The Blackbows

The Blackbow's Purpose

These rangers are all part of a corps and named for their bows. Their job is to protect the people outside threats. They are very influential and smart an are masters at unseen movement and archery. They are used for intelligence by the benevolent rulers of kingdoms. They tend to take down malevolent dictators. Although they are officially known as the Black Bows, they are typically just referred to as rangers. They all train as an apprentice from the age of 15 until they earn their silver oak leaf that shows that they are a full-fledged ranger (this usually takes about 4 years).

The Ranger Armory

They typically carry a black bow that is similar to a longbow but specially crafted for them by Some of the greatest battle smiths. Their apprenticeship is hard but they are fierce warriors when they are true masters. They also carry an incredibly sharp and balanced throwing knife and a larger but still sharp, fast, and balanced knife known as a seax which was originally used by fierce raiders along coasts. The blades are very sharp and almost indestructible due to the way that they were made. Another thing that they use is cloaks with mottled colors on them that make it very hard for people to see you because (as long as you aren't moving) it will help the eyes of people go right over you. Each cloak is specially made for one environment. For Desert areas, it is a mottled beige and brown color whereas the cloaks made for the Underdark have much darker colors. Rangers also have something known as strikers. These are heavy brass weapons that can be used to incapacitate enemies in close combat, or at range by throwing them. If a ranger screws two together, it car throw it at greater distances. These are the same weight and balance of a seax so it is easier to throw them with accuracy. The striker has a rod in the middle that is meant to fit a ranger's hand perfectly. there is a brass knob on the sides that is used to strike the enemy. when screwed together, the knockers can also be used as a club. Although these are what rangers almost always use, it hasn't been unheard of for a ranger to use a sword or, even more rare, a battleaxe. When rangers are proficient with weapons such as the sword or battleaxe, it is typically because they were trained to use those weapons from a young age.

This archetype can only be chosen if this character started as a ranger. This cannot be multiclassed into.

Getting Armed

The ranger gets all of the ranger weapons. The blackbow deals 1d10 piercing damage due to its superior make, over the normal longbow. The bow also has a superior range of 200/700. The knives are superior to normal ones and have a range of 30/80. Their damage is also 1d10/2 slashing or piercing instead of a normal 1d4. When a ranger wears a cloak in its respected biome, the ranger adds an extra half of their proficiency bonus to all stealth checks. The strikers that they get deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage when by themselves and have a chance to knock an enemy unconscious if a crit is landed or if the target is surprised. This chance is decided by the DM based on the enemy and if they are wearing headgear. They also deal 1d6 when the strikers are screwed together.

All rangers have a plus one to hit and a plus one to damage with all of these weapons.

Uncanny Archery

Due to constant practice with the blackbow, rangers can shoot an extra arrow whenever they make an attack action.

Lack of Magic

Although many believe that the Blackbows are very magical and maybe even warlocks because they are incredible at stealth and archery, the Blackbows are actually much less magical than other rangers and have very limited spells. The only spells that the ranger can learn are: Hunter's Mark, Speak With Animals, Pass Without Trace, Fire Arrows, Lightning Arrows, Nondetection, Locate Creature, Steel Wind Strike, lesser restoration, and cure wounds.

Animal Bond

All Rangers get a specially bred horse. These horses have the same stats as a normal riding horse, except that they can run 5 feet faster, have all of their base stats with an extra 2 everywhere, and can always run much longer than a normal horse. The horse won't let anyone ride it unless the "password" is said to it. Once the password is said to it, the horse will always remember that person and will allow them to ride it. The Ranger also develops a bond with the animal. It is basically a continuous speak with animals spell on that animal. Most Blackbows don't realize that they are actually talking to that animal. 

Uncanny Accuracy

The ranger gets the sharpshooter feat due to constant practice

Sharpshooter

The ranger gets Sharpshooter

Practice, Practice, and More Practice

The ranger is granted an additional fighting style that must either be Archery or Two-Weapon Fighting. (Gets it from practice, practice, and more practice)

Always Alert

The Blackbows also practice being constantly alert and waking up without anyone noticing. These rangers get the Alert feat and when they wake up, they keep their eyes closed and breathing the same.

 

AWSOME CLOAK, MAN!!

This feature means that the mottled cloak can act as camouflage for the Hide In Plain Sight class feature as long as the cloak is made for the environment. This pretty much means that when the ranger isn't moving, he has a plus 10 to all stealth checks.