In my quest to try and find the perfect fit for my Ranger character, I've looked to both Horizon Walker and Fey Wanderer... but neither really worked for several reasons (which I won't get into here). With that in mind, Hunter is surprisingly the subclass that best fits the character I've got going... but there is one small thing that I miss from Horizon Walker and Fey Wanderer; the special damage type bonuses. Thus, I'm actually wondering if having Hunter Ranger's "Colossus Slayer" option cause a different damage type would still be balanced, or if it would break the game.
The damage types I'm considering are: Force, Lightning, Psychic, or Radiant.
I just want to get a general idea of what DMs think of it. Thanks in advance for any answers that can be given! :)
Your tenacity can wear down the most potent foes. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, the creature takes an extra 1d8 damage if it’s below its hit point maximum. You can deal this extra damage only once per turn.
Having it be a different damage type doesn't really fit thematically, IMO. It wouldn't break anything for it to do a different damage type, but I don't see why you would need it to, eventually you'll be getting magical weapons that bypass resistance anyway. Unless you're going up against barbarians all the time you'll be fine.
It's not entirely an optimization thing (my fault for not clarifying); it's also a flavor thing. I just really want the character to leave trails of energy with his attacks, activated in the presence of an injured foe. The rest of Horizon Walker and Fey Wanderer's features (like detecting portals and summoning Fey) don't really fit him. I just want to make sure that a damage type change wouldn't be unfair, and what's more, which of the damage types I'm considering would be the most fair.
Well, as a melee-focused Ranger, a magic bow really wouldn't really be THAT big of a deal for me, but I get what you mean. Would you allow a change of damage type at your table, though, and if so, which type would be acceptable?
Lightning would be the way to go if you're worried about balance. Force/radiant/psychic are basically in their own tier in terms of the chance of meeting resistance.
Lightning would be the way to go if you're worried about balance. Force/radiant/psychic are basically in their own tier in terms of the chance of meeting resistance.
Yeah, the low tier includes fire, cold, lightning, poison, and acid. The high tier includes force, psychic radiance, necrotic, and thunder. If you stick to that first 5 you should be okay.
In my quest to try and find the perfect fit for my Ranger character, I've looked to both Horizon Walker and Fey Wanderer... but neither really worked for several reasons (which I won't get into here). With that in mind, Hunter is surprisingly the subclass that best fits the character I've got going... but there is one small thing that I miss from Horizon Walker and Fey Wanderer; the special damage type bonuses. Thus, I'm actually wondering if having Hunter Ranger's "Colossus Slayer" option cause a different damage type would still be balanced, or if it would break the game.
The damage types I'm considering are: Force, Lightning, Psychic, or Radiant.
I just want to get a general idea of what DMs think of it. Thanks in advance for any answers that can be given! :)
Colossus Slayer
Your tenacity can wear down the most potent foes. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, the creature takes an extra 1d8 damage if it’s below its hit point maximum. You can deal this extra damage only once per turn.
Having it be a different damage type doesn't really fit thematically, IMO. It wouldn't break anything for it to do a different damage type, but I don't see why you would need it to, eventually you'll be getting magical weapons that bypass resistance anyway. Unless you're going up against barbarians all the time you'll be fine.
It's not entirely an optimization thing (my fault for not clarifying); it's also a flavor thing. I just really want the character to leave trails of energy with his attacks, activated in the presence of an injured foe. The rest of Horizon Walker and Fey Wanderer's features (like detecting portals and summoning Fey) don't really fit him. I just want to make sure that a damage type change wouldn't be unfair, and what's more, which of the damage types I'm considering would be the most fair.
At lower levels it would be a huge advantage, then once you have a magic bow it’s as likely to be either a push or self nerfing.
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Well, as a melee-focused Ranger, a magic bow really wouldn't really be THAT big of a deal for me, but I get what you mean. Would you allow a change of damage type at your table, though, and if so, which type would be acceptable?
🤷♂️ It would depend on the lord you are going for and the campaign I was running. Potentially any of them if they fit right.
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Alright then. Thanks! :)
Lightning would be the way to go if you're worried about balance. Force/radiant/psychic are basically in their own tier in terms of the chance of meeting resistance.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Good to know; much appreciated!
Yeah, the low tier includes fire, cold, lightning, poison, and acid. The high tier includes force, psychic radiance, necrotic, and thunder. If you stick to that first 5 you should be okay.
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Good to know! Thanks a million!
Happy to help.
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