The Variant Ranger

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<div class='cover-header'>The Ranger</div>

<div class='cover-footer'>By Hexjthorn</div>

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##### Core Ranger Traits

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### Ranger Features

| Level | Proficiency <br> Bonus | Class Features | Primal <br> Sense | Prepared <br> Spells | Level <br> 1 | Level <br> 2 | Level <br> 3 | Level <br> 4 | Level <br> 5 |
|:-:|:-:|-|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 1   | +2          | Natural Prowess, <br> Weapon Mastery, Spellcasting | — |  2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 2   | +2          | Fighting Style, Primal Sense                       | 2 |  3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 3   | +2          | Nomadic Profession                                 | 2 |  4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 4   | +2          | Ability Score Improvement                          | 2 |  5 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 5   | +3          | Extra Attack                                       | 2 |  6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 6   | +3          | Wild Reflexes                                      | 3 |  7 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 7   | +3          | Nomadic Profession Feature                         | 3 |  8 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 8   | +3          | Ability Score Improvement                          | 3 |  9 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 9   | +4          | Environmental Endurance                            | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 10  | +4          | Primal Ascension                                   | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 11  | +4          | Nomadic Profession Feature                         | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 12  | +4          | Ability Score Improvement                          | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 13  | +5          | Survival Instincts                                 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 14  | +5          | Terrestrial Mantle                                 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 15  | +5          | Nomadic Profession Feature                         | 4 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 16  | +5          | Ability Score Improvement                          | 4 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 17  | +6          | True Grit                                          | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 18  | +6          | Primal Apex                                        | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 19  | +6          | Epic Boon                                          | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 20  | +6          | Two Extra Attacks                                  | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |

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### Natural Prowess
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*Level 1 Ranger Feature*
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Throughout the ages, Rangers have traversed the realms, gaining worldly experience only the wilds can teach. <br> You possess this natural prowess for exploration, learning unique languages and skills during your travels. You gain the following benefits.

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***Strider.*** You gain a Climb Speed and a Swim Speed equal to your Speed.
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***Linguist.*** You learn one language of your choice. You learn one additional language of your choice again at Ranger levels 5, 9, 13, and 17.
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***Expert.*** You gain Expertise in one skill proficiency of your choice. You gain Expertise in one additional skill proficiency of your choice again at Ranger levels 5, 9, 13, and 17.

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### Weapon Mastery
*Level 1 Ranger Feature*
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Your training with weapons allows you to use the mastery properties of two kinds of weapons of your choice with which you have proficiency, such as Longbows and Shortswords.
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Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can practice weapon drills to change one of those weapon choices. For example, you could switch to using the mastery property of Scimitars or Shortbows.
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When you reach Ranger level 10, you gain the ability to use the mastery property of one more weapon of your choice, provided have proficiency with that weapon.

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### Spellcasting
*Level 1 Ranger Feature*
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You have learned to channel the magical essence of nature to cast spells. See chapter 7 for the rules on spellcasting. <br> The information below details how you use those rules with Ranger spells, which appear on the Ranger spell list later in the class’s description.
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***Cantrips.*** You know two cantrips of your choice from the Ranger spell list.
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Whenever you gain a Ranger level, you can replace one of your cantrips with another cantrip of your choice from the Ranger spell list.
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When you reach Ranger level 10, you learn one additional cantrip of your choice from the Ranger spell list.
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***Spell Slots.*** The Ranger Features table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your level 1+ spells. You regain all expended slots when you finish a Long Rest.
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***Prepared Spells of Level 1+.*** You prepare the list of level 1+ spells that are available for you to cast with this feature. <br> To start, choose two level 1 spells from the Ranger spell list.
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The number of spells on your list increases as you gain Ranger levels, as shown in the Prepared Spells column of the Ranger Features table. Whenever that number increases, choose additional spells from the Ranger spell list until the number of spells on your list matches the number on the table. The chosen spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, if you’re a level 5 Ranger, your list of prepared spells can include six Ranger spells of level 1 or 2 in any combination.
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If another Ranger feature gives you spells that you always have prepared, those spells don’t count against the number of spells you can prepare with this feature, but those spells otherwise count as Ranger spells for you.
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***Changing Your Prepared Spells.*** Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can change your list of prepared spells, replacing any of the spells with other Ranger spells for which you have spell slots.
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***Spellcasting Ability.*** Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your Ranger spells.
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***Spellcasting Focus.*** You can use a Druidic Focus as a Spellcasting Focus for your Ranger spells.

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### Fighting Style
*Level 2 Ranger Feature*
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You have honed your martial prowess and gain a Fighting Style feat of your choice.
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Whenever you gain a Ranger level, you can replace the feat you chose with a different Fighting Style feat.
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### Primal Sense
*Level 2 Ranger Feature*
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You can call upon your bond with nature to enhance your awareness and intuition. These heightened senses allow you to perceive subtle changes in your surroundings and discern the strengths and weaknesses of your enemies.
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You can activate your Primal Sense as a Bonus Action, and it lasts for 1 hour, or until you have the **Incapacitated** condition. While your Primal Sense is active, you gain the following benefits.
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***Wisdom Advantage.*** You have Advantage on your Wisdom ability checks.
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***Tremorsense.*** You have **Tremorsense** with a range of 30 feet. This range increases by 5 feet each time you gain a Ranger level.
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***Detect Strengths & Weaknesses.*** As a Bonus Action, choose a creature you can see (or sense via Tremorsense) within 30 feet of yourself. You learn whether that creature has any Immunities, Resistances, or Vulnerabilities, and if the creature has any, you learn what they are. This range also increases by 5 feet each time you gain a Ranger level.
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You can activate your Primal Sense twice. You regain one expended use when you finish a Short Rest, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.
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You gain additional uses when you reach certain Ranger levels, as shown in the Primal Sense column of the Ranger Features table.
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### Nomadic Profession
*Level 3 Ranger Feature*
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You embrace a Nomadic Profession (Ranger subclass) of your choice. This specialization grants you features at Ranger levels 3, 7, 11, and 15. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass’s features that are of your Ranger level or lower.
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The **Beast Master**, **Bounty Hunter**, **Fey Wanderer**, and **Gloom Stalker** subclasses are detailed after this class's description.
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### Ability Score Improvement
*Level 4 Ranger Feature*
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You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat (see chapter 5) or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Ranger levels 8, 12, and 16.
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### Extra Attack
*Level 5 Ranger Feature*
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You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
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### Wild Reflexes
*Level 6 Ranger Feature*
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With the precision of a predator, your quick reflexes allow you to react swiftly to danger.
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You have Advantage on your Initiative rolls, and you can take the Dash or Hide Action as Bonus Action.
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### Environmental Endurance
*Level 9 Ranger Feature*
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As your connection with the natural world deepens, you learn to how to endure its extreme conditions.
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Whenever you finish a Short or Long Rest, your **Exhaustion** level decreases by 1 level more than normal, and you gain resistance to one damage type of your choice: Cold, Fire, or Poison. This resistance lasts until you finish a Short or Long Rest.
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### Primal Ascension
*Level 10 Ranger Feature*
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Your bond with nature nourishes your ability to navigate the realms.
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You no longer need to have your Primal Sense active to use your ***Detect Strengths & Weaknesses*** feature.
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You also gain the following additional benefits while your Primal Sense is active.
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***Unhindered Movement.*** You don't spend extra movement when moving through Difficult Terrain.
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***Blindsight.*** You have **Blindsight** with a range of 70 feet. This range increases by 5 feet each time you gain a Ranger level.
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### Survival Instincts
*Level 13 Ranger Feature*
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Trekking across inhospitable terrain has forged your body and mind into bastions of resolve.
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You gain proficiency in Constitution and Wisdom saving throws.
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### Terrestrial Mantle
*Level 14 Ranger Feature*
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Your ability to blend seamlessly into your surroundings becomes unparalleled. 
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You are able to take the Hide action while you are Lightly Obscured or behind Half-Cover.
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Additionally, whenever you would normally gain the benefits of Half Cover, you instead gain the benefits of Three-Quarters Cover, and whenever you would normally gain the benefits of Three-Quarters cover, you gain the benefits of Total Cover.
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### True Grit
*Level 17 Ranger Feature*
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Your unwavering resolve allows you to withstand even the harshest effects, embodying relentless perseverance.
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When you're subjected to an effect that allows you to make a saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw and only half damage if you fail.
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You don’t benefit from this feature if you have the **Incapacitated** condition.
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### Primal Apex
*Level 18 Ranger Feature*
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You bond with nature evolves your mobility and awareness beyond mortal comprehension.
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You no longer need to have your Primal Sense active to use your ***Unhindered Movement*** feature.
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You also gain the following additional benefits while your Primal Sense is active.
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***Condition Immunities.*** You have Immunity to the following conditions: **Grappled**, **Paralyzed**, and **Restrained**.
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***Truesight.*** You have **Truesight** with a range of 110 feet. This range increases by 5 feet each time you gain a Ranger level.
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### Epic Boon
*Level 19 Ranger Feature*
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You gain an Epic Boon feat (see chapter 5) or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. The Boon of Recovery is recommended.
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### Two Extra Attacks
*Level 20 Ranger Feature*
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You can attack three times instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
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### Ranger Spell List
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This section presents the Ranger spell list. The spells are organized by spell level and then alphabetized, and each spell's school of magic is listed.
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In the Special column, *C* means the Spell requires Concentration, *R* means it's a Ritual, and *M* means it requires a specific Material Component.
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Finally, spells denoted with (X) have been brought in from **Xanathar's Guide to Everything**, spells denoted with (ℵ) are new additions to the Ranger class, and spells denoted with (Δ) are different than they appear in the both the **2024 Player's Handbook** and **Xanathar's Guide to Everything**. All spell changes are listed after this section.

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### Spell Changes

These changes include some "quality of life" improvements, similar to how the **2024 PHB** improves many other spells. <br> I believe they successfully balance the Ranger class (after taking away the **Hunter's Mark** spell).

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### *Absorb Elements*

*Level 1 Abjuration (Druid, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard)*
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- **Casting Time:** Reaction, which you take when you take acid, cold, fire, poison, lightning, or thunder damage
- **Range:** Self
- **Components:** S
- **Duration:**  1 round
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The spell captures some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect on you and storing it for your next weapon attack. You have resistance to the triggering damage type until the start of your next turn. Also, the first time you hit with a weapon attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell ends.
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***Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot.*** The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 1.
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### *Ensnaring Strike*
*Level 1 Conjuration (Ranger)*
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- **Casting Time:** Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a creature with a weapon
- **Range:** Self
- **Components:** V
- **Duration:**  Concentration, up to 1 minute
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As you hit the target, a mass of writhing vines envelops the creature. The target takes 1d6 Piercing damage and makes a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target has the **Restrained** condition until the spell ends. On a successful save, the vines shrivel away, and the spell ends.
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While **Restrained**, the target takes 1d6 Piercing damage at the start of each of its turns. At the end of each of its turns, the target repeats the save, ending the spell on itself on a success.
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***Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot.*** The damage increases by 1d6 for each spell slot level above 1.

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### *Hail of Thorns*
*Level 1 Conjuration (Ranger)*
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- **Casting Time:** Bonus Action, which you take immediately after hitting a creature with a weapon
- **Range:** Self
- **Components:** V
- **Duration:**  Instantaneous
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As you hit the target, a torrent of jagged thorns erupts from the creature. The target of the attack and each creature of your choice within 5 feet of it make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 1d10 Piercing damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful save.
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***Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot.*** The damage increases by 1d10, and the eruption radius expands by 5 feet, for each spell slot level above 1.
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### *Zephyr Step*
*Level 1 Transmutation (Ranger)*
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- **Casting Time:** Bonus Action
- **Range:** Self
- **Components:** V
- **Duration:**  Concentration, up to 1 minute
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You move like the wind. Until the spell ends, your Speed increases by 10 feet, and your movement doesn't provoke opportunity attacks.
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***Zephyr Strike.*** Before the spell ends, you can give  yourself Advantage on one weapon attack roll. On a hit, that attack deals an additional 1d8 damage, and all of the damage for that attack becomes Force damage.
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***Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot.*** Before the spell ends, you can use ***Zephyr Strike*** again; one additional use for each spell slot level above 1.

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### *Snare*
*Level 1 Abjuration (Druid, Ranger, Wizard)*
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- **Casting Time:** 1 minute or Ritual
- **Range:** Touch
- **Components:** S, M (A continuous piece of nonmagical rope, which the spell consumes)
- **Duration:**  8 hours
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While casting this spell, you can magically stick the rope to any nonmagical object or surface, creating a design of your choice. When you finish casting this spell, the rope disappears, and the surrounding area becomes an invisible magic trap.
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When a creature you can see comes within 5 feet of the trap, you can use your **Reaction** to trigger it, and the target must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a successful save, the spell ends, leaving the target unaffected.
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On a failed save, the target gains the **Prone** and **Restrained** conditions. The target, or another creature within 5 feet of the target, can use their **Action** to make a Strength (Athletics) or an Intelligence (Arcana) check against your spell save DC. On a successful save, the target is freed and the spell ends.
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For 1 minute after the trap is triggered, creatures have Disadvantage on this check. After 10 minutes, creatures have Advantage on this check.
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# Beast Master

A Beast Master... text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text.
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##### Beast Master Features

| Ranger Level | Features |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | Nomadic Magic, |
|  7 |  |
| 11 |  |
| 15 |  |

### Nomadic Magic
*Level 3 Beast Master Feature*
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Your bond with nature ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Ranger level specified in the Beast Master Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
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##### Beast Master Spells

| Ranger Level | Spells        |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | ***Find Familiar*** |
|  5 | ***Summon Beast*** |
|  9 | ***Conjure Animals*** |
| 13 | ***Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound*** |
| 17 | ***Awaken*** |

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### Feature Name
*Level 3 Beast Master Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 3 Beast Master Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 7 Beast Master Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 11 Beast Master Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 15 Beast Master Feature*
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Text.
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# Bounty Hunter

A Bounty Hunter... text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text.
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##### Bounty Hunter Features

| Ranger Level | Features |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | Nomadic Magic, |
|  7 |  |
| 11 |  |
| 15 |  |

### Nomadic Magic
*Level 3 Bounty Hunter Feature*
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Your bond with nature ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Ranger level specified in the Bounty Hunter Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
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##### Bounty Hunter Spells

| Ranger Level | Spells        |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | ***Ensnaring Strike*** |
|  5 | ***Locate Object*** |
|  9 | ***Sending*** |
| 13 | ***Locate Creature*** |
| 17 | ***Scrying*** |

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### Feature Name
*Level 3 Bounty Hunter Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 3 Bounty Hunter Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 7 Bounty Hunter Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 11 Bounty Hunter Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 15 Bounty Hunter Feature*
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Text.
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# Fey Wanderer

A Fey Wanderer... text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text.
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##### Fey Wanderer Features

| Ranger Level | Features |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | Nomadic Magic, Feral Charm, <br> Dreadful Strikes |
|  7 |  |
| 11 |  |
| 15 |  |

### Nomadic Magic
*Level 3 Fey Wanderer Feature*
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Your bond with nature ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Ranger level specified in the Fey Wanderer Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
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##### Fey Wanderer Spells

| Ranger Level | Spells        |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | ***Charm Person*** |
|  5 | ***Misty Step*** |
|  9 | ***Summon Fey*** † |
| 13 | ***Charm Monster*** |
| 17 | ***Yolande's Regal Presence*** |
† You can cast this spell without a Material component.

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### Feral Charm
*Level 3 Fey Wanderer Feature*
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Your fey qualities give you a supernatural charm.
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Whenever you make a Charisma check, you gain a bonus to the check equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1).
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Additionally, whenever you activate your Primal Sense, you can forgo gaining Advantage on your Wisdom ability checks to instead gain Advantage on your Charisma ability checks.
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### Dreadful Strikes
*Level 3 Fey Wanderer Feature*
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You can augment you weapon strikes with mind-scarring magic drawn from the murky hollows of the Feywild.
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Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a weapon, you can deal an extra **2d4** damage and have all of the damage for that attack become **Psychic** damage.
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If your Primal Sense is active when you use this feature, you can force the target to make an Intelligence saving throw immediately after the attack. On a failed save, the target becomes **Frightened** by you until the start of your next turn.
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The extra damage dealt increases as you gain Ranger levels:
* **3d4** at Ranger level 7
* **4d4** at Ranger level 11
* **5d4** at Ranger level 15

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### Feature Name
*Level 7 Fey Wanderer Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 11 Fey Wanderer Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 15 Fey Wanderer Feature*
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Text.
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# Gloom Stalker

A Gloom Stalker... text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text.
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##### Gloom Stalker Features

| Ranger Level | Features |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | Nomadic Magic, |
|  7 |  |
| 11 |  |
| 15 |  |

### Nomadic Magic
*Level 3 Gloom Stalker Feature*
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Your bond with nature ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Ranger level specified in the Gloom Stalker Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
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##### Gloom Stalker Spells

| Ranger Level | Spells        |
|:-:|:-|
|  3 | ***Disguise Self*** |
|  5 | ***Invisibility*** |
|  9 | ***Phantom Steed*** |
| 13 | ***Greater Invisibility*** |
| 17 | ***Mislead*** |

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### Feature Name
*Level 3 Gloom Stalker Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 3 Gloom Stalker Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 7 Gloom Stalker Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 11 Gloom Stalker Feature*
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Text.
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### Feature Name
*Level 15 Gloom Stalker Feature*
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Text.
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## Design Notes
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This section is for my reasoning of each feature.
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### Level 0:
*No Hunter's Mark or Similar*
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Like a lot of folks, I don't really like the concept of the ***Hunter's Mark*** spell being the core feature of the Ranger class. While the 5e14 Ranger didn't pack a lot of punch, it did have interesting flavor that gave the class some of its identity. The goal of this homebrew is to create features that are unique to the Ranger, while also being comparable to the 5e24 ruleset.
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This homebrew assumes that the ***Hunter's Mark*** spell simply doesn't exist in the game. Obviously, your DM has final say about what characters do and don't have access to, but the purpose of this homebrew aims to use features that give the feeling of ***Hunter's Mark***, without actually using it.
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This homebrew also assumes that the Oath of Vengeance Paladin's expanded spell list is changed to include ***Hex***, instead of ***Hunter's Mark***.
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### Level 1:
*What is a Ranger?*
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Rangers are a half-casters... at least they are in D&D 5e24. <br> I have seen many homebrews that create the theme of spell-less rangers and spell-ful ranger. Both are great variants of the class, but my goal is not to change WOTC's intentions of what the ranger class is suppose to be; rather, I want to make the class they are presenting more rewarding to play.
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#### Spellcasting
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It really irks me that "Spellcasting" is the 5e24 Ranger's first ability. Like, I think they have to do that so the "Favored Enemy" feature (second) makes sense, but the Ranger really needs a "Ranger Feature" first... more on this later.
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Overall, I've left this feature mostly unchanged, but added some things that I think help simplify some rules. Note: any rule change here would also apply to Paladins.
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Adds:
* Rangers have their own "Cantrips Section" in their Spell List (not just copied from Druid)
* Ranger get two cantrips at level 1, and a third cantrip at level 10. Rangers can still change them on level up.

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Removes:
* Druidic Warrior; having cantrips negates the need for this. Honestly, this feature feels like a slap, because my half-caster (and half-martial) has to choose one or the other.

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Changes:
* Prepared Spells progression, as seen in the Feature Table. For the life of me, WOTC's numbering system for this class's spell progression is baffling. I've tried to simplify it. 
* Changing Spells on Long Rest: might be controversial, but I think WOTC had it right the first time, at least in terms of "you either change all each long rest or change 1 at level up". Again, it's baffling to be that they would change the Paladin from preparing all spells per Long Rest to just 1 per Long Rest. Anyway, since Rangers and Paladins prepare fewer spells each day (than full casters), so I don't see the issue with allowing them to change all of them each Long Rest.

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#### Weapon Mastery
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For those who don't know, in the 5e24 ruleset:
* Barbarians and Fighters: Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can practice weapon drills and change one of those weapon choices.
* Paladin, Rangers, and Rogues: Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can change the kinds of weapons you chose.

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So Barbarians and Fighters gain more Weapon Masteries with higher levels, but can only swap 1 per long rest. Paladin, Rangers, and Rogues only ever get 2 Weapon Masteries, but can change both of them every long rest.
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I think this is intended to show the difference between full and half martials, but then why is the Rogue included with the half-casters? Also, I found that Barbarians and Fighters get more Weapon Masteries at the same levels that full casters get more cantrips, so they really are just martial cantrips.
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My pitch is to split the difference. The new RULE for anyone with Weapon Mastery is you can only change 1 per Long Rest. Paladins and Rangers gain 1 additional Weapon Mastery at level 10 (just like their cantrip), and I would suggest that Rogues follow the Barbarian's Weapon Mastery progression, with 2 at level 1, 3 at level 4, and 4 at level 10.
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This change still allows Fighters to have the most Masteries (as that's basically a core ability for them now), Barbarians and Rogues have the next most, being full martials, then Paladins and Rangers have the least most, being half-martial (but they also have spell cantrips).
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#### Tools
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Everything in the "Core Ragner Traits" table is the same as 5e24, except for this inclusion of Tools: Herbalism Kit or Choose one type of Artisan’s Tools.
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Continued on next page...

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### Level 1: Continued
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#### Natural Prowess
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This is my idea for the first Ranger feature. When you think, "I want to play a Ranger... what they do again?", you see this. This feature effectively combines "rover" and "deft explorer" and puts it at level 1.
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While I would love to have something more like the old "Natural Explorer", if I'm being honest with myself, I don't think it makes sense that the Ranger can just "do" those things (listed in 5e14 Natural Explorer). It feels like those are things the Ranger would tell the DM they want to do, and the DM asks for a role.
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I really feel like level 1 Ranger should be the "I get a bit of everything" class, and I wanted that concept of "I learn languages and skills based on where I travel" to be a little more integrated into level progression. So Ranger's will actually end up with more Expertise, but it takes more levels to do it. And they have other abilities to help balance not have 4 Expertise by levels 6 or 9 (Rogue and Bard).
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In short, I feels natural to me to say "If I'm a Ranger, I should be able to climb and swim". In my opinion, that's the bare minimum of "I'm good at exploration".
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### Level 2:
*What is the Ranger's Role?*
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The answer to that question seems to be different for everyone, more so than any other class. This homebrew is just my take on answering that question, so no worries if it's not for you.
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The Ranger is the tracker, the guide, the survivor. They may not hit the hardest, or cast the most glorious spell, but almost like Wilderness Artificer, they have the right tool for the job.
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#### Fighting Style
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I really like that 5e24 allows Rangers to take any Fighting Style; freedom to make the class however you want. But then I found that Fighters have the ability to change their fighting style on level up, which reminded me that Tasha's rules also introduced a way for Rangers to change their Fighting Style.
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I'm surprised that didn't carry over, so I added it back in; Rangers can change Fighting Style on level up.
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#### Primal Sense
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This is it. This is what I think the makes the Ranger the Ranger. I went back the drawing board so many times trying to find something that sounded as good and iconic as:
* A Barbarian's Rage
* A Bard's Inspiration
* A Cleric's Divinity
* A Druid's Wild Shape
* A Fighter's Second Wind
* A Monk's Focus (or Martial Arts)
* A Paladin's Smite
* A Rogue's Sneak Attack
* A Sorcerer's Meta Magic
* A Warlock's Eldritch Invocations
* A Wizard's Spellbook
* ...
* A Ranger's Sense

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A sense that encompasses not just awareness, but intuition; not just instincts, but educated decisions based on experience. And since the 5e24 seem to favor the flavor of "Primal" for the Barbarians, Druids, and Rangers, I felt it fitting to name it Primal Sense.
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Something, like Rage, that can be used as both noun and verb; something that's both easy to say and understand. "What does the Barbarian do? They Rage. Got it. No more explanation required." "What does the Ranger do? They can sense things out like no other. Cool."
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The mantra I working with was "There is no hiding from a Ranger". Something that is a-kin to being a hunter without explicitly being a hunter or predator; side note: I feel like "Hunter" is just an archetype of Ranger. Not every Ranger is a Hunter, like not every Rogue is a Thief.
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About the features: I started by looking at the "Exploration" section in the 2024 PHB. While it's not as thorough as I would like, it was enough for me to work with, and say "the Ranger should be good at this stuff".
* Advantage on Wisdom checks should be more than enough (maybe even too much) for the Ranger to track better than anyone.
* Tremorsense is super interesting to me because of the Ranger's classic connection with terrain and pretty unique. Only the Dwarf species has access to this ability, and even that's just for stone. Playing a Dwarven Ranger would just give you more Tremorsense.
* Detect Strengths and Weakness actually comes from the Battle Master Fighter, but I really wish it had been written the other way around. Like, "hey battle master, you can do a Ranger thing".

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I feel these features, while strong, are not overpowered for the level 2 due to the limited number of uses and inclusion of "Incapacitated condition" cut off. They make the Ranger unique in their role, and it's a great set up for higher level features and subclass features.

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