Are you talking about the UA Revised Ranger as per September 2016?
I played one "textbook" Beastmaster ranger and switched to UA beast conclave at level 7, or so and am now at Level 13. I like the UA version far better.For RP purposes, those dead companions really did not work for me.
Anything specific you're looking for in terms of feedback, so I can give a more detailed answer?
I just read over the UA rangers. It makes the Beastmaster actually seem like a viable build. It might improve rangers a little too much in general. Like the advantage in attack on favored terrain and the much greater power in primeval awareness. That just seem like too much imo.
I've been running in a campaign for almost a year now, and when the updated ranger stats came out my DM gave the two rangers the option to shift our stats to the new system: I have to say I'm loving it.
I've enjoyed rangers throughout my experiences from 3.5e to present, and would say they are one of my favourite three classes; but, I honestly haven't played one in a long term campaign in a while. In doing so, I can understand where the need for this update to class came from -- the power level difference between almost every other class and the ranger becomes very apparent when you're playing every week. With the old build, I found so many aspects of the class were effective in very limited circumstances, whereas now the class feels much more balanced, being able to apply the knowledge the Ranger would have gained through experience to more aspects of it's existence. Ultimately, I don't think that its too much to say that the class, now, feels more true to the nature of itself than it did before.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pale death beats equally at the poor man's gate and at the palaces of kings.
I'm playing the Deep Stalker in Out of the Abyss and it is amazing to be honest. Definitely appropriate for the campaign, and my character is proving very useful for navigating the dangers of the underdark. That first turn is... invigorating? Ticking all the boxes on fun to play and useful for me.
I'm really enjoying playing a ranger for the first time! The UA Deep Stalker Conclave, along with the updated way terrain & favored enemies works, is what convinced me to give it a try. At some point I do want to try the other two builds, but that probably wont be for a while.
Currently playing a Halfling Ranger-Hunter/Rogue-Arcane Trickster. It's the best of both worlds: the mechanics of hunter, & the RP of a beast companion w/ Find Familiar. Also having great fun reskinning wizard illusion/enchantment spells to fit the ranger theme. For example, changing Disguise Self to Camouflage Self, or Minor Image to Minor Mirage, or Color Spray to Mud in Your Eyes.
I am! I switched my level 7 ranger to the new beastmaster type and it is so fun! Before, because i didn't want my companion Wellesley to die, he never attacked. He would usually distract an enemy to give someone advantage on the fight, but he was more for RP purposes than anything else.
I need to remember to make a card with all the cool things i can do now. Though my DM is making me roll to be able to find put how many of my favoured enemies are around, which is not how i read that at all.
I am! I switched my level 7 ranger to the new beastmaster type and it is so fun! Before, because i didn't want my companion Wellesley to die, he never attacked. He would usually distract an enemy to give someone advantage on the fight, but he was more for RP purposes than anything else.
I need to remember to make a card with all the cool things i can do now. Though my DM is making me roll to be able to find put how many of my favoured enemies are around, which is not how i read that at all.
I think I will play the beast master just like you xD
I've only played the Hunter (which has been great), but one of the players in the game I DM is playing the UA Beast Conclave. She's got a Giant Venomous Snake that she uses to poison her arrows. She's having a lot of fun with it from what I can tell.
Though my DM is making me roll to be able to find put how many of my favoured enemies are around, which is not how i read that at all.
I don't think it's RAW, no, (you're talking about the ability to concentrate for a minute and then locate favored enemies?) but I can see it being a useful houserule, especially if you chose a favored enemy that is really common in the campaign.Depending on how often you use that ability I can see it being really difficult to handle with the amount of precision the ability dictates. When we've used that ability (rarely) I have gotten a yes / no answer plus a little additional information ('their presence is to the east of you'), but no real specifics.
Our table has also houseruled Greater Favored Enemy, for instance: my DM and I agreed that I would not just recognize GFEs on sight and get the bonus. I'd have to do some work and make a roll. Otherwise, I won't learn until after combat. That has let me decide that my character is working on writing a book listing all Greater Favored Enemies she's encountered. If I get it done, the DM will get a copy (which he could maybe hand out as loot in another campaign, if he so chooses). Still that house rule would be rough to implement if someone chooses another type of GFE. One can't really argue that you would now know a dragon on sight :P
the title says it all! Who's playing the test builds and who's liking them?
What test builds?
The playtest stuff they released a few months ago - new rules for the ranger, making it a little more viable.
http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/unearthed-arcana-ranger-revised
Are you talking about the UA Revised Ranger as per September 2016?
I played one "textbook" Beastmaster ranger and switched to UA beast conclave at level 7, or so and am now at Level 13. I like the UA version far better.For RP purposes, those dead companions really did not work for me.
Anything specific you're looking for in terms of feedback, so I can give a more detailed answer?
One of the players in my Monday night group is rocking a new Hunter variant Ranger from the UA, and we're loving it. =D
I just read over the UA rangers. It makes the Beastmaster actually seem like a viable build. It might improve rangers a little too much in general. Like the advantage in attack on favored terrain and the much greater power in primeval awareness. That just seem like too much imo.
It looks cool! must try it once!
Elf Ranger
Hunter Conclave
Lvl. 5
Just my humble opinion, but I feel like the PHB beastmaster greatly misunderstood.
I've been running in a campaign for almost a year now, and when the updated ranger stats came out my DM gave the two rangers the option to shift our stats to the new system: I have to say I'm loving it.
I've enjoyed rangers throughout my experiences from 3.5e to present, and would say they are one of my favourite three classes; but, I honestly haven't played one in a long term campaign in a while. In doing so, I can understand where the need for this update to class came from -- the power level difference between almost every other class and the ranger becomes very apparent when you're playing every week. With the old build, I found so many aspects of the class were effective in very limited circumstances, whereas now the class feels much more balanced, being able to apply the knowledge the Ranger would have gained through experience to more aspects of it's existence. Ultimately, I don't think that its too much to say that the class, now, feels more true to the nature of itself than it did before.
Pale death beats equally at the poor man's gate and at the palaces of kings.
My weasel and I are a whirlwind of death thanks to the new UA rules! I <3 them very much :D
Also, had an idea the other day to make a Gnome Ranger Beast Conclave who rides his Giant Badger into battle!
Just because you arbitrarily assign some sort of significance to the bodies of your dead doesn't make me not hungry.
I'm playing the Deep Stalker in Out of the Abyss and it is amazing to be honest. Definitely appropriate for the campaign, and my character is proving very useful for navigating the dangers of the underdark. That first turn is... invigorating? Ticking all the boxes on fun to play and useful for me.
Great to see people using the new conclaves. I've personally only tried the Beastmaster, but it was a lot a fun!
I'm really enjoying playing a ranger for the first time! The UA Deep Stalker Conclave, along with the updated way terrain & favored enemies works, is what convinced me to give it a try. At some point I do want to try the other two builds, but that probably wont be for a while.
- Ash - Halfling - Deep Stalker Ranger - Lvl. 8 -
Currently playing a Halfling Ranger-Hunter/Rogue-Arcane Trickster. It's the best of both worlds: the mechanics of hunter, & the RP of a beast companion w/ Find Familiar. Also having great fun reskinning wizard illusion/enchantment spells to fit the ranger theme. For example, changing Disguise Self to Camouflage Self, or Minor Image to Minor Mirage, or Color Spray to Mud in Your Eyes.
Love the new UA build for my beastmaster. Have been playing a Half-Orc Ranger for ever and this just made him that much more deadly.
I am! I switched my level 7 ranger to the new beastmaster type and it is so fun! Before, because i didn't want my companion Wellesley to die, he never attacked. He would usually distract an enemy to give someone advantage on the fight, but he was more for RP purposes than anything else.
I need to remember to make a card with all the cool things i can do now. Though my DM is making me roll to be able to find put how many of my favoured enemies are around, which is not how i read that at all.
Elf Ranger
Hunter Conclave
Lvl. 5
I've only played the Hunter (which has been great), but one of the players in the game I DM is playing the UA Beast Conclave. She's got a Giant Venomous Snake that she uses to poison her arrows. She's having a lot of fun with it from what I can tell.
My GM just says "there are enemy's all around you in every direction" so he gives me nothing..... lol