September UA Article

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

jaden_stormtracker

Sep 01, 2015 21:46:09

I am really hoping that this is the month that they release the new version of the Ranger!!!

#2

jaappleton

Sep 02, 2015 4:31:13

Well I think they're released the first Wednesday of the month.

 

They've acknowledged they're working on stuff for Beastmaster Rangers, and Four Elements Monks. I don't think they're going to revise them, instead they'll release a better version of them under new names. The "Elementalist" Monk or something.

 

I just hope it's something... Useful. I'm sorry, but I doubt anyone was really excited over the UA centered on d20 modern.

#3

jaden_stormtracker

Sep 02, 2015 17:54:52

But...today is the first Wednesday of the month...

 

I'm not sure of the monk, but Mike Mearls did indicate on the last podcast he was on that they were completely redesigning, as in all the way back to the drawing board, the Ranger class.

#4

jaden_stormtracker

Sep 02, 2015 18:03:05

The Ranger is being redesigned because simply it has no identity of its own.

 

A local NPC is interviewing adventurers for an upcoming adventure:

 

NPC: Hello, what's your name

Adventurer: My name is Willem

NPC: Ok Willem, and what do you do?

Adventurer: I kill monsters that encroach on local towns

NPC: Ok, you are a fighter, check

Adventurer: No, but I can use a sword. However, I really like using my bow

NPC: Ok....you're...a...fighter

Adventurer: No, I like using my bow, and I like to be sneaky

NPC: OH! MY apologies, you should have started with that. Let me just correct this...name WIlliam, role Rogue

Adventurer: No no, I don't disable traps or pick pockets. Let me try again, I fight with a bow, im sneaky, oh and I have an animal companion

NPC: Sorry, now I think I have it correct...name Williem, role Warlock

Adventurer: ARGH...no I'm a Ranger!

NPC: Sorrry, you're a what???

Adventurer: I'm a Ranger

NPC: What the hell is a Ranger?

Adventurer: Its a person who uses weapons, some nature based magick, and can have an animal companion

NPC: Oh - you're a druid from Pathfinder, now I just have to kill you on principle - sorry!

#5

jaappleton

Sep 02, 2015 18:31:52 		Looking back, it has been on the first Wednesday every time except once, I think. Via Twitter I think Mike Mearls has been sick over the last week (Though he isn't the UA article writer each time), and they did have a big presence at PAX Prime which just finished up, so... I'm guessing either tomorrow, or next Wednesday for the UA article for September.
(Reply to #4)

Kron-Karn

jaden_stormtracker wrote:
#7

jaappleton

Sep 02, 2015 19:20:30 		^I believe that in a survey that basically asked, "What do you want us to work on next?", 'Shaman' was requested quite a bit. No idea what line it'd walk between Druid, Favored Soul: Nature Domain, and Ranger, but I'm curious as to what they do with it.
(Reply to #5)

TenaciousJ

The last couple of times at least have been on the first Monday of the month around 12 PM EST/9 AM PST.

 

jaappleton wrote:
#9

jaappleton

Sep 02, 2015 20:36:26 		Why the hell was I thinking Wednesday....?
#10

Enevhar_Aldarion

Sep 03, 2015 1:39:35

Well, since the UA articles specifically give playtest or first draft level material, a finalized and upated ranger would not appear there. A reworking of the PHB ranger would be too much for just an errata update too. So what we may get is an alternate ranger in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide in November, as an option to play instead of the PHB ranger.

 

(Reply to #10)

jaden_stormtracker

Enevhar_Aldarion wrote:
(Reply to #2)

AaronOfBarbaria

jaappleton wrote:
(Reply to #12)

jaappleton

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#14

mellored

Sep 03, 2015 6:01:38

jaden_stormtracker wrote:
#15

jaappleton

Sep 03, 2015 6:51:57 		So you're talking almost about a Geomancer sort of Ranger? I'd love to see that.
#16

Ralif_Redhammer

Sep 03, 2015 7:24:00

I'm reminded of the Dan the Bard song "Aramil and His Annoying Talking Sword."

 

"What do you call a character class whose parents weren't killed by orcs? Any other character class besides a ranger"

 

jaden_stormtracker wrote:
#17

mellored

Sep 03, 2015 9:40:20

jaappleton wrote:
#18

Jordan175

Sep 03, 2015 16:22:48

I honestly would have been fine with Ranger being a background instead of a class. Favored enemy/terrain seems like much more of a fluff feature in this edition and would fit in well with things like the Outlander or Urchin. Better than the Hermit background they threw in at the last second.

(Reply to #18)

jaden_stormtracker

Jordan175 wrote:
(Reply to #19)

AaronOfBarbaria

jaden_stormtracker wrote:
(Reply to #19)

jaappleton

jaden_stormtracker wrote:
#22

Zardnaar

Sep 04, 2015 18:06:16

jaden_stormtracker wrote:
#23

Jordan175

Sep 04, 2015 23:53:23

Zardnaar wrote:
#24

Ahrimon

Sep 05, 2015 6:37:23

Because that's what it was classically.  It was dropped exactly for the reason you mention; that it was a class ability that was entirely at the DMs discression if it ever got used.  Take goblins as your favorite enemy and then never see a goblin in the game and you've been hosed.

 

I like the option that they tried in the playtest where it was all about favored terrain and generic situations that were much more likely to appear.

#25

jaappleton

Sep 05, 2015 7:03:56

Ranger has always seemed like a class that was campaign dependent. It's not that its features in this edition are bad. I like its spells, I like how it favors multiattacks and focuses on small AoE with stuff like Volley and Whirlwind Attack. But some of its features are just so dependent on the campaign and DM, like Favored Enemy, that it's a total waste of a class feature if your DM won't discuss the campaign with you beforehand. Not an archetype feature, like some of the Rogue - Assassin features, but a class feature. 

(Reply to #25)

AaronOfBarbaria

jaappleton wrote:
(Reply to #26)

jaappleton

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#28

jaden_stormtracker

Sep 08, 2015 14:33:54

So, I wonder why the article wasn't released today? I understand Labor Day, despite its name, most people have off but c'mon ;)

#29

jaappleton

Sep 08, 2015 14:43:47

jaden_stormtracker wrote:
#30

jaappleton

Sep 08, 2015 15:18:36

From the official WOTC D&D account:

 

"We have an Unearthed Arcana article set to go up, but the holidays have messed with the schedule. Should be soon though!"

 

 

 

 

Someone forgot to hit "Upload", I think.

#31

jaappleton

Sep 08, 2015 16:44:11 		Article will be going up tomorrow.
(Reply to #2)

fepriest

jaappleton wrote:
#33

Jordan175

Sep 08, 2015 17:43:05

fepriest wrote:
#34

jaappleton

Sep 09, 2015 9:41:11 		It's up. RAAAANGEEERRR!!! Wow, Rogue's are going to dip into this something serious...
#35

mellored

Sep 09, 2015 10:01:43

Gunna start a new thread...

#36

drizzt_zylo

Sep 09, 2015 10:02:50 		Yeah they are pure ranger 40d6 hd dang. I wonder if instead you could go hunter with this it might be pretty good. Little confused on the staying hidden part so do u stay hidden from the one target even if you in his face turn after turn slashing away at him? I can see a lot more rogue ranger builds popping up cause it makes it just that much easier to pull off stealth. Not sure how I feel about it yet.
(Reply to #36)

AaronOfBarbaria

drizzt_zylo wrote:
(Reply to #23)

Stuntman

Jordan175 wrote:
#39

daspian

Sep 10, 2015 15:14:38

so wait... is this new 'Ranger" an entirely new class in itself and thus a new take on a new "Ranger'.... ir is just alternative class options to "repair" the broken "real" ranger in the PHB and thus gets added onto whats already on the book and or replacing what is already in the book?

#40

mellored

Sep 10, 2015 15:22:44

daspian wrote: