T h e to p ic o f w h at m ak es a ra n g e r w h at h e is is h otly d eb at ed. R a th e r th a n arg u e p h ilo so p h y and te n e ts o f g a m e d esig n , w e h ave p re se n te d a n e w fo rm o f th e sam e class, so p lay ers an d D M s can d e te rm in e fo r th e m se lv e s w h at best fits th e ir ca m p a ig n s. In ad d itio n , th e g u erilla, h u n te r and sco u t all pay h e e d to a sim ila r n ich e , e x p a n d in g th e ro le o f th is o fte n m isu n d e rsto o d o r m isre p re se n te d class.
A d v e n tu r e s : M e rc e n a ry ra n g e rs are m a n y th in g s to m a n y p eop le. T h e y are g u id es and p ro te c to rs, su rvivalists and m o u n ta in m e n , tra ck e rs and h u n te rs, fo re ste rs and m e rce n a rie s, a d v e n tu re rs and forw ard o b serv ers. In e v ery case, th e ra n g e r is so m e o n e w h o ca n strik e o u t o n h is ow n and su rv ive alon e.
C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s : M e rc e n a r y ra n g e rs are c o m p e te n t sw o rd sm e n , a rc h e rs, and su rvivalists. T h e y ca n su rv ive in th e w ild w ith o u t so m u c h as a k nife and a p air o f leggings. Yet, th o se a d v e n tu ro u s few w h o w ear a rm o r an d c a r ry a bow, h ave b een k n o w n to live o ff th e land fo r years. In so m e in sta n ce s, ra n g e rs m ay call u p o n th e fo rce s o f n atu re fo r aid. B u t th is is n o t alw ays tru e .
A l i g n m e n t : T h e n o tio n o f m o st ra n g e rs b e in g g o o d is a fallacy. S o m e are o p p o rtu n ists w h o use th e ir skills to aid h u n te rs and p o a c h e rs o r to h u n t d ow n rare beasts. O th e rs take ad van tage o f th e ir k n o w led g e o f trap s and pitfalls to lu re in tru d e rs to th e ir d o o m . O th e rs still b e c o m e elite tra ck e rs, o r e x p e rt tra p p e rs sellin g th e ir se rv ice s to th e h ig h e st bidder.
Ta b l e 2-6: Th e Me r c e n a r y Ra n g e r
Base Fort Ref Will
Level Attack Save Save Save Special
1 +1 +2 +0 +0 Favored enemy, favored terrain, track 2 +2 +3 +0 +0 Ranger option 3 +3 +3 +1 +1 Favored terrain 2 4 +4 +4 +1 +1 Favored enemy 2 5 +5 +4 +1 +1 Ranger option 6 +6/+1 +5 +2 +2 7 +7/+2 +5 +2 +2 Bonus feat 8 +8/+3 +6 +2 +2 Favored terrain 2, ranger option 9 +9/+4 +6 +3 +3 Favored enemy 3 10 +10/+5 +7 +3 +3 11 +11/+6/+1 +7 +3 +3 Ranger option 12 +12/+7/+2 +8 +4 +4 Bonus feat 13 +13/+8/+3 +8 +4 +4 Favored terrain 4 14 +14/+9/+4 +9 +4 +4 Ranger option, favored enemy 4 15 +15/+10/+5 +9 +5 +5 16 +16/+11/+6/+1 +10 +5 +5
17 +17/+12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +5 Bonus feat, ranger op 18 +18/+13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +6 Favored terrain 5 19 +19/+14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +6 Favored enemy 5 20 +20/+15/+10/+5 +12 +6 +6 Call of the wild, rangi
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C l a s s e s
R e l ig i o n : T h e role o i re lig io n in ra n g e r life is h otly d e b ated . S in ce th is is th e b o o k o n m e rc e n a rie s , the ra n g e rs o f th is e n v iro n m e n t d o n o t h ave an y sp ecial alle g ia n ce to o n e g o d o r a n o th e r. M ostly, ra n g e rs d ep en d on th e m se lv e s fo r e v e ry th in g and th u s h ave little use fo r the gods, b ut o p in io n s vary.
B a c k g r o u n d : R a n g e r b a c k g r o u n d s a re n u m e ro u s . T rain in g , su rvival, sh e e r fo rce o f w ill, and a h u n d re d o th e r p ath s lead to th is m o st so lita ry o f lifestyles. D ep en d in g on his ch ild h o o d o r a d o le sce n ce , th e lifestyle o t a ra n g e r can be m an y th in g s.
R a c e s : E lv es and h u m a n s m ak e g re a t ra n g e rs, b u t m o st any ra ce has its o w n v ariety o f h u n te r, in clu d in g d w arves, b ugbears, o res, and gnolls.
C l a s s e s : M e rc e n a ry ra n g e rs are used to liv in g alon e. T h ey g et a lo n g w ith p eop le w h en th e y h ave to, b ut sh u n th o se w h o a re se t in th e ir w ays o r w h o p re a ch a ce rta in lifestyle. T h e y re s p e ct th o se w h o ca n take ca re o f th e m selves an d m o st o fte n en jo y th e co m p a n y o f b arb arians, fig h ters, h u n te rs, ro g u e s an d sco u ts. H ig h an d m ig h ty ind ividu als w ith a s tric t co d e o f e th ics are to be ad m ired — at a d ista n ce . R an gers h ave n o use fo r th o se w h o h id e b eh in d m o ra lity and le t o th e rs d o th e ir d irty w ork .
GAME RULE INFORMATION
M e rc e n a ry ra n g e rs have all th e fo llow in g g a m e statistics. A b i l it i e s : D e x te rity and W isd o m are im p o rta n t fo r ran g ers. T h e ir lig h t a rm o r req u ires th a t th e y b e agile and the n eed to be aw are o f th e ir su rro u n d in g s req u ires a k een in sig h t. B e ca u se th is v ersio n o f th e ra n g e r d oes n o t alw ays ca st spells, th e re is n o W is d o m sco re re q u ire m e n t.
A l i g n m e n t : M e rc e n a ry ra n g e rs c a n be an y alig n m e n t. H ow ev er, th e m isco n ce p tio n th a t ra n g e rs w h o h u n t th e ir o w n are evil is n ot alw ays tru e . E v e ry ru le w as m ad e to be b ro k en .
H i t D ie : dlO.
Class Skills
T h e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r’s class skills (an d th e key ability fo r each sk ill) a re A n im al E m p a th y (C h a , e x clu siv e skill), C lim b (S tr), C o n c e n tra tio n (C o n ), C ra ft (In t), H an d le A n im al (C h a ), H eal (W is), H id e (D e x ), In tu it D ire ctio n (W is), Ju m p (S tr), K n o w led g e (n a tu re ) (In t), L iste n (W is), M o v e S ilen tly (D e x ), P ro fessio n (W is), R id e (D e x ), S e a rch ( I n t), S p o t (W is ), S w im (S tr), U se R o p e (D e x ), and W ild e rn e ss L o re (W is ) S k ill P o i n ts a t 1 s t le v e l: (4 + In t M o d ifie r) x 4 S k ill P o i n ts a t E a c h A d d i t i o n a l L e v e l: 4 + Int m od ifier. % Class Features
All o f th e fo llow in g are class featu res o f th e m e rce n a ry ran ger.
W e a p o n a n d A r m o r P r o f i c i e n c y : A m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r is p ro ficie n t w ith all sim p le and m a rtia l w eap o n s, all light and m e d iu m a rm o r, an d shields.
T r a c k : A m e r c e n a ry ra n g e r g ain s T rack as a b on u s feat. F a v o r e d E n e m y : A t 1st level, a m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r m ay s e le c t a typ e o f cre a tu re o r o rg a n iz a tio n as a favored en em y. D ue to his e x te n siv e stu d y o f h is foes an d tra in in g in th e p ro p e r te ch n iq u e s fo r co m b a tin g th e m , th e ra n g e r g ain s +1 to all c h e c k s m ad e ag ain st th a t c re a tu re o r o rg a n izatio n . T h e +1 c o u n ts fo r b oth a tta ck an d d am ag e rolls, e v en a g ain st c o n s tru c ts , u n d ead , an d o th e r e n e m ie s. T h e d am ag e b o n u s c o u n ts fo r ran g ed w eap o n s as w ell, but o n ly ag ain st targ ets w ith in 3 0 It. A t 4 th level and e v e ry 5 levels th e re a fte r (9 th , 1 4 th , 1 9 th ) th e m e r c e n a ry ra n g e r g a in s an ad d itio n al +1 to h is b on u s, o r se le cts a n o th e r fav o red en em y. I f a n o th e r e n e m y is se le cte d , th e b on u s g ain ed applies o n ly to th a t en em y. F o r e x a m p le , a 1 5 th level ra n g e r co u ld e ith e r h ave a +3 vs. d rag o n s, o r a +1 vs. g o b lin o id s, g ian ts, and b easts, o r a +2 vs. fey an d a +1 vs. v e rm in .
A m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r’s favored e n e m y ty p e s follow th e sam e ru les as th e PHB, e x c e p t th at h e n eed n o t be evil to c h o o s e h is o w n typ e o r ra ce as a favored en em y. A h u m an r a n g e r w h o le a rn s to h u n t h u m a n s m ig h t be a b o u n ty h u n te r o r tra c k e r w h o re c o v e rs crim in a ls as easily as an assassin o r th u g p re y in g u p o n th e w eak.
Ta b l e 2-7: Me r c e n a r y Ra n g e r Fa v o r e d En e m i e s
Type Examples Aberrations Beholders
Animals Bears (includes all dire animals) Beasts Owl bears
Constructs Golems
Dragons Black dragon, dragonne, chimera Elementals Elementals of all types, xorns Fey Dryads
Giants Ogres Humanoid type *
Magical Beasts Displacer beasts Oozes Gelatinous cubes Organizations it
Outsider type *
Plants Shambling mounds Shapechangers Werewolves Undead Zombies Vermin Giant spiders
* Mercenary rangers may not select ‘humanoid,’
'organization' or 'outsider’ as a favored enemy, but they may select a more narrowly defined type of humanoid (such as goblinkind, humans, or reptilian humanoids), organization (church of the sun, order of the knights of white tower, or zenik’s grey mages) or outsider (such as demons and devils, slaadi, genie-kind, etc.) A mercenary ranger may select his own race as a favored enemy, no matter his alignment.
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l a s s e sF a v o r e d T e r r a i n : A t 1st level, a m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r m ay se le ct o n e typ e o f te rrito ry as h is Favored T errain fro m th e list below. D ue to h is e x te n siv e k n o w led g e o f h is ‘h o m e g ro u n d ’ and th e q uirks o f th e ‘lay o f th e land ’ th e m e r c e n a ry ra n g e r g ain s a +2 c irc u m s ta n c e b on u s to C lim b , H id e , In tu it D ire ctio n , L iste n , M o v e S ilently, S earch , S p o t, a n d W ild e rn e s s L o re c h e c k s m a d e w ith in h is favored k ind o f te rra in . A t 3rd level and e v e ry 5 levels th e re a fte r (8 th , 1 3 th , 1 8 th ) th e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r gain s m o re k n o w led g e ab ou t h is favored te rra in and b e co m e s m o re ad ep t at o p e ra tin g w ith in it. A t 3rd level, th e m e r c e n a ry ra n g e r is h a rd e r to tra ck w ith in h is n ativ e terrain . T h o se a tte m p tin g to tra ck th e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r o r a p arty led by h im th ro u g h th e te rra in add 5 to th e D C.
A t 8 th level, th e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r g a in s in creased m o v e m e n t w ith in his fav o red te rra in . O v e rla n d m o v e m e n t by th e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r o r a p arty led by h im im p ro v es th e te rra in m o d ifie r by o n e step th ro u g h his favored terrain . T rack less is co n sid e re d road m o v e m e n t fo r a m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r, an d road m o v e m e n t is co n sid e re d highw ay. I f alread y o n th e high w ay, th e re is n o ad d itio n al benefit.
A t 1 3th level, th e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r g ain s th e T rack less S tep ability w ith in h is fav o red te rra in ; h e ca n n o lo n g e r be tra ck e d th ro u g h h is ‘h o m e g ro u n d .' A t 1 8 th level, the m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r g ain s a + 2 c irc u m s ta n c e b on u s to all In itia tiv e ch e c k s w h ile in h is fav o red terrain .
- L Ta b l e 2-8: Me r c e n a r y Ra n c e r Fa v o r e d Te r r a i n Ty p e s Type Aquatic Desert Forest Hill Marsh Mountains Plains Underground Urban Example Coral reef Sand dunes Woodlands, jungles Foothills Swamp, bog Alpine reaches Farmland Caverns, dungeons Cities, backalleys R a n g e r O p t io n : A m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r ca n s e le ct o n e R a n g e r O p tio n at 2 n d level, a n o th e r at 5 th level, and e v e ry 3 levels th ereafter. (1 1 th , 1 4 th , e tc.). T h e o p tio n s are listed b elow an d u n less o th e rw ise stated , th e sam e o p tion m ay be c h o se n m o re th a n o n c e .
Option 1: T h e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r ch o o s e s o n e feat fro m th e list o f feats below. H e m ay take th is o p tio n m o re th an o n c e , h ow ev er, e a ch tim e he m u st c h o o s e a n e w feat fro m th is list. T h is feat ca n o n ly b e u sed , so lo n g as th e ra n g e r w ears lig h t o r n o arm o r.
T h e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r m u st c h o o s e fro m th e fo llow in g list o f b on u s feats: A le rtn e ss, A m b id e x te rity (app lies to d ou b le w eap o n s), B lin d -F ig h t, C o m b a t C a stin g (o n ly after c h o o s in g o p tio n 9, b e lo w ), C o m b a t R e fle x e s, D od ge (M ob ility, S p rin g A tta ck ), E n d u ra n c e , E x p e rtise , G reat
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l a s s e sF o rtitu d e , Im p ro v e d In itia tiv e , L ig h tn in g R eflexes, Poin t Blan k S h o t (F a r S h o t, P recise S h o t, Rapid S h o t, S h o t on th e R u n ), Q u ic k D raw , R u n , T w o -W e a p o n F ig h tin g (ap p lies to d o u b le w e a p o n s) (Im p ro v e d T w o -W e a p o n F ig h tin g (app lies to d ou b le w e a p o n s)), W e a p o n F in e sse *, W e a p o n F o c u s *
S o m e o f th e b on u s feats available to a m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r c a n n o t be acq u ired u n til th e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r has gain ed o n e o r m o re p rereq u isite feats; th e se feats are listed p ar e n th e tic a lly a fte r th e p re re q u isite feat. A m e r c e n a ry ra n g e r m ay c h o o s e a feat m a rk e d w ith an asterisk (*) m o re th a n o n c e , b ut it m u st b e fo r a d ifferen t w e a p o n e a ch tim e.
O p tion 2: T h e m e rc e n a ry ra n g e r b en efits fro m 1 0 ft.
e x tra b ase m o v e m e n t so lo n g as h e w ears lig h t o r n o