I love the ranger class and I was most excited for the new class features. With my next character I'm definitely planning on using the beastmaster's new primal beast companions. I wish the level 7 ability did more than just give your companion magical attacks, though.
The primary issue with Hunter’s Mark and Favored Foe is that they don’t let you use any of your other Ranger spells. Even though the majority of the Ranger’s concentration spells are single round effects (like hail of thrones or ensnaring strike). Like when playing a Paladin I can Divine smite and searing smite on the same turn, or cast bless and continue to smite enemies. Paladins don’t have to chose between keeping their damage up and using their spell list. Rangers on the other hand very much have to. WOTC tried to fix this with the Ranger subclasses that came out after the PHB. Which imo is just a bandaid on a festering issue, cause now every subclass has to have some kind of damage bonus so the Ranger player doesn’t feel compelled to only use hunter’s mark. This prevents the subclasses from having more creative abilities at the start. My ideal version of favored Foe is one that doesn’t require concentration, isn’t limited to one attack per turn, gives a tracking bonus of some kind. And deletes the Hunter’s mark spell from existence.
I'd encourage you (and others) not to compare the Ranger and Paladin classes just because both of them are half-casters without cantrips. I've said it before, but the Ranger class should be compared more closely to the Bard and Fighter classes, as it's more of a combination of those two classes, being a form of "all-rounder martial-favored" class. When you do that, it's a bit easier to see where the Ranger class actually sits. The Paladin is one of the most powerful classes in all of 5e. If the Ranger were capable of a damage output akin to that (and be able to deal such damage at a range and not just while within melee reach), the Ranger class would simply be over-powered. Also, having it's subclass features benefit it's power in some way is fine. Almost all subclass features help benefit a class's combat capabilities in some way. It would be a bit silly if they didn't. The Concentration abundance in the Ranger's spells/abilities is a genuine downside, but it's a fair one to help prevent the class's damage from creeping too high. I understand Rangers are widely regarded as weak, but they gain a multitude of other useful benefits besides damage, like spellcasting, armor and weapon proficiencies, and a wide array of skills and out-of-combat utility. Tasha's simply fixes the base class features that simply didn't work and that includes Favored Foe. Not only does it relieve a Ranger from feeling pressured into always taking Hunter's Mark, but it's possible for Favored Foe to out-damage Hunter’s Mark is specific instances. It's genuinely a very nice feature for it to get for free. All-in-all, the Ranger is genuinely in a much better state than it used to be. No, it's not a high damaging class and it has its limits, but every class has limits and not every class has to be equal combat power with the others. I'd encourage you to try and keep a more positive outlook towards it where you can.
Your timestamp skills are appreciated by the Optimancers out here. What are you trying to say with that 4th level Cleric spell with a 3:10 timestamp labeled Fighter there🤔
Whoops! That was a mistake on my part. No wonder it seemed like there was an issue with my timestamp bar. Should be fixed now. Thanks for letting me know.
![SahBabii - Viking [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D37cL92JX0I/mqdefault.jpg)
I love the ranger class and I was most excited for the new class features. With my next character I'm definitely planning on using the beastmaster's new primal beast companions. I wish the level 7 ability did more than just give your companion magical attacks, though.
Some good class features.
The bard getting some spells they had in 3.5
Good stuff
The primary issue with Hunter’s Mark and Favored Foe is that they don’t let you use any of your other Ranger spells. Even though the majority of the Ranger’s concentration spells are single round effects (like hail of thrones or ensnaring strike).
Like when playing a Paladin I can Divine smite and searing smite on the same turn, or cast bless and continue to smite enemies. Paladins don’t have to chose between keeping their damage up and using their spell list. Rangers on the other hand very much have to.
WOTC tried to fix this with the Ranger subclasses that came out after the PHB. Which imo is just a bandaid on a festering issue, cause now every subclass has to have some kind of damage bonus so the Ranger player doesn’t feel compelled to only use hunter’s mark. This prevents the subclasses from having more creative abilities at the start.
My ideal version of favored Foe is one that doesn’t require concentration, isn’t limited to one attack per turn, gives a tracking bonus of some kind. And deletes the Hunter’s mark spell from existence.
I'd encourage you (and others) not to compare the Ranger and Paladin classes just because both of them are half-casters without cantrips. I've said it before, but the Ranger class should be compared more closely to the Bard and Fighter classes, as it's more of a combination of those two classes, being a form of "all-rounder martial-favored" class. When you do that, it's a bit easier to see where the Ranger class actually sits.
The Paladin is one of the most powerful classes in all of 5e. If the Ranger were capable of a damage output akin to that (and be able to deal such damage at a range and not just while within melee reach), the Ranger class would simply be over-powered. Also, having it's subclass features benefit it's power in some way is fine. Almost all subclass features help benefit a class's combat capabilities in some way. It would be a bit silly if they didn't.
The Concentration abundance in the Ranger's spells/abilities is a genuine downside, but it's a fair one to help prevent the class's damage from creeping too high. I understand Rangers are widely regarded as weak, but they gain a multitude of other useful benefits besides damage, like spellcasting, armor and weapon proficiencies, and a wide array of skills and out-of-combat utility. Tasha's simply fixes the base class features that simply didn't work and that includes Favored Foe. Not only does it relieve a Ranger from feeling pressured into always taking Hunter's Mark, but it's possible for Favored Foe to out-damage Hunter’s Mark is specific instances. It's genuinely a very nice feature for it to get for free.
All-in-all, the Ranger is genuinely in a much better state than it used to be. No, it's not a high damaging class and it has its limits, but every class has limits and not every class has to be equal combat power with the others. I'd encourage you to try and keep a more positive outlook towards it where you can.
Your timestamp skills are appreciated by the Optimancers out here.
What are you trying to say with that 4th level Cleric spell with a 3:10 timestamp labeled Fighter there🤔
Whoops! That was a mistake on my part. No wonder it seemed like there was an issue with my timestamp bar. Should be fixed now. Thanks for letting me know.