4 or 5 levels be worth it (i.e. at lvl 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20) ? At least you'll have another good reason to stay a ranger after lvl 11.
Ghostwheel
04-01-07, 04:24 PM I agree that the Ranger's Animal Companion is too weak. Eberonn has mage-bred animals that could make a slight improvement, but only slightly. Even with a Druid-equivalent Companion, the Ranger lacks the ability to buff that companion to the point that it is viable at mid- to high-levels as a primary combatant.

But game balance is important, so I would go no further than allowing Druid-equivalent progression. After that, one would need to nerf some other aspect of the Ranger. That still leaves the Companion as a superior mount, or in some other role. Player creativity and party cooperation would have a lot to do with how this played out. :cool:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cadwyn 03-29-07, 02:05 PM	I'm making a ranger, but I dont want a Animal Companion...since I have a tendency to forget them. Are there any other alternative class features than Distracting Shot (PHBII)?
crimsonwolf 03-29-07, 03:36 PM	http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Classes-Base.pdf
Shadowhowler 03-30-07, 10:35 AM	Check out Unearthed Arcana, if you have acsess to it. In there they give options for switching out just about any class ability you don't like and exchanging it for one thats more in tune with the 'flavor' you are trying to capture with your character idea. The Barbarian or Scouts incressed Movement, for example.
SilvercatMoonpaw 03-30-07, 10:39 AM	You don't need UA to see its options. They are available here (http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/variantClasses.htm). My advice is to start by backtracking the machanic that gives sorcerers/wizards an animal companion. You could always just use the Scout (if you have it), which is rangery without Animal Companion or spells. Just a suggestion.
The_Shaman 03-30-07, 10:45 AM	There are some variant rangers in CoV, including one that lets you have slightly better spellcasting. Mind you, you can simply not have a companion, or PrC your way out.
glitch_wraith 03-30-07, 10:47 AM	Oops. Should have read your post better. Ignore this post.
Coven 03-30-07, 02:25 PM	Did you mean distracting attack from PHB 2? I rather like that ability, especially if there is a rogue in the party and the rogue will like you for it.
The_Shaman 03-30-07, 02:57 PM	He might, but you can flank with an animal -and if your animal is a good grappler, the rogue will also be more than happy to take advantage (grappling denies dex bonus to AC and threatening squares :) ).
Chimaera2000 03-31-07, 04:49 PM	You don't have to worry about an animal companion being turned into paste by a monster with Distracting Attack, though. You can also cause multiple enemies to be flanked with Distracting Attack (say, if the party is in melee with different monsters), which the animal companion can't do. As an aside, I personally love the idea of the house-ruling the ranger to have an animal companion as a druid of their level, both for the flavor (a hunting companion) and to give the ranger a boost.
Shadowhowler 03-31-07, 07:46 PM	As an aside, I personally love the idea of the house-ruling the ranger to have an animal companion as a druid of their level, both for the flavor (a hunting companion) and to give the ranger a boost. That works for me... being that I am a 2nd edd player and in 2nd, Rangers had animal companions and Druids did not... :)
danielinthewolvesden 03-31-07, 11:01 PM	In Dungeonscape you can trade it in for Trapfinding.
Shadowfax7 04-01-07, 09:32 AM	In Dungeonscape you can trade it in for Trapfinding. No, you can't. You can trade in Track and Swift Tracker for Trapfinding and Disable Device as a class skill.
The_Shaman 04-01-07, 12:34 PM	Sounds like a good idea - at least track you can get as a feat.
Shadowfax7 04-01-07, 01:29 PM	Sounds like a good idea - at least track you can get as a feat.But the purpose of the OP's thread is looking for an ability to exchange his Ranger's Animal Companion for.
danielinthewolvesden 04-01-07, 01:30 PM	Right, sorry. But note that an Animal companion can also be a Mount or a small animal for a scout. It does not have to be a combat animal.
Waterhammer 04-01-07, 03:47 PM	You could start from scratch. Multi-class as a scout/duskblade. Gives you uncanny dodge. I always thought the ranger should have that anyway. You just need to burn a feat for track.
The_Shaman 04-01-07, 03:58 PM	But the purpose of the OP's thread is looking for an ability to exchange his Ranger's Animal Companion for. I'd trade it for a feat, or - to represent its (somewhat) growing usefulness, a short progression. Would +1d6 sudden strike every 4 or 5 levels be worth it (i.e. at lvl 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20) ? At least you'll have another good reason to stay a ranger after lvl 11.
Ghostwheel 04-01-07, 04:24 PM	I agree that the Ranger's Animal Companion is too weak. Eberonn has mage-bred animals that could make a slight improvement, but only slightly. Even with a Druid-equivalent Companion, the Ranger lacks the ability to buff that companion to the point that it is viable at mid- to high-levels as a primary combatant. But game balance is important, so I would go no further than allowing Druid-equivalent progression. After that, one would need to nerf some other aspect of the Ranger. That still leaves the Companion as a superior mount, or in some other role. Player creativity and party cooperation would have a lot to do with how this played out. :cool: