Favourite 1st Level Ranger Spells

[Quidam]

I've got a PC who's just recently reached his ranger spellcasting levels but hasn't cast much. What are your favourite- from any source (just quote the source)- first level ranger spells? I'd like to encourage him to use them more and spice up the game a bit.

This is NOT an invitation to bash the ranger class. (some seem to think that any post with the word "ranger" in it is...)

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Use any spell that doesn't allow a save and doesn't summon monsters.

Basically, Cure Light Wounds and buffs, rather than obvious spells.

There are several spells from MotW you might like - I don't have the book, however, and I don't know how balanced the spells are.

 

[Quidam]

Rangers don't get the Cure spells. I see what you mean, though, about saves & summons, as the caster levels are going to be low...

Hunter's Mercy from MotW (next bow shot hits & threats) is nice.

 

[bret]

Entangle and Pass Without Trace can be great in the right circumstances.

If the ranger likes Animal Friendship, Speak with Animals and Magic Fang are very useful.

Savage Species had a Low Light Vision spell that I think is OK. It also contains spells that I don't think are balanced, starting with the whole Blindsight seriers.

 

[haiiro]

Two of my favorites are whispering branches (1st level) and rumor of the earth (4th level), both from FFG's Spells and Spellcraft. The first let's the ranger find out about recent events in a wooded area by listening to the wind rustling through the trees; the second lets her find out the number, types and rough location of all creatures within a few miles.

There's a ton of good ones in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting hardcover as well. Things like hunter's mercy (1st level, next bow shot automatically threatens), smell of fear (1st level, makes the target more likely to attract random monsters), easy trail (2nd level, makes a trail easier to read) and living prints (3rd level, lets you see tracks as if they were being made), etc. I'd definitely recommend having him take a look at the FRCS.

Edit: typo.

 

[Kershek]

My favorite is Hunter's Mercy from Masters of the Wild. It gives you an automatic crit threat on your next attack as long as you hit. You have to use it within the next round, like true strike.

 

[Christian]

Rangers don't get the Cure spells.

Until they reach 8th level & get 2nd level spells ...

Probably the best spell on their 1st level list is Resist Elements, assuming your DM regularly throws mages and/or breath weapons at you. Alarm, Entangle, Magic Fang, and Speak with Animals can be useful under certain circumstances.

Rangers don't get any top-notch spells until they hit 14th or 15th level and get Polymorph Self. I wouldn't agonize too much about which spells to prepare, because your spellcasting isn't going to come into play very often at all.

 

[haiiro]

I wouldn't agonize too much about which spells to prepare, because your spellcasting isn't going to come into play very often at all.

I think that's what Quidam is trying to avoid: the ranger not casting any spells because the player doesn't think it's worthwhile. I think if he finds some clever, flavorful spells to cast they will come into play more often, especially once he starts to get creative with them.

 

[Darklone]

Considering how strong Entangle proved to be usually... and caster level doesn't inhibit it's usefulness at all.

 

[Zhure]

Delay Poison.
Level: Brd 2, Clr 2, Drd 2, Pal 2, Rgr 1

Rangers get it at a lower level than anyone else, but that's offset by their lower caster level. It still frees up a 2nd level Druid/Cleric/Paladin spell for something else.

Greg