Is this altered ranger variant balanced? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is this altered ranger variant balanced? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Vapor IX
08-08-04, 11:43 PM Looking at the various things that variant barbarians, rangers, and druids change around, I realized that the trade-offs are almost the same. With that in mind, I made this new ranger variant... is it balanced?

RANGER

Certain sects of rangers give up their swords and their bows for a more asetic lifestyle. Through training and meditation, they have become one with nature, able to defend the forest with little more than their fists and their wits.

LOSE: Combat style, improved combat style, combat style mastery, armor and shield proficiency.

GAIN: AC bonus (as monk), fast movement (as monk and barbarian combined... basically the monk table + 10 ft)

Maybe they should get rage, too? I dunno.
Stryfe_Raven
08-09-04, 02:14 AM I'd say it's balanced thought it removes a lot of the Ranger's flavor.
Kastas
08-10-04, 04:58 AM It seems balanced to me, if a bit underpowered. The character trades his armor/shield proficiency for something that is probably a bit weaker; his AC might be a bit higher at low levels (assuming decent Dex and Wis scores), but as he advances he loses out on the ability to wear magic armor. I presume that you intended for him to lose his special abilities if he wears armor.

That means that the character is giving up three good bonus feats (for which they need not meet the prerequisites) for fast movement. Fast movement is undeniably powerful, but I don't think that it's worth the loss of those feats. As a slight aside, it seems odd and unnecessary to give the variant more movement speed than a monk.

Did you mean to give them increased unarmed damage such as a monk gets? The flavor text seemed to imply that, but you didn't state it specifically. Doing this would probably balance out the loss of those feats and possibly even tilt the balance in the character's favor.
Degobah
08-11-04, 04:31 AM 'What Kastas said...Very underpowered and somewhat odd. They shouldn't have greater movement than monks,and need unarmed damage.
The idea seems more like Woodland Monk, maybe you should start with Monk as the base class and give it ranger skills. Also I think they should learn how to use bows if they know what's good for them, since otherwise aboveground in a forest they're at a tactical disadvantage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vapor IX 08-08-04, 11:43 PM	Looking at the various things that variant barbarians, rangers, and druids change around, I realized that the trade-offs are almost the same. With that in mind, I made this new ranger variant... is it balanced? RANGER Certain sects of rangers give up their swords and their bows for a more asetic lifestyle. Through training and meditation, they have become one with nature, able to defend the forest with little more than their fists and their wits. LOSE: Combat style, improved combat style, combat style mastery, armor and shield proficiency. GAIN: AC bonus (as monk), fast movement (as monk and barbarian combined... basically the monk table + 10 ft) Maybe they should get rage, too? I dunno.
Stryfe_Raven 08-09-04, 02:14 AM	I'd say it's balanced thought it removes a lot of the Ranger's flavor.
Kastas 08-10-04, 04:58 AM	It seems balanced to me, if a bit underpowered. The character trades his armor/shield proficiency for something that is probably a bit weaker; his AC might be a bit higher at low levels (assuming decent Dex and Wis scores), but as he advances he loses out on the ability to wear magic armor. I presume that you intended for him to lose his special abilities if he wears armor. That means that the character is giving up three good bonus feats (for which they need not meet the prerequisites) for fast movement. Fast movement is undeniably powerful, but I don't think that it's worth the loss of those feats. As a slight aside, it seems odd and unnecessary to give the variant more movement speed than a monk. Did you mean to give them increased unarmed damage such as a monk gets? The flavor text seemed to imply that, but you didn't state it specifically. Doing this would probably balance out the loss of those feats and possibly even tilt the balance in the character's favor.
Degobah 08-11-04, 04:31 AM	'What Kastas said...Very underpowered and somewhat odd. They shouldn't have greater movement than monks,and need unarmed damage. The idea seems more like Woodland Monk, maybe you should start with Monk as the base class and give it ranger skills. Also I think they should learn how to use bows if they know what's good for them, since otherwise aboveground in a forest they're at a tactical disadvantage.