I am currently building a ranger to play in an upcomming campaign. My first character ever was a ranger, turning me away from those with a bitter taste, since everyone was just doing so much better with all their stuff. Recently my DM hit me up with the revised ranger (UA) and told me too check it out. After reading it I cant hold myself: I want to give rangers a second chance.
Here we are: We are starting around level 4 - 5. Since we are rolling for stats, I have no idea how unlucky it will come so I wanna stray away from multiclassing (at least for now). The concept of a lizardfolk ranger, who grew up in the swamps and learned their way in hunting just feels right to me. A simple drive to join a group of people to go along could be a threat to the tribe he cant handle alone, needing assistence from outide the tribe to handle this enemy to ensure their survival.
Gameplay-wise it feels rather strong: With the "Outlander" Background, "Gloomstalker" Subclass and "Lizardfolk" lineage their get 7 skills, very good scouting and roleplay/ social options, 4 languages, strong survival with a strong AC and saving throws... even a few utility spells outside of combat like PwT for the group. This is not counting the ASI at level 4.
What do you guys think: Is this build viable? On paper it looks very good to me, but I experienced the "old" ranger in my early times and I feld like I did hold the party back. (Secondary question: As Dm, would you guys allow to swap the armor-options from the starting equipment to a shield? With their pride in their natural armor I realy dont think a lizardfolk would wear those.)
First of all, I love the concept. Lizardfolk and Ranger are like chocolate and peanut butter. The build is absolutely viable.
Second, the Revised Ranger was deliberately over-tuned and left playtest before the Gloom Stalker saw publication. More recently, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything has some options that might be more up your alley.
With Tasha came those features aswell? Their alternatives like Favoured Foe and Deft Explorer dont realy seem better as the old ones.. I get why the revised version was too strong, but this is not a real alternative. Maybe they are better if you get to play them out, but on paper they seem not that exciting.
I would suggest we all let go of the revised ranger and it's UA predecessor.
One of my favorite rangers I've played to date was a lizard folk strength based beast master (PHB) ranger played as a crocodile folk, My DM and I worked to make a CR 1/4 crocodile companion. It was a LOT of fun.
I agree with Jounichi1983 that Tasha's offers good swap for someone not likely or not being able to use some of the PHB ranger abilities.
I think you will not hold your party back using a combination of PHB+Tasha's. And, yes, I think those optional features you mentioned, like much of the ranger class, plays MUCH better in-game than it looks on paper.
Hey there Rangers and Non-Rangers!
I am currently building a ranger to play in an upcomming campaign. My first character ever was a ranger, turning me away from those with a bitter taste, since everyone was just doing so much better with all their stuff. Recently my DM hit me up with the revised ranger (UA) and told me too check it out. After reading it I cant hold myself: I want to give rangers a second chance.
Here we are: We are starting around level 4 - 5. Since we are rolling for stats, I have no idea how unlucky it will come so I wanna stray away from multiclassing (at least for now). The concept of a lizardfolk ranger, who grew up in the swamps and learned their way in hunting just feels right to me. A simple drive to join a group of people to go along could be a threat to the tribe he cant handle alone, needing assistence from outide the tribe to handle this enemy to ensure their survival.
Gameplay-wise it feels rather strong: With the "Outlander" Background, "Gloomstalker" Subclass and "Lizardfolk" lineage their get 7 skills, very good scouting and roleplay/ social options, 4 languages, strong survival with a strong AC and saving throws... even a few utility spells outside of combat like PwT for the group. This is not counting the ASI at level 4.
What do you guys think: Is this build viable? On paper it looks very good to me, but I experienced the "old" ranger in my early times and I feld like I did hold the party back. (Secondary question: As Dm, would you guys allow to swap the armor-options from the starting equipment to a shield? With their pride in their natural armor I realy dont think a lizardfolk would wear those.)
Let's take it one thing at a time.
First of all, I love the concept. Lizardfolk and Ranger are like chocolate and peanut butter. The build is absolutely viable.
Second, the Revised Ranger was deliberately over-tuned and left playtest before the Gloom Stalker saw publication. More recently, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything has some options that might be more up your alley.
Thank you for your fast reply Jounichi1983!
With Tasha came those features aswell? Their alternatives like Favoured Foe and Deft Explorer dont realy seem better as the old ones.. I get why the revised version was too strong, but this is not a real alternative. Maybe they are better if you get to play them out, but on paper they seem not that exciting.
I would suggest we all let go of the revised ranger and it's UA predecessor.
One of my favorite rangers I've played to date was a lizard folk strength based beast master (PHB) ranger played as a crocodile folk, My DM and I worked to make a CR 1/4 crocodile companion. It was a LOT of fun.
I agree with Jounichi1983 that Tasha's offers good swap for someone not likely or not being able to use some of the PHB ranger abilities.
I think you will not hold your party back using a combination of PHB+Tasha's. And, yes, I think those optional features you mentioned, like much of the ranger class, plays MUCH better in-game than it looks on paper.
Deft Explorer is good. Favored Foe sucks. I rather keep the Favored Enemy version of the Revised Ranger.