Hello all,
Been a long time since I've taken part in a gaming forum, bear with me!
Just wondering if anyone has interest in helping me convert the old Warcraft 3 Dark Ranger hero into a Pathfinder Ranger variant or archetype. Or if anyone has seen one around the boards before. I've searched around for one, and I know there's an old Sword and Sorcery World of Warcraft Hordes Player's Guide detailing a prestige class that might be a good foundation, but I would like something more up to date.
Thank you!
Be well,
The Dark Prince
I've actually attempted at turning it into a full 20-level class (before I discovered Pathfinder) and after Pathfinder came out it became an Alternate. I have also thought about turning it into an archetype, which might be better. I have to look around for it, but I'm game for collaborating.
Great! Thank you :) I would love to see what you came up with or collaborate! Been a while since I've made a class.
One thing I did was have Black Arrow be their primary ability, replacing the PrC's ranged sneak attack. The basis for Black Arrow came from the Undead Sorcerer Bloodline ability, Grave Touch.
Here's the gist of it:
Starting at 1st level, you can make a ranged attack with a specially imbued arrow that causes a living creature to become shaken for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your ranger level (minimum 1). If you successfully strike a shaken creature with this ability, it becomes frightened for 1 round if it has fewer Hit Dice than your ranger level. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
At higher levels (perhaps 10th or so), when an enemy affected by Black Arrow dies, a skeleton could be summoned from it's bones.
Also, remove the Hunter's Bond ability and give them access to the Cleric's Death Domain and Undead Subdomain spells.
Hello,
I like the idea of having Black Arrow be their primary ability, and replacing the sneak attack, though I would have added the Black Arrows and replaced sneak attack with yet another ability.
I like the Slayer's studied target, it fits my view of a shadowy ranger sniping Black Arrows at targets, raising skeletons and charming other targets, sowing confusion and destruction before melting away. The bonuses to skills further this concept, as the ranger will continue to harry and skirmish an enemy band with these tactics till they are whittled away to nothing.
I like your idea of replacing Hunter's Bond, and the access to those domains, it's a solid quick fix to spell access and fits the flavor of a ranger disconnected with nature.
Did you bother to create special mechanics for the iconic Charm power of the Dark Ranger in the original games, or did you leave that up to spells?
What about the Drain Life power?
I was also thinking about some kind of added damage mechanic for the Black Arrows, but that might be too much. Though they are a finite resource...
-TDP
My original idea had them deal an extra 1d6 at 1st, scaling up to 5d6 by 20th. Ultimately I dropped it and just made it enhance the arrows.
Now, what we COULD do is use the Elven Archer from Kobold Press as a better base. Perhaps as an archetype of the Elven Archer.
As for the Charm, I was thinking of adding charm person and dominate person at 1st and 4th spell levels, respectively.
Drain life would most likely be a spell, or perhaps a ranged ability similar to the antipaladin's touch of corruption.
Oh thanks for the link I don't think I've seen that class before! I'm going to check this out and get back to you! Thanks :)
How's this? Just some rough ideas for names/fluff and a little crunch.
Rangers are a common cog in every society, found plying their trade in the deepest stretches of forest among the monstrous gnolls, in the scouting forces of imperial armies, and among the common dales and villages.
But a darker sect of rangers also exist, a group of rangers dedicated to understanding the hidden, predatory side of nature.
Mastering the art of stealth is the first step every predator must take, among whom the dark rangers reign supreme. Dark Rangers make short work of intruders with their deadly combat grace and marksmanship.
Dark rangers commune with the cruel and hidden aspects of nature, which empowers them with dark spells and baneful abilities. Dark rangers also learn to master the fears and weaknesses of their enemies and wield them as surgeon wields a scalpel.
Role: Dark rangers are at their best when they remain on the periphery of an engagement, harassing the enemy with spells of terror and arrows that turn one-time allies into undead monstrosities. Though dark rangers prefer hit-and-run tactics, their powerfully imbued arrows provide a source of damage that the enemy will not quickly forget.
Black Arrows:
Starting at 1st level, you can make a ranged attack with a specially imbued arrow that causes a living creature to become shaken for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your ranger level (minimum 1). Starting at 3rd level, targets hit by a Black Arrow become frightened for 1 round, as long as the creature’s Hit Die do not exceed your Dark Ranger levels.
At 10th level, enemies struck down by your Black Arrows rise again as skeletons, as per the Animate Dead spell, with a spell duration equal to one minute per caster level (see Spellcasting).
You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
Predator’s Grace:
A dark ranger is well practiced in the hunt, coupling this with a sinister knowledge on the inner workings of creatures results in viciously precise maneuvering and attacks. As a move action, a dark ranger can study an opponent and gain a +1 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks attempted against that opponent, and a +1 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against it. The DCs of dark ranger class abilities against that opponent increase by 1. A dark ranger can only maintain these bonuses against one opponent at a time; these bonuses remain in effect until either the opponent is dead or the slayer studies a new target.
At 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th levels, the bonuses on weapon attack rolls, damage rolls, and skill checks and to dark ranger DCs against a studied target increase by 1. In addition, at each such interval, the dark ranger is able to maintain these bonuses against an additional studied target at the same time. The dark ranger may discard this connection to a studied target as a free action, allowing her to study another target in its place.
At 7th level, a dark ranger can study an opponent as a move or swift action.
Unseelie Runes:
Beginning at 9th level, Dark Rangers gain the ability to imbue arrows (no other weapons) with dark, ambient fey energies once per day. She must spend 15 min. communing with the darker spirits of nature to gain this ability; at the end of the ritual, she imbues up to 50 arrows with an enhancement of her choice.
At 9th level, she may imbue any ability up to a +1 enhancement. Every 3 levels thereafter, the bonus increases by +1.
The dark ranger may spend these bonuses as he sees fit. For example, a 12th-level dark ranger could enhance her arrows with a +2 bonus, or she could enhance them with a +1 bonus and the flaming ability. Once the abilities are set, they cannot be changed until the next day's ritual. Unlike when crafting magical weapons, the dark ranger need not invest an initial +1 enhancement bonus before imbuing the arrows with special properties. For example, a 12th-level dark ranger could imbue her arrows with bane and flaming.
A dark ranger can have an arrow that is both ensorcelled as a Black Arrow and inscribed with Unseelie Runes.
These enchantments vanish at the end of each day.
I like it. Which class are you using as the base, Ranger or Elven Archer?
Mostly Elven Archer. I feel that the general build, health and such, help maintain the Dark Ranger's focus as a ranged specialist.
Anything else you can think of to add?
Cheers
TDP
So I started looking back into my Dark Ranger archetype, and I think making it similar to the Mystic Archer archetype for Elven Archer seems best.
Change the spell-casting to Int-based. Give them Dark Lore instead of Mystic Lore, and pull some ideas from witch hexes (charm, misfortune, etc) and the death mage and switch out the nature-themed spells to necromantic spells (the Animate Dead chain from Kobold Press or the Dance Macabre chain from Rogue Genius' Death Mage would be perfect replacements for the Summon Nature's Ally chain).
Swap out Knowledge (nature) for Knowledge (religion) and Handle Animal for Intimidate sound like good replacements also.
As for black arrow, perhaps have it either replace Precision or build upon it. I think there should be a good Capstone, too. Elven Archer's bonus feat for 20th level is meh.
I was experimenting with swapping out every occurrence of the elven archer's bonus feat with a Dark Lore option... bonus feats would be an option for Dark Lore. When I get a chance later I can post which hexes (paizo and 3pp) and death mage abilities I was thinking would translate well for my dark ranger.
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Awesome to see the Elven Archer class being used as the base for this! I never played WoW, but this looks like a cool conversion!
FYI, there is a lot of additional archer and ranger related goodness, including the Spell-less Ranger class, in the New Paths Compendium from Kobold Press (14 5-star ratings!).
If you are a fan or archers and/or rangers, you should definitely check it out :)
Resurrection!!! Thanks for all the help y'all! Will be posting updates soon!
Hello all,
Been a long time since I've taken part in a gaming forum, bear with me!
Just wondering if anyone has interest in helping me convert the old Warcraft 3 Dark Ranger hero into a Pathfinder Ranger variant or archetype. Or if anyone has seen one around the boards before. I've searched around for one, and I know there's an old Sword and Sorcery World of Warcraft Hordes Player's Guide detailing a prestige class that might be a good foundation, but I would like something more up to date.
Thank you!
Be well,
The Dark Prince
WOW D20 had a Dark Ranger PrC as I remember, an invention of Sylvannas when she discovered that her nature powers no longer worked in her undead state. That might serve as a springboard.
Lol ya I know, read my OP a bit closer mate. Thanks though ;) been working on a class using a lot of it for a skeleton.
Awesome to see the Elven Archer class being used as the base for this! I never played WoW, but this looks like a cool conversion!
FYI, there is a lot of additional archer and ranger related goodness, including the Spell-less Ranger class, in the New Paths Compendium from Kobold Press (14 5-star ratings!).
If you are a fan or archers and/or rangers, you should definitely check it out :)
This was a great help, thank you!
So I started looking back into my Dark Ranger archetype, and I think making it similar to the Mystic Archer archetype for Elven Archer seems best.
Change the spell-casting to Int-based. Give them Dark Lore instead of Mystic Lore, and pull some ideas from witch hexes (charm, misfortune, etc) and the death mage and switch out the nature-themed spells to necromantic spells (the Animate Dead chain from Kobold Press or the Dance Macabre chain from Rogue Genius' Death Mage would be perfect replacements for the Summon Nature's Ally chain).
Swap out Knowledge (nature) for Knowledge (religion) and Handle Animal for Intimidate sound like good replacements also.
As for black arrow, perhaps have it either replace Precision or build upon it. I think there should be a good Capstone, too. Elven Archer's bonus feat for 20th level is meh.
I was experimenting with swapping out every occurrence of the elven archer's bonus feat with a Dark Lore option... bonus feats would be an option for Dark Lore. When I get a chance later I can post which hexes (paizo and 3pp) and death mage abilities I was thinking would translate well for my dark ranger.
This was a great place to start! Do you have a copy of your archetype?