(Yet Another) Ranger Variant

…this one by S.H. Jones <sholdenj@uwo.ca>

2 July, 2001

Note: Thanks to all those who have provided input or posted their versions of the variant ranger; all are useful, and this one just happens to work for me and my players, so I though I’d share it. Except as defined below, this ranger conforms in all ways to that from the PHB.

Variant Ranger

	Base		Fort	Ref	Will			
Level	Attack Bonus	Save	Save	Save	Special		__________________
1	+1		+2	+0	+0	Track, Favoured Enemy, Background Option
2	+2		+3	+0	+0	Favoured Terrain		
3	+3		+3	+1	+1		
4	+4		+4	+1	+1		
5	+5		+4	+1	+1	Favoured Enemy	
6	+6/+1		+5	+2	+2	Favoured Terrain		
7	+7/+2		+5	+2	+2			
8	+8/+3		+6	+2	+2	Ranger’s Option	
9	+9/+4		+6	+3	+3		
10	+10/+5		+7	+3	+3	Favoured Enemy	
11	+11/+6/+1		+7	+3	+3	Favoured Terrain		
12	+12/+7/+2		+8	+4	+4			
13	+13/+8/+3		+8	+4	+4	Ranger’s Option	
14	+14/+9/+4		+9	+4	+4		
15	+15/+10/+5	+9	+5	+5	Favoured Enemy	
16	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+5	+5	Favoured Terrain		
17	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+5			
18	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+6	Ranger’s Option	
19	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+6		
20	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+6	Favoured Enemy	

Class Skills: Animal Empathy (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (favoured enemy) (Int), Knowledge (favoured terrain) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Use Rope (Dex), Wilderness Lore (Wis)

Skill Points at 1st level: (6 + Int Modifier) x4
Skill Points at each additional level: 6 + Int Modifier

Class Features:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A ranger is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light and medium armours, and shields. 

Background Option: A ranger can select any one background option at 1st level. All of the following options (except for Option 5) apply only when wearing light or no armour.
•	Option 1: The ranger fights with two weapons as if he had the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats. These quasi-feats do apply to double weapons. 
•	Option 2: The ranger fights with any bow (or crossbow, ranger’s choice) as if he had the Point Blank Shot and either the Far Shot or Precise Shot feats. 
•	Option 3: The ranger benefits from 10 feet extra base movement, like the barbarian. This bonus does not stack with extra movement granted from other classes, such as barbarian or monk.
•	Option 4: The ranger may select any two of the following quasi-feats: Alertness, Endurance, Run, or Toughness (Toughness may be selected twice). 
•	Option 5: The Ranger gains an animal companion of no more than 2 HD. It is assumed that the Ranger has befriended the companion and has gained its trust. 

Track: All rangers begin play with Track as a bonus feat. 

Favoured Enemy: At 1st level, a ranger may select one type of creature as a favoured enemy. Due to his extensive study of his foes and his training in the proper techniques for combating them, the ranger gains a +1 bonus to all skill checks made against or concerning that creature type. This +1 bonus also applies to attack rolls (and not damage rolls) against such creatures. The attack bonus counts for ranged weapons as well, but only against targets within 30 feet. 
	At 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter (10th, 15th, 20th), the ranger gains an additional +1 to this bonus, or may select another favoured enemy. If another is selected, then the bonus gained applies only to that enemy. For example, a 15th-level ranger could have a +4 vs. Dragons, or perhaps a +1 vs. Dragons, a +1 vs. goblinoids and a +2 against Dragons, i.e., any combination of 4 favoured enemy points. 

Favored Terrain: At 2nd level, a ranger may select one type of territory as his favoured terrain. Due to his extensive knowledge of this environment, the ranger gains a +1 circumstance bonus to Balance, Hide, Intuit Direction, Listen, Knowledge, Move Silently, Search, Spot, and Wilderness Lore checks made within or, for Knowledge skills, concerning his favoured terrain. This bonus does stack with any favoured enemy bonuses gained while using the skill against favoured enemies within his favoured terrain. 
	Further, the ranger grants an increased movement rate for himself and to any party he leads through his favoured terrain, improving the terrain modifier by one step (i.e., “trackless” would be considered “road” movement, and “road” would be considered “highway.” If already on the highway, there is no additional benefit). The ranger may affect a party of as many creatures as he has ranger levels in this way. 
	At 6th level and every 5 levels thereafter (11th and 16th) the ranger has gathered more knowledge about his favored terrain, gaining an additional +1 to his bonus (and adding one multiple to the number of creatures he may guide at greater speed through the terrain; i.e., a +3 favoured terrain modifier also means that ranger can hasten (level x 3) creatures through that terrain), or may select another favoured terrain, or may select one of the following benefits for a previously chosen favoured terrain: 
•	Option 1: The ranger gains the druidic trackless step ability within that favoured terrain (choose one type if he already has more than one favoured terrain).
•	Option 2: The ranger gains a +2 circumstance bonus to Initiative while in that favoured terrain (choose one type if he already has more than one favoured terrain).
•	Option 3: The ranger gains a +1 bonus per ranger level to damage rolls against all favoured enemies while in that favoured terrain (choose one terrain type if he already has more than one favoured terrain). Thus, a 12th-level ranger with this option gains +12 to damage rolls when fighting his favoured enemies in the chosen favoured terrain.  This bonus also applies to ranged attacks if the target is within 30 feet. 
•	Option 4: The ranger gains the base movement rate of a monk of the same level while travelling through that favoured terrain, if he is wearing light or no armour (choose one terrain type if he already has more than one favoured terrain). This is a supernatural ability. 

Rnager’s Option: A ranger can select any one ranger’s option at 8th, 13th, and again at 18th level. Each option may be chosen more than once, with varying effects as described below. 
•	Option 1: The ranger gains the rogue ability skill mastery with (2 + Wisdom modifier) class skills. This option may be taken repeatedly.
•	Option 2: The ranger gains evasion, as the rogue ability. If taken a second time, this option grants improved evasion. This option cannot be taken a third time. 
•	Option 3: The ranger gains uncanny dodge (always applies Dex to AC, even if flat-footed), as the rogue ability. If taken a second time, this option grants uncanny dodge (cannot be flanked). This option cannot be taken a third time. 
•	Option 4: The ranger may select any one feat from the following list: Alertness, Brew Potion, Craft Magic Arms and Armour, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Run, Skill Focus (any class skill), or Toughness (this option may be taken more than once, and Toughness may be selected as many times as desired).