Urban isn't listed as a terrain option, something I thought was present in prior editions. The question coming about is with the UA2016 Ranger updates, what terrain the ranger is in makes a big difference, so a ranger with mountainous terrain favouritism, would a fort in the mountains still be mountainous or would it be urban? Or does the lack of an urban type make it moot? Thus any rural/urban/suburban situation the ranger finds themselves is ignored and where that rural/urban/suburban situation's surrounding terrain would be the only relevant factor?
The question coming about is with the UA2016 Ranger updates, what terrain the ranger is in makes a big difference, so a ranger with mountainous terrain favouritism, would a fort in the mountains still be mountainous or would it be urban? Or does the lack of an urban type make it moot? Thus any rural/urban/suburban situation the ranger finds themselves is ignored and where that rural/urban/suburban situation's surrounding terrain would be the only relevant factor?
I don't understand - the UA Ranger throws favoured terrain out altogether. Are you looking at the right one?
With regard to the PHB Ranger, generally speaking the Rogue is considered the "urban ranger". Rangers are deliberately meant to be outdoorsmen. Plus, most of their favoured terrain benefits are related to overland travel, which doesn't make much sense in a town. Whether the surrounding terrain benefits you in a town seems like a contextual question to ask your DM.
Urban deals with a city - not a village or small town so it shouldn't matter where it is its it's own type of "terrain". there is a semi-official urban ranger subclass available now - the rat king (see teh article here: Two of Dungeons & Dragons' Most Unique Subclasses Are Currently Free (comicbook.com)) for a little more info. I've played it briefly and it is kind of fun.
Although not able to be officially taken as a favored terrain, Rangers do quite well in urban environments, and the denser the better. Many of their spells can actually work wonderfully or even better in an urban environment. The Tasha’s optional abilities allow for an easy urban ranger build too.
Alarm, ensnaring strike, fog cloud, hail of thorns, hunter’s mark, jump, speak with animals, animal messenger, beast sense, cordon of arrows, locate plants/animals/object, pass without trace, silence, spike growth, conjure animals, and lightning arrow, just to name a few of the low level choices, do great, and many of those do even better in tightly packed corridors, alleyways, rooms, and sewer systems.
Favored enemy can work wonderfully in an urban environment. As can primeval awareness.
Maybe. I imagine it depends on the contents of the thread. When a new post is made to a thread the thread is bumped up to the top of the list, so it becomes “new”.
especially if the thread failed to answer a question posed or fully flush out an idea.
One of my absolute favorite characters that I've played was an Urban Ranger. She's basically a vigilante. Pass Without Trace for sneaking, Speak with Animals/Beast Sense for Intel gathering. Hunter's Mark for tracking. Favored Enemy for more tracking and also Intel-gathering (most cities tend to have a large human/elf population. Makes FE choices real easy.) With Deft Explorer's new climb speed, it's easy for her to scale rooftops and stake places out.
She's no slouch in the wilderness, but it's in large cities that she really feels at home. Took the Urchin background for pseudo-Urban FT and the disguise kit, which she uses to get into her vigilante uniform.
Rangers can be absolutely vital to urban campaigns. Don't let "Common Knowledge" tell you otherwise.
As for the Urban terrain, when I DM, I rule that the urbM environment counts as part of the terrain it's located in (e.g. coastal city counts as coast.) It's not RAW, but it's also not *not* RAW. And in the games where it's come up, it hasn't been overpowered or broken or anything. Just basically the same as having the Ranger in their FT out in the wilderness. No big deal. In fact, as DM, the Ranger rolling their knowledge checks with Expertise has actually let me espouse more lore about the location than I otherwise would've, so I happily welcome it.
I had some posts on the Paizo boards from the mid-Aughts that I still go back to check when an Age of Worms question comes up and still find good additions to the topics years after my last consultation of it.
Something like this provides some historical reference and changes through time. Maybe even the original poster comes back to check on changes, Llethander.
there is a common misconception that terrain is an area. Its not. its an understanding of the objects and organisms in that type of ecosystem. that means things in a city may or may not be tied to knowledge of said ecosystem.
I believe terrain bonus may apply in the city if the action is at all related to the surrounding environment. if a artic city has an internal forest biodome where you are meeting someone: forests apply not artic. if in an artic city but inspecting supplies from forests: forest would apply or any other environment said supplies come from.
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Urban isn't listed as a terrain option, something I thought was present in prior editions. The question coming about is with the UA2016 Ranger updates, what terrain the ranger is in makes a big difference, so a ranger with mountainous terrain favouritism, would a fort in the mountains still be mountainous or would it be urban? Or does the lack of an urban type make it moot? Thus any rural/urban/suburban situation the ranger finds themselves is ignored and where that rural/urban/suburban situation's surrounding terrain would be the only relevant factor?
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Urban deals with a city - not a village or small town so it shouldn't matter where it is its it's own type of "terrain". there is a semi-official urban ranger subclass available now - the rat king (see teh article here: Two of Dungeons & Dragons' Most Unique Subclasses Are Currently Free (comicbook.com)) for a little more info. I've played it briefly and it is kind of fun.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
What is with the rash of 4-year old necro posts? xD
LOL! I’ve been to blame for a few over the last year.
Although not able to be officially taken as a favored terrain, Rangers do quite well in urban environments, and the denser the better. Many of their spells can actually work wonderfully or even better in an urban environment. The Tasha’s optional abilities allow for an easy urban ranger build too.
Alarm, ensnaring strike, fog cloud, hail of thorns, hunter’s mark, jump, speak with animals, animal messenger, beast sense, cordon of arrows, locate plants/animals/object, pass without trace, silence, spike growth, conjure animals, and lightning arrow, just to name a few of the low level choices, do great, and many of those do even better in tightly packed corridors, alleyways, rooms, and sewer systems.
Favored enemy can work wonderfully in an urban environment. As can primeval awareness.
Newcomers looking over the posts and adding their ideas?
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Better to create a new thread than revive one that has been dead for 4 years.
Maybe. I imagine it depends on the contents of the thread. When a new post is made to a thread the thread is bumped up to the top of the list, so it becomes “new”.
especially if the thread failed to answer a question posed or fully flush out an idea.
One of my absolute favorite characters that I've played was an Urban Ranger. She's basically a vigilante. Pass Without Trace for sneaking, Speak with Animals/Beast Sense for Intel gathering. Hunter's Mark for tracking. Favored Enemy for more tracking and also Intel-gathering (most cities tend to have a large human/elf population. Makes FE choices real easy.) With Deft Explorer's new climb speed, it's easy for her to scale rooftops and stake places out.
She's no slouch in the wilderness, but it's in large cities that she really feels at home. Took the Urchin background for pseudo-Urban FT and the disguise kit, which she uses to get into her vigilante uniform.
Rangers can be absolutely vital to urban campaigns. Don't let "Common Knowledge" tell you otherwise.
As for the Urban terrain, when I DM, I rule that the urbM environment counts as part of the terrain it's located in (e.g. coastal city counts as coast.) It's not RAW, but it's also not *not* RAW. And in the games where it's come up, it hasn't been overpowered or broken or anything. Just basically the same as having the Ranger in their FT out in the wilderness. No big deal. In fact, as DM, the Ranger rolling their knowledge checks with Expertise has actually let me espouse more lore about the location than I otherwise would've, so I happily welcome it.
Urban seems like a fair choice of terrain if the DM is down for it.
Would be good for a Sharn, Water deep, or other such campaign.
I had some posts on the Paizo boards from the mid-Aughts that I still go back to check when an Age of Worms question comes up and still find good additions to the topics years after my last consultation of it.
Something like this provides some historical reference and changes through time. Maybe even the original poster comes back to check on changes, Llethander.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
there is a common misconception that terrain is an area. Its not. its an understanding of the objects and organisms in that type of ecosystem. that means things in a city may or may not be tied to knowledge of said ecosystem.
I believe terrain bonus may apply in the city if the action is at all related to the surrounding environment. if a artic city has an internal forest biodome where you are meeting someone: forests apply not artic. if in an artic city but inspecting supplies from forests: forest would apply or any other environment said supplies come from.