Elite Bowman

The Elite Bowmaster has pursued the art of archery and developed skills with the bow to provide an upper hand in combat.  The skills of an Elite Bowmaster provide both damage and utility for those who prefer the use of a bow (shortbow or longbow).

The Elite Bowman subclass develops the following skills as your ranger level progresses.

• You can aim a shot so that it cripples a foe, making it easier prey.
• You can use your bow to grapple and strangle enemies who venture too near.
• You can nock two arrows in a single shot.
• You become a revered ranger and join the sacred ranger order of the Lion, Stag, or Raven, providing you with additional benefits.

Crippling Shot

You have honed your skill with the bow so far that you can make intentional shots that will cripple your target, making it easier prey.  You sacrifice some of the damage of your attack with the goal of lodging your arrow in the target in order to disable your target.

You may attempt this once in lieu of one normal attack during your turn.  Before you make an attack with a bow (shortbow or longbow), you may declare you are attempting a crippling shot.  You must also declare what part of the target you are aiming for and what the intended effect will be.  If the shot hits, it does 1/2 damage and cannot gain extra damage for a critical hit.  In order to gain the desired disabling effect, the attack roll must score a hit for the target's DC+5.  If the target is one of the ranger's favored enemies, the attack roll only needs to score a hit for the target's DC+2 to gain the disabling effect.  The shot can still cause damage while missing on the crippling effect.

The target can use an action or bonus action to attempt withdrawal of the arrow and end the crippling effect.  The target can attempt the check using either strength or dexterity (target's choice). DC to withdraw the arrow is equal to 8 + your Dexterity Modifier + Proficiency.   

Some examples for crippling shots:

1. Aiming for a leg muscle, with the intent to slow the target to 1/2 of its walking speed.
2. Aiming for a wing muscle, with the intent to slow the target to 1/2 of its flying speed.
3. Aiming for a shoulder muscle, with the intent to cause disadvantage for attacks or somatic spells made with that arm.
4. Aiming for a jaw muscle, with the intent to cause disadvantage for bite attacks made with that mouth.
5. Aiming for the target's wrist, with the intent to cause the target to drop the weapon from that hand.

While a crippling shot can be attempted each turn, the same cripple cannot be caused on the enemy for additional effect.  For example, you could not completely stop an enemy from moving by maiming both of its legs on subsequent rounds.  The target's speed could only be reduced to 1/2 speed.  You could, however, maim each of the target's shoulders to give disadvantage to weapon attacks with either arm made by that target.  Swarms are generally immune to these crippling effects.  Consult your DM.

Final authority is given to the DM to decide whether the attempted cripple is possible given the current target, situation, and terrain.  The DM also can increase the shot's extra DC as fitting for more difficult disables or for shots to disable portions of the target behind cover.

Strangle

Your adept use of the bow allows you to use it in close encounters to gain the upper hand.

While you are wielding a bow (shortbow or longbow), you may attempt to grapple the creature with your bow.  The target of your grapple must be no more than one size larger than you, and it must be within your reach.  Make a grappling attempt with your dexterity modifier + proficiency contested by the targets' strength (athletics) or dexterity (acrobatics) check (target chooses which to use).  If you succeed,  you subject the target to the grappled condition.  You can release the target whenever you like (no action required).

The normal rules for grappling remain in place except for the following changes and additions.

• The grapple requires the use of your bow and at least one hand.  You cannot use your bow to attack during the grapple and a maximum of one hand is free for other actions.
• If the grappled target attempts to escape, their escape check is contested by your dexterity check + proficiency .
• You are unable to move yourself or the target while grappled.

If you are still holding the creature in the grappled condition during your next turn, you can use an attack action to make another grapple check for additional effect.  If you succeed on this second grapple check, you can choose one of the following effects:

1. You knock the target prone.  You can choose to end the grapple and only the target falls prone, or to fall prone with the target and maintain the grapple.
2. If the target breathes, you strangle the target with your bow.  The target must pass a constitution save or be incapacitated until the end of its next turn.  Save DC is 8 + your dexterity modifier + proficiency.

Split Shot

Your skill with the bow allows you to nock two arrows and shoot them simultaneously at the same or separate targets.

In lieu of a normal attack once per turn, you can make 2 attacks at the same target or an attack at two separate targets while using a bow (shortbow or longbow).  The target(s) must be in range.  If the attacks are made at separate targets, the angle between the shots must be less than 30° apart.  If both attacks are made at the same enemy, the first attack is rolled normally and second attack is made at disadvantage.

This action cannot be used in conjunction with crippling shot.  

Sacred Order

You have proven yourself and have earned the respect to join a sacred order of rangers.  Select one of the orders and gain the associated skills and benefits.

Order of the Raven

• You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.
• Before the first round of combat begins, you can make a single attack with a bow (shortbow or longbow) so long as you are not affected by the surprised condition.

Order of the Stag

• When you roll 1 on a damage die for an attack made with a bow (shortbow or longbow), roll a d4 and add it to the damage roll.
• Your attacks against favored enemies gains a +2 advantage to hit.

Order of the Lion

• You make a critical hit with bows (shortbows or longbows) on an attack roll of a natural 19 or 20.
• Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls made with a bow (shortbow or longbow).

Order of the Lion

You have proven yourself as a Ranger and have joined the sacred Order of the Lion.

• You make a critical hit with bows (shortbows or longbows) on an attack roll of a natural 19 or 20.
• Being within 5 feet of a hostile creature doesn't impose disadvantage on your ranged attack rolls made with a bow (shortbow or longbow).

Order of the Raven

You have proven yourself as a Ranger and have joined the sacred Order of the Raven.

• You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.
• Before the first round of combat begins, you can make a single attack with a bow (shortbow or longbow) so long as you are not inhibited by a condition such as surprised.

Order of the Stag

You have proven yourself as a Ranger and have joined the sacred Order of the Stag.

• When you roll 1 on a damage die for an attack made with a bow (shortbow or longbow), roll a d4 and add it to the damage roll.
• Your attacks with a bow (shortbow or longbow) against favored enemies gains a +2 advantage to hit.