RANGERS: Non-Conventional Settings
The description of the Ranger class in the 2014 D&D Player’s Handbook can seem limiting. In fact, it could eliminate the class entirely as an option in some campaigns: “Far from the bustle of cities and towns, past the hedges that shelter the most distant farms from the terrors of the wild, amid the dense-packed trees of trackless forests and across the wide and empty plains, rangers keep their unending watch.” That sounds like a badass description for someone in a wilderness campaign, but what happens if your DM’s adventure takes you from city to city, or traveling along the ocean on a pirate ship?
Here are some ideas to get your imagination flowing if you want to play a 2014 Ranger in a non-wilderness setting.
WHAT IS A RANGER?
When you break it down to its core, the Ranger is an expert martial fighter with a knack for nature magic. Within those parameters, they’re usually good at range with a bow or up close with a sword or two. They’re known to make friends with and utilize beasts. They’re great at tracking and hunting with abilities to help them move with great speed and stealth.
If you forget the “wilderness” part previously mentioned, the description above can be utilized in all kinds of settings. Your Ranger knows how to survive while looking out for the little guy. And that’s a talent highly valuable in an adventuring party. Let’s take a look at the Ranger in non-wilderness settings.
THE URBAN RANGER
The concrete jungle can be just as untamed as a green forest. Whether you’re a bounty hunter, city guard, faction spy, or criminal, a Ranger has plenty of options.
As far as beasts go, there are plenty of alley cats that blend into the background and provide intel for you. In that same vein, pigeons can get a great aerial vantage point, and rats can find you passage through the sewer system. A mangy street mut or a majestic mastiff can be your companion in battle, providing a distraction or attacking your foe.
Go-to spells like Hunter’s Mark, Longstrider, Jump, Fog Cloud, and of course, Pass Without Trace make it easy for you to find your quarry as you leap from rooftop to rooftop, hide behind crates, and dodge the hustle and bustle of a town that could be considered difficult terrain for others.
If you want a mark to lead you directly to their hidden base, you can have a stealthy rat place a tiny object on them, let them think they got away from you, and then you can follow them from a safe distance after casting Locate Object and using it as a homing beacon.
THE RANGER OF THE SEA
If you find yourself in a campaign set in open waters, there’s still plenty of ways a Ranger can make an impact. The ocean is filled with wildlife, as is the sky above.
Schools of fish and crabs are waiting to make friends with you. Dolphins, whales, octopus and sharks can also come to your aid. Seagulls can warn you of danger from the skies. You can also use them as a companion in combat or have a small to medium beast share your quarters on the ship.
As far as spells go, you can flavor Ensnaring Strike to use bountiful kelp. The piercing damage from Hail of Thorns can come from shards of seashells. Barkskin can cover the creature in armor that resemble barnacles.
When it comes to ship-to-ship combat, the Flame Arrows spell can cause immense damage. You can prevent enemy spell casters from wreaking havoc with the Silence spell at a range of 120 feet. The same range can keep your enemies in the dark with Fog Cloud. If you need to board another ship, Jump is only a 1st Level spell and allows you to triple your jump distance. From there, your martial prowess comes into play as you slash away with a sword.
For exploration, Air Bubble lasts 24 hours, can be cast on multiple people at higher levels, and does not require Concentration. It’s the perfect option for going underwater to find treasure. And with a range of 60 feet, it can be crucial in saving a friend who fell overboard. In combination with Locate Object, you can always be sure where valuable oysters or sunken gold coins can be found before even diving in the water.