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Ranger Class Details | Combat Styles | Traps | Archetypes

Ranger

Source PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 64
For those who relish the thrill of the hunt, there are only predators and prey. Be they scouts, trackers, or bounty hunters, rangers share much in common: unique mastery of specialized weapons, skill at stalking even the most elusive game, and the expertise to defeat a wide range of quarries. Knowledgeable, patient, and skilled hunters, these rangers hound man, beast, and monster alike, gaining insight into the way of the predator, skill in varied environments, and ever more lethal martial prowess. While some track man-eating creatures to protect the frontier, others pursue more cunning game—even fugitives among their own people.

Role: Rangers are deft skirmishers, either in melee or at range, capable of skillfully dancing in and out of battle. Their abilities allow them to deal significant harm to specific types of foes, but their skills are valuable against all manner of enemies.

Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d10.
Starting Wealth: 5d6 x 10 gp (average 175 gp).

Class Skills

The Ranger's class skills are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at each Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features

 Spells Per Day
LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecial1st2nd3rd4th
1st+1+2+2+01st favored enemy, track, wild empathy----
2nd+2+3+3+0Combat style feat----
3rd+3+3+3+1Endurance, 1st favored terrain----
4th+4+4+4+1Hunter's bond0---
5th+5+4+4+12nd favored enemy1---
6th+6/+1+5+5+2Combat style feat1---
7th+7/+2+5+5+2Woodland stride10--
8th+8/+3+6+6+2Swift tracker, 2nd favored terrain11--
9th+9/+4+6+6+3Evasion21--
10th+10/+5+7+7+33rd favored enemy, combat style feat210-
11th+11/+6/+1+7+7+3Quarry211-
12th+12/+7/+2+8+8+4Camouflage221-
13th+13/+8/+3+8+8+43rd favored terrain3210
14th+14/+9/+4+9+9+4Combat style feat3211
15th+15/+10/+5+9+9+54th favored enemy3221
16th+16/+11/+6/+1+10+10+5Improved evasion3321
17th+17/+12/+7/+2+10+10+5Hide in plain sight4321
18th+18/+13/+8/+3+11+11+64th favored terrain, combat style feat4322
19th+19/+14/+9/+4+11+11+6Improved quarry4332
20th+20/+15/+10/+5+12+12+65th favored enemy, master hunter4433

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A ranger is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).

Type (Subtype)
Aberration
Animal
Construct
Dragon
Fey
Humanoid (aquatic)
Humanoid (dwarf)
Humanoid (elf)
Humanoid (giant)
Humanoid (goblinoid)
Humanoid (gnoll)
Humanoid (gnome)
Humanoid (halfling)
Humanoid (human)
Humanoid (orc)
Humanoid (reptilian)
Humanoid (other subtype)
Magical beast
Monstrous humanoid
Ooze
Outsider (air)
Outsider (chaotic)
Outsider (earth)
Outsider (evil)
Outsider (fire)
Outsider (good)
Outsider (lawful)
Outsider (native)
Outsider (water)
Plant
Undead
Vermin

Favored Enemy (Ex): At 1st level, a ranger selects a creature type from the ranger favored enemies table. He gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks against creatures of his selected type. Likewise, he gets a +2 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against them. A ranger may make Knowledge skill checks untrained when attempting to identify these creatures.

At 5th level and every five levels thereafter (10th, 15th, and 20th level), the ranger may select an additional favored enemy. In addition, at each such interval, the bonus against any one favored enemy (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by +2.

If the ranger chooses humanoids or outsiders as a favored enemy, he must also choose an associated subtype, as indicated on the table below. (Note that there are other types of humanoid to choose from—those called out specifically on the table below are merely the most common.) If a specific creature falls into more than one category of favored enemy, the ranger's bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is higher.

Track (Ex): A ranger adds half his level (minimum 1) to Survival skill checks made to follow or identify tracks.

Wild Empathy (Ex): A ranger can improve the initial attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person (see Using Skills). The ranger rolls 1d20 and adds his ranger level and his Charisma bonus to determine the wild empathy check result. The typical domestic animal has a starting attitude of indifferent, while wild animals are usually unfriendly.

To use wild empathy, the ranger and the animal must be within 30 feet of one another under normal visibility conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute, but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.

The ranger can also use this ability to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2, but he takes a –4 penalty on the check.

Combat Style Feat (Ex): At 2nd level, a ranger must select one of two combat styles to pursue: archery or two-weapon combat. The ranger's expertise manifests in the form of bonus feats at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. He can choose feats from his selected combat style, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites.

The benefits of the ranger's chosen style feats apply only when he wears light, medium, or no armor. He loses all benefits of his combat style feats when wearing heavy armor. Once a ranger selects a combat style, it cannot be changed.

The full list of Combat Styles can be found here.

Endurance: A ranger gains Endurance as a bonus feat at 3rd level.

Cold (ice, glaciers, snow, and tundra)
Desert (sand and wastelands)
Forest (coniferous and deciduous)
Jungle
Mountain (including hills)
Plains
Planes (pick one, other than Material Plane)
Swamp
Underground (caves and dungeons)
Urban (buildings, streets, and sewers)
Water (above and below the surface)

Favored Terrain (Ex): At 3rd level, a ranger may select a type of terrain from the Favored Terrains table. The ranger gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival skill checks when he is in this terrain. A ranger traveling through his favored terrain normally leaves no trail and cannot be tracked (though he may leave a trail if he so chooses).

At 8th level and every five levels thereafter, the ranger may select an additional favored terrain. In addition, at each such interval, the skill bonus and initiative bonus in any one favored terrain (including the one just selected, if so desired), increases by +2.

If a specific terrain falls into more than one category of favored terrain, the ranger's bonuses do not stack; he simply uses whichever bonus is higher.

Hunter's Bond (Ex): At 4th level, a ranger forms a bond with his hunting companions. This bond can take one of two forms. Once the form is chosen, it cannot be changed. The first is a bond to his companions. This bond allows him to spend a move action to grant half his favored enemy bonus against a single target of the appropriate type to all allies within 30 feet who can see or hear him. This bonus lasts for a number of rounds equal to the ranger's Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). This bonus does not stack with any favored enemy bonuses possessed by his allies; they use whichever bonus is higher.

The second option is to form a close bond with an animal companion. A ranger who selects an animal companion can choose from the following list: Antelope, Armorfish, Baboon, Badger, Bird (Eagle/Hawk/Owl), Bustard, Camel, Capybara, Cat, Small (Cheetah, Leopard), Constrictor Snake, Dire Rat, Dog, Elk, Falcon, Hobbe Hound, Horse, Kangaroo, Lizard (Giant Gecko), Marsupial Devil, Pony, Ram, Reef Snake, Reef Snake, Reindeer, Shark, Spitting Cobra, Stag, Stingray, Swan, Trumpeter, Thylacine, Venomous Snake, Wolf, Wolfdog, Yak, Zebra. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the ranger may choose from this list instead: Armorfish, Reef Snake, Shark, Stingray. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the ranger on his adventures as appropriate for its kind. A ranger's animal companion shares his favored enemy and favored terrain bonuses.

This ability functions like the druid animal companion ability (which is part of the Nature Bond class feature), except that the ranger's effective druid level is equal to his ranger level – 3.

Spells: Beginning at 4th level, a ranger gains the ability to cast a small number of divine spells, which are drawn from the ranger spell list presented in Spell Lists. A ranger must choose and prepare his spells in advance.

To prepare or cast a spell, a ranger must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a ranger's spell is 10 + the spell level + the ranger's Wisdom modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a ranger can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Ranger. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Wisdom score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells). When Table: Ranger indicates that the ranger gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level, he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Wisdom score for that spell level.

A ranger must spend 1 hour per day in quiet meditation to regain his daily allotment of spells. A ranger may prepare and cast any spell on the ranger spell list, provided that he can cast spells of that level, but he must choose which spells to prepare during his daily meditation.

Through 3rd level, a ranger has no caster level. At 4th level and higher, his caster level is equal to his ranger level – 3.

Woodland Stride (Ex): Starting at 7th level, a ranger may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment.

Thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that are enchanted or magically manipulated to impede motion, however, still affect him.

Swift Tracker (Ex): Beginning at 8th level, a ranger can move at his normal speed while using Survival to follow tracks without taking the normal –5 penalty. He takes only a –10 penalty (instead of the normal –20) when moving at up to twice normal speed while tracking.

Evasion (Ex): When he reaches 9th level, a ranger can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the ranger is wearing light armor, medium armor, or no armor. A helpless ranger does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Quarry (Ex): At 11th level, a ranger can, as a standard action, denote one target within his line of sight as his quarry. Whenever he is following the tracks of his quarry, a ranger can take 10 on his Survival skill checks while moving at normal speed, without penalty. In addition, he receives a +2 insight bonus on attack rolls made against his quarry, and all critical threats are automatically confirmed. A ranger can have no more than one quarry at a time and the creature's type must correspond to one of his favored enemy types. He can dismiss this effect at any time as a free action, but he cannot select a new quarry for 24 hours. If the ranger sees proof that his quarry is dead, he can select a new quarry after waiting 1 hour.

Camouflage (Ex): A ranger of 12th level or higher can use the Stealth skill to hide in any of his favored terrains, even if the terrain doesn't grant cover or concealment.

Improved Evasion (Ex): At 16th level, a ranger's evasion improves. This ability works like evasion, except that while the ranger still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, he henceforth takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless ranger does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): While in any of his favored terrains, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Stealth skill even while being observed.

Improved Quarry (Ex): At 19th level, the ranger's ability to hunt his quarry improves. He can now select a quarry as a free action, and can now take 20 while using Survival to track his quarry, while moving at normal speed without penalty. His insight bonus to attack his quarry increases to +4. If his quarry is killed or dismissed, he can select a new one after 10 minutes have passed.

Master Hunter (Ex): A ranger of 20th level becomes a master hunter. He can always move at full speed while using Survival to follow tracks without penalty. He can, as a standard action, make a single attack against a favored enemy at his full attack bonus. If the attack hits, the target takes damage normally and must make a Fortitude save or die. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the ranger's level + the ranger's Wisdom modifier. A ranger can choose instead to deal an amount of nonlethal damage equal to the creature's current hit points. A successful save negates this damage. A ranger can use this ability once per day against each favored enemy type he possesses, but not against the same creature more than once in a 24-hour period.

Alternate Capstones

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 28
When a character reaches the 20th level of a class, she gains a powerful class feature or ability, sometimes referred to as a capstone. The following section provides new capstones for characters to select at 20th level. A character can select one of the following capstones in place of the capstone provided by her class. Some capstones are for specific classes, while others are for a range of classes that qualify for them. In some cases, a capstone specifies what ability it replaces. A character can’t select a new capstone if she has previously traded away her class capstone via an archetype. Clerics and wizards can receive a capstone at 20th level, despite not having one to begin with.

Great Beast (Su)

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character’s animal companion is a paragon of its kind—a hero and legend in its own right. The animal companion’s Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom scores each increase by 4. This capstone is available to any class with an animal companion.

Old Dog, New Tricks (Ex)

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character shows that a true warrior always has one more surprise the enemy hasn’t seen. The character gains four combat feats. This capstone is available to characters of any class that gains at least four bonus combat feats.

Perfect Body, Flawless Mind (Ex)

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character’s endless training and study has resulted in an unmatched mastery of the self. The character increases her ability scores by a collective total of 8. For example, she can increase one score by 8, or one score by 5 and another by 3, or four scores by 2, and so on. Characters of any class can select this ability.

Seen It Before (Ex)

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 29
At 20th level, the ranger is wise to all the tricks of his prey. The ranger adds his favored enemy bonus as an insight bonus on saves against spells and abilities used by his favored enemies.

The Boss (Ex)

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 30
At 20th level, the character has become more than just a lone hero—she has become one of the senior figures of her field, with powers and responsibilities to match. The character becomes one of the leading figures in some manner of group or organization, as appropriate to the campaign and the setting. A wizard might become the dean of an arcane university or mages’ guild, a fighter could command a mercenary army or a city guard, a cleric might lead a major temple or her own sect, and so forth. The player and the GM should work together to determine the specifics. The character gains the Leadership feat if she does not already have it, and the number of followers that the feat grants is multiplied by 10 (although depending on the campaign and setting, the position may grant other powers as well). If multiple characters in a party select this capstone, the GM may consider pooling them to grant the players a particularly large and powerful organization, such as a small kingdom. Characters of any class can select this ability.

With This Sword (Ex)

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character’s blade has become as well-known as the character herself. The character selects one item she has—preferably something iconic and significant, such as a weapon or arcane bond. The item becomes a minor artifact and gains 100,000 gp worth of new powers. The player and the GM should work together to select the new powers, with an eye towards making something memorable yet campaign-appropriate. Characters of any class can select this ability.

Won’t Stay Dead (Ex)

Source Chronicle of Legends pg. 31
At 20th level, the character becomes a paragon of resilience. Once per week, if the character is killed, petrified, or otherwise removed from play, the character manages to survive by some dint of skill or luck and returns at the end of the combat or the scene (GM’s discretion). The player and the GM should work together to ensure that the method of the character’s survival is at least vaguely plausible, if unlikely. Characters of any class can select this ability.

Favored Class Options

Aphorite (Plane-Hopper's Handbook pg. 15): Add 1 foot to the range of the ranger’s hunter’s bond ability when granting a bonus to allies. This option has no effect unless the ranger has selected it 5 times (or another increment of 5).
Aquatic Elf (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Choose a weapon from the following list: longbow, shortbow, or any weapon with “elven” in its name. Reduce the penalty on ranged attack rolls underwater made with this weapon by 1.
Boggard (Monster Codex pg. 8): Add 1/4 to a single existing favored terrain bonus (maximum +2 per favored terrain).
Catfolk (Advanced Race Guide pg. 92): Choose a weapon from the following list: claws, kukri, longbow, longsword, short spear, or shortbow. Add +1/2 on critical hit confirmation rolls made while using that weapon (maximum bonus of +4). This bonus does not stack with Critical Focus.
Drow (Blood of Shadows pg. 15): Add +1/3 to initiative checks in one of the ranger’s favored terrains.
Duskwalker (Plane-Hopper's Handbook pg. 17): Add 1/5 to the ranger’s favored enemy bonus against undead. The ranger must have favored enemy (undead) to select this option.
Dwarf (Advanced Race Guide pg. 13, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 11): Add a +1/2 bonus on wild empathy checks to influence animals and magical beasts that live underground.
Elf (Advanced Race Guide pg. 23, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 13): Choose a weapon from the following list: longbow, longsword, rapier, shortbow, short sword, or any weapon with "elven" in its name. Add +1/2 on critical hit confirmation rolls made while using that weapon (maximum bonus of +4). This bonus does not stack with Critical Focus.
Fetchling (Advanced Race Guide pg. 109): Add a +1/2 bonus on Perception and Survival checks made on the Plane of Shadow.
Gathlain (Ultimate Wilderness pg. 10): Add 1/4 to the damage dealt by the ranger’s animal companion’s natural attacks.
Ghoran (Ultimate Wilderness pg. 17): Add a +1/4 bonus on initiative checks and Survival checks when the ranger is in a favored terrain.
Gnome (Advanced Race Guide pg. 33, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 15): Add DR 1/magic to the ranger's animal companion. Each additional time the ranger selects this benefit, the DR/magic increases by +1/2 (maximum DR 10/magic). If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new companion gains this DR.
Goblin (Advanced Race Guide pg. 115, Goblins of Golarion pg. 31): Gain a +1/2 bonus on damage dealt to dogs (and doglike creatures) and horses (and horselike creatures).
Grippli (Advanced Race Guide pg. 190): Add a +1 racial bonus on Swim skill checks. When this bonus reaches +8, the ranger gains a swim speed of 15 feet (this does not grant the ranger another +8 racial bonus on Swim checks).
Half-Elf (Advanced Race Guide pg. 43, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 17): Add +1 skill rank to the ranger's animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his companion, the new companion gains these bonus skill ranks.
Half-Elf (Horror Adventures pg. 40): The duration of the ranger’s companion bond increases by 1 round.
Halfling (Advanced Race Guide pg. 63, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 21): Add a +1/4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against the ranger’s favored enemies.
Half-Orc (Advanced Race Guide pg. 53, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 19): Add +1 hit point to the ranger’s animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points.
Hobgoblin (Advanced Race Guide pg. 122): Add +1/4 to a single existing favored enemy bonus (maximum bonus +1 per favored enemy).
Human (Advanced Race Guide pg. 73, Advanced Player's Guide pg. 23): Add +1 hit point or +1 skill rank to the ranger’s animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his companion, the new companion gains these bonus hit points or skill ranks.
Kitsune (Blood of the Beast pg. 12): Gain 1/6 of a new Magical TailARG feat. Any kitsune character can choose this bonus upon gaining a level in her favored class.
Kobold (Advanced Race Guide pg. 133): Add +1/4 to the number of opponents the ranger may select when using hunter’s bond to grant a bonus to allies. All selected creatures must be of the same type.
Locathah (Blood of the Sea pg. 11): Add 1 skill rank to the ranger’s animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus skill ranks.
Merfolk (Advanced Race Guide pg. 194): Add +1 hit point to the ranger’s animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points.
Nagaji (Blood of the Beast pg. 16): Add 1 skill rank to the ranger’s constrictor snake or viper snake animal companion.
Orc (Advanced Race Guide pg. 139): Add +1 hit point to the ranger's animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points.
Oread (Advanced Race Guide pg. 145): Add +1/4 to the natural armor bonus of the ranger’s animal companion. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains this bonus.
Ratfolk (Advanced Race Guide pg. 151): Add +1 to an animal companion’s CMD when adjacent to the ranger. If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new animal companion gains this bonus.
Shabti (Plane-Hopper's Handbook pg. 23): Add 1/4 to a single existing favored terrain bonus (maximum bonus +1 per favored terrain).
Strix (Advanced Race Guide pg. 200): Add +1/2 round to the duration of the bonus granted to the companions of the ranger using his hunter’s bond ability.
Suli (Advanced Race Guide pg. 203): Add +1 to acid resistance, cold resistance, electricity resistance, or fire resistance.
Svirfneblin (Advanced Race Guide pg. 204): Add DR 1/magic to the ranger’s animal companion. Each additional time the ranger selects this benefit, the DR/magic increases +1/2 (maximum DR 10/magic). If the ranger ever replaces his animal companion, the new companion gains this DR.
Vanara (Advanced Race Guide pg. 206): Add +1/4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against the ranger’s favored enemies.
Vine Leshy (Ultimate Wilderness pg. 22): Add a +1/2 bonus to Knowledge (nature) checks in the ranger’s favored terrain.
Wayang (Blood of Shadows pg. 11): Gain 1/6 of an additional favored terrain. Gaining a favored terrain in this manner does not increase the bonuses provided by his other favored terrains.