I think 5e ranger is fine, sometimes features are a little bit poorly worded, which can be solved by a tiny bit RAI. the biggest problem is ranger is complicated to fully use it’s power. fighter, you don’t have to strategize a lot, depending on subclass. barbarian, paladin, rogue all the same. ranger, well, limited spell slots, limited choices, lots of options, weak options if you don’t use them well. but ranger is fine
ranger needs a 2nd level spell that does something in combat. At level 1, you get Zephyr Strike (great,) and Ensnaring Strike (mediocre, at best,) Fog Cloud (to situational,) Hail of Thorns (honestly just not as good as Z Strike by a healthy margin,) Hunter's Mark (Z Strike better.) And at level 2....you can upcast some of those. But other than Spike Growth (which is fun, but very situational) Rangers' dont have a level 2 spell combat option that's new and fun.
Then it jumps to level 3, with Conjure Barage, Flame and Lighting Arrow (neither of which I'd ever use. And Of the two, Lighting Arrow is just better even if it is only one use.
At 4th level spells, nothing but summons. So, needs something there. And then at 5th level (which as a main ranger player I will never see in my life time... ) Conjure Volley , Steel Wind Strike, and Swift Quiver are all pretty good.
BUT at second level, it needs something like "Arrows of Many Targets" from BG3, or knockback arrow, or something.
Summon Beast is a great 2nd level spell, you might not cast it in combat but you cast is because you are about to go into combat. Healing Spirit and lesser restoration are also solid options though they are defensive rathert than offensive spells.
While most of the 4th level spells are summons freedom of movement is also a solid option.
The only issue I have with rangers post Tasha's is while most subclasses are OK but not great power wise, gloomstalker is one of the most powerful subclasses in the game, at least at level 3. The result is 90% of rangers are gloomstalkers.
Like favored enemy does just tracking your favored enemy not combat boons and beast master makes you use your action to command the beast and even at level 17 the challenge rating of your companion is still 1/4 and you never get to level up your companion like in other subclasses such as circle of wildfire, drakewarden and some others.
Like favored enemy does just tracking your favored enemy not combat boons and beast master makes you use your action to command the beast and even at level 17 the challenge rating of your companion is still 1/4 and you never get to level up your companion like in other subclasses such as circle of wildfire, drakewarden and some others.
The PHB ranger did have these problems but optional rules were introduced in Tasha's to produce alternatives. Instead of favored enemy you can have favoured foe, a sort of hex light and beastmasters can now choose once of a generic beast stat blocks (you can choose the appearance) which improve as you level and can be commanded with a bonus action similar to the wildfire spirit and drakewarden.
Like favored enemy does just tracking your favored enemy not combat boons and beast master makes you use your action to command the beast and even at level 17 the challenge rating of your companion is still 1/4 and you never get to level up your companion like in other subclasses such as circle of wildfire, drakewarden and some others.
Have you read the beast master rules? The beast master makes use of a lot of things and action more than that just the ranger's attack action, and even then at levels 11+ it gives the beast master three full attacks, two of which are magical. Most of the finer choices of beasts have great free and unlimited rider effects like grapple, knock prone, restraining, or poison. The beast utilizes reactions with opportunity attacks. It also auto doges for free. Can provide cover and soak attacks and hits. It further opens up the ranger's bonus action with a an extra use of the help action. At level 17 a wolf has an armor class of 19, is either dodging for free or making two (in addition to the ranger's one) magic attacks with +10 to hit (and possibly at advantage due to pack tactics) and dealing an average of 13 magical damage each hit. It would also have 68 hit points. It would have a passive perception of 19 plus advantage. 1/4 CR? Not even close.
Not all abilities and spells are or should be combat focused. Favored enemy and natural explorer can be used leading up to combat, during combat for information, and of course in combat at level 20. Rangers spells and subclass boost their combat abilities. Arch and every subclass does more damage and more things in combat over the baseline ranger.
As far as mobility, again, spell selection, but also at level 8 they ignore difficult terrain and plant movement. Which is actually better than a bonus action dash, more so if the table is using the diagonal movement rule.
I think the main problem is favored enemy and beast master
What?! Based on what specifically?
I played under DMs who don't like animal companions and made it difficult at times by making it as hard as possible for the beast to stay with me or trying to kill the beast. When my beast died I had to find one in the wild and the party wasn't happy about how long that could take.
I think the main problem is favored enemy and beast master
What?! Based on what specifically?
I played under DMs who don't like animal companions and made it difficult at times by making it as hard as possible for the beast to stay with me or trying to kill the beast. When my beast died I had to find one in the wild and the party wasn't happy about how long that could take.
I think the main problem is favored enemy and beast master
What?! Based on what specifically?
I played under DMs who don't like animal companions and made it difficult at times by making it as hard as possible for the beast to stay with me or trying to kill the beast. When my beast died I had to find one in the wild and the party wasn't happy about how long that could take.
That is a DM issue.
While trying to kill the beast is definately a DM issue what was needed to replace a fallen beast wasa PHB issue.
"If the beast dies, you can obtain a new companion by spending 8 hours magically bonding with a beast that isn’t hostile to you and that meets the requirements."
So if you wanted your beast had bee na wold but it dies while you were in the desert you might spend a few hours finding a hyena or a camel and have to settle for that and then another 8 hours bonding with it which the party might not be happy with, alternatively yo do withut your pet, and play a subclassless ranger until there is no time critical quest and the party have some downtime.
While there are some things in Tash'a I am not happy about (e.g. Twilight and Peace Cleric are way OP) they absolutely nailed fixing the Beastmaster (and rangers in general). With Tasha's options you can get your beast back either by expending a spell slot or completing a long rest which is much more party friendly.
There are three 8-hour time periods in each day. One of those 8-hour time periods is spent long resting. The second is the maximum amount of time that the party can spend traveling and/or adventuring. And the third is just there, not resting, not fighting, not adventuring, and not traveling. That third period is all that's needed for a new companion. All of that time can be as simple as a 30 second discussion between the player and DM.
The beast also can be healed. I, for one, think it is obvious that the beast gets to make death saving throws. Others think it is a "DM call". If it is, then the DM is actively and intentionally choosing to hurt that player. In fact, monsters dying when they get to zero hit points is technically a observation by the rules and not a rule at all.
Many ranger abilities are situation. A gloom stalker is underwhelming when not in complete darkness. A hunter fairs way better when fighting groups of enemies.
We are rehashing a lot of old problems they usually boil down to Not understanding the implications of ranger features or "False flag nerfs" via either the dm or the player. Almost everyone using "situational" is a buzzworder rather than a analyst.
There are reasons the new design will not allow the unique traits of creatures selectable by the phb. They are so powerful I can make dms shutter just by my initial pet (which the dm has no say unless they "fiat")
as for the pet death problem there are so many assumptions that are just actively wrong. (note saying yes to all will make phb beasmaster able to take down a wizard with wish but at least some must be true)
1. death saves
2. bonding actions requirements. (no existing restrictions on what your doing )
3. bonding distance requirements (the pet could start 8 hours away)
4. bonding isn't removed on death. what happens if you get the old one back ?
5. a non-combat pets usefulness value (including dead ones). Harvesting saves usefulness for later, PHB pets can help avoid combats via skills etc.
Like favored enemy does just tracking your favored enemy not combat boons and beast master makes you use your action to command the beast and even at level 17 the challenge rating of your companion is still 1/4 and you never get to level up your companion like in other subclasses such as circle of wildfire, drakewarden and some others.
Read favored enemy again.
You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them.
This means any intelligence tool check or any of the other 5 intelligence skills that require you to know about the Favored enemy. this means you don't need to waste a skill proficiency on such skills or you could double down with FT.
As such you get a lot of use out of a half(or less) a feature
Like favored enemy does just tracking your favored enemy not combat boons and beast master makes you use your action to command the beast and even at level 17 the challenge rating of your companion is still 1/4 and you never get to level up your companion like in other subclasses such as circle of wildfire, drakewarden and some others.
Read favored enemy again.
You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them.
This means any intelligence tool check or any of the other 5 intelligence skills that require you to know about the Favored enemy. this means you don't need to waste a skill proficiency on such skills or you could double down with FT.
As such you get a lot of use out of a half(or less) a feature
This is very situational, most skill checks to recall information about creature is likely to be nature, though it could be religion if you foe is undead, fiend or celestial. On the other hand a lot of nature checks would be on things like terrain, plants, or climate only a few religion checks will be about creatures. If this feature gave advantage on checks against ANY creature it would be the equivalent of advantage on survival and nature checks, decent but not OP, unless 90% of your campaign is fighting one or two creature types this is too situational.
If there is a wizard or Artificer in the party, they will probably be better at the int checks even with this feature.
Like favored enemy does just tracking your favored enemy not combat boons and beast master makes you use your action to command the beast and even at level 17 the challenge rating of your companion is still 1/4 and you never get to level up your companion like in other subclasses such as circle of wildfire, drakewarden and some others.
Read favored enemy again.
You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them.
This means any intelligence tool check or any of the other 5 intelligence skills that require you to know about the Favored enemy. this means you don't need to waste a skill proficiency on such skills or you could double down with FT.
As such you get a lot of use out of a half(or less) a feature
This is very situational, most skill checks to recall information about creature is likely to be nature, though it could be religion if you foe is undead, fiend or celestial. On the other hand a lot of nature checks would be on things like terrain, plants, or climate only a few religion checks will be about creatures. If this feature gave advantage on checks against ANY creature it would be the equivalent of advantage on survival and nature checks, decent but not OP, unless 90% of your campaign is fighting one or two creature types this is too situational.
If there is a wizard or Artificer in the party, they will probably be better at the int checks even with this feature.
See
And paladins got divine sense that can track fiends celestials and undead.
I think the main problem is favored enemy and beast master
Loremaster, Achievement hunter, Elden Lord.
I have been playing dnd for untold eons.
Myrkridia Statistics here!
I think 5e ranger is fine, sometimes features are a little bit poorly worded, which can be solved by a tiny bit RAI. the biggest problem is ranger is complicated to fully use it’s power. fighter, you don’t have to strategize a lot, depending on subclass. barbarian, paladin, rogue all the same. ranger, well, limited spell slots, limited choices, lots of options, weak options if you don’t use them well. but ranger is fine
Summon Beast is a great 2nd level spell, you might not cast it in combat but you cast is because you are about to go into combat. Healing Spirit and lesser restoration are also solid options though they are defensive rathert than offensive spells.
While most of the 4th level spells are summons freedom of movement is also a solid option.
The only issue I have with rangers post Tasha's is while most subclasses are OK but not great power wise, gloomstalker is one of the most powerful subclasses in the game, at least at level 3. The result is 90% of rangers are gloomstalkers.
What?! Based on what specifically?
Like favored enemy does just tracking your favored enemy not combat boons and beast master makes you use your action to command the beast and even at level 17 the challenge rating of your companion is still 1/4 and you never get to level up your companion like in other subclasses such as circle of wildfire, drakewarden and some others.
Loremaster, Achievement hunter, Elden Lord.
I have been playing dnd for untold eons.
Myrkridia Statistics here!
I agree about gloomstalkers, they are really overpowered
Loremaster, Achievement hunter, Elden Lord.
I have been playing dnd for untold eons.
Myrkridia Statistics here!
Good traits 6e rangers may have might be evasion, beast master could be a good main class feature actually so you can choose another subclass.
Loremaster, Achievement hunter, Elden Lord.
I have been playing dnd for untold eons.
Myrkridia Statistics here!
I found that you can be a Vulpid gloom stalker, squashbuckler with +2 dex wis and dex has +6 initiative
Loremaster, Achievement hunter, Elden Lord.
I have been playing dnd for untold eons.
Myrkridia Statistics here!
The PHB ranger did have these problems but optional rules were introduced in Tasha's to produce alternatives. Instead of favored enemy you can have favoured foe, a sort of hex light and beastmasters can now choose once of a generic beast stat blocks (you can choose the appearance) which improve as you level and can be commanded with a bonus action similar to the wildfire spirit and drakewarden.
Every table I know allows these optional rules.
Have you read the beast master rules? The beast master makes use of a lot of things and action more than that just the ranger's attack action, and even then at levels 11+ it gives the beast master three full attacks, two of which are magical. Most of the finer choices of beasts have great free and unlimited rider effects like grapple, knock prone, restraining, or poison. The beast utilizes reactions with opportunity attacks. It also auto doges for free. Can provide cover and soak attacks and hits. It further opens up the ranger's bonus action with a an extra use of the help action. At level 17 a wolf has an armor class of 19, is either dodging for free or making two (in addition to the ranger's one) magic attacks with +10 to hit (and possibly at advantage due to pack tactics) and dealing an average of 13 magical damage each hit. It would also have 68 hit points. It would have a passive perception of 19 plus advantage. 1/4 CR? Not even close.
Not all abilities and spells are or should be combat focused. Favored enemy and natural explorer can be used leading up to combat, during combat for information, and of course in combat at level 20. Rangers spells and subclass boost their combat abilities. Arch and every subclass does more damage and more things in combat over the baseline ranger.
As far as mobility, again, spell selection, but also at level 8 they ignore difficult terrain and plant movement. Which is actually better than a bonus action dash, more so if the table is using the diagonal movement rule.
I don't allow for Tasha's at all, and half of the DMs I know and/or play with don't either.
I played under DMs who don't like animal companions and made it difficult at times by making it as hard as possible for the beast to stay with me or trying to kill the beast. When my beast died I had to find one in the wild and the party wasn't happy about how long that could take.
That is a DM issue.
While trying to kill the beast is definately a DM issue what was needed to replace a fallen beast wasa PHB issue.
"If the beast dies, you can obtain a new companion by spending 8 hours magically bonding with a beast that isn’t hostile to you and that meets the requirements."
So if you wanted your beast had bee na wold but it dies while you were in the desert you might spend a few hours finding a hyena or a camel and have to settle for that and then another 8 hours bonding with it which the party might not be happy with, alternatively yo do withut your pet, and play a subclassless ranger until there is no time critical quest and the party have some downtime.
While there are some things in Tash'a I am not happy about (e.g. Twilight and Peace Cleric are way OP) they absolutely nailed fixing the Beastmaster (and rangers in general). With Tasha's options you can get your beast back either by expending a spell slot or completing a long rest which is much more party friendly.
There are three 8-hour time periods in each day. One of those 8-hour time periods is spent long resting. The second is the maximum amount of time that the party can spend traveling and/or adventuring. And the third is just there, not resting, not fighting, not adventuring, and not traveling. That third period is all that's needed for a new companion. All of that time can be as simple as a 30 second discussion between the player and DM.
The beast also can be healed. I, for one, think it is obvious that the beast gets to make death saving throws. Others think it is a "DM call". If it is, then the DM is actively and intentionally choosing to hurt that player. In fact, monsters dying when they get to zero hit points is technically a observation by the rules and not a rule at all.
Many ranger abilities are situation. A gloom stalker is underwhelming when not in complete darkness. A hunter fairs way better when fighting groups of enemies.
We are rehashing a lot of old problems they usually boil down to Not understanding the implications of ranger features or "False flag nerfs" via either the dm or the player. Almost everyone using "situational" is a buzzworder rather than a analyst.
There are reasons the new design will not allow the unique traits of creatures selectable by the phb. They are so powerful I can make dms shutter just by my initial pet (which the dm has no say unless they "fiat")
as for the pet death problem there are so many assumptions that are just actively wrong. (note saying yes to all will make phb beasmaster able to take down a wizard with wish but at least some must be true)
1. death saves
2. bonding actions requirements. (no existing restrictions on what your doing )
3. bonding distance requirements (the pet could start 8 hours away)
4. bonding isn't removed on death. what happens if you get the old one back ?
5. a non-combat pets usefulness value (including dead ones). Harvesting saves usefulness for later, PHB pets can help avoid combats via skills etc.
Read favored enemy again.
This means any intelligence tool check or any of the other 5 intelligence skills that require you to know about the Favored enemy. this means you don't need to waste a skill proficiency on such skills or you could double down with FT.
As such you get a lot of use out of a half(or less) a feature
Like you gain no bonuses to attack rolls.
because not much DM’s use tracking enemy’s that often
Loremaster, Achievement hunter, Elden Lord.
I have been playing dnd for untold eons.
Myrkridia Statistics here!
This is very situational, most skill checks to recall information about creature is likely to be nature, though it could be religion if you foe is undead, fiend or celestial. On the other hand a lot of nature checks would be on things like terrain, plants, or climate only a few religion checks will be about creatures. If this feature gave advantage on checks against ANY creature it would be the equivalent of advantage on survival and nature checks, decent but not OP, unless 90% of your campaign is fighting one or two creature types this is too situational.
If there is a wizard or Artificer in the party, they will probably be better at the int checks even with this feature.
See
And paladins got divine sense that can track fiends celestials and undead.
Loremaster, Achievement hunter, Elden Lord.
I have been playing dnd for untold eons.
Myrkridia Statistics here!