Need help with the (revised) Ranger for 5e.

[CrackedChair]

So for my next character, I decided to create a Ranger, the revised one. Thing is, I know nothing of playing a ranger or roleplaying one, despite my love for martial classes.

Any help with rangers will be greatly appreciated!

A few things to note, I wish to be of the Hunter Conclave, and I wish to make use of the Longbow.

[ImproperJustice]

I'm a long time fan of the Ranger class, so I would offer the following tips:

People often make the mistake of only seeing it as a combat class.
The real strength of the class is it's versatility.

You should be the primary scout with your combination of natural explorer, proficincies, high wis and the now non-sucky primevil awareness.

Being an early warning device is a huge tactical advantage and should allow you to set tge team up for ambushes frequently.
Our group has seen traps, caltrops, and marbles used to great effect when forewarned.

When in combat, as an archer target foes the bruisers can't reach. Keep pressure on enemy casters, ranged units, etc...
Nothing breaks concentration better than an arrow to the head.
Make then waste their efforts targeting you instead of your fellows so they can focus on controlling the front lines.

Spells like fog cloud and conjure woodland beings are excellent distractions.

During an ambush target foes at the rear of a line. If you are well hidden and the GM is role playing the enemy they will often turn and waste precious time reacting in the wrong direction. If possible try to stealth and change positions frequently. Take advantage of your long distance from the enemy to draw them apart and get them chasing you into rough terrain.

Use magic as needed to complicate their efforts.

Always work with the rest of the group. You are a team player. Your mission is to disrupt the enemy and set them up to be the hammer.
At least, that is how I like to roll.

[GlenSmash!]

My idea of the Ranger is the one who uses a true mix of Martial ability, Nature related Skills, and Nature Spells to accomplish their goal. The typical good Ranger would use these to defend civilized folk from what lurks in the wild like, monsters, hordes of Orcs, goblins, etc. They can be Guides, Monster Hunters, Guardians, etc.

For example of a Good Ranger I like Aragorn when he's escorting the hobbits form Bree to Rivendell, or tracking them when "They've taken the hobbits to Isengard". For a more neutral Ranger I like Geralt of Rivia who would hunt monsters for money even though sometime the monsters were wondrous endangered creatures, and people are abundant and generally awful jerks.

As far as specifics, Longbow is a great Ranger weapon. Since you'll have advantage on the first round of combats, consider taking Sharpshooter to get more damage out of those shots. At low level you'll want to use Hunters Mark as much as possible, at higher levels Swift Quiver could be even better. Conjure Woodland beings is awesome too.

Oh and since you can ignore difficult terrain, use that to your advantage as much ass possible. Like casting Spike Growth to slow your enemies down and damage them, then plug at them with arrows on the next turn moving back all the time to make sure they don't even reach you.

For roleplaying, look for the opportunity to track enemies or things, or use your finely tuned senses to the party's advantage. For skills I like Survival, Stealth, Perception, and Insight proficiency, maybe even Investigation on a Ranger. Be sure and pisk either Athletics or Acrobatics to escape grapples. If UA skill feats are allowed consider getting double Proficiency in some of your skills.

Outlander is kind of the standard background for a Ranger, though my personal favorite is the Haunted One from Curse of Strahd. It makes a great story for why a character would become a monster hunter. Of course any background works so it just comes down to the story you want to tell.

[djreynolds]

2 kinds of hunter rangers, IMO

1 dedicated archers/TWF combatants

2 skirmishers

A dedicated archer or TWF will use hunter's mark a lot, sharpshooter or dual wield and fight



Now to use a ranger as a skirmisher, run around the flanks of the enemy stick them with arrows, move in and melee and move out and pick of stragglers and squeeze or press them to the tanks and casters

I think, IMO, its best to play long bow and TWF style

or

Big heavy weapon and toss hand axes and javelins as you move

That 7th level ability of "escape the horde" is perfect for moving in and out of combat

I prefer to use hail of thorns, lightning arrow, etc. Use these to soften up the enemy ranks from distance... all these spells can use ranged or thrown weapons, and then move and kill... so with skirmisher you can't use hunter's mark a lot because of the concentration requirements of the other spells

I like sword and board but not as a style for a typical ranger because you need to switch between weapons

[Mortis_Elrod]

Rangers are in my eyes one of the ideal 'skirmishing' classes. I imagine someone who is comfortable in every situation, and is prepared as such. You don't just carry your weapons, which are many and varied, but also tools to hinder your enemies and prey. You make use of everything and discard unnecessary weight. I build my rangers to be mobile, carry and use multiple weapons, and be ready for anything.

Don't limit yourself to just a longbow, carry some short swords or scimitars, at least one hand crossbow always loaded, and a few handaxes/javelins/daggers and other potential thrown weapons. Pick up manacles, chains, ball bearings, caltrops, hunting traps, Acid, oil, alchemist's fire.

Scout for your party, you should already want to know whats coming to be better prepared. Be good at investigating and reading body language so you know how to react.

Ranger's shouldn't be caught unaware. I think that's what I try to role-play the most and design my Rangers to be that way.

[djreynolds]

Rangers are in my eyes one of the ideal 'skirmishing' classes. I imagine someone who is comfortable in every situation, and is prepared as such. You don't just carry your weapons, which are many and varied, but also tools to hinder your enemies and prey. You make use of everything and discard unnecessary weight. I build my rangers to be mobile, carry and use multiple weapons, and be ready for anything.

Don't limit yourself to just a longbow, carry some short swords or scimitars, at least one hand crossbow always loaded, and a few handaxes/javelins/daggers and other potential thrown weapons. Pick up manacles, chains, ball bearings, caltrops, hunting traps, Acid, oil, alchemist's fire.

Scout for your party, you should already want to know whats coming to be better prepared. Be good at investigating and reading body language so you know how to react.

Ranger's shouldn't be caught unaware. I think that's what I try to role-play the most and design my Rangers to be that way.

This is perfect.

Battlemaster fighters are better dedicated sharpshooting archers (especially when grabbing hex with magic initiate), but rangers really have good spells other than hunter's mark. Hail of thorns is nasty and you can use dagger, arrow, bolt, javelin, spear or handaxe

Just decide what you want to be: a sharpshooting ranger or a mobile DM PIA, I prefer the later

And grabbing a 1 level of fighter so you can have both archery and TWF styles is way to easy

[Mortis_Elrod]

This is perfect.

Battlemaster fighters are better dedicated sharpshooting archers (especially when grabbing hex with magic initiate), but rangers really have good spells other than hunter's mark. Hail of thorns is nasty and you can use dagger, arrow, bolt, javelin, spear or handaxe

Just decide what you want to be: a sharpshooting ranger or a mobile DM PIA, I prefer the later

And grabbing a 1 level of fighter so you can have both archery and TWF styles is way to easy

I prefer grabbing both as well, Ideal ranger is AAorBM/MSorDSorHnter. I also like the Barb dips If going for thrown weapons and dual handaxes. Favorite race is always Lizardfolk, they are basically rangers the race, with a few other goodies.

Really wish ranger's prepared spell though, makes more sense to me.

[djreynolds]

I prefer grabbing both as well, Ideal ranger is AAorBM/MSorDSorHnter. I also like the Barb dips If going for thrown weapons and dual handaxes. Favorite race is always Lizardfolk, they are basically rangers the race, with a few other goodies.

Really wish ranger's prepared spell though, makes more sense to me.

I think players see hunter's mark and are ooh an extra 1d6, hail of thorns is 1d10 to maybe 4 mooks within 5 feet of each other.

It is DM dependent if they consider daggers ranged weapons, otherwise just use a bow or a sling.

But lightning arrow, and the conjure barrage and volley can use thrown or ranged

Rangers are actually very good if you use the spells given

[Mortis_Elrod]

I think players see hunter's mark and are ooh an extra 1d6, hail of thorns is 1d10 to maybe 4 mooks within 5 feet of each other.

It is DM dependent if they consider daggers ranged weapons, otherwise just use a bow or a sling.

But lightning arrow, and the conjure barrage and volley can use thrown or ranged

Rangers are actually very good if you use the spells given

I agree, but I would prefer if my ranger could adapt each day to use different spells . The spells are good, don't get me wrong but it's hard to pick which ones to use forever (or until switch at next level). Hrmm let me go look at ritual caster really quick...