Best Race for Ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Race for Ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kitsunefoxrunner
05-15-07, 12:10 PM What would be some good races to use for a ranger. I have never made one before and I'm going to be one for my next campain, so i am trying to decide on a good race. He will be a two weapon fighting ranger, not a ranged attack.
Eshenaleros
05-15-07, 12:44 PM humans are great because of the extra feat and skill points, and they have no penalties on strength, though a half-orc or full orc are pretty good if you don't mind being a stupid guy with the smashem' goodness
feraltibbit
05-15-07, 12:51 PM Well, let's C...

There's the good old elf (Wood [Sylvan] Elf, Grey Elf, or Wild Elf).
There's the Wild Dwarf (Races/Monsters of Faerun).
Sprites: Pixies & Grigs
Goblins: Spider & Forestkith
Gnolls, any type of Lycanthrope (for the scent)
Forest Gnomes (ECL1)

Try those out...
Thief_of_Hope
05-15-07, 12:59 PM What's a spider goblin, and where can I find it?
jaelis
05-15-07, 12:59 PM Shifters from the Eberron book are pretty good too.
RobbyPants
05-15-07, 01:02 PM If you want to try something different, consider a dwarf. You can use the waraxe as a martial weapon (not blowing a feat). Once you have TWF, you will be eligable to take the Oversized TWF feat, allowing you to use a waraxe in each hand (1d10 damage each).

Also, if you like the idea, but not the though of playing a slow dwarf, you could do the same thing with a human, and just spend a feat to use the bastard sword, dwarven waraxe, or maul.

In general, though, I'd suggest human. They're good at everything. Half orcs are okay. The Int or Cha penalty won't hurt you much. I would stay away from elves, as the Con penalty will kill your ability to go toe-to-toe with monsters (remember you only have light armor and d8 hit dice).
Krusk
05-15-07, 01:31 PM In all honesty I can't think of a bad race for ranger. That probably says something about the class and how it was designed.

I could see any race playing ranger and doing a decent job at it.
AMGriffin
05-15-07, 09:11 PM Check out the half-elves in Dark Sun, they're friggin' badass as rangers.

So are half-ogres, believe it or not.
Jaxgaret
05-15-07, 10:35 PM In all honesty I can't think of a bad race for ranger. That probably says something about the class and how it was designed.

I could see any race playing ranger and doing a decent job at it.

Agreed. Rangers and Rogues are about the most flexible base classes out there in terms of racial selection.

Having said that, I recommend a Forest Gnome or Wood Elf with the Ranger racial substitution levels from RoS and RotW respectively. Both give good synergy with the "woodsman" feel of the class (if you want that), and the racial sub levels are excellent for flavor and crunch.
Nat_20
05-15-07, 11:09 PM Probably my favorite class. I like the wild elf ranger, good role play feel, -2 int can be over looked and i like dex...

I also played as a half elf/half drow ranger(home brew race, pretty fun) that made a mean archer...
snakeman830
05-16-07, 04:09 PM Is this limited to ECL 1 races? no?

I've got two races for you.

1. Catfolk make awesome rangers. Their Dex bonus, speed, and natural armor are all nice, plus you can take the Catfolk Pounce feat. Great for diving right into melee.

2. Centaurs are fast, use bigger weapons, have bonuses to all physical stats (a very impressive one to Str) as well as Wis, have natural armor, two natural attacks, and 3 times the normal carrying capacity. Not to mention automatic proficeincy with the Greatbow (either Races of the Wild or Savage Species says this. I can't remember which).

Both races can be found in Races of the Wild (as well as Catfolk Pounce). Centaurs can be found in your Monster Manual. Not surprisingly, both have ranger as their favored class.

Races of the Wild also has the Gnoll Ferocity feat (have to be a gnoll to take it). I believe that gives them a bite attack, but I don't know for sure.
Heruen
05-16-07, 04:11 PM I would definetly say elf
Soulless_Enigma
05-16-07, 04:14 PM Yup, Gnoll Ferocity does give you a bite attack, but it can only be used when raging.
Darth Sephiroth
05-16-07, 05:36 PM A Goliath could make a good Ranger, especially in mountains. Powerfull Build gives you a lot of room to play with in choosing weapons.
Krusk
05-16-07, 06:31 PM Both races can be found in Races of the Wild (as well as Catfolk Pounce). Centaurs can be found in your Monster Manual. Not surprisingly, both have ranger as their favored class.

I would suggest races of the wild to anyone considering playing a ranger. Most of the equipment/feats in there can help out anyone wanting to play a ranged ranger, and im sure there are some that would help a twf ranger as well. Dont have it on me so can't say for sure.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kitsunefoxrunner 05-15-07, 12:10 PM	What would be some good races to use for a ranger. I have never made one before and I'm going to be one for my next campain, so i am trying to decide on a good race. He will be a two weapon fighting ranger, not a ranged attack.
Eshenaleros 05-15-07, 12:44 PM	humans are great because of the extra feat and skill points, and they have no penalties on strength, though a half-orc or full orc are pretty good if you don't mind being a stupid guy with the smashem' goodness
feraltibbit 05-15-07, 12:51 PM	Well, let's C... There's the good old elf (Wood [Sylvan] Elf, Grey Elf, or Wild Elf). There's the Wild Dwarf (Races/Monsters of Faerun). Sprites: Pixies & Grigs Goblins: Spider & Forestkith Gnolls, any type of Lycanthrope (for the scent) Forest Gnomes (ECL1) Try those out...
Thief_of_Hope 05-15-07, 12:59 PM	What's a spider goblin, and where can I find it?
jaelis 05-15-07, 12:59 PM	Shifters from the Eberron book are pretty good too.
RobbyPants 05-15-07, 01:02 PM	If you want to try something different, consider a dwarf. You can use the waraxe as a martial weapon (not blowing a feat). Once you have TWF, you will be eligable to take the Oversized TWF feat, allowing you to use a waraxe in each hand (1d10 damage each). Also, if you like the idea, but not the though of playing a slow dwarf, you could do the same thing with a human, and just spend a feat to use the bastard sword, dwarven waraxe, or maul. In general, though, I'd suggest human. They're good at everything. Half orcs are okay. The Int or Cha penalty won't hurt you much. I would stay away from elves, as the Con penalty will kill your ability to go toe-to-toe with monsters (remember you only have light armor and d8 hit dice).
Krusk 05-15-07, 01:31 PM	In all honesty I can't think of a bad race for ranger. That probably says something about the class and how it was designed. I could see any race playing ranger and doing a decent job at it.
AMGriffin 05-15-07, 09:11 PM	Check out the half-elves in Dark Sun, they're friggin' badass as rangers. So are half-ogres, believe it or not.
Jaxgaret 05-15-07, 10:35 PM	In all honesty I can't think of a bad race for ranger. That probably says something about the class and how it was designed. I could see any race playing ranger and doing a decent job at it. Agreed. Rangers and Rogues are about the most flexible base classes out there in terms of racial selection. Having said that, I recommend a Forest Gnome or Wood Elf with the Ranger racial substitution levels from RoS and RotW respectively. Both give good synergy with the "woodsman" feel of the class (if you want that), and the racial sub levels are excellent for flavor and crunch.
Nat_20 05-15-07, 11:09 PM	Probably my favorite class. I like the wild elf ranger, good role play feel, -2 int can be over looked and i like dex... I also played as a half elf/half drow ranger(home brew race, pretty fun) that made a mean archer...
snakeman830 05-16-07, 04:09 PM	Is this limited to ECL 1 races? no? I've got two races for you. 1. Catfolk make awesome rangers. Their Dex bonus, speed, and natural armor are all nice, plus you can take the Catfolk Pounce feat. Great for diving right into melee. 2. Centaurs are fast, use bigger weapons, have bonuses to all physical stats (a very impressive one to Str) as well as Wis, have natural armor, two natural attacks, and 3 times the normal carrying capacity. Not to mention automatic proficeincy with the Greatbow (either Races of the Wild or Savage Species says this. I can't remember which). Both races can be found in Races of the Wild (as well as Catfolk Pounce). Centaurs can be found in your Monster Manual. Not surprisingly, both have ranger as their favored class. Races of the Wild also has the Gnoll Ferocity feat (have to be a gnoll to take it). I believe that gives them a bite attack, but I don't know for sure.
Heruen 05-16-07, 04:11 PM	I would definetly say elf
Soulless_Enigma 05-16-07, 04:14 PM	Yup, Gnoll Ferocity does give you a bite attack, but it can only be used when raging.
Darth Sephiroth 05-16-07, 05:36 PM	A Goliath could make a good Ranger, especially in mountains. Powerfull Build gives you a lot of room to play with in choosing weapons.
Krusk 05-16-07, 06:31 PM	Both races can be found in Races of the Wild (as well as Catfolk Pounce). Centaurs can be found in your Monster Manual. Not surprisingly, both have ranger as their favored class. I would suggest races of the wild to anyone considering playing a ranger. Most of the equipment/feats in there can help out anyone wanting to play a ranged ranger, and im sure there are some that would help a twf ranger as well. Dont have it on me so can't say for sure.