Rangers without spellcasting?? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Rangers without spellcasting?? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
xandros2000
02-13-07, 01:33 AM Does anyone have any good (balanced) alternate ranger classes that dont use spellcasting? Something more along the lines of a classic ranger. A woodland (or other environment) warrior.
blackjackg
02-13-07, 01:36 AM Complete Warrior, page 13. Enjoy.
Shadowfax7
02-13-07, 11:36 AM IMC I have used different incarnations of a spell-less Ranger, but this one is the latest, and best IMO. Note that any of my spell-less Ranger variants don't use any spell-like or supernatural abilities to replace spells:

RANGER
1) Favored Enemy is replaced by Favored Environment
2) Trapfinding is gained at 4th level, but can only be used to search for traps in natural terrain
3) Fast Movement is gained at 4th level when in light or no armor and not carrying a medium or heavy load
4) Sylvan Grace* is gained at 9th level when in light or no armor and in natural terrain
5) Greater Combat Style Mastery at 16th level: Uncanny Accuracy or Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting
6) NO Animal Companion is gained
7) NO ability to cast divine spells is gained

*Sylvan Grace (Ex): The Ranger suffers no penalty for moving at up to her normal speed while using the Hide or Move Silently skills, and suffers only a –10 penalty for doing so while running or charging. This ability applies in any sort of natural terrain and only when wearing light or no armor.

Note that Uncanny Accuracy and Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting are both Epic feats, even though Uncanny Accuracy can be taken by an 11th level Ranger under the RAW.

If you prefer to keep the Animal Companion for your spell-less Ranger, you can move Trapfinding to 1st level, but I feel that the abilities I have replacing the Ranger's spells are even enough to offset the loss of the Animal Companion.
Jackmojo
02-14-07, 12:35 PM If you're a fan of Tome of Battle (which I am) then you might like RadicalTaoist's Sublime way Ranger variant:

Sublime Ranger (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=738077)

Personally I like it quite a bit.

Jack
Bavix
02-14-07, 12:38 PM If a player in my group wants to play a ranger sans spells (which most do) I let them choose a bonus feat for each spell level they would otherwise receive.
Shadowfax7
02-14-07, 01:14 PM If a player in my group wants to play a ranger sans spells (which most do) I let them choose a bonus feat for each spell level they would otherwise receive.
A simple solution for a generalized spell-less Ranger variant.

When I had considered this, I wondered whether a spell-less Ranger variant should gain the bonus feat at the level they get a new spell level where they would of gotten 0 spells/day (meaning only bonus spells dependant on Wis - 4, 8, 11, 14) or wait until they would of gotten a definite 1 spell/day (6, 10, 12, 15).
trapspringer
02-14-07, 02:00 PM Give him the feat when he can cast the spell, and make it wisdom based. If his wisdom is too low to cast a spell, he doesn't get the feat. This makes it "feel" different from fighter bonus feats and retains an element of balance (so rangers won't start dumping wisdom).
Krusk
02-14-07, 03:03 PM Im a big fan of iron kingdoms ranger variant. Gains favored environment and some other stuff instead of spells.
Shadowfax7
02-14-07, 03:18 PM Im a big fan of iron kingdoms ranger variant. Gains favored environment and some other stuff instead of spells.Iron Kingdom ??

Is this a 3rd party publisher or variant d20 system ?? and which of their books would it be in ??
Mordrid Soud
02-14-07, 10:16 PM Yeah, the Iron Kingdoms Character Guide has a really good non-magical ranger variantin it. It is a 3rd party setting which is pretty interesting.
Krusk
02-14-07, 10:19 PM Its its own 3rd party campaign setting. Based on a steampunk type world.

Its pretty cool, id link you to their website but i dont know if that violates the code of conduct. google might be of some help here though.
Shadowfax7
02-15-07, 10:30 AM the Iron Kingdoms Character Guide I presume this is similar to a PHB for this setting ?? Also, it is a d20 system, right ??
Krusk
02-15-07, 11:40 AM it is exactly the same as the eberon or forgotten realms settings. yes it is d20. the ranger is detailed in their players guide.
Salla
02-15-07, 01:29 PM Does anyone have any good (balanced) alternate ranger classes that dont use spellcasting? Something more along the lines of a classic ranger. A woodland (or other environment) warrior.

Well, the easy answer is play a Scout (Complete Adventurer). :)
xandros2000
02-15-07, 02:55 PM Thanks for all the info and ideas people. I am not actually looking for a class to play, but I am getting rid of spellcasting for rangers in the world I am creating. Thanks again!
Tusalu
02-15-07, 03:58 PM Scout
Xeviat-DM
02-15-07, 04:27 PM I second that: use the scout. The scout really exemplifies the "woodsman" archetype, while I believe the ranger is more of "nature's hunter".

In my games, the Hybrid classes are a bit more distinct. Paladin is Fighter/Cleric, Bard is Wizard/Rogue, and Ranger is Scout/Druid. I even have a Barbarian/Sorcerer hybrid.
Greg K
02-15-07, 06:32 PM 1. Give the ranger Bonus feats when they would gain new spells
2. Barbarian hunter variant from Unearthed Arcana
3. Wilderness Rogue from Unearthed Arcana perhaps with the Martial Rogue option that replaces sneak attack
4. Scout, but trade skirmish and fast movement for sneak attack (I despise skirmish) :P
Lecen_of_Mitran
02-15-07, 08:14 PM Scout

Indeed. If they ever make a new revised (3rd Edition, and not 4rth!) Core Rulebooks, they should rename the Scout and call it "Ranger".

But I´d like to see a Full BBA Scout.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
xandros2000 02-13-07, 01:33 AM	Does anyone have any good (balanced) alternate ranger classes that dont use spellcasting? Something more along the lines of a classic ranger. A woodland (or other environment) warrior.
blackjackg 02-13-07, 01:36 AM	Complete Warrior, page 13. Enjoy.
Shadowfax7 02-13-07, 11:36 AM	IMC I have used different incarnations of a spell-less Ranger, but this one is the latest, and best IMO. Note that any of my spell-less Ranger variants don't use any spell-like or supernatural abilities to replace spells: RANGER 1) Favored Enemy is replaced by Favored Environment 2) Trapfinding is gained at 4th level, but can only be used to search for traps in natural terrain 3) Fast Movement is gained at 4th level when in light or no armor and not carrying a medium or heavy load 4) Sylvan Grace* is gained at 9th level when in light or no armor and in natural terrain 5) Greater Combat Style Mastery at 16th level: Uncanny Accuracy or Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting 6) NO Animal Companion is gained 7) NO ability to cast divine spells is gained *Sylvan Grace (Ex): The Ranger suffers no penalty for moving at up to her normal speed while using the Hide or Move Silently skills, and suffers only a –10 penalty for doing so while running or charging. This ability applies in any sort of natural terrain and only when wearing light or no armor. Note that Uncanny Accuracy and Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting are both Epic feats, even though Uncanny Accuracy can be taken by an 11th level Ranger under the RAW. If you prefer to keep the Animal Companion for your spell-less Ranger, you can move Trapfinding to 1st level, but I feel that the abilities I have replacing the Ranger's spells are even enough to offset the loss of the Animal Companion.
Jackmojo 02-14-07, 12:35 PM	If you're a fan of Tome of Battle (which I am) then you might like RadicalTaoist's Sublime way Ranger variant: Sublime Ranger (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=738077) Personally I like it quite a bit. Jack
Bavix 02-14-07, 12:38 PM	If a player in my group wants to play a ranger sans spells (which most do) I let them choose a bonus feat for each spell level they would otherwise receive.
Shadowfax7 02-14-07, 01:14 PM	If a player in my group wants to play a ranger sans spells (which most do) I let them choose a bonus feat for each spell level they would otherwise receive. A simple solution for a generalized spell-less Ranger variant. When I had considered this, I wondered whether a spell-less Ranger variant should gain the bonus feat at the level they get a new spell level where they would of gotten 0 spells/day (meaning only bonus spells dependant on Wis - 4, 8, 11, 14) or wait until they would of gotten a definite 1 spell/day (6, 10, 12, 15).
trapspringer 02-14-07, 02:00 PM	Give him the feat when he can cast the spell, and make it wisdom based. If his wisdom is too low to cast a spell, he doesn't get the feat. This makes it "feel" different from fighter bonus feats and retains an element of balance (so rangers won't start dumping wisdom).
Krusk 02-14-07, 03:03 PM	Im a big fan of iron kingdoms ranger variant. Gains favored environment and some other stuff instead of spells.
Shadowfax7 02-14-07, 03:18 PM	Im a big fan of iron kingdoms ranger variant. Gains favored environment and some other stuff instead of spells.Iron Kingdom ?? Is this a 3rd party publisher or variant d20 system ?? and which of their books would it be in ??
Mordrid Soud 02-14-07, 10:16 PM	Yeah, the Iron Kingdoms Character Guide has a really good non-magical ranger variantin it. It is a 3rd party setting which is pretty interesting.
Krusk 02-14-07, 10:19 PM	Its its own 3rd party campaign setting. Based on a steampunk type world. Its pretty cool, id link you to their website but i dont know if that violates the code of conduct. google might be of some help here though.
Shadowfax7 02-15-07, 10:30 AM	the Iron Kingdoms Character Guide I presume this is similar to a PHB for this setting ?? Also, it is a d20 system, right ??
Krusk 02-15-07, 11:40 AM	it is exactly the same as the eberon or forgotten realms settings. yes it is d20. the ranger is detailed in their players guide.
Salla 02-15-07, 01:29 PM	Does anyone have any good (balanced) alternate ranger classes that dont use spellcasting? Something more along the lines of a classic ranger. A woodland (or other environment) warrior. Well, the easy answer is play a Scout (Complete Adventurer). :)
xandros2000 02-15-07, 02:55 PM	Thanks for all the info and ideas people. I am not actually looking for a class to play, but I am getting rid of spellcasting for rangers in the world I am creating. Thanks again!
Tusalu 02-15-07, 03:58 PM	Scout
Xeviat-DM 02-15-07, 04:27 PM	I second that: use the scout. The scout really exemplifies the "woodsman" archetype, while I believe the ranger is more of "nature's hunter". In my games, the Hybrid classes are a bit more distinct. Paladin is Fighter/Cleric, Bard is Wizard/Rogue, and Ranger is Scout/Druid. I even have a Barbarian/Sorcerer hybrid.
Greg K 02-15-07, 06:32 PM	1. Give the ranger Bonus feats when they would gain new spells 2. Barbarian hunter variant from Unearthed Arcana 3. Wilderness Rogue from Unearthed Arcana perhaps with the Martial Rogue option that replaces sneak attack 4. Scout, but trade skirmish and fast movement for sneak attack (I despise skirmish) :P
Lecen_of_Mitran 02-15-07, 08:14 PM	Scout Indeed. If they ever make a new revised (3rd Edition, and not 4rth!) Core Rulebooks, they should rename the Scout and call it "Ranger". But I´d like to see a Full BBA Scout.