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D&D 3.5 – Iconic Ranger

Leave a comment Posted by Ronny on October 19, 2012

Thinking of playing a Ranger? Here is an excellent article regarding the pros and cons of playing a Ranger: Rangers with Class By Skip Williams.

Here is the information for playing an iconic Ranger character. Start with my post on Iconic Characters, then add this specific information.

Hit Die: d8

Class Skills: Climb, Handle Animal, Move Silently, Track, Search, Spot and Survival

Class Knowledge: Geography

Special abilities: The following are the special abilities available to Rangers. The abilities are listed under the level that they are acquired. By the time your character reaches second level he must specialize in one of two different combat styles. He can choose between the archery combat style and the two-weapon combat style. As indicated in the table below – some of the special abilities he receives as he advances in level will depend on the combat style he pursues. Where an ability is described as (ref PHB), you should refer to that ability’s description in the players handbook.

1st Level
Skill Focus (Survival): You get a +3 bonus on all Survival checks.
Favored Enemy: Select a type of creature from Table 3–14: Ranger Favored Enemies. You get a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks against creatures of this type, and a +2 bonus on weapon damage
Wild Empathy: Can improve the attitude of an animal with a successful Cha check.
2nd Level
Combat Style: Select one of two combat styles to pursue: archery or two-weapon combat. You lose all benefits of your combat style when wearing medium or heavy armor.
Rapid Shot: [If you are pursuing the archery combat style] You can get one extra attack per round with a ranged weapon. The attack is at your highest base attack bonus, but each attack you make in that round (the extra one and the normal ones) takes a -2 penalty. You must use the full attack action to use this ability.
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Two-Weapon Fighting: [If you are pursuing the two-weapon combat style] Your penalties on attack rolls for fighting with two weapons are reduced. The penalty for your primary hand lessens by 2 and the one for your off hand lessens by 6. See the Two-Weapon Fighting special attack.
3rd Level
Endurance: You gain a +4 bonus on the following checks and saves: Swim checks made to resist damage, Constitution checks made to continue running, Constitution checks made to avoid damage from a forced march, Constitution checks made to hold your breath, Constitution checks made to avoid damage from starvation or thirst, Fortitude saves made to avoid damage from hot or cold environments, and Fortitude saves made to resist damage from suffocation. Also, you may sleep in light or medium armor without becoming fatigued.
Point Blank Shot: [If you are pursuing the archery combat style] You get a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at ranges of up to 30 feet.
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Two-Weapon Defense: [If you are pursuing the two-weapon combat style] When wielding a double weapon or two weapons (not including natural weapons or unarmed strikes), you gain a +1 shield bonus to your AC. See the Two-Weapon Fighting special attack. When you are fighting defensively or using the total defense action, this shield bonus increases to +2.
4th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Animal Companion: (ref PHB)
Spells: You gain the ability to cast a small number of divine spells (ref PHB)
5th Level
Favored Enemy: Like Favored Enemy above but now you can select a second creature type from the table and the bonus against one of your favored enemies is increased by 2.
6th Level
Far Shot: [If you are pursuing the archery combat style] When you use a projectile weapon, such as a bow, its range increment increases by one-half (multiply by 1½). When you use a thrown weapon, its range increment is doubled.
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Animal Affinity: [If you are pursuing the two-weapon combat style] You get a +2 bonus on all Handle Animal checks and Ride checks.
Manyshot: [If you are pursuing the archery combat style] As a standard action, you may fire two arrows at a single opponent within 30 feet. Both arrows use the same attack roll (with a -4 penalty) to determine success and deal damage normally (but see Special). For every five points of base attack bonus you have above +6, you may add one additional arrow to this attack, to a maximum of four arrows at a base attack bonus of +16. However, each arrow after the second adds a cumulative -2 penalty on the attack roll (for a total penalty of -6 for three arrows and -8 for four). Damage reduction and other resistances apply separately against each arrow fired. Special – Regardless of the number of arrows you fire, you apply precision-based damage only once. If you score a critical hit, only the first arrow fired deals critical damage; all others deal regular damage.
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Improved TwoWeapon Fighting: [If you are pursuing the two-weapon combat style] In addition to the standard single extra attack you get with an off-hand weapon, you get a second attack with it, albeit at a -5 penalty. See the Two-Weapon Fighting special attack.
7th Level
Woodland Stride: Can move through any normal undergrowth at normal speed and without taking damage.
8th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Swift Tracker: Can move at normal speed while following tracks without the normal –5 penalty. Take only a –10 penalty when moving at up to twice normal speed while tracking.
9th Level
Precise Shot: [If you are pursuing the archery combat style] You can shoot or throw ranged weapons at an opponent engaged in melee without taking the standard -4 penalty on your attack roll.
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Lightning Reflexes: [If you are pursuing the two-weapon combat style] You get a +2 bonus on all Reflex saving throws.
Evasion: Take no damage on a successful Ref saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a save, only if wearing light or no armor.
10th Level
Favored Enemy: Like Favored Enemy above but now you can select a second creature type from the table and the bonus against one of your favored enemies is increased by 2.
11th Level
Improved Precise Shot: [If you are pursuing the archery combat style] Your ranged attacks ignore the AC bonus granted to targets by anything less than total cover, and the miss chance granted to targets by anything less than total concealment. Total cover and total concealment provide their normal benefits against your ranged attacks. In addition, when you shoot or throw ranged weapons at a grappling opponent, you automatically strike at the opponent you have chosen.
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Greater TwoWeapon Fighting: [If you are pursuing the two-weapon combat style] You get a third attack with your off-hand weapon, albeit at a -10 penalty. See the Two-Weapon Fighting special attack.
12th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Skill Focus (Hide): You get a +3 bonus on all Hide checks.
13th Level
Camouflage: Can use the Hide skill in any sort of natural terrain.
14th Level
No special abilities added at this level.
15th Level
Favored Enemy: Like Favored Enemy above but now you can select a second creature type from the table and the bonus against one of your favored enemies is increased by 2.
Skill Focus (Listen): You get a +3 bonus on all Listen checks.
16th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
17th Level
Hide in Plain Sight: Can use the Hide skill even while being observed – while in any natural terrain
18th Level
Skill Focus (Spot): You get a +3 bonus on all Spot checks.
19th Level
No special abilities added at this level.
20th Level
Ability Score Adjustment: Add 1 to any ability score.
Favored Enemy: Like Favored Enemy above but now you can select a second creature type from the table and the bonus against one of your favored enemies is increased by 2.