Hunter and beast master were 2 of the first ranger subclasses. WotC got a lot of feedback that the ranger was underpowered and considered revising the base class, but decided against it. Instead they increased the power of new subclasses to make the ranger more viable that way.
Unfortunately the original subclasses continue to suffer because of this. Some people homebrew and house rule to make them better (ie adding spells), most just play Gloom stalker.
Hunter and beast master were 2 of the first ranger subclasses. WotC got a lot of feedback that the ranger was underpowered and considered revising the base class, but decided against it. Instead they increased the power of new subclasses to make the ranger more viable that way.
Unfortunately the original subclasses continue to suffer because of this. Some people homebrew and house rule to make them better (ie adding spells), most just play Gloom stalker.
Ranger isn't underpowered except at 1st level. The class had a low satisfaction rating, largely because Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer are dead weight in a lot of situations and the Beast Master is frustrating to use.
Starting at 2nd level Archery Fighting Style and Hunter's Mark alone will guarantee better-than-a-Fighter weapon damage round after round. The Hunter's Colossus Slayer is even more free damage each round; it's kinda like a Battle Master with unlimited Superiority Dice.
Anyways the answer is basically that hindsight is 20/20 and WotC has a policy of not "patching" something that's already published unless it has huge problems.
If you read between the lines, it means they don't think it's good business to issue a new Player's Handbook mostly just to add a little something to a class design that they sort of goofed on because they think that will make current owners of the PHB upset. Or, also unofficially, "We think players that really want to will find ways to fix it with homebrew and we don't expect many players will play Rangers from the PHB in AL games anyway." I just made those up, but that's basically what they're saying.
If you read between the lines, it means they don't think it's good business to issue a new Player's Handbook mostly just to add a little something to a class design that they sort of goofed on because they think that will make current owners of the PHB upset.
It has less to do with players getting upset more to do with most people not wanting to check a web site they don't even know the URL for every week just to check if there's been any updates to the game they need to know about. Print isn't a good medium for periodic balance patches. Which also means if they ever re-do something they're going to make sure it's the fix people want because they're not going to do a third pass at the thing.
They don't even publish errata - changes which usually don't affect "balance" at all - until it's been sent to the printers and ended up in real books.
Well, it looks like they've abandoned trying to fix it for a while. The last Ranger base class UA was years ago and they haven't come up with a new one since. It's on the back burner. Not exciting anymore compared to Eberron, Ravnica, Matt Mercer and (maybe) Spelljammer content.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The Xanathar's subclasses have placated enough people to quell general unrest over the Ranger. That's how this stuff works.
Well, it looks like they've abandoned trying to fix it for a while. The last Ranger base class UA was years ago and they haven't come up with a new one since. It's on the back burner. Not exciting anymore compared to Eberron, Ravnica, Matt Mercer and (maybe) Spelljammer content.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The Xanathar's subclasses have placated enough people to quell general unrest over the Ranger. That's how this stuff works.
I still have (perhaps foolish) hope that this current round of UA will deliver something for the ranger, but I'm prepared for disappointment. Might as well be waiting for Godot.
I also hope that WotC will see fit to produce another UA. My sense is that they will do so either when they find a way to make wilderness exploration a bigger part of the game or enough people start writing good campaign modules that cry out for Nature and Survival skills, thus leading to the base Ranger abilities to become more of a focus of general player attention again.
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Gloom stalker, horison walker and monster slayer each get a list of additional spells but not hunter or beastmaster . Has a reason ever been given?
Hunter and beast master were 2 of the first ranger subclasses. WotC got a lot of feedback that the ranger was underpowered and considered revising the base class, but decided against it. Instead they increased the power of new subclasses to make the ranger more viable that way.
Unfortunately the original subclasses continue to suffer because of this. Some people homebrew and house rule to make them better (ie adding spells), most just play Gloom stalker.
They probablly where like "oops, forgot to have spells for phb rangers, but it's already out."
Ranger isn't underpowered except at 1st level. The class had a low satisfaction rating, largely because Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer are dead weight in a lot of situations and the Beast Master is frustrating to use.
Starting at 2nd level Archery Fighting Style and Hunter's Mark alone will guarantee better-than-a-Fighter weapon damage round after round. The Hunter's Colossus Slayer is even more free damage each round; it's kinda like a Battle Master with unlimited Superiority Dice.
Anyways the answer is basically that hindsight is 20/20 and WotC has a policy of not "patching" something that's already published unless it has huge problems.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
If you read between the lines, it means they don't think it's good business to issue a new Player's Handbook mostly just to add a little something to a class design that they sort of goofed on because they think that will make current owners of the PHB upset. Or, also unofficially, "We think players that really want to will find ways to fix it with homebrew and we don't expect many players will play Rangers from the PHB in AL games anyway." I just made those up, but that's basically what they're saying.
It has less to do with players getting upset more to do with most people not wanting to check a web site they don't even know the URL for every week just to check if there's been any updates to the game they need to know about. Print isn't a good medium for periodic balance patches. Which also means if they ever re-do something they're going to make sure it's the fix people want because they're not going to do a third pass at the thing.
They don't even publish errata - changes which usually don't affect "balance" at all - until it's been sent to the printers and ended up in real books.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
I was referring to buying and selling print volumes. The hard copy. The pulped paper.
So was I.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Well, it looks like they've abandoned trying to fix it for a while. The last Ranger base class UA was years ago and they haven't come up with a new one since. It's on the back burner. Not exciting anymore compared to Eberron, Ravnica, Matt Mercer and (maybe) Spelljammer content.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The Xanathar's subclasses have placated enough people to quell general unrest over the Ranger. That's how this stuff works.
I still have (perhaps foolish) hope that this current round of UA will deliver something for the ranger, but I'm prepared for disappointment. Might as well be waiting for Godot.
---
Don't be Lawful Evil
I also hope that WotC will see fit to produce another UA. My sense is that they will do so either when they find a way to make wilderness exploration a bigger part of the game or enough people start writing good campaign modules that cry out for Nature and Survival skills, thus leading to the base Ranger abilities to become more of a focus of general player attention again.