Quintessential I 19: Ranger (d20)
The brave outlaw¸ clad in forest-green leathers¸ carrying on a guerrilla rebellion against an unjust King the only way he knows how¸ robbing tax collectors and giving the proceeds to downtrodden peasants. The dedicated tracker and hunter¸ able to follow the faintest¸ oldest trail with ease¸ and bring down the most fearsome game. The fierce raider¸ riding down from the hills to carry off what plunder he can¸ fading into the night once again. The trail-hardened explorer¸ wandering far from civilisation¸ filling in areas of maps which previously said simply¸ 'Here Be Dragons.' All these are examples of the ranger¸ one of the most versatile classes within the game. The Quintessential Ranger is a sourcebook that will greatly expand this class¸ turning the ranger from a simple forester and tracker to a fully fleshed out character with as much interest and innovation as the most wily wizard¸ mighty-thewed fighter¸ cunning rogue or avenging cleric.
The ranger is potentially one of the most powerful character classes in the game. He is a good¸ solid combatant¸ but with a far greater array of off-the-battlefield class features than the fighter¸ barbarian or paladin¸ and more skills to boot. He may not have the feats of a fighter or rage of the barbarian¸ but on his own ground¸ in his element¸ there is no-one to match him. He is full of surprises¸ too¸ throwing in a spell here¸ using his preferred combat style to deadly effect there¸ then demonstrating some other unexpected quality before finally just plain enduring through whatever obstacles are placed before him¸ as grimly resolute as the day he set out on his quest.
The last of the core classes to be covered by the Quintessential series¸ but by no means the least¸ the Quintessential Ranger (written by Ian Sturrock) is here at last! The reason for its lateness was primarily the changes we knew were coming for 3.5¸ so we have ensured Ranger fans are getting the very best despite their long wait. Incidentally¸ for the remainder of 2003¸ the Quintessentials will be covering Halflings¸ Half-Orcs¸ Humans¸ Chaos Mages¸ and then we will be doing something a little bit special - more on that a bit later.
The Character Concepts of the Ranger will introduce all your favourite archetypes straight at 1st level¸ as well as deliver a few more esoteric ones. Here we have the Borderer¸ Cattle Rustler¸ Desert Nomad¸ Forester¸ Game Keeper¸ Heir¸ Poacher¸ Prospector¸ Rebel¸ Runner¸ Sailor¸ Savage Scout¸ Caver¸ Sylvan Shadow¸ Boundary Beater¸ Messenger¸ Loner and Pioneer - the latter ones designed for specific races.
The 3.5 Ranger is a lot less 'front-loaded' than it used to be¸ so there should be many more characters around now looking to specialise in one or more aspects of their Ranger training. This is where The Prestige Ranger comes into play¸ and we have a hell of a prestige class for your here - the Animal Champion. At 14 pages¸ it has to be the largest and most well detailed prestige class ever. In fact¸ it is less of a class and more of a journey! However¸ for Rangers looking for something a little less demanding¸ there are also the Briar Archer¸ Green Knight¸ Greenwood Judge¸ Master of the Staff¸ Outlaw and Wild Hunter to experiment with.
Perhaps behind only the Monk and the Sorcerer¸ the Ranger is a character more self-reliant than most and the Tricks of the Trade chapter builds upon this talent. Here Rangers will find additional rules covering the use of Forestry¸ Archery (including extended trick shots)¸ Massed Archery¸ Travelling (different ways and means)¸ and the use of mounts¸ both airborne and otherwise. This is quickly followed b