Is this from original setting of 5e Favored Enemy in the PHB, or under the Revised Ranger setting? (I think Revised Ranger is UA, not 100% on that but it is widely popular in my circle of games)
Are you replacing the damage bonus with the higher crit chance, or keeping both?
Is this going to be restricted to one of the particular subclasses/conclaves (such as Improved Critical/Superior Critical for the Champion subclass for Fighters) or is it an overall class feature?
Why 1st, 6th, and 14th, and why do you think 17-20 is an acceptable range especially at 14th level?
Will the favored enemy categories undergo refinement to prevent exploitative behavior?
Personally I don't think it is a great idea to up the crit success chance that much versus a favored enemy with the Ranger Class, so I have an issue with a (fairly powerful) class-wide buff that presents itself so early on with little-to-no drawbacks. There is the risk bringing a very imbalanced method of combat into player favor early on at the expense of others in the party that is going to dull combat as a whole, and the against DM who will have spent time developing these initiatives experiencing similar discontent. This increased critical success chance will essentially just create a veritable one-hit killer who doesn't have to use any strategy or tactics, and that can ultimately ruin combat scenarios by offering less rewarding ways to play. However these are just my thoughts because I like actual complexities in my combat strategies and tactics. I don't want you to think I'm attacking you personally, I am just sensitive to the possible balance issues that stem from big bonuses like this.
I would suggest pushing towards 3rd and 18th level for critical success chance increases, operating identically to the Fighter subclass Champion; 3rd level granting a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 with your weapon attacks, and 18th Level granting a critical hit on a roll of 18-20 with your weapon attacks. Both of those, even, versus a specific race of your favored enemy if you aren't dropping the damage bonus, ignoring things like the broadened sense of "humanoid" to discourage exploitative behavior. Further still I would iterate that, if a ranged weapon is being used, it must be used within the weapon's natural maximum range and ignore bonuses from feats like Sharpshooter to benefit from these critical success increase effects, which should encourage more careful considerations on the battlefield and will assist in operating under a more rewarding sense of combat progressions.
I am presenting this information under a narrower precedent than I normally would, hopefully there are more informative posts than mine which will respond.
In general, when adding certain features it is a good idea to see if a class or spell already does the same or similar effect, and at what level. The Champion Fighter gives a 19-20 crit range at level 3, and only when you take the archetype. To my knowledge, a Champion Fighter is the only way to increase crit range (don't quote me on that) making it a very unique feature being restricted to one class, and a subclass at that.
Giving Improved Critical to a Ranger I think is an ok idea, but making it available to the base class at level one is definitely too much even being restricted to Favored Enemy. The most I would give is 19-20 at level 6 and 18-20 at level 14, but I would go a slightly different route and provide only the 19-20 at either 6 or 14 and provide a different non-combat effect to the other level, or nothing at all. This keeps the best Improved Critical of 18-19 unique to a specific subclass while not making everything all about combat.
In general, when adding certain features it is a good idea to see if a class or spell already does the same or similar effect, and at what level. The Champion Fighter gives a 19-20 crit range at level 3, and only when you take the archetype. To my knowledge, a Champion Fighter is the only way to increase crit range (don't quote me on that) making it a very unique feature being restricted to one class, and a subclass at that.
Giving Improved Critical to a Ranger I think is an ok idea, but making it available to the base class at level one is definitely too much even being restricted to Favored Enemy. The most I would give is 19-20 at level 6 and 18-20 at level 14, but I would go a slightly different route and provide only the 19-20 at either 6 or 14 and provide a different non-combat effect to the other level, or nothing at all. This keeps the best Improved Critical of 18-19 unique to a specific subclass while not making everything all about combat.
Bolded is a sentiment which I share towards keeping a class (in this case subclass) feature unique. That is another point I would have liked to have made had I thought of it; keeping features like that unique there classes/subclasses is a definite zone of appeal for me, and partially why I like to multiclass to gain what feels to me like a great effect for a sacrifice elsewhere.
You're welcome, Nate. As I mentioned I didn't want you to think I was trying to attack you for the idea, I like to bring alternative points into view for other people's considerations. =)
In general, when adding certain features it is a good idea to see if a class or spell already does the same or similar effect, and at what level. The Champion Fighter gives a 19-20 crit range at level 3, and only when you take the archetype. To my knowledge, a Champion Fighter is the only way to increase crit range (don't quote me on that) making it a very unique feature being restricted to one class, and a subclass at that.
The Hexblade warlock's Hexblade's Curse increases crit range, but is also more limited than champion's
I think it's fair to increase crit range to 19-20 as part of a 20th level capstone (that should probably include non-Favored Enemy enemies). By then, the Champion Fighter would have already gotten an even wider crit range and it rewards the player for sticking with the class for so long. We all know that the Ranger really got piddly poo in terms of a capstone.
I think it's fair to increase crit range to 19-20 as part of a 20th level capstone (that should probably include non-Favored Enemy enemies). By then, the Champion Fighter would have already gotten an even wider crit range and it rewards the player for sticking with the class for so long. We all know that the Ranger really got piddly poo in terms of a capstone.
Thematically it works with the ranger getting other classes "toys" a bit too late (with the expection of fighting style) to be worthwhile.
Well, I never said that it should be the only thing they get. I have a revised Ranger up in the homebrew section if you want to know what I'm referring to.
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At first level when fighting your Favored Enemy, your Crit range is 19-20
At sixth level Crit range is 18-20
At 14th it is 17-20
Thoughts? Just an idea
Some questions,
Is this from original setting of 5e Favored Enemy in the PHB, or under the Revised Ranger setting? (I think Revised Ranger is UA, not 100% on that but it is widely popular in my circle of games)
Are you replacing the damage bonus with the higher crit chance, or keeping both?
Is this going to be restricted to one of the particular subclasses/conclaves (such as Improved Critical/Superior Critical for the Champion subclass for Fighters) or is it an overall class feature?
Why 1st, 6th, and 14th, and why do you think 17-20 is an acceptable range especially at 14th level?
Will the favored enemy categories undergo refinement to prevent exploitative behavior?
Personally I don't think it is a great idea to up the crit success chance that much versus a favored enemy with the Ranger Class, so I have an issue with a (fairly powerful) class-wide buff that presents itself so early on with little-to-no drawbacks. There is the risk bringing a very imbalanced method of combat into player favor early on at the expense of others in the party that is going to dull combat as a whole, and the against DM who will have spent time developing these initiatives experiencing similar discontent. This increased critical success chance will essentially just create a veritable one-hit killer who doesn't have to use any strategy or tactics, and that can ultimately ruin combat scenarios by offering less rewarding ways to play. However these are just my thoughts because I like actual complexities in my combat strategies and tactics. I don't want you to think I'm attacking you personally, I am just sensitive to the possible balance issues that stem from big bonuses like this.
I would suggest pushing towards 3rd and 18th level for critical success chance increases, operating identically to the Fighter subclass Champion; 3rd level granting a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 with your weapon attacks, and 18th Level granting a critical hit on a roll of 18-20 with your weapon attacks. Both of those, even, versus a specific race of your favored enemy if you aren't dropping the damage bonus, ignoring things like the broadened sense of "humanoid" to discourage exploitative behavior. Further still I would iterate that, if a ranged weapon is being used, it must be used within the weapon's natural maximum range and ignore bonuses from feats like Sharpshooter to benefit from these critical success increase effects, which should encourage more careful considerations on the battlefield and will assist in operating under a more rewarding sense of combat progressions.
I am presenting this information under a narrower precedent than I normally would, hopefully there are more informative posts than mine which will respond.
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Chief Innovationist, Acquisitions Inc. The Series 2
Successfully completed the Tomb of Horrors module (as part of playing Tomb of Annihilation) with no party deaths!
I think crit range of 18-20 is high enough and should be after level 11.
This is for the Official Ranger in the PHB ... It would be added to the Favored Enemy class feature
It was an idea i had after hearing a few people saying they felt like the Favored Enemy feature needed something else.
Maybe increasing the crit range is to much. Maybe keep it 19-20
Thanks StylesStriker you bring up some good points
In general, when adding certain features it is a good idea to see if a class or spell already does the same or similar effect, and at what level. The Champion Fighter gives a 19-20 crit range at level 3, and only when you take the archetype. To my knowledge, a Champion Fighter is the only way to increase crit range (don't quote me on that) making it a very unique feature being restricted to one class, and a subclass at that.
Giving Improved Critical to a Ranger I think is an ok idea, but making it available to the base class at level one is definitely too much even being restricted to Favored Enemy. The most I would give is 19-20 at level 6 and 18-20 at level 14, but I would go a slightly different route and provide only the 19-20 at either 6 or 14 and provide a different non-combat effect to the other level, or nothing at all. This keeps the best Improved Critical of 18-19 unique to a specific subclass while not making everything all about combat.
Bolded is a sentiment which I share towards keeping a class (in this case subclass) feature unique. That is another point I would have liked to have made had I thought of it; keeping features like that unique there classes/subclasses is a definite zone of appeal for me, and partially why I like to multiclass to gain what feels to me like a great effect for a sacrifice elsewhere.
You're welcome, Nate. As I mentioned I didn't want you to think I was trying to attack you for the idea, I like to bring alternative points into view for other people's considerations. =)
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Watch DnD Shorts on youtube.
Chief Innovationist, Acquisitions Inc. The Series 2
Successfully completed the Tomb of Horrors module (as part of playing Tomb of Annihilation) with no party deaths!
The Hexblade warlock's Hexblade's Curse increases crit range, but is also more limited than champion's
I think it's fair to increase crit range to 19-20 as part of a 20th level capstone (that should probably include non-Favored Enemy enemies). By then, the Champion Fighter would have already gotten an even wider crit range and it rewards the player for sticking with the class for so long. We all know that the Ranger really got piddly poo in terms of a capstone.
Thematically it works with the ranger getting other classes "toys" a bit too late (with the expection of fighting style) to be worthwhile.
Well, I never said that it should be the only thing they get. I have a revised Ranger up in the homebrew section if you want to know what I'm referring to.