RP a Scout [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

RP a Scout [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
BreegJac17
07-31-07, 01:07 PM I'm going to play a non-good dwarven scout and i'm having trouble on how to RP him.

1. What is the main difference between a ranger and a scout, RP-wise??

2. Also, what would be a fitting (FR) deity for a Dwarven scout? It could be a member of the dwarven or human pantheon.
BreegJac17
08-01-07, 01:18 PM :bump:
Fithero
08-01-07, 01:26 PM The differance between a scout and a ranger is a pretty simple one. While a ranger sees nature as a something to revere and worship, a scout sees nature as a place of work.

Scouts dont actually have any ties to nature, their just running round doin their job. Thus, they dont have any spells.

A dwarven scout would possible be from a unit of scouts who were part of hit and run tactics, most likely against weaker foes such as goblins or kobolds.
Free1983
08-01-07, 02:21 PM I'm not so sure if there should be a difference between the scout and the ranger. They both are open to all alignments and in the end you can do the task of a ranger with a scout-character and vice versa.

The deity depends on the setting you're playing in. Ask your DM if it's a homebrew world to check which deities are available. But with the gods in the PHB you could consider:

Moradin. Your guy is a dwarf after all.
Obod-Hai. He lives outdoors, so this nature god could appeal to him;
Farhfala (or how do you spell it). If your guy is a tracker or if he travels from wood to wood, this might be the god for you!

But you can work any deity into your background if you want to. Just have your parents revere this deity and let your character revere it too. Tradition is a must.

Cheers
BreegJac17
08-01-07, 03:14 PM Any more suggestions??? :)
BreegJac17
08-01-07, 04:58 PM So would a Ranger be a person who would revere and respect and cherish nature and a scout would believe that nature is something to work and struggle in?
Fithero
08-02-07, 01:27 AM So would a Ranger be a person who would revere and respect and cherish nature and a scout would believe that nature is something to work and struggle in?

Yep... thats pretty much the gist of it.
camirblu
08-02-07, 02:21 AM A Ranger also has the ability to cast divine spells. This is a mark of their divine involvement, if nothing else. If not divine, then at least reverence for what they're doing and the world they live in.

They pray, and nature, the wild, a god, answers.

A scout does no such thing.
Free1983
08-02-07, 04:29 AM I disagree wholeheartly with the reasoning that if you get divine spells, you worship it. If that is the case than tell me the difference between a druid (who especially reveres nature) and the ranger. The PHB says that in essence the ranger is a hunter (which makes sense when you look at its abilities - Favored enemy, combat style, swift tracker). It never mentions the revering aspect of the ranger.

This however doesn't mean that a ranger can't revere nature. All I'm saying is that you shouldn't look at the name of a class to decide what background that class should have. A ranger and a scout could have exactly the same background. The difference between a ranger and a scout is purely mechanical. The former relies on knowledge, spells and combat and the latter relies more on mobility.

What I'm trying to say is that there isn't a difference between a ranger and a scout roleplay-wise.

Cheers
Fithero
08-02-07, 08:16 AM What I'm trying to say is that there isn't a difference between a ranger and a scout roleplay-wise.

Cheers

Yeah there is.

If you read the FrCs, you see that rangers have to choose a deity, because that deity has to grant them their spells.

It's not like a ranger just wakes up one day and goes, "Well heck, I can cast divine spells now... wonder how that happened?"

If you dont choose a deity, then you dont get spells...

Rangers are more combat orientated (their hit die, BaB, Favoured Enemy, Combat Styles) while scouts are more hit and run tactics (skirmish, increased speed, their lower BaB and Hit die)
Free1983
08-02-07, 08:48 AM If you read the FrCs, you see that rangers have to choose a deity, because that deity has to grant them their spells.

If you reed the text for the ranger in the PHB, you'll see that under religion clearly is stated that the ranger gains its divine spells from the power of nature. He may choose (like anyone else) to worship a deity, but this is not nescessary to gain spellcasting powers.

I don't know what FrC stands for, but if it's a book and if I have it (doubt it), I will look it up and if you're correct, than we have found an incongruenty (sp?) in the rules. Yeey us in that case!

Cheers
Fithero
08-02-07, 08:58 AM FrCs = Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting

It states at the start of it that anyone who wants to cast divine spells must choose a deity.

And seeing as the OP has stated that the character is in the Forgotten Realms....
Free1983
08-02-07, 09:02 AM Aha,

So no rules conflict after all ;).
BreegJac17
08-02-07, 12:22 PM Thanks for the input. I've decided on my deity, and it's going to be thee Red Knight. I was just wondering, how can i play a character that is all about strategy, planning and tactics??
Free1983
08-02-07, 01:35 PM Strategy, planning and tactics sounds a lot like combat. It seems like your character prefers to fight on his terms (except when he gets surprised, but that shouldn't happen to you in the first place). To fight on your own terms, you'll have several options at your disposal.

Information:detect:
You will always be keen to know as much as you can about your enemy (or potential enemies). This includes history, his tactics, his whereabouts and his assets, etc. In game this means that you do research about enemies, but it also means that you send a scout ahead and that you use divination magic to get the drop on your foe.
Be prepared:fight!:
You know that how much you might know about the enemy, there's always a chance that he gets the drop on you. So you try to be prepared for when this happens. This means that you'll check for allies & safe places nearby. If you're on a mission, you'll always try to find a defensive postion while travelling or resting, you'll try to have a certain system that you & your team automatically execute when suprised, etc. Also make sure that you always have an exit strategy. Preferably two exit strategies for if one is shut off.
Plan ahead :plotting:
Don't lunge into combat head on, but try to figure out the best way to attack your enemy. Use maps and tactics (a trojan horse, an ambush, a bottleneck if you'll be fighting a horde of little minions,...). This way you'll be the one who controls the battle. Remember, a plan isn't a plan until all possible failures are accounted for.

You could consider to put some ranks in history to get a mechanical backup for your character background. This way you can inform the party about battles that were won with a special tactic or manoevre (sp?).

It would be nice if you look up Sun Tzu. I think that if you browse the internet for a while, you'll come up with all kinds of short advices the man left us. It would be cool if you could say some of those wisdoms in game :ayyyy!:.

Hope this helps,

Cheers
BreegJac17
08-02-07, 04:21 PM Thank you Free1983, and the effort you made to help, here's a :cookie: . Hope yer hungry. :)
BreegJac17
08-03-07, 10:50 AM How can i get this character a feel of the scout and not a ranger?
Pole4life
08-03-07, 01:25 PM Ahead of the party, and away from their sight, the dwarf silently hides between the vast trees with his bow armed. While the others in the party need to take the trail, he could stride through the forest faster than their cleric in his heavy armor.
Still, the damn birds keep make noise throwing him off, slightly. He spots a small band of armed kobolds being led a kobold with a robe and a wand. Back flipping toward the trail, he fires a beautifully aimed shot at the robed kobold and quickly draws his horn and blows it, scaring the birds away and bring fear into the hearts of the kobolds in the clearing.
Striding to the trail, he keeps a lookout for traps that the kobolds might have set for the rest of his slow party.

I see the scout as just that... a scout. Rangers could do it, but some of the scouts abilities, such as striding without penalty though undergrowth and finding and disarming traps, make him better suited to the duty of scouting ahead. Also, skirmish is a good class ability that is amplified by the scout's many skills that give him a surprise action to fire a deadly shot.

A ranger would probably stay with the party, chat to his animal companion and admire the environment he is in. A scout just owns whatever environment he is in.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BreegJac17 07-31-07, 01:07 PM	I'm going to play a non-good dwarven scout and i'm having trouble on how to RP him. 1. What is the main difference between a ranger and a scout, RP-wise?? 2. Also, what would be a fitting (FR) deity for a Dwarven scout? It could be a member of the dwarven or human pantheon.
BreegJac17 08-01-07, 01:18 PM	:bump:
Fithero 08-01-07, 01:26 PM	The differance between a scout and a ranger is a pretty simple one. While a ranger sees nature as a something to revere and worship, a scout sees nature as a place of work. Scouts dont actually have any ties to nature, their just running round doin their job. Thus, they dont have any spells. A dwarven scout would possible be from a unit of scouts who were part of hit and run tactics, most likely against weaker foes such as goblins or kobolds.
Free1983 08-01-07, 02:21 PM	I'm not so sure if there should be a difference between the scout and the ranger. They both are open to all alignments and in the end you can do the task of a ranger with a scout-character and vice versa. The deity depends on the setting you're playing in. Ask your DM if it's a homebrew world to check which deities are available. But with the gods in the PHB you could consider: Moradin. Your guy is a dwarf after all. Obod-Hai. He lives outdoors, so this nature god could appeal to him; Farhfala (or how do you spell it). If your guy is a tracker or if he travels from wood to wood, this might be the god for you! But you can work any deity into your background if you want to. Just have your parents revere this deity and let your character revere it too. Tradition is a must. Cheers
BreegJac17 08-01-07, 03:14 PM	Any more suggestions??? :)
BreegJac17 08-01-07, 04:58 PM	So would a Ranger be a person who would revere and respect and cherish nature and a scout would believe that nature is something to work and struggle in?
Fithero 08-02-07, 01:27 AM	So would a Ranger be a person who would revere and respect and cherish nature and a scout would believe that nature is something to work and struggle in? Yep... thats pretty much the gist of it.
camirblu 08-02-07, 02:21 AM	A Ranger also has the ability to cast divine spells. This is a mark of their divine involvement, if nothing else. If not divine, then at least reverence for what they're doing and the world they live in. They pray, and nature, the wild, a god, answers. A scout does no such thing.
Free1983 08-02-07, 04:29 AM	I disagree wholeheartly with the reasoning that if you get divine spells, you worship it. If that is the case than tell me the difference between a druid (who especially reveres nature) and the ranger. The PHB says that in essence the ranger is a hunter (which makes sense when you look at its abilities - Favored enemy, combat style, swift tracker). It never mentions the revering aspect of the ranger. This however doesn't mean that a ranger can't revere nature. All I'm saying is that you shouldn't look at the name of a class to decide what background that class should have. A ranger and a scout could have exactly the same background. The difference between a ranger and a scout is purely mechanical. The former relies on knowledge, spells and combat and the latter relies more on mobility. What I'm trying to say is that there isn't a difference between a ranger and a scout roleplay-wise. Cheers
Fithero 08-02-07, 08:16 AM	What I'm trying to say is that there isn't a difference between a ranger and a scout roleplay-wise. Cheers Yeah there is. If you read the FrCs, you see that rangers have to choose a deity, because that deity has to grant them their spells. It's not like a ranger just wakes up one day and goes, "Well heck, I can cast divine spells now... wonder how that happened?" If you dont choose a deity, then you dont get spells... Rangers are more combat orientated (their hit die, BaB, Favoured Enemy, Combat Styles) while scouts are more hit and run tactics (skirmish, increased speed, their lower BaB and Hit die)
Free1983 08-02-07, 08:48 AM	If you read the FrCs, you see that rangers have to choose a deity, because that deity has to grant them their spells. If you reed the text for the ranger in the PHB, you'll see that under religion clearly is stated that the ranger gains its divine spells from the power of nature. He may choose (like anyone else) to worship a deity, but this is not nescessary to gain spellcasting powers. I don't know what FrC stands for, but if it's a book and if I have it (doubt it), I will look it up and if you're correct, than we have found an incongruenty (sp?) in the rules. Yeey us in that case! Cheers
Fithero 08-02-07, 08:58 AM	FrCs = Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting It states at the start of it that anyone who wants to cast divine spells must choose a deity. And seeing as the OP has stated that the character is in the Forgotten Realms....
Free1983 08-02-07, 09:02 AM	Aha, So no rules conflict after all ;).
BreegJac17 08-02-07, 12:22 PM	Thanks for the input. I've decided on my deity, and it's going to be thee Red Knight. I was just wondering, how can i play a character that is all about strategy, planning and tactics??
Free1983 08-02-07, 01:35 PM	Strategy, planning and tactics sounds a lot like combat. It seems like your character prefers to fight on his terms (except when he gets surprised, but that shouldn't happen to you in the first place). To fight on your own terms, you'll have several options at your disposal. Information:detect: You will always be keen to know as much as you can about your enemy (or potential enemies). This includes history, his tactics, his whereabouts and his assets, etc. In game this means that you do research about enemies, but it also means that you send a scout ahead and that you use divination magic to get the drop on your foe. Be prepared:fight!: You know that how much you might know about the enemy, there's always a chance that he gets the drop on you. So you try to be prepared for when this happens. This means that you'll check for allies & safe places nearby. If you're on a mission, you'll always try to find a defensive postion while travelling or resting, you'll try to have a certain system that you & your team automatically execute when suprised, etc. Also make sure that you always have an exit strategy. Preferably two exit strategies for if one is shut off. Plan ahead :plotting: Don't lunge into combat head on, but try to figure out the best way to attack your enemy. Use maps and tactics (a trojan horse, an ambush, a bottleneck if you'll be fighting a horde of little minions,...). This way you'll be the one who controls the battle. Remember, a plan isn't a plan until all possible failures are accounted for. You could consider to put some ranks in history to get a mechanical backup for your character background. This way you can inform the party about battles that were won with a special tactic or manoevre (sp?). It would be nice if you look up Sun Tzu. I think that if you browse the internet for a while, you'll come up with all kinds of short advices the man left us. It would be cool if you could say some of those wisdoms in game :ayyyy!:. Hope this helps, Cheers
BreegJac17 08-02-07, 04:21 PM	Thank you Free1983, and the effort you made to help, here's a :cookie: . Hope yer hungry. :)
BreegJac17 08-03-07, 10:50 AM	How can i get this character a feel of the scout and not a ranger?
Pole4life 08-03-07, 01:25 PM	Ahead of the party, and away from their sight, the dwarf silently hides between the vast trees with his bow armed. While the others in the party need to take the trail, he could stride through the forest faster than their cleric in his heavy armor. Still, the damn birds keep make noise throwing him off, slightly. He spots a small band of armed kobolds being led a kobold with a robe and a wand. Back flipping toward the trail, he fires a beautifully aimed shot at the robed kobold and quickly draws his horn and blows it, scaring the birds away and bring fear into the hearts of the kobolds in the clearing. Striding to the trail, he keeps a lookout for traps that the kobolds might have set for the rest of his slow party. I see the scout as just that... a scout. Rangers could do it, but some of the scouts abilities, such as striding without penalty though undergrowth and finding and disarming traps, make him better suited to the duty of scouting ahead. Also, skirmish is a good class ability that is amplified by the scout's many skills that give him a surprise action to fire a deadly shot. A ranger would probably stay with the party, chat to his animal companion and admire the environment he is in. A scout just owns whatever environment he is in.