Dwarven ranger variant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dwarven ranger variant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JacksonCash
05-18-06, 01:00 PM A while ago some one posted a possible ranger variant for a dwarf, with some more dungeonerring abilities rather than woodsman abilities. I also remember dual handaxes... I would like to get some more information on this, as it sounds like boat loads of fun. Anyone point me in the right direction?
BadCatMan
05-19-06, 02:15 AM I did some racial sub levels for dwarves/underdarkers way back last year some time. I increased the HD and through in crossbow feats rather than archery. I didn't finish though, as I didn't know what to do with cave tracking, and no one responded IIRC.

I could post 'em to you here later.
Rolof
05-19-06, 01:29 PM Erm...it may just be simple vanity on my part, but I think
you might be talking about a reply somebody made to my
first post on the boards. Here is the quoted info, posted by
BurgerKing:

2) Rangers can receive spells from any deity. But their abilities and spells are slightly modifed. A ranger of Moradin is proberbly a protector of the underground places. Examples include:

a) Archery Mastery - Change the Archery Combat abilities to Throwing Axe Masteries.
b) Woodland Stride - Change to Earthen Stride, allows the ranger to move through dangerous and trecherous rocky terrain without penalty.
c) Spells - Change certain names and effects. Entangle to Tar Pits, Barkskin to Lesser Stoneskin, Spike Growth to Flaming Tar Pit, Command Plants to Command Earth Creatures, Diminish Plants to Diminish Earth Creatures, Tree Shape to Hide in Earth, Waterwalk to Quicksand Walk, Tree Stride to Earthen Port

That info was a suggestion to me after I had posted about a
question I had about rangers and deities, that thread's here
if you are actually interested:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=538849
danielinthewolvesden
05-19-06, 04:10 PM There's a very cool Dwarven Ranger PrC in Races of Stone.
BadCatMan
05-19-06, 09:34 PM I like your changes Rolof.

I forgot to keep a link. Copied below:

Hi

I've been working on Ranger substitution levels to suit dwarves and other rangers who operate in caves, dungeons and the Underdark. I've examined all the variations of Ranger and substitution levels I could find, and this is the result. I searched the boards via Google and page flicking as best as I could, but couldn't find anything similar.

Its not finished yet, any advice is greatly appreciated. I'm new at this sort of thing too.

These are split into two parts: one for dwarves (who might operate above ground), and another for cavers (who won't necessarily be dwarves).

Dwarf Ranger:
HD: d10 (Dwarf RSLs always go up a Hit Die)
Skill Points: 6 (No change)
Favourite Enemy: +2 on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, Damage
rising to +3 for orcs, goblinoids, giants
(The usual RSL variation, with extra for common Dwarven foes)
Spells: Maybe swap some foresty spells for equivalent dwarfy/earthy spells.
Combat Style: Crossbow (Bows are for pansy elves)
Rapid Reload, Rapid Shot, Improved Precise Shot
(Manyshot - multiple bolts in the crossbrow - just doesn't seem right)
Level 1: Cave Empathy (see below)

Cave/Dungeon/Underdark Ranger:
(Switch for other ranger racial substitution levels as necessary - ie HD,
skill points, racial enemies)
HD: d8
Skill Points: 6
New Class Skills: Balance (For those crumbly ledges)
Favourite Enemy: +2 on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, Damage
rising to +3 for abberations, oozes, undead, drow + spiders
(The usual RSL variation, with extra for creatures of the local Underdark,
and as appropriate for the race)
OR Favourite Environment: +2 on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, Knowledge (dungeoneering) (using UA's environmental variation)
Spells: Swap some foresty spells for equivalent dwarfy/earthy spells. Say trees to stalagmites, undergrowth to rubble.
Combat Style: Crossbow (As above. Crossbows seem popular underground)
Animal Companion: Cave Animal Companion, Druid level: 1/2 + 3
(Like a Gnome's Burrowing Animal Companion but for cave-dwelling creatures)
Level 1: Cave Track, Cave Empathy (see below)
Level 7: Swift Cave Track (see below)

(The names of these are just temporary nametags.)

Cave Track: Tracking a creature by footprints, broken twigs, et cetera,
doesn't seem likely in hard stone caves. So a variation may be needed, one
that uses a different method and/or relies upon a different skill.
A variant similar to the Urban Tracking with the Gather Information skill.

The Drizzt books make good use of sound and infravision in the Underdark.
So that's Listen, Spot/Search (with the new Darkvision), and/or
Knowledge (dungeoneering) to use with Cave Tracking.

Now Cave Track would need to work with clues that last for some time,
so Listen is out. It must also be possible to perform at speed, for
Swift (Cave) Tracking, and Search is probably too slow. Knowledge
(dungeoneering) should give a synergy bonus to Cave Track to properly
mirror the Track and Urban Tracking feats. This leaves Spot, to look for
the heat traces of passing creatures, but this is only good for characters
with Infravision/Darkvision. Any other ideas?

Cave Empathy: The creatures of the Underdark generally aren't too friendly,
so using diplomacy to get on well with them isn't likely. Also, Dwarves have a penalty to charisma, and aren't known for diplomacy. What's a good
variation or replacement for this? Using Intimidate on Earth creatures,
abberations, oozes, magical beasts and/or vermin seems a good bet. The Underdark ranger could use it to scare off predators.
Rolof
05-20-06, 02:55 PM BadCatMan: Glad you like the suggestions, but I can't take
credit for them-BurgerKing was the one who came up with
them.
JacksonCash
05-22-06, 02:10 PM Plenty of good stuff here guys! Thanks a bunch.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
05-23-06, 06:23 PM You may also want to check out crystalkeep (http://crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Classes-Base.pdf) for the Metal Master Druid Variant for inspiration. If Paladin : Cleric :: Ranger : Druid, then Dwarf variant ought to be comparable to the Metal Master.

This might translate to losing the Animal Companion for DR. Or you could just change the list.

Also on the list of variants, check out the Ranger Combat styles. It isn't just Archery or Two-Weapon. As a Dwarf you may want to try Throwing or Strong-Arm. There's also Bear(Hook Horror?)-Wrestling, and a couple of others.

Or maybe you could draw on the Warforged Artificer for inspiration and replace the Animal Companion with a Weapon Familiar. Dwarves do so love the forge.

For a different spell list, consider:

Earthbolt
Summon Monster I, II (earth types only)
others with the Earth designation

Hope this helps.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JacksonCash 05-18-06, 01:00 PM	A while ago some one posted a possible ranger variant for a dwarf, with some more dungeonerring abilities rather than woodsman abilities. I also remember dual handaxes... I would like to get some more information on this, as it sounds like boat loads of fun. Anyone point me in the right direction?
BadCatMan 05-19-06, 02:15 AM	I did some racial sub levels for dwarves/underdarkers way back last year some time. I increased the HD and through in crossbow feats rather than archery. I didn't finish though, as I didn't know what to do with cave tracking, and no one responded IIRC. I could post 'em to you here later.
Rolof 05-19-06, 01:29 PM	Erm...it may just be simple vanity on my part, but I think you might be talking about a reply somebody made to my first post on the boards. Here is the quoted info, posted by BurgerKing: 2) Rangers can receive spells from any deity. But their abilities and spells are slightly modifed. A ranger of Moradin is proberbly a protector of the underground places. Examples include: a) Archery Mastery - Change the Archery Combat abilities to Throwing Axe Masteries. b) Woodland Stride - Change to Earthen Stride, allows the ranger to move through dangerous and trecherous rocky terrain without penalty. c) Spells - Change certain names and effects. Entangle to Tar Pits, Barkskin to Lesser Stoneskin, Spike Growth to Flaming Tar Pit, Command Plants to Command Earth Creatures, Diminish Plants to Diminish Earth Creatures, Tree Shape to Hide in Earth, Waterwalk to Quicksand Walk, Tree Stride to Earthen Port That info was a suggestion to me after I had posted about a question I had about rangers and deities, that thread's here if you are actually interested: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=538849
danielinthewolvesden 05-19-06, 04:10 PM	There's a very cool Dwarven Ranger PrC in Races of Stone.
BadCatMan 05-19-06, 09:34 PM	I like your changes Rolof. I forgot to keep a link. Copied below: Hi I've been working on Ranger substitution levels to suit dwarves and other rangers who operate in caves, dungeons and the Underdark. I've examined all the variations of Ranger and substitution levels I could find, and this is the result. I searched the boards via Google and page flicking as best as I could, but couldn't find anything similar. Its not finished yet, any advice is greatly appreciated. I'm new at this sort of thing too. These are split into two parts: one for dwarves (who might operate above ground), and another for cavers (who won't necessarily be dwarves). Dwarf Ranger: HD: d10 (Dwarf RSLs always go up a Hit Die) Skill Points: 6 (No change) Favourite Enemy: +2 on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, Damage rising to +3 for orcs, goblinoids, giants (The usual RSL variation, with extra for common Dwarven foes) Spells: Maybe swap some foresty spells for equivalent dwarfy/earthy spells. Combat Style: Crossbow (Bows are for pansy elves) Rapid Reload, Rapid Shot, Improved Precise Shot (Manyshot - multiple bolts in the crossbrow - just doesn't seem right) Level 1: Cave Empathy (see below) Cave/Dungeon/Underdark Ranger: (Switch for other ranger racial substitution levels as necessary - ie HD, skill points, racial enemies) HD: d8 Skill Points: 6 New Class Skills: Balance (For those crumbly ledges) Favourite Enemy: +2 on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, Damage rising to +3 for abberations, oozes, undead, drow + spiders (The usual RSL variation, with extra for creatures of the local Underdark, and as appropriate for the race) OR Favourite Environment: +2 on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot, Survival, Knowledge (dungeoneering) (using UA's environmental variation) Spells: Swap some foresty spells for equivalent dwarfy/earthy spells. Say trees to stalagmites, undergrowth to rubble. Combat Style: Crossbow (As above. Crossbows seem popular underground) Animal Companion: Cave Animal Companion, Druid level: 1/2 + 3 (Like a Gnome's Burrowing Animal Companion but for cave-dwelling creatures) Level 1: Cave Track, Cave Empathy (see below) Level 7: Swift Cave Track (see below) (The names of these are just temporary nametags.) Cave Track: Tracking a creature by footprints, broken twigs, et cetera, doesn't seem likely in hard stone caves. So a variation may be needed, one that uses a different method and/or relies upon a different skill. A variant similar to the Urban Tracking with the Gather Information skill. The Drizzt books make good use of sound and infravision in the Underdark. So that's Listen, Spot/Search (with the new Darkvision), and/or Knowledge (dungeoneering) to use with Cave Tracking. Now Cave Track would need to work with clues that last for some time, so Listen is out. It must also be possible to perform at speed, for Swift (Cave) Tracking, and Search is probably too slow. Knowledge (dungeoneering) should give a synergy bonus to Cave Track to properly mirror the Track and Urban Tracking feats. This leaves Spot, to look for the heat traces of passing creatures, but this is only good for characters with Infravision/Darkvision. Any other ideas? Cave Empathy: The creatures of the Underdark generally aren't too friendly, so using diplomacy to get on well with them isn't likely. Also, Dwarves have a penalty to charisma, and aren't known for diplomacy. What's a good variation or replacement for this? Using Intimidate on Earth creatures, abberations, oozes, magical beasts and/or vermin seems a good bet. The Underdark ranger could use it to scare off predators.
Rolof 05-20-06, 02:55 PM	BadCatMan: Glad you like the suggestions, but I can't take credit for them-BurgerKing was the one who came up with them.
JacksonCash 05-22-06, 02:10 PM	Plenty of good stuff here guys! Thanks a bunch.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 05-23-06, 06:23 PM	You may also want to check out crystalkeep (http://crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Classes-Base.pdf) for the Metal Master Druid Variant for inspiration. If Paladin : Cleric :: Ranger : Druid, then Dwarf variant ought to be comparable to the Metal Master. This might translate to losing the Animal Companion for DR. Or you could just change the list. Also on the list of variants, check out the Ranger Combat styles. It isn't just Archery or Two-Weapon. As a Dwarf you may want to try Throwing or Strong-Arm. There's also Bear(Hook Horror?)-Wrestling, and a couple of others. Or maybe you could draw on the Warforged Artificer for inspiration and replace the Animal Companion with a Weapon Familiar. Dwarves do so love the forge. For a different spell list, consider: Earthbolt Summon Monster I, II (earth types only) others with the Earth designation Hope this helps.