The reason folks love the gloomstalker is because it is the ranger subclass that most meets the rubric used by those that calculate worth or value of a PC based almost exclusively on single target nova damage. It is very narrowly focused and much more situational in regards to the rest of the gameplay. It was a great addition for those that (incorrectly) felt that rangers lacked in damage capabilities.
I have played rangers for 40+ years through all 5 editions from low level into epic levels. Rangers don’t need fixing, players need to learn how to play them well. That said there are some things that could be improved: 1) make them prepared casters not known casters. 2) grant them straight expertise with nature and survival like the scout rogue rather than having to select them as part of their options. (This would tend to eliminate the need for favored terrains which is the biggest complaint most folks seem to have about “situational” abilities.) 3) rebalance the subclasses to each other - the Xanther and Tasha subclasses have their own spell lists while the PHB ones don’t so give them ones - of course making them prepared casters pretty will covers this as long as all rangers have the same number of slots.
those 3 changes would clear up any significant complaints folks have with the ranger.
I have played rangers for 40+ years through all 5 editions from low level into epic levels. Rangers don’t need fixing, players need to learn how to play them well. That said there are some things that could be improved: 1) make them prepared casters not known casters. 2) grant them straight expertise with nature and survival like the scout rogue rather than having to select them as part of their options. (This would tend to eliminate the need for favored terrains which is the biggest complaint most folks seem to have about “situational” abilities.) 3) rebalance the subclasses to each other - the Xanther and Tasha subclasses have their own spell lists while the PHB ones don’t so give them ones - of course making them prepared casters pretty will covers this as long as all rangers have the same number of slots.
those 3 changes would clear up any significant complaints folks have with the ranger.
I actually don’t mind the hunter and beastmaster lacking additional magic, beast master has an animal and hunter is the hypermartial subclass
Hunter ( and ranger generally) could use a couple of low level combat spells that last more than one round and are not concentration - something that actually competes with hunters mark and zephyr strike. They could also use more area control like web and entangle. The problem is that you can’t really allow ranged cantrips as that replaces the archer side of the class so it needs to be some sort of weapon enhancement that can be used on both missile and melee weapons - maybe something that grants a +1 to hit but no extra damage then scales with an additional +1 every two spell levels and lasts for 1 minute without concentration. Even if it takes a full action to cast spending round 1 casting it and hunters mark then joining battle starts to make sense. If it could be cast out of combat without initiating combat that would be even nicer but highly unlikely.
having those 1 extra spell per spell level known would help both hunter and beast master but making the revised ranger a prepared caster rather than a known caster would be even better. It took me a bit but I really liked the UA2 ranger with cantrips, prepared spells not known, spells at L1. The only thing really wrong was it had next to no clear flavor text and it still had the problem that the scout rogue gets the 4 expertises that ranger, bard and rogue got but the the scout subclass gives it expertise in nature and survival for free totaling 6 expertises. Give the ranger expertise in nature and survival at L1, 3 additional skills and expertise in one at L1 and then 2 more skills and 1 more expertise at higher levels and the ranger wouldn’t need favored terrains but could still make use of favored enemies ( I would love to see them get 1 every 4 levels with humanoids allowing the present choice of 2 types).
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Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
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The reason folks love the gloomstalker is because it is the ranger subclass that most meets the rubric used by those that calculate worth or value of a PC based almost exclusively on single target nova damage. It is very narrowly focused and much more situational in regards to the rest of the gameplay. It was a great addition for those that (incorrectly) felt that rangers lacked in damage capabilities.
I have played rangers for 40+ years through all 5 editions from low level into epic levels. Rangers don’t need fixing, players need to learn how to play them well. That said there are some things that could be improved:
1) make them prepared casters not known casters.
2) grant them straight expertise with nature and survival like the scout rogue rather than having to select them as part of their options. (This would tend to eliminate the need for favored terrains which is the biggest complaint most folks seem to have about “situational” abilities.)
3) rebalance the subclasses to each other - the Xanther and Tasha subclasses have their own spell lists while the PHB ones don’t so give them ones - of course making them prepared casters pretty will covers this as long as all rangers have the same number of slots.
those 3 changes would clear up any significant complaints folks have with the ranger.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
I actually don’t mind the hunter and beastmaster lacking additional magic, beast master has an animal and hunter is the hypermartial subclass
Hunter ( and ranger generally) could use a couple of low level combat spells that last more than one round and are not concentration - something that actually competes with hunters mark and zephyr strike. They could also use more area control like web and entangle. The problem is that you can’t really allow ranged cantrips as that replaces the archer side of the class so it needs to be some sort of weapon enhancement that can be used on both missile and melee weapons - maybe something that grants a +1 to hit but no extra damage then scales with an additional +1 every two spell levels and lasts for 1 minute without concentration. Even if it takes a full action to cast spending round 1 casting it and hunters mark then joining battle starts to make sense. If it could be cast out of combat without initiating combat that would be even nicer but highly unlikely.
having those 1 extra spell per spell level known would help both hunter and beast master but making the revised ranger a prepared caster rather than a known caster would be even better. It took me a bit but I really liked the UA2 ranger with cantrips, prepared spells not known, spells at L1. The only thing really wrong was it had next to no clear flavor text and it still had the problem that the scout rogue gets the 4 expertises that ranger, bard and rogue got but the the scout subclass gives it expertise in nature and survival for free totaling 6 expertises. Give the ranger expertise in nature and survival at L1, 3 additional skills and expertise in one at L1 and then 2 more skills and 1 more expertise at higher levels and the ranger wouldn’t need favored terrains but could still make use of favored enemies ( I would love to see them get 1 every 4 levels with humanoids allowing the present choice of 2 types).
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.