Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 unky Aug 28, 2014 22:12:06	Curious what you guys think about the ranger, I am disappointed with the class, I find that favored enemy and terrain did not evolve with the new system, here are my ideas on how to fix both. Terrain understanding: replaces natural explorer. The ranger takes an hour learning about her surrounding landscape, gaining a understanding of this specific area. The ranger gains all the benefits on natural explorer feature. At level 6 the ranger only takes 30 minutes to gain this knowledge At lvl 10 it only takes the ranger 15 minutes to gain the knowledge. Apex predator: replaces favored enemy, the ranger makes a special skill check adding her wisdom modifier plus proficiency bonus vs a DC of 10 + 1/2 the targets challenge rating, on a success the ranger learns all the targets vulnerabilities, immunities, and resistances, and also does an extra 1d4 damage once a turn vs the target. The ranger can try multiple times vs any given enemy but no more then once a round, at level 6 this damage goes to 2d4, lvl 14 3d4, at level 20 a roll of 1-9 is treated as a roll of 10.
#2 unky Aug 28, 2014 22:13:33	Sorry, posting from my phone so it came out as one long paragraph.
#3 bawylie Aug 28, 2014 22:20:39	I see you proposed changes. And they seem fine.    But I'm not clear what specifically disappoints you. Or what you want the ranger to do/be.    Whats your vision of this class? How do these changes align with your vision?
#4 unky Aug 28, 2014 22:29:17	I just feel like the favored enemy class feature did not evolve and that the lvl 20 ability works off of it. Look at smite, in 3.x it was vs just evil, now it works on anything and a bonus vs undead and fiends. A lvl 1 ranger gets 2 abilities that are dependent on the adventure. Leaves 4 out comes, you pick your favored enemy based of your character and the story behind it, you ask your DM what will be useful, you pick what you want and get lucky or your DM lies to you cause he's a wanker.
#5 Lady_Auralla Aug 28, 2014 23:58:22	It seems that the idea behind the Ranger was to be a master of the exploration pillar first, Combat secondary and social a distant last. So keeping that in mind build for exploration superiority and it may be worth giving a bit of combat oomf up for the trade off..   - To accomplish the above stated objective free up some skill slots by auto giving them Nature and Survival. - Give them expertise on 3 skills from the Ranger skill list at a low level and 2 more at a higher level.. - Give them an ability to increase party speed over the course of a day without reducing ability to perceive. - Increase chance to ambush and decrease chance of being ambushed. - Some sort of secret path knowledge that allows them to get to places either more quickly or more safely. - Make Primal Awareness 1/short rest and base off character level.   Now they are truly masters of the exploration   When you look at Rangers from a master of the exploration pillar instead of combat what the developers have done makes more sense they just didnt take it far enough for what the Ranger gives up in the combat and social pillars.
#6 unky Aug 29, 2014 0:10:18	I agree, tobad they can only explore 3 types of terrains
#7 UngeheuerLich Aug 29, 2014 0:19:31	I am seriously thinkin that the ranger should be able to use the downtime system to gain knowledge of a new terrain and there is a little hope, the DMG has rules for that.   I am also seriously concerned about the number of spells available to the ranger and that some of his combat prowess comes from spells, but he knows so few of them (less than the eldritch knight and arcane trickster...) that there is no place for utility spells.   Otherwise I kinda like that class.
#8 Lady_Auralla Aug 29, 2014 0:22:08	Maybe count travel time during adventure towards learning new terrains in downtime.
#9 unky Aug 29, 2014 0:50:49	Isn't that what I said?
#10 autolycus Aug 29, 2014 2:17:11	What if you had access to all terrains, and could switch out your favored terrain types during any long rest.   That way a Ranger could "gear up" for arctic exploration as he prepared to leave the northern forests.
#11 unky Aug 29, 2014 2:56:10	That is pretty much what I said, but you with switching on a long rest means it takes 8 hours, I figure as the ranger levels he should get better/quicker at understanding the area he is in, I also think that it should require being in the area, no two forests are exactly the same, same with swamps, plains, forest A could have bears and wolves whole forest B could have tigers and lynx. The plant life will change from place to place, I hate to bring in real life but a Forrest in Russia is driffrent then a forest in Michigan, a Florida swamp is by very driffrent then a upstate New York swamp.
#12 unky Aug 29, 2014 2:59:01	I personally like the idea that a ranger can go anywhere and learn/understand the terrain better then anybody else. A almost supernatural understanding of the world around him.
(Reply to #12) UngeheuerLich	unky wrote:
#14 unky Aug 29, 2014 12:05:36	Its not adding a new rule to the game, taking time to do something is in no way a new rule.
#15 Trance-Zg Aug 30, 2014 1:32:49	Having ability to pick what your favored terrain is as a long rest sounds like a good idea. At lvl 6 you can have 2 terrains "prepared" and at level 10 you can have 3 terrains "prepared". Maybe even add at lvl 14-18 ability to replace a terrain as a short rest.   As for skills, I agree that survival should be bonus skill as default, an skill expertise could come at some level 4-7 i.e. also with survival as one default option.