Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Ranger, New Archetypes.

The second video on the ranger character class, covering in detail the new archetype options from Xanathar's Guide to Everything and the Unearthed Arcana playtest of the Primeval Guardian. I go over all the abilities as the Rangers progress in level, as well as some thoughts as to how these rangers fit into your campaign setting.
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[@mexicanLOUBForce]

"punch a ghost in the face", dont know why i love that so much

[@Maxbeedo2]

One of the characters in my Planescape campaign is a Horizon Walker, and I had to buff its portal sensing ability. The planes are often infinite in size, so only detecting within 1 mile, once per rest, is extremely limited, so I buffed his ability in two ways: 10 miles, and if he is touching one portal (one they just came through for instance), he'll instead detect the next closest portal. I also had to rule that his Ethereal Step ability works on any plane, basically saying that every plane has a coterminous Ethereal Plane for it, when normally I think only the Material Plane has one (otherwise this ability would be useless on any other plane). Otherwise the Planar Warrior feature and bonus spells have been very good, although Planar Warrior requiring use of a bonus action every single round does make it difficult for them to use Hunter's Mark or two-weapon fighting.

[@ronengaming]

Personally I think Urban/Cityscape should count as its own favoured terrain, it's an option I tend to put into my games when I run them. Ruins is a bit of a tricky one, and I tend to default to the surrounding area around the ruins. An ancient tomb deep beneath the sands, to me, would count as desert terrain because it is a type of architecture common to that environment, same with an ancient decrepit keep high up in the mountains. I find having a generic "ruins" favoured terrain or counting it as underdark doesn't make much logical sense, if the character's background is from an entirely different area where that sort of structure even in a ruined and abandoned state would still be completely alien to them. If I'm iffy on if the player would consider it favoured terrain, I tend to let them make a history check to decide if it is or not with a DC fitting for their level to make it a fairly average challenge.

[@syvajarvi2289]

My favorite way to play rangers as scouts, explorers, and spies. I use Tasha’s options a lot because I like the flavor of it. Typically take soldier, Outlander, far traveler, or knight background with these characters. Depending on what I’m looking to do I will either take a two level dip in fighter or monk. Honestly monk is my favorite dip because of the synergy between the two classes for mobility and unarmored defense. If going with monk dip consider mobility, tough, magic initiate (druid), or Fey touched feats for that build. A free use of cloud fog is crazy good when you figure the BBEG is either attacking at disadvantage or burning spell slots to dispel it or counterspell.

[@BoojumFed]

I would say: Artificial terrain is 'Urban' if it's been consistently inhabited in the last 5-10 years or so, then they become ruins within the existing terrain (Mountain, Field, Feywild, Jungle, etc.). And natural/ cavernous terrain is similarly an extension of the existing terrain (you cannot tell me 15-50 ft into an arctic cavern is the same as 15-50 ft into a traditional Saharan 'desert' one) until those regional effects peter out and the real Underdark begins. 2km/ 1mi from the surface seems as good a line in the sand as any; it's not as though the Underdark is gonna miss those paltry few meters/ yards...

[@conradkorbol]

I would say that the inside of the creature would be the favored enemy as a terrain basically

[@maxx8362]

That is the best answer to that question I have ever heard.

[@dragonballtalk8527]

I can't picture a luxodon ranger but I can imagine a dragonborn riding a mini triceratops

[@AJPickett]

That is so metal.

[@adamwelch4336]

Can a Luxodon weld a bow with its trunk and arm why welding a hand crossbow at the same time?🤔😳

[@aubreyackermann8432]

An elephant can move completely silently over bone dry grass thanks to its specialized feet, so why not?

[@NicholsonNeisler-fz3gi]

Buxom ranger?

[@Daimon-X]

There are Rangers and there is the Ultimate Ranger, The Texas Ranger^^ Ranger is one of my fav character class. Rangers and Paladins ftw!

[@Wastelandman7000]

Their head, Walker, is truly mighty! LOL

[@DrPluton]

I think Monster Slayer is a great subclass. My character concept was a member of a military scout force who excelled at camouflage and firing arrows from cover. During a war, he killed an enemy spellcaster using his specialized training. That spellcaster turned out to the be the son of the leader of the attacking army. After their country was captured, the leader started hunting down and killing surviving members of the scout force, leading our hero to flee the country, gain some skills, and hopefully return with enough power and knowledge to free his country.

[@davidfletcher6703]

The red haired ranger lady near the end looks almost exactly like Desdemona the leader of The Railroad from Fallout 4, same hairstyle and everything

[@sirwilliam4128]

This is why I saw Drizzt Do’Urden as an Underdark Ranger when he gave into “The Hunter.” He learned his terrain and mastered his abilities in order to defeat the denizens of the Underdark. After he moves to Icewind Dale he seems to become less of a Ranger and more of a Warrior. However, in recent novels he’s starting to be recognizably a Ranger once again.

[@AJPickett]

The first books written were The Crystal shard, Streams of Silver and The halfling's gem, the Sojourn, Exile, etc books are more like a prequels trilogy, written much later by R.A Salvatore. so, makes sense.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

Please do one for Barbarians! But I always love your work.

[@dragonturtle7645]

I think that cities, dungeons, and runes, would all fall under the terrain type of civilization or artificial, rather than be lumped in with another. It would cover an understanding of how intelligent creatures think, behave, build structures, etc. Though maybe underdark can be used for dungeons (underground tunnels filled with hidden, and not so hidden dangers).

[@Dreadnaught1985]

Didn't get a chance to watch the video, on a bus and forgot my headphones... Will catch it later. Just wanted to comment saying I love the thumbnail. Drow Ranger is one of my favourite heroes in DOTO

[@zeedevil4409]

One of my favorite 3.5 characters was an Order of the Bow initiate made for an awesome ranger. Curious about these new paths

[@cypher4783]

One of my favorite exercise to do when it comes to thinking about d&d classes is what would a broken member of that class would look like. Like a veteran ranger in service for a Lord who is just a year or two from retirement. Said ranger being fired by being accused of murder, theft, or improuper conduct. This veteran would either be thrown in jail, or kept in the local tavern feed his fill of hard liquor. Or, they ended up a cripple in able to do the job who might try to go on one last mission even though it may cost his life.

[@matthewbennett1972]

Think Gerhman from blood borne. That seems to fit

[@treyclark8369]

Thank you as always A.J

[@andrewthere8958]

In answer to the question about favorite terrain types. I have had this come up often enough in my games hat I have introduced a new terrain type. "Urban". Which is any built up area, like a city, town and the like. I generally let this apply to things like abandoned dwarven underground ruins because it is a built area. If the area is overgrown or long abandoned to the point of collapse, then its whatever the terrain type that surrounds it is. I hope that made sense. Love your videos AJ!!!

[@joeleek9976]

Urban as a terrain type came out in 3.0 or 3.5.

[@onemisterfranko]

Horizan walker and Monster hunter seem like a fun ranger build. Gloom stalker feels very much like a rouge as you said, in a stealthy type of game I bet they are great for a rouge to have along.

[@marvalice3455]

1:33 oh my God! The giant ferret is _so cute!_

[@MikeKilo1969]

Monster slayer reminds me of Witchers.

[@iGuttsi]

Always had a soft spot for rangers thanks to Drizzt ( his books got me into reading/writing fantasy) never played one, maybe I should give a Gloom stalker a go, any recommendations on race? I always wanna go gnome but I don't know how will that would mix.

[@AJPickett]

Oh, a Deep Gnome Gloom Stalker fits like a glove, particularly if you get the nod from your DM to include the Svirfneblin Magic feat from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. "You have inherited the innate spellcasting ability of your ancestors. This ability allows you to cast nondetection on yourself at will, without needing a material component. You can also cast each of the following spells once with this ability: blindness/deafness, blur, and disguise self. You regain the ability to cast these spells when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells". Very Sneaky Mini-Ranger ass kicker.

[@iGuttsi]

@@AJPickett oh man that would be amazing I would totally have to find some fitting melee weapons for what is generally a race of Minor's Smith's and Jewelers, I can already feel the back story building, maybe a reference or two to Blingdenstone and the Dissengulp family ( but I think they might be the current Most Honored Burrow Worden so maybe just a VERY slight reference to them lol)

[@bigd7861]

Could use one of my favorites, the half drow, which is of course a half elf, but with inherited drow abilities. Human mother kidnapped from the surface, raped and impregnated, offspring (pc) looked down upon for being half weak, hides the fact of their racial gifts, used as a slave, until old enough to eventually escape into the Underdark. Using their inherited curses/gifts enables them to survive, and thrive, in the always lethal Underdark. Hence, your Gloom Stalker is created.

[@matthewbennett1972]

Duergar. A salty scowling misanthrope with a heart of gold. Just don’t tell anyone

[@anathema1828]

Incredibly well done, thanks for all of the effort you've put into these class videos!

[@dagonnemo1811]

more spelljammer would be a great addition and a more comprehensive play list for such

[@AJPickett]

There will be more planescape and more spelljammer vids.

[@That80sGuy1972]

I have a home-brew alteration of a Ranger for Movians (non-magical race, not anti-magical just non-magical). They are the fantasy AD&D version of a USN (United States Navy) SEAL warped into Ranger form. Their primary weapons are devastating, dual-wield for melee in both offensive and defensive and dead-solid sniper in ranged weapons. They are masters of stealth and physical obstacle overcoming. The lighter the encumbrance and armor, the better the previously mentioned skills. They never gain spellcasting or any other real magical abilities and for the sheer discipline, they require a Lawful (any) or True Neutral alignment. As they gain levels, they gain immunity to magical detections and mental attunement to their mind and bodies that border on psionic that give them special resistances against mental attacks and physical boosts. Their biggest subtle ability is weapon immunity bypassing as they gain levels. By 3rd level, they can bypass material or attack type immunity (immune to non-silver weapons, can only be hit by blunt weapons, cannot be hurt by weapons that cut, weapons not made of a certain material only inflict its magical "+" as damage, can only be hit by magical weapons [less than +1, merely magical], etc). By 5th level, they can use nonmagical weapons to hurt targets that are only hit by magical weapons of +1 or greater, this is also where they start bypassing damage reduction. They are also always armed. They can use their hands as blunt weapons (club base damage with knife speed factor) if they have no weapons and can improvise any item within reach as a weapon as a "-1" version of what it is closest to, a chair is a club, a wine bottle is a club then a knife after the first strike, a fork is... laughable because it's still a fork (1-2 dmg), a billiard ball or a rock is a blackjack (bare hands for this kit are better), etc. That kit (Ranger type) is also available to races that have problems with magical items like Dwarves and Gnomes. For them, improvised weapons relative to their racial culture are not at "-1" at all if they are similar to their racial actual weapons, like the tools: hammers. picks, hatchets, etc.

[@voidmystic00]

"I assume everything is a trap. That's why I'm still alive." - Prince Humperdinck, The Princess Bride. I can't name all the movies but I can at least name that one. 😁

[@xanderwyatt8234]

For your question about terrain: I have a homebrew feat (I couldn't reason it as an actual terrain because it's so op) called cqb master giving you terrain bonus in towns/buildings/dungeons, and you also no longer get disadvantage with point blank ranged attacks (yes, I'm aware something like this already exists).

[@conradkorbol]

Xander Wyatt does the point blank feat have any reason to take it over cross bow expert? I am always looking for cool home brew stuff. Edit: from what I understand, it’s saying you got both things; it’s not that you just one

[@bigd7861]

Point Blank has never made any sense to me anyway. As someone that uses firearms for a living, and has hunted most of my life, I can fully attest that shooting something closer to you is WORLDS easier than anything further away! Only exception that I can think of would be things like a sling or an atlatl.

[@XainMexi]

18:48 Gummi Bears taught us "When you're in trouble, drink a liquid that makes you jump around supernaturally" How were we not all addicted to drugs or Surge?

[@reubenholcomb8568]

Been waiting on this one. Awesome!

[@AJPickett]

As promised :)

[@jerrybeard8995]

Gloom Stalkers MC with rogue with sneak attack and advantage basically every round if in the dark, make scary attackers. maybe even a few level in champion fighter to lower crit to 19. Also helps take away the lack of darkvision that Variant Humans suffer in most classes.

[@AJPickett]

Yes, those poor disadvantaged humans. :)

[@matthewbennett1972]

If you combine this with hex blade it could be cool

[@lorekeeper685]

I would considers inside of a gargantuan creature a swamp, unless there is some spefic stuff that would change that such a city there (there was a scene in adventure time where some creatures were making a party inside a giant creature) and for the swamp example(the epsido from samurai jack where he helps a dragon get over her pain so a village stops getting detriment by the toxic fumes)

[@XainMexi]

18:30 Care Bear stare = heightened focused peer pressure Gummi Bears = When in danger, ingest the magical stuff that makes you stronger and bounce around the house/forrest... How are we still alive!?!?!

[@AJPickett]

Must be the Magic and Mystery of Gummi berry juice! :)

[@XainMexi]

@@AJPickett Yeah.... We'll keep telling ourselves that.... XD

[@louiscarlhalle]

Amazing channel, great content! 100%!!

[@joewhite6844]

Wish everyone a great Christmas..If you do not celebrate then wish you peace.

[@That_guy_131]

Thanks so much for all the effort you put into this as a scribe for dnd i highly enjoy the videos while im driving for work.im sure you don't read these anymore but could you do a video on larloch malkizid or the chaos hound thanks much!

[@jmarks343]

Maybe you can tell us about leprechauns, I cant find much info in them, can you make a video about them. Thanks

[@AJPickett]

I shall put them on me list boyo!

[@yaldabaoth2]

No, a basement or cave is not Underdark, which is very specific. Terrain types represent knowledge of animal and plant life in that area and a ranger's experience in handling themselves in that terrain. You can argue against having a "dungeon" terrain because that is man-made and could house anything, regardless of where the dungeon is. However, rangers have it hard enough as is and so I would offer the Pathfinder list (which has Urban and a general Underground terrain among others) of terrains to choose from. And merry Christmas, AJ. I will now have to go into the most dangerous terrain of them all: in-law homes.

[@chriscalvin5083]

Good video AJ

[@dragonballtalk8527]

I like the animal.companion ability and monster slayer.magic user nemesis ability can help stop a wounded kraken from teleporting away

[@worldeater2414]

Wow 10 comments,27 likes, 268 views......What the Nine Hells People?! Aj deserves more views and likes!!! @AJ Pickett can you please do Matthew Mercer's Blood Hunter? Loved the video mate!!! Sincerely Yours Badass Pagan

[@robertstryjak1973]

I really love gloom stalker. I played a silver dragonborn who was convinced some creature watches him from the shadows and became a ranger in order to find it. He started working as a mercenary so he would always have someone armed close by (he believed these people scared the creature). His story reached its climax when he was devoured by a dino while looking for magic items which would let him find his nemesis. After he died a mysterious entity offered to ressurect him if he becomes her agent and helps bring eternal darknesd upon the world. His response: "You may not know this lady but I'm a mercenary and you're offering me a very good deal. If I could ask one tiny favour, there is a creature looking for me back in the world of the living, I'd be truly grateful if you could do something about it". He was resurrected with 3 of his ranger levels turned to warlock which ironically took away his darkvision. Also gloom stalker's abilities are just awesome.

[@AJPickett]

Did the patron do anything about whatever was stalking him in the darkness, or was it all just his paranoia?

[@robertstryjak1973]

@@AJPickett I left the question of wheter or not it's ever existed up to GM but Belbor (said PC) started having doubts both about the creature and the price he paid to get rid of it. At the end of the campaign he became a priest of the Feathered Serpent and went on a quest to find that long lost diety whose return would usher in a golden age. As a said note Belbor's first teacher, Ghesh, believed that it was all paranoia caused by their draconic heritage and wanted to help his student overcome it. Belbor didn't take that diagnosis all too well.

[@AJPickett]

@@robertstryjak1973 I imagine not! Lol. Great character.

[@Greenscyth22]

Horizon Walkers must be ethereal undead‘s worst nightmare. Woe betide any specter or spook who thinks it can escape by jaunting to the Ethereal plane. They really want to make Rangers more like rogues with every new edition that comes out.

[@AJPickett]

Who you gonna call? Gloom Stalkers!

[@raen19]

Those are actually badass (I even kinda like the hippy lol). Now I wanna play a monster hunter though...

[@BoojumFed]

One guy at the table I'm currently DMing for really wanted to play a vampire hunter. He ended up building a (Centaur) Bloodhunter, but I think he'd have been just as happy with a Monster Slayer build. Of course, this is all academic at his point, since A) he's player her very well and seems to be enjoying it; and B) everyone's currently level 2, so the mechanical benefits aren't very varied just yet.

[@jgr7487]

24:42 no, AJ, Xmas is not yet passed everywhere else...

[@jacobwilson8579]

Ranger two unelectric bugulu

[@conradkorbol]

Jacob Wilson this made my day

[@Purple.mind...Honored.one.]

Cleric & monk please, maybe some of that Bard action would also be nice, it'd be a lot easier to recommend this chanal to my friends if you had more of the player chericter classes

[@rickeymariu1]

Sorry for getting to this vid late A.J. it didn't appear in my lineup.

[@drakeford4860]

Awesome! Been waiting for this one! By the way AJ, any chance you'll roll back around to looking at the culture and history of player races sometime? I've been looking around recently (mostly while trying to scrape together sufficient knowledge to play a properly dwarvish Dwarven Forge Cleric) and realized there wasn't actually a whole lot of solidly consolidated information on the character races outside the videos you've posted so far. I'm sure your to-do list is already pretty full, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask if they were on the itinerary.

[@AJPickett]

Well, obviously the most common player race is North American... kidding, kidding. I think Dwarves are next on my to do list for player character races.

[@drakeford4860]

@@AJPickett Re-reading my comment, I appear to have walked right into that one. In any case, thanks for letting me know. I'll be interested to see what all you can dig up.

[@AJPickett]

@@drakeford4860 dig up. Heyyooo!

[@linguisticallyoversight8685]

Yay

[@dannyfortin8622]

Unchalenged brutal beasteality ,was my creedo...🏟 ...Im glad thats in back of me ,now that im older and responsibal...lol!

[@XRyuhayabusaX]

Geralt of Rivia is basically a monster slayer.. Isn't he?^^

[@AJPickett]

Some sort of Eldritch rogue class with a thing for potions, spells and stabbing things a lot.

[@FiIIerguy]

​@AJPickett are going to do a rogue video?

[@shadow50119]

To me exploring a castle, hallway, crypt or the like is equal to exploring tunnels. Exploring the insides of a ginormous beast is equal to a modern day ME. No special bonus to a Ranger or anyone who doesn't have the "Medical" skill. You are basically doing an autopsy at that point.

[@dannyfortin8622]

The reflex is the gold...

[@dannyfortin8622]

I practiced;ARKAN-KAOS Gladiatoism...oh ya!

[@Wastelandman7000]

I would say that it doesn't matter what the terrain is made out of, so long as its like unto what their skill is focused on, then their skill still matters. If someone is skilled in underdark, ruins or cities would be up their alley (pun intended) Ruins are just the underdark with no roof. Cities are underdark only inhabited. But, its the same idea. Maze like areas, subterranean areas (sewers). Dangerous enemies that can attack from any angle. And the inside of a creature is indeed like a cave system. Only more logically designed. I see no reason why the skills useful in one won't work in the other.

[@davidwilliams5283]

Rangers are Awesome.

[@graveyardshift2100]

Primeval Guardian Warforged

[@axepoison255]

1:00 This is Ekundayo. Take a good hard look, get to know the face that is about to wreck your shit.

[@Wastelandman7000]

"Elven vegan yoga masters" LOL

[@Wastelandman7000]

Weretree? Sounds more like a magic Guilli suit. LOL

[@matthewbennett1972]

A Gith horizon walker

[@matthewbennett1972]

I have been a fan of Githyankis since the OG Fiend Folio and have wanted to play one since it became an option the challenge is to make not a shoehorned in character. I had an idea for a Gith Npc who hunted Mind Flayers.one of his magic items was a hat of disguise so he could stay low key. I gave him a deep purple long coat that was made from illithid skin

[@styxdragoncharon4003]

I have met vegan hippie yoga masters... Other than that signature hippie sweat smell they were quite inoffensive. At the point that I ceased to want to be around them, I walked away briskly... I'm sure they couldn't keep up with me if they tried. So what's your issue with them... were you raised by vegan hippie yoga masters? :D

[@dannyfortin8622]

vœdoo mech hellbent zirco'mahih

[@michaelkelligan7931]

AJ,dumped your email address by accident shoot it to me again when you find the time,thanks kiwi....merry christmas man!

[@AJPickett]

[e-mail] you can always find it in the 'About' tab on this channel.

[@michaelkelligan7931]

AJ Pickett thanks man!

[@norbertzacharczuk1064]

Emo-ranger lmao!

[@Rain0and0Thunder]

Maybe you should slow down your talking so you don't stumble over your words so much. Might seem slower but it = out with the same time you take to catch your words and continue on. XD

[@MarshCreature]

Only a monster hunter would look at a dragon and think to him self. Oh my look at all those boots and purses i could make out of it.

[@marvalice3455]

At that point the hunter has become the monster tbh

[@Leafy1-j1l]

@@marvalice3455 Not if it's an evil dragon. I mean, storming a temple,. slaying the acolytes and hauling off any shiny things is usually a nasty thing to do, but not when we're talking about Yuan-Ti.

[@BigusGeekus]

@@marvalice3455 Have you ever heard of a fighting game called Darkstalkers? The only fully human character in the game was basically this, even though she looked like Little Red Riding Hood.

[@marvalice3455]

@@BigusGeekus true enough. I mostly only know the characters from the team up games tho. Lol