You are not like other wild folk or nobles, you are a Noble Ranger. You are seen sometimes as an outsider within the noble courts, and in the wilds since you are a part of both worlds. You understand wealth, power, and privilege. You carry a noble title, and your family owns land, collects taxes, and wields significant political influence. But you also spent your childhood in the wilds, far from civilization and the comforts of the town and technology. Even in places where you don’t know the specific features of the terrain, you know the ways of the wild. Because of this you often have conflicting views between the natural and civilized world.
Due to this, as a Noble Ranger your skills are refined, as your job is twofold. You must hone your skills of survival while maintaining noble manners. With that said some Noble Rangers are better at balancing these worlds than others.
Work with your DM to come up with an appropriate title and determine how much authority that title carries. A noble title doesn’t stand on its own—it’s connected to an entire family, and whatever title you hold, you will pass it down to your own children. Not only do you need to determine your noble title, but you should also work with the DM to describe your family and their influence on you.
Is your family old and established, or was your title only recently bestowed? How much influence do they wield, and over what area? What kind of reputation does your family have among the other aristocrats of the region? How do the common people regard them? How does your life out in wild affect your noble life?
What’s your position in the family? Are you the heir to the head of the family? Have you already inherited the title? How do you feel about that responsibility? How does the head of your family feel about your Ranger career? Are you in your family’s good graces, or shunned by the rest of your family?
Does your family have a coat of arms? An insignia you might wear on a signet ring? Particular colors you wear all the time? An animal you regard as a symbol of your line or even a spiritual member of the family? Any particular part of nature you feel comfortable in as your second home?
These details help establish your family and your title as features of the world of the campaign.
*INSPIRED BY: NOBLE, OUTLANDER AND THE HOME-BREWED ROYAL RANGER!*
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from: Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Perception, Persuasion or Survival.
- Tool Proficiencies: Choose a Tool: Cartographer's Tools, Woodcarver's Tools, Disguise Kit, Herbalism Kit or Thieves' Tool.
- Languages: One of your choice.
- Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a signet ring, a hunting trap, and a component pouch containing 25 gp.
You've been to strange places and seen things that others cannot begin to fathom. Consider some of the distant lands you have visited, and how they impacted you. You can roll on the following table to determine your occupation during your time in the world, or choose one that best fits your character.
| d10 | Origin |
|---|---|
| 1 | Forester |
| 2 | Trapper |
| 3 | Homesteader |
| 4 | Guide |
| 5 | Exile or outcast |
| 6 | Bounty hunter |
| 7 | Pilgrim |
| 8 | Tribal nomad |
| 9 | Hunter-gatherer |
| 10 | Tribal marauder |
As part of your training you know how live in the wilds for months at a time; you know how to gather enough food and fresh water for yourself and three other people, provided that the land offers such amenities.
Additionally, thanks to your noble birth, people are inclined to think the best of you. You know how to conduct yourself around nobles and people of the higher class and you can secure an audience with a local noble if needed.
Suggested Characteristics
Nobles are born and raised to a very different lifestyle than most people ever experience, and their personalities reflect that upbringing. A noble title comes with a plethora of bonds—responsibilities to family, to other nobles (including the sovereign), to the people entrusted to the family’s care, or even to the title itself. But this responsibility is often a good way to undermine a noble. But your Ranger background also reflects a side not commonly seen by Nobles, and you therefor tend to be a bit odd in spheres of aristocrats.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would rather live in the wilds than in a castle. |
| 2 | The common folk love me for my kindness and generosity. |
| 3 | I’m always polite and respectful. |
| 4 | I take great pains to always look my best and follow the latest fashions. |
| 5 | I’m driven by a wanderlust that led me away from home |
| 6 | Despite my noble birth, I do not place myself above other folk. We all have the same blood. |
| 7 | My favor, once lost, is lost forever. |
| 8 | I feel far more comfortable around animals than people. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Generosity. I was trained so that I can be a benefit the world. (Good) |
| 2 | Honor. If I dishonor myself, I dishonor my whole family. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. I must prove that I can handle myself without the coddling of my family. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might. The strongest are meant to rule. (Evil) |
| 5 | Nature. The natural world is more important than all the constructs of civilization. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Glory. I must earn glory in battle, for myself and my family. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I will face any challenge to win the approval of my family. |
| 2 | I protect those who cannot protect themselves. |
| 3 | Nothing is more important than the other members of my family. |
| 4 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 5 | My loyalty to my sovereign is unwavering. |
| 6 | I will bring terrible wrath down on the evildoers who destroyed my homeland. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I secretly believe that everyone is beneath me. |
| 2 | I hide a truly scandalous secret that could ruin my family forever. |
| 3 | People who can’t take care of themselves get what they deserve. |
| 4 | I am too enamored of ale, wine, and other intoxicants. |
| 5 | In fact, the world does revolve around me. |
| 6 | There’s no room for caution in a life lived to the fullest. |
Comments