Ranger

Rangers are of a different breed. Even among their own races, they seem somewhat more aloof from their peers. Any given ranger is more likely to find companionship among other rangers than those of their own race. This is not to say that they are inherently unfriendly, but they are typically more likely to keep to themselves.

Rangers the world over are renown for their affinity for nature. Though it is usually a bit more of a practical relationship than the spiritual relationship that the druids have. Some rangers are capable of casting spells using natural magic, but many eschew that in favor of physical and martial training.

Rangers are consummate trackers and hunters. They usually pick subsets of creatures to study, learning their behaviour, anatomy and physiology. They become experts at tracking, hunting and killing those of that particular subset. A ranger’s favored targets are in for a nasty surprise if they take that ranger’s threat lightly.

A ranger is often accompanied by an animal companion, similar to a druid. They use their companion’s senses and abilities to compliment their own, forming a synergistic team. A ranger is typically less likely to employ large animals, as they often need agile, stealthy, and lithe companions to keep up with the ranger’s athletic antics.

Unlike a druid, a rangers are renown for their specialized martial prowess. They can be extremely proficient in archery, two weapon fighting, or a combination of both. Ranger archers are known to hone their craft to a level of proficiency that other classes would struggle to achieve. A fighter may reach the level of rapidity and precision of a ranger, but the fighter who would specialize to that level in archery is rare indeed. They are the standard to which other archers are measured, and ranger archers that meet often compete between each other, their rivalry bringing the best of their skills to the fore.

Rangers who specialize in two weapon fighting are skillful masters of their technique. They have a natural ability, which they use to turn themselves into whirlwinds of steel and blood. The rangers fly into melee combat as if possessed. They are able to turn their foes into mincemeat in a flurry of strikes or cuts. Rangers maintain a cool mentality during combat, being the eye of their hurricane of blades or bludgeons. They may not be the unshakeable armored juggernauts, but they are the strikers that deal massive damage to unprepared foes.

Rangers are a benefit to any party they join. They may find a myriad of reasons to become adventurers. Not only do they provide a tangible benefit as warriors and scouts, but they also provide other benefits to the party. A party traveling through the wilderness need not have fear of becoming lost when a ranger walks among them, nor should they fear going hungry. A ranger is often the designated hunter, providing fresh game for the party, which they also clean and cook with a masterful hand. A ranger can easily find a welcome spot in any adventuring party.