Ranger
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Masters of their environment and unerring hunters of their prey, rangers come from similar backgrounds as barbarians and druids. Yet, even among civilized and modernized lands there is a need for those capable of navigating the wild and maintaining the delicate balance between nature and civilization, so that roads are kept safe and exploiters do not abuse the land. Some even make their home in urban environments, acting as trackers and bounty hunters or serving as scouts and infiltrates into enemy lands.
Whatever their role, rangers are skilled hunters and combatants, capable of calling on the wild ether. Gilead the Hunter is the most well-known patron of rangers, though His sponsorship is not exclusive. Rangers come from a variety of origins. Some too, come from the great expanse of the Vast, the rolling central plains lands that are home to all manner of exotic creatures and threats both of the world and from other worlds. Here they punish poachers as well as protect settlements from dangerous creatures that have found their way to the world through one of the Vast's many broken planar walls.
While many rangers possess a similar outlook to druids, some are simply men and women trained to survive, hunt and track in the wild. The Ygdrassil Union welcomes them as they do other wilds' denizens. Like Druids, a deity in terms of divine magic does not limit them but instead they tap into the natural magic of the world that was given life and embodiment many ages ago.
Ranger
Role: Rangers are deft skirmishers, either in melee or at range, capable of skillfully dancing in and out of battle. Their abilities allow them to deal significant harm to specific types of foes, but their skills are valuable against all manner of enemies.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d10.
Class Skills: Athletics (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (military theory) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis).
Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.
| The Ranger | |||||||||
| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Spells per Day | |||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | ||||||
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +2 | +0 | 1st favored enemy, track, wild empathy | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Combat style feat | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Endurance, 1st favored terrain | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Hunter's bond | 0 | — | — | — |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +4 | +1 | 2nd favored enemy | 1 | — | — | — |
| 6th | +6/+1 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Combat style feat | 1 | — | — | — |
| 7th | +7/+2 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Woodland stride | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 8th | +8/+3 | +6 | +6 | +2 | Swift tracker, 2nd favored terrain | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 9th | +9/+4 | +6 | +6 | +3 | Evasion | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| 10th | +10/+5 | +7 | +7 | +3 | 3rd favored enemy, combat style feat | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 11th | +11/+6/+1 | +7 | +7 | +3 | Quarry | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 12th | +12/+7/+2 | +8 | +8 | +4 | Camouflage | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 13th | +13/+8/+3 | +8 | +8 | +4 | 3rd favored terrain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 14th | +14/+9/+4 | +9 | +9 | +4 | Combat style feat | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 15th | +15/+10/+5 | +9 | +9 | +5 | 4th favored enemy | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 16th | +16/+11/+6/+1 | +10 | +10 | +5 | Improved evasion | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 17th | +17/+12/+7/+2 | +10 | +10 | +5 | Hide in plain sight | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 18th | +18/+13/+8/+3 | +11 | +11 | +6 | 4th favored terrain, combat style feat | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 19th | +19/+14/+9/+4 | +11 | +11 | +6 | Improved quarry | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 20th | +20/+15/+10/+5 | +12 | +12 | +6 | 5th favored enemy, master hunter | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A ranger is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).
Favored Enemy (Ex): At 1st level, a ranger selects a creature type from the ranger favored enemies table. He gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks against creatures of his selected type. Likewise, he gets a +2 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against them. A ranger may make Knowledge skill checks untrained when attempting to identify these creatures.
At 5th level and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th level), the ranger may select an additional favored enemy. In addition, at each such interval, the bonus against any one favored enemy (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by +2.
If the ranger chooses humanoids or outsiders as a favored enemy, he must also choose an associated subtype, as indicated on the table below. (Note that there are other types of humanoid to choose from—those called out specifically on the table below are merely the most common.) If a specific creature falls into more than one category of favored enemy, the ranger's bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is higher.
Track (Ex): A ranger adds half his level (minimum 1) to Survival skill checks made to follow tracks.
Wild Empathy (Ex): A ranger can improve the initial attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person (see Using Skills). The ranger rolls 1d20 and adds his ranger level and his Charisma bonus to determine the wild empathy check result. The typical domestic animal has a starting attitude of indifferent, while wild animals are usually unfriendly.
To use wild empathy, the ranger and the animal must be within 30 feet of one another under normal visibility conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute, but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.
The ranger can also use this ability to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2, but he takes a –4 penalty on the check.
Combat Style Feat (Ex): At 2nd level, a ranger must select one of a number of combat styles to pursue (see list below). The ranger's expertise manifests in the form of bonus feats at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. He can choose feats from his selected combat style, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites.
The benefits of the ranger's chosen style feats apply only when he wears light, medium, or no armor. He loses all benefits of his combat style feats when wearing heavy armor. Once a ranger selects a combat style, it cannot be changed.
Endurance: A ranger gains Endurance as a bonus feat at 3rd level.
Favored Terrain (Ex): At 3rd level, a ranger may select a type of terrain from the Favored Terrains table. The ranger gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival skill checks when he is in this terrain. A ranger traveling through his favored terrain normally leaves no trail and cannot be tracked (though he may leave a trail if he so chooses).
At 8th level and every five levels thereafter, the ranger may select an additional favored terrain. In addition, at each such interval, the skill bonus and initiative bonus in any one favored terrain (including the one just selected, if so desired), increases by +2.
If a specific terrain falls into more than one category of favored terrain, the ranger's bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is higher.
Hunter's Bond (Ex): At 4th level, a ranger forms a bond with his hunting companions. This bond can take one of two forms. Once the form is chosen, it cannot be changed. The first is a bond to his companions. This bond allows him to spend a move action to grant half his favored enemy bonus against a single target of the appropriate type to all allies within 30 feet who can see or hear him. This bonus lasts for a number of rounds equal to the ranger's Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). This bonus does not stack with any favored enemy bonuses possessed by his allies; they use whichever bonus is higher.
The second option is to form a close bond with an animal companion. A ranger who selects an animal companion can choose from the Animal Companions list on this website (see World Bestiary for both the list and applicable rules). If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the ranger may choose a shark instead. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the ranger on his adventures as appropriate for its kind. A ranger's animal companion shares his favored enemy and favored terrain bonuses.
This ability functions like the druid animal companion ability (which is part of the Nature Bond class feature), except that the ranger's effective druid level is equal to his ranger level.
Spells: Beginning at 4th level, a ranger gains the ability to cast a small number of divine spells, which are drawn from the ranger spell list presented in Spell Lists. A ranger must choose and prepare his spells in advance.
To prepare or cast a spell, a ranger must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a ranger's spell is 10 + the spell level + the ranger's Wisdom modifier.
Like other spellcasters, a ranger can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Ranger. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Wisdom score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells). When Table: Ranger indicates that the ranger gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level, he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Wisdom score for that spell level.
A ranger must spend 1 hour per day in quiet meditation to regain his daily allotment of spells. A ranger may prepare and cast any spell on the ranger spell list, provided that he can cast spells of that level, but he must choose which spells to prepare during his daily meditation.
Through 3rd level, a ranger has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, his caster level is equal to his ranger level.
Woodland Stride (Ex): Starting at 7th level, a ranger may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.
Thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that are enchanted or magically manipulated to impede motion, however, still affect him.
Swift Tracker (Ex): Beginning at 8th level, a ranger can move at his normal speed while using Survival to follow tracks without taking the normal –5 penalty. He takes only a –10 penalty (instead of the normal –20) when moving at up to twice normal speed while tracking.
Evasion (Ex): When he reaches 9th level, a ranger can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the ranger is wearing light armor, medium armor, or no armor. A helpless ranger does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Quarry (Ex): At 11th level, a ranger can, as a standard action, denote one target within his line of sight as his quarry. Whenever he is following the tracks of his quarry, a ranger can take 10 on his Survival skill checks while moving at normal speed, without penalty. In addition, he receives a +2 insight bonus on attack rolls made against his quarry, and all critical threats are automatically confirmed. A ranger can have no more than one quarry at a time and the creature's type must correspond to one of his favored enemy types. He can dismiss this effect at any time as a free action, but he cannot select a new quarry for 24 hours. If the ranger sees proof that his quarry is dead, he can select a new quarry after waiting 1 hour.
Camouflage (Ex): A ranger of 12th level or higher can use the Stealth skill to hide in any of his favored terrains, even if the terrain doesn't grant cover or concealment.
Improved Evasion (Ex): At 16th level, a ranger's evasion improves. This ability works like evasion, except that while the ranger still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, he henceforth takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless ranger does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): While in any of his favored terrains, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Stealth skill even while being observed.
Improved Quarry (Ex): At 19th level, the ranger's ability to hunt his quarry improves. He can now select a quarry as a free action, and can now take 20 while using Survival to track his quarry, while moving at normal speed without penalty. His insight bonus to attack his quarry increases to +4. If his quarry is killed or dismissed, he can select a new one after 10 minutes have passed.
Master Hunter (Ex): A ranger of 20th level becomes a master hunter. He can always move at full speed while using Survival to follow tracks without penalty. He can, as a standard action, make a single attack against a favored enemy at his full attack bonus. If the attack hits, the target takes damage normally and must make a Fortitude save or die. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the ranger's level + the ranger's Wisdom modifier. A ranger can choose instead to deal an amount of nonlethal damage equal to the creature's current hit points. A successful save negates this damage. A ranger can use this ability once per day against each favored enemy type he possesses, but not against the same creature more than once in a 24-hour period.
Styles
Archery Combat Style
- If the ranger selects archery, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: Far Shot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Shot. At 6th level, he adds Improved Precise Shot and Manyshot to the list. At 10th level, he adds Pinpoint Targeting and Shot on the Run to the list.
Two-Weapon Style
- If the ranger selects two-weapon combat, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: Double Slice, Improved Shield Bash, Quick Draw, and Two-Weapon Fighting. At 6th level, he adds Improved Two-Weapon Fighting and Two-Weapon Defense to the list. At 10th level, he adds Greater Two-Weapon Fighting and Two-Weapon Rend to the list.
Crossbow
- If the ranger selects crossbow style, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: Deadly Aim, Focused Shot, Precise Shot, and Rapid Reload. At 6th level, he adds Crossbow Mastery and Improved Precise Shot to the list. At 10th level, he adds Pinpoint Targeting and Shot on the Run to the list.
Mounted Combat
- If the ranger selects mounted combat, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: :Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Ride-By Attack, and Trick Riding. At 6th level, he adds Mounted Shield and Spirited Charge to the list. At 10th level, he adds Mounted Skirmisher and Unseat to the list.
- In addition, a ranger who chooses the mounted combat style is capable of crating a natural bond token. This token allows the ranger to summon his or her animal companion to their side, as per the paladin ability. The token is bonded to the ranger and his mount and will not work for anyone else. Should the ranger receive a new mount, he must realign the Token as part of a ritual that takes 24 hours. Should the Token be lost or stolen, a similar ritual may be performed, again taking 24 hours to enact. Any masterwork item bearing the symbol of the natural world may be forged into a Token via this method. Only one Token may be in existence at one time.
Natural Weapon
- If the ranger selects natural weapon style, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: Aspect of the Beast, Improved Natural Attack, Rending Claws, and Weapon Focus. At 6th level, he adds Eldritch Fangs and Vital Strike to the list. At 10th level, he adds Multiattack and Improved Vital Strike to the list.
Two-Handed Weapon
- If the ranger selects two-handed weapon style, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: Cleave, Power Attack, Pushing Assault, and Shield of Swings. At 6th level, he adds Furious Focus and Great Cleave to the list. At 10th level, he adds Dreadful Carnage and Improved Sunder to the list.
Weapon and Shield
- If the ranger selects weapon and shield style, he can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat: Improved Shield Bash, Shield Focus, Shield Slam, and Two-Weapon Fighting. At 6th level, he adds Saving Shield and Shield Master to the list. At 10th level, he adds Bashing Finish and Greater Shield Focus to the list.
Gunnery Combat Style
- 2nd Level – Deadly Aim, Focused Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Reload
- 6th Level – Vital Strike, Improved Precise Shot, Firearm Mastery
- 10th Level – Improved Vital Strike, Shot on the Run
Favored Enemies
| Ranger Favored Enemies | |||
| Type (subtype) | Type (subtype) | Type (subtype) | Type (subtype) |
| Aberration | Humanoid (giant) | Humanoid (shapechanger) | Outsider (fire) |
| Animal | Humanoid (goblinoid) | Magical beast | Outsider (good) |
| Construct | Humanoid (gnoll) | Monstrous humanoid | Outsider (lawful) |
| Dragon | Humanoid (gnome) | Ooze | Outsider (native) |
| Fey | Humanoid (halfling) | Outsider (air) | Outsider (water) |
| Humanoid (aquatic) | Humanoid (human) | Outsider (chaotic) | Plant |
| Humanoid (dwarf) | Humanoid (orc) | Outsider (earth) | Undead |
| Humanoid (elf) | Humanoid (reptilian) | Outsider (evil) | Vermin |
Favored Terrain
| Ranger Favored Terrain | |
| Terrain (examples) | |
| Cold (ice, glaciers, snow, and tundra) | |
| Desert (sand and wastelands) | |
| Forest (coniferous and deciduous) | |
| Jungle | |
| Mountain (including hills) | |
| Plains | |
| Planes (pick one, other than Material Plane) | |
| Swamp | |
| Underground (caves and dungeons) | |
| Urban (buildings, streets, and sewers) | |
| Water (above and below the surface) | |
Extras
Animal Companions
Bonus Spells per Level
The ability that governs bonus spells depends on what type of spellcaster your character is: Intelligence for wizards; Wisdom for clerics, druids, and rangers; and Charisma for bards, paladins, and sorcerers. In addition to having a high ability score, a spellcaster must be of a high enough class level to be able to cast spells of a given spell level. See the individual class description details.
| Bonus Spells per Level | |||||||||||
| Caster Ability Score | Modifier | 0 | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
| 1 | –5 | Can't cast spells tied to this ability | |||||||||
| 2–3 | –4 | Can't cast spells tied to this ability | |||||||||
| 4–5 | –3 | Can't cast spells tied to this ability | |||||||||
| 6–7 | –2 | Can't cast spells tied to this ability | |||||||||
| 8–9 | –1 | Can't cast spells tied to this ability | |||||||||
| 10–11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12–13 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14–15 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16–17 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18–19 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20–21 | 5 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 22–23 | 6 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 24–25 | 7 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 26–27 | 8 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 28–29 | 9 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30–31 | 10 | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 32–33 | 11 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 34–35 | 12 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 36–37 | 13 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 38–39 | 14 | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 40–41 | 15 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 42–43 | 16 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 44–45 | 17 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Spell List
Starting Kits
| Concept | Attributes | Feats and Skills | Notes |
| Woodland Tracker | Dex 16+, Wisdom 14+ | Key Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot
Recommended Feats: Deadly Aim, Improved Precise Shot Key Skills: Perception, Survival, Stealth, Knowledge/Nature Recommended Skills: Handle Animal |
You are the shadow of the woods, the hunter of beast and man alike. Your combat style is archery, and your tracking skills are second to none. You also have knowledge of plants and animals, and can find food, water and shelter easily in the wild. |
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