help with a ranger variant [Archive] - Wizards Community

help with a ranger variant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Amilius
07-27-04, 09:10 PM I need help with a ranger variant i'm working on. This is what i'm working with in place of combat style:

Option #1
Fast movement as barbarian at 1st level
Wild shape 1/day, medium, and small shapes at 6th level
Wild shape 2/day and large shapes at 12th level
Wild shape 3/day at 18th level

Option #2
Fast movement as barbarian at 1st level
Rage 1/day at 2nd level
Rage 2/day at 6th level
Rage 3/day at 10th level

Thats what i have so far, any suggest will be apprieciated.
Amilius
07-28-04, 09:12 PM Did i say a bad word......:confused: .

Let me expound upon my idea, I want to give up combat sytle, all of it. Two-weapon fighting tree and archery tree just don't fit my character concept. I put up two opitions because i don't know what to do. I'm looking for advice with this problem. Sorry if i'm boring or power gaming.
Saurenda
07-29-04, 12:18 AM I'm sorry guy, but I don't see much of the ranger class in this variant.

Lets go over what we have here.

The movement bonus of 10ft is a great idea in my opinion, and will help with the track feat which I hope you retained.

Rage, I don't really see how this or wildshape is part of a ranger, even a variant Ranger's abilities. Are we dealing with a Ranger that is part of a barbarian tribe, or perhaps more in contact with nature than the rest of his brethern?

In my honest opinion you are looking to gestault Ranger/Druid or Ranger/Barbarian, a combination of the classes.

If you intend on giving up the ranger's weapon proficencies it doesn't seem very logical to choose rage or wild shape and add them to the ranger's abilities.

Have you considered favored terrain, or an urbanized sort of ranger variant?

If you really want this idea, a barbarian or Druid with the track feat will work just as well.

But Taking the ranger's weapon proficinices doesn't seem to warrant this addition of other class's abilities.

I hope that helped. Your method is a bit mysterious, if you are making a varient ranger why focus on other class abilities when you say you want a ranger? Your best option is to apply track to another class or gestault.
Alextroy
07-29-04, 12:34 AM Both of these options have you gaining too much for giving up too little if all you lose is Combat Style.

For example, the Druidic Avenger in <i>Unearthed Arcana</i> gives up their Animal Companion, Spontaneous Casting of summon spells, and suffers a -4 to Wild Empathy checks to gain Fast Movement and Rage (without Greater Rage, Indomitable Will, or Mighty Rage abilities).

Alextroy
Amilius
07-29-04, 01:31 PM Okay i'll clarify what i mean, My ranger is a Norse Ranger, Two weapon fighting and archery don't fit my concept of how he will fight. i'm just looking for alternatives to giving up two weapon fighting style(two-weapon, improved two weapon, greater two weapon) and archery style(Rapid shot, many shot, improved precise shot). I've decided that wildshape isn't what i want so here is things that i would to have in addition to fast movement is just one of theses:
-Improved animal companion
-Some form of rage possibly
-A bonus feat or two
-Increased hitpoint die
-Any other suggestions

I'm trying to make a slightly different ranger to fit my concept of him, while not breaking the game. I've tried doing it with a barbarian but it wasn't going to work. If it helps he uses a bastard sword.
Bard-of-all-trades
07-29-04, 02:47 PM You mention that you might want better hit points; try this idea - instead of being a d8 per level why don't you use the old fashion 2d4 per level. This boosts your minimum while not increasing the maximum.

As far as the combat styles, have you thought of making your own tree? You could have your Ranger have the Power Combat Mastery. Gain Power Attack first, then Cleave, and Great Cleave in place of the standard feats for a Ranger. You might even want to ask your DM if you could take Favored Power Attack (see Complete Warrior) at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th levels in place of Combat Mastery altogether.

If your DM thinks you're gaining too much, would you be willing to play a non-spellcasting variant. One is listed in the Complete Warrior book that is very nice. I personally like the variant listed in Unearthed Arcana. Gives a real wild flavor to the class.

I'm not really sure how you'd go about making a Ranger with raging. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head would be to give up spellcasting, the Combat Mastery tree, and the good Will save and replace them with +10 ft to Speed, rage as a barbarian of 1/2 your level, and a good Fortitude save. You would rage 1/day at 2nd level, 2/day at 8th level, and 3/day at 16th level. You'd get to rage just not very often.

And by the way, the Wild Shape abilities listed in the Unearthed Arcana variant of the Ranger are at the levels listed for the Druid. In other words, your Ranger would be able to Wild Shape into a small or medium creature 1/day at 5th level, 2/day at 6th, 3/day at 7th, 4/day at 10th, 5/day at 14th, and 6/day at 18th. You would not gain access to larger, smaller, plant or elemental creatures at all.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Amilius 07-27-04, 09:10 PM	I need help with a ranger variant i'm working on. This is what i'm working with in place of combat style: Option #1 Fast movement as barbarian at 1st level Wild shape 1/day, medium, and small shapes at 6th level Wild shape 2/day and large shapes at 12th level Wild shape 3/day at 18th level Option #2 Fast movement as barbarian at 1st level Rage 1/day at 2nd level Rage 2/day at 6th level Rage 3/day at 10th level Thats what i have so far, any suggest will be apprieciated.
Amilius 07-28-04, 09:12 PM	Did i say a bad word......:confused: . Let me expound upon my idea, I want to give up combat sytle, all of it. Two-weapon fighting tree and archery tree just don't fit my character concept. I put up two opitions because i don't know what to do. I'm looking for advice with this problem. Sorry if i'm boring or power gaming.
Saurenda 07-29-04, 12:18 AM	I'm sorry guy, but I don't see much of the ranger class in this variant. Lets go over what we have here. The movement bonus of 10ft is a great idea in my opinion, and will help with the track feat which I hope you retained. Rage, I don't really see how this or wildshape is part of a ranger, even a variant Ranger's abilities. Are we dealing with a Ranger that is part of a barbarian tribe, or perhaps more in contact with nature than the rest of his brethern? In my honest opinion you are looking to gestault Ranger/Druid or Ranger/Barbarian, a combination of the classes. If you intend on giving up the ranger's weapon proficencies it doesn't seem very logical to choose rage or wild shape and add them to the ranger's abilities. Have you considered favored terrain, or an urbanized sort of ranger variant? If you really want this idea, a barbarian or Druid with the track feat will work just as well. But Taking the ranger's weapon proficinices doesn't seem to warrant this addition of other class's abilities. I hope that helped. Your method is a bit mysterious, if you are making a varient ranger why focus on other class abilities when you say you want a ranger? Your best option is to apply track to another class or gestault.
Alextroy 07-29-04, 12:34 AM	Both of these options have you gaining too much for giving up too little if all you lose is Combat Style. For example, the Druidic Avenger in <i>Unearthed Arcana</i> gives up their Animal Companion, Spontaneous Casting of summon spells, and suffers a -4 to Wild Empathy checks to gain Fast Movement and Rage (without Greater Rage, Indomitable Will, or Mighty Rage abilities). Alextroy
Amilius 07-29-04, 01:31 PM	Okay i'll clarify what i mean, My ranger is a Norse Ranger, Two weapon fighting and archery don't fit my concept of how he will fight. i'm just looking for alternatives to giving up two weapon fighting style(two-weapon, improved two weapon, greater two weapon) and archery style(Rapid shot, many shot, improved precise shot). I've decided that wildshape isn't what i want so here is things that i would to have in addition to fast movement is just one of theses: -Improved animal companion -Some form of rage possibly -A bonus feat or two -Increased hitpoint die -Any other suggestions I'm trying to make a slightly different ranger to fit my concept of him, while not breaking the game. I've tried doing it with a barbarian but it wasn't going to work. If it helps he uses a bastard sword.
Bard-of-all-trades 07-29-04, 02:47 PM	You mention that you might want better hit points; try this idea - instead of being a d8 per level why don't you use the old fashion 2d4 per level. This boosts your minimum while not increasing the maximum. As far as the combat styles, have you thought of making your own tree? You could have your Ranger have the Power Combat Mastery. Gain Power Attack first, then Cleave, and Great Cleave in place of the standard feats for a Ranger. You might even want to ask your DM if you could take Favored Power Attack (see Complete Warrior) at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th levels in place of Combat Mastery altogether. If your DM thinks you're gaining too much, would you be willing to play a non-spellcasting variant. One is listed in the Complete Warrior book that is very nice. I personally like the variant listed in Unearthed Arcana. Gives a real wild flavor to the class. I'm not really sure how you'd go about making a Ranger with raging. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head would be to give up spellcasting, the Combat Mastery tree, and the good Will save and replace them with +10 ft to Speed, rage as a barbarian of 1/2 your level, and a good Fortitude save. You would rage 1/day at 2nd level, 2/day at 8th level, and 3/day at 16th level. You'd get to rage just not very often. And by the way, the Wild Shape abilities listed in the Unearthed Arcana variant of the Ranger are at the levels listed for the Druid. In other words, your Ranger would be able to Wild Shape into a small or medium creature 1/day at 5th level, 2/day at 6th, 3/day at 7th, 4/day at 10th, 5/day at 14th, and 6/day at 18th. You would not gain access to larger, smaller, plant or elemental creatures at all.