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Welcome back to Multiclass Mondays!
Multiclass Mondays is a continuation of the “You, Version 2.0″ posts (here and here) that were put up a few weeks back regarding using the Theme mechanics to more effectively multiclass characters. The concept seemed to be a hit with many players and DMs around the Web, so we’re going to go through and provide Themes for all current D&D classes (even Psionics!) and maybe.. just maybe… throw in a few bonus Themes. For now, though, let’s stick to the basics.
Last week, we entered into a foul bargain with the Warlock. This week, we look at the Ranger… preferably at a solid 20 squares’ distance.
I’ve received several questions since last week about why I dislike the Ranger so much. To be honest, it’s not entirely the Ranger’s fault. I’m going to let you all in on a little secret about me and D&D. Ready?
I hate damage. I hate it with a bloody, howling passion. Damage in D&D, especially 4E, is the utter antithesis of everything I like about roleplaying games. Dealing damage to a target doesn’t really do anything to the target until it passes a certain threshold at which point the target suddenly dies. It isn’t clever or dynamic. It doesn’t require skilled play. It just sits there. The worst part of it all? Damage is ultimately the solution to everything! You can disarm nearly any trap by hitting it hard enough. You don’t need to have a wooden stake to defeat a vampire or silver to defeat a werewolf. You don’t need to keep a Wish spell handy in case the Tarrasque shows up. Just pile enough damage on it and voila! Problem solved. As a DM, I go out of my way to create combat scenarios where sheer damage output won’t win the day or is at least a suboptimal solution.
Now look at the Ranger and in particular, the bow ranger. The Ranger is the king of damage… and generally very little else. This guy usually just stands there (sometimes on the previous map), asks his forward reconnaissance allies for fire coordinates and then proceeds to nuke from orbit. I play with a Ranger in an ongoing epic-level campaign, and it’s infuriating. Just a couple weeks ago, Perren delivered nearly 300 points of damage in a round while dazed. It’s not uncommon for him to have a turn where he rolls 17 or more damage dice. We’re getting to the point as a party where nearly every character has or will be picking up an “I hit them with the Ranger” power because it’s clearly the best idea in almost every combat. As a player who loves the intricacy, thought and immediate interference ability of playing Controllers and Leaders, the fact that the Ranger is ultimately many, many times more effective than me is maddening. (I’ll clarify that it’s the character not the player that I dislike; Greg is a really cool guy and I enjoy having him at the table.)
Do I think the Ranger is broken? No, of course not, nor would I ban them from my table. It’s just not my playstyle in the least. Thus I’m very glad to be getting them out of the way this week and moving on to more interesting classes in the future.
Precise Stalker
You count as a Ranger for all feat, theme and paragon path requirements. In addition, you gain the Hunter’s Quarry class feature and may use it with Ranger class and paragon path powers.
If you choose to apply Hunter’s Quarry damage to a power, you may not simultaneously apply any other striker damage feature (Flurry of Blows, Arcane Might, Oath of Enmity, etc.) to that power.
One standard striker damage feature, coming right up! As an amusing sidenote, I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this called “Hunter’s Query.” I suspect it’s some kind of linguistic crossover since many roleplaying gamers are also computer geeks, but something about it strikes me as funny.
Theme at Level 1
Wilderness Predator (Multiclass Ranger)
Prerequisite: Ranger
Theme Feature: Throw and Stab (encounter usage, Dark Sun only)
Lv 1. Theme Power: Throw and Stab (encounter usage, non Dark-Sun only)
I did in fact consider putting Twin Strike here but ultimately decided against it. The decision is not so much based in the power’s raw damage output but the uniqueness of it. It feels like something only a full Ranger (or Paragon multiclassed Ranger or, oddly enough, a Half-Elf) should be doing. The Theme presented below tries to highlight the Ranger’s ability to effectively utilize both melee and ranged attacks with panache; Throw and Stab feels like a better fit.
Theme at Levels 2+
- Lv 2: Invigorating Stride
- Lv 3: Disruptive Strike
- Lv 5: Bloody Throw
- Lv 6: Weave Through The Fray
- Lv 7: Hawk’s Talon
- Lv 9: Marked For Death
- Lv 10: Shed The Mark
There’s the Ranger. From here forward, we’re going to present two or three Themes at a time; next week, we’ll finish up the obviously Divine classes with the Paladin, Invoker and Avenger.
P.S. Multiclass Themes will continue to be in the Dark Sun format since we’re primarily concerned with power swaps, not features. That’s not to say I don’t like the new Theme format which is really solid for what it does. Expect to see some Themes in the new format coming soon! As to this last week’s Themes:
Ordained Priest – Not at all flashy, but it will make you an adequate secondary Leader in Heroic Tier at close range. Some of the powers, particularly Word of Protection, are going to be only situationally useful. I don’t see the Utility powers being thrown down beyond about level 13. B-
Seer – HAWT! This Theme presses all the right buttons with me. Darkvision, immediate interrupt defense bonuses and being able to perceive from a second origin square are some of my favorite tricks. Cast Fortune has stirred up a good bit of contention about its usefulness and I’m firmly on the side of “awesome.” I love powers that reward player skill and this is definitely high on the list. Interestingly enough, you can’t use it on yourself as written (“Target: an ally”). Hands down my favorite Theme so far. A+
Scholar – This Theme nearly obsoletes the Linguist feat which is sort of a design faux pas in my opinion. That being said, having all languages and Read Magic at-will is very nice. Encounter-level damage type modification can be handy. It strikes me as being a magical Indiana Jones. A
Similar Posts:
- Multiclass Monday #11 – Miscellaneous Power
- Multiclass Mondays #7 – Warlock
- Multiclass Mondays #3 – Sorcerer
Ryven Cedrylle was introduced to 2nd edition D&D by his father at age 8 and has been hooked ever since. When not out somewhere with his nerd-loving wife, he spends an inordinate amount of time staring at small objects - primarily beakers, stars, books about religion and virtual gaming miniatures. Follow him on 
I lol’d so hard when I saw your “I hate damage” comment. It makes perfect sense, I had just never thought of it that way.
Great blog as always, to bad no Twin Strike. My duel wielding fighter would have loved it.
Scholar… Why couldn’t I have this on my Wizard when I needed!? I played that exact RP with him, and would have loved one more language.
“I hate damage.”
HAH!
We had our bow-wielding ranger just leave the group, but she absolutely destroyed things from a distance. I like the idea that someone can deal that much damage with a bow; I blame Legolas.
When I first started playing 4e, I narrowed down my choices to Rogue and Ranger because it seemed like they dished out the most damage. I’m happy with my choice of Rogue, but you need to ensure combat advantage to use sneak attack as much as possible.
Moreso than the Ranger, your sentiment against damage is exactly why I have come to loathe the new Slayer class.
Rangers have more possibilities beyond “I hit is with my axe” even if its just 13 different flavors of damage.
Good call on going with Throw and Stab!
This is now the second time someone has presented Rangers as being brutal damage-dealers. When I wrote this post about my love for Avengers, one of my players expressed shock that I considered Monks more damaging than Rangers (and Beastmasters more versatile than other Ranger builds).
I have never been in a game with an archer Ranger, I guess? And of all the Rangers I’ve played or played beside, probably 60% went with the animal companion, and the rest were an even split between two-weapon and marauding. If anyone was running an archer ranger somewhere in my 4e pbp history, they apparently did such a sub-par job that they didn’t even register in my memory.
Perhaps that means the kinds of games I play in don’t attract someone who finds pure, raw damage particularly attractive. Or maybe it’s obfuscated by sufficient layering of flavor…it took this much typing to realize I just helped a friend build an archer ranger for a game we’re in, but he’s a Warforged with a gatling gun and sub-turrets.
As for the feat, I’m genuinely surprised you went with Throw and Stab. It seems to harness the player down to some pretty specific weapon builds, since most lvl 1 characters (who aren’t Seekers) won’t have access to returning items out of the gate. Even as they gain magical items, most melee characters aren’t going to have a weapon with a thrown range…again, unless they pick one up for this power.
Something with a shift in it seems a little more broadly-applicable, or maybe giving players a choice between Throw and Stab and something like Marauder’s Strike (which can be used on a charge even if you have a rubbish Wis, and is thus useful for some characters).