So today, I saw the interview on the new 2024 ranger and honestly I was a little disappointed. All the new Rogue, Barbarian, and Fighter stuff (haven't seen the other revised classed yet) seems so cool and then ranger, yet again, is just... eh... So I fumbled around with the class a little bit mixing all the Tasha stuff with some of my own ideas I've had. Moved Spellcasting to 1st level like they did in the new version, and kept the Tasha's traits they implemented with a few minor tweaks (eg 10ft extra movement for roving and Temp HP from Tireless not being an Action).
The big thing I changed for the Base class though (I didn't touch the subclasses, cause I never thought they were what makes the ranger subpar) is make the Hunter's Mark spell into a feature instead of a Ranger Spell. Then I used the empty levels of the Ranger Table to steadily improve upon the 1st level Feature. I will only list those features here because you already know the rest.
Hunter’s Mark: At 1 level, your experience in the wild gives you an uncanny ability to read your opponents and analyze them. A number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest, you can mark one creature as your Hunter’s Mark. You mark a creature for a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus, and while a creature is marked you gain the following benefits:
You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track that creature, as well as any Intelligence check to recall information about it
On every of your turns, the first time you hit a marked creature with a weapon attack, that creature takes an additional 1D6 of your attacks primary damage type.
If you choose a new creature to become your Hunter’s Mark before the time on the first creature runs out, the effects on that first creature cease.
Improved Hunter’s Mark: Starting at 9 level, your ability to read your enemies becomes more in depths. You gain advantage on saving throws forced by a creature you have selected as your Hunter’s Mark. Additionally, a creature now remains selected as your Hunter’s mark up to a number of days equal to your proficiency bonus. Also, the extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s Mark increases to 2D6.
Improved Hunter’s Mark (2): Starting at 13 level, you learn to use your ability to read enemies on more than just once creature. You can now select two creatures as your Hunter’s Mark at the same time. You expend a use of your Hunter’s Mark feature for every creature you select with it. If you choose a new creature to become your Hunter’s Mark before the time on the first creature runs out, the effects on that first creature cease. The mark on the second creature still remains active until you mark yet another creature before the allotted time for that creature runs out. Additionally, the extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s Mark increases to 3D6.
Improved Hunter’s Mark (3): Starting at 17 level, your ability to read enemies can now extend over even longer periods of time. The effects of your Hunter’s Mark can now potentially last indefinitely, but only if you focus on a single Hunter’s Mark at a time. If you mark another creature the mark still only remains active up to a number of days equal to your proficiency bonus. Additionally, the extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s mark increases to 4D6.
Perfect Hunter: At 20 level you perfect your ability to read and hunt creatures. You can now mark up to 3 creatures at the same time as your Hunter’s mark. Additionally, you now regain all uses of your Hunter’s Mark feature on a short or long rest. The extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s Mark increases to 5D6, and if your fail a saving throw forced by one of the creatures selected as your Hunter’s mark, you can use your reaction to add your proficiency bonus to the roll, potentially turning the failure into a success.
Would like to get people's thoughts on this? I think this keeps all the Ranger's natur-y, explor-y abilities, while also helping them keep up with other classes damage/ combat wise. If you've get suggestions for the Improved Hunter's Mark stages, let me know :) Also, feel free to not hold back with criticism. I have no idea how to balance things properly. This is just an idea I've had in mind for the ranger for some time now and I wanted to share it :) Also, English is not my native language, so any suggestions to improve the wording are welcome as well :D
So today, I saw the interview on the new 2024 ranger and honestly I was a little disappointed. All the new Rogue, Barbarian, and Fighter stuff (haven't seen the other revised classed yet) seems so cool and then ranger, yet again, is just... eh... So I fumbled around with the class a little bit mixing all the Tasha stuff with some of my own ideas I've had. Moved Spellcasting to 1st level like they did in the new version, and kept the Tasha's traits they implemented with a few minor tweaks (eg 10ft extra movement for roving and Temp HP from Tireless not being an Action).
The big thing I changed for the Base class though (I didn't touch the subclasses, cause I never thought they were what makes the ranger subpar) is make the Hunter's Mark spell into a feature instead of a Ranger Spell. Then I used the empty levels of the Ranger Table to steadily improve upon the 1st level Feature. I will only list those features here because you already know the rest.
Hunter’s Mark: At 1 level, your experience in the wild gives you an uncanny ability to read your opponents and analyze them. A number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest, you can mark one creature as your Hunter’s Mark. You mark a creature for a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus, and while a creature is marked you gain the following benefits:
If you choose a new creature to become your Hunter’s Mark before the time on the first creature runs out, the effects on that first creature cease.
Improved Hunter’s Mark: Starting at 9 level, your ability to read your enemies becomes more in depths. You gain advantage on saving throws forced by a creature you have selected as your Hunter’s Mark. Additionally, a creature now remains selected as your Hunter’s mark up to a number of days equal to your proficiency bonus. Also, the extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s Mark increases to 2D6.
Improved Hunter’s Mark (2): Starting at 13 level, you learn to use your ability to read enemies on more than just once creature. You can now select two creatures as your Hunter’s Mark at the same time. You expend a use of your Hunter’s Mark feature for every creature you select with it. If you choose a new creature to become your Hunter’s Mark before the time on the first creature runs out, the effects on that first creature cease. The mark on the second creature still remains active until you mark yet another creature before the allotted time for that creature runs out. Additionally, the extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s Mark increases to 3D6.
Improved Hunter’s Mark (3): Starting at 17 level, your ability to read enemies can now extend over even longer periods of time. The effects of your Hunter’s Mark can now potentially last indefinitely, but only if you focus on a single Hunter’s Mark at a time. If you mark another creature the mark still only remains active up to a number of days equal to your proficiency bonus. Additionally, the extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s mark increases to 4D6.
Perfect Hunter: At 20 level you perfect your ability to read and hunt creatures. You can now mark up to 3 creatures at the same time as your Hunter’s mark. Additionally, you now regain all uses of your Hunter’s Mark feature on a short or long rest. The extra damage dealt to your Hunter’s Mark increases to 5D6, and if your fail a saving throw forced by one of the creatures selected as your Hunter’s mark, you can use your reaction to add your proficiency bonus to the roll, potentially turning the failure into a success.
Would like to get people's thoughts on this? I think this keeps all the Ranger's natur-y, explor-y abilities, while also helping them keep up with other classes damage/ combat wise. If you've get suggestions for the Improved Hunter's Mark stages, let me know :) Also, feel free to not hold back with criticism. I have no idea how to balance things properly. This is just an idea I've had in mind for the ranger for some time now and I wanted to share it :) Also, English is not my native language, so any suggestions to improve the wording are welcome as well :D