Nov 15, 2018 3:33 am
Ranger: Predator
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Nov 19, 2018 9:27 am
Are you restricted to one monstrosity to emulate? Or can you choose Yeti's Howl at 3rd level, and then Wyvern’s Aggression at 7th level? The language seems to suggest the latter.
Personally, for me, the former is far more satisfying thematically even though it's restricting. If it's the latter and I'm playing a Predator I might reflavor my selections to fit my chosen monstrosity.
Personally, for me, the former is far more satisfying thematically even though it's restricting. If it's the latter and I'm playing a Predator I might reflavor my selections to fit my chosen monstrosity.
Nov 19, 2018 2:51 pm
We have it set up so that at each level you can choose whichever monster you like. I'm certainly a fan of reflavoring, but here are some of our reasons for making it flexible:
1). This ranger is supposed to be adaptive. As a campaign progresses and the party meets new monsters, the ranger can decide what techniques they want to incorporate into their personal style. We're still trying to figure out if we can fit in an ability every Predator gets that lets them make a quick study of a foe and gain something useful from that, but we don't want it to feel too much like the Monster Slayer in Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
2). We've tried to stagger some abilities (very difficult and still sorting this out) so that if a ranger wants to specialize in a particular series of abilities (such as poisons or magical gazes) that they can 'collect' those as they level up. So there are some themes beyond just by monster.
3). We specifically tried to word abilities so that they do fit nicely and thematically if you do take the same monster every time, but also wouldn't be useless if you mixed monsters.
For example: The Bulette is really good at falling on things and knocking them prone. If you keep going with Bulette, you get some other nifty abilities like meld into stone and limited tremorsense, etc. But if you really want to double-down on falling on stuff, the Phase Spider's Climb (or the Wyvern's Flight) can help you get into position to do that more easily/effectively. And if you're attacking a prone creature with advantage, that can allow you to use the Phase Spider's Bite. The combination of abilities suggests that Predator is specifically looking at monsters in order to help them to fight in a particular way.
1). This ranger is supposed to be adaptive. As a campaign progresses and the party meets new monsters, the ranger can decide what techniques they want to incorporate into their personal style. We're still trying to figure out if we can fit in an ability every Predator gets that lets them make a quick study of a foe and gain something useful from that, but we don't want it to feel too much like the Monster Slayer in Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
2). We've tried to stagger some abilities (very difficult and still sorting this out) so that if a ranger wants to specialize in a particular series of abilities (such as poisons or magical gazes) that they can 'collect' those as they level up. So there are some themes beyond just by monster.
3). We specifically tried to word abilities so that they do fit nicely and thematically if you do take the same monster every time, but also wouldn't be useless if you mixed monsters.
For example: The Bulette is really good at falling on things and knocking them prone. If you keep going with Bulette, you get some other nifty abilities like meld into stone and limited tremorsense, etc. But if you really want to double-down on falling on stuff, the Phase Spider's Climb (or the Wyvern's Flight) can help you get into position to do that more easily/effectively. And if you're attacking a prone creature with advantage, that can allow you to use the Phase Spider's Bite. The combination of abilities suggests that Predator is specifically looking at monsters in order to help them to fight in a particular way.
Nov 19, 2018 3:09 pm
Put that way, that makes a lot of sense! Reminds me of those old kung fu movies where the warrior sees an animal and tries to emulate it. The way it's set up also allows for an incredible amount of flexibility! I already like how different Galtak and Tip are even though they both chose Displacer Beast's Tentacles!
Jan 27, 2020 1:29 am
Are we starting from scratch with new characters or are we using the characters we already developed? I started with a (Wyvern) Predator Ranger.
Jan 27, 2020 3:18 am
Hi Aldrusian, you're welcome to go with the same one. As I recall, you didn't get much chance to try him out! I've switched the settings to allow each player up to 5 characters for now, so you can have several at hand if you want.
You might want to check the class details again to see if anything has changed there in the time since you made your ranger.
Good to have you back!
You might want to check the class details again to see if anything has changed there in the time since you made your ranger.
Good to have you back!