Ranger Archetype
Comments from the
Thumb: When someone does something to piss off a powerful figure like a guild, government official, or crime lord, they may find themselves targeted by a bounty hunter.
This archetype is a tribute to the Bloodhound PrC from 3.5. As usual, we changed some things and improved some things. My favorite thing about this archetype is how alignment-neutral it is. Neutral or evil bounty hunters could learn their trade for monetary gain, while good ones might have some sense of justice that drives them.
Bounty
Hunter
Bounty hunters are an unsavory but necessary part of justice. When a criminal escapes the law's grasp, a price in gold is placed on his head and bounty hunters are dispatched to capture the fugitive, usually, but not always, alive.
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, your base
movement speed increases by 10 feet. In addition, you have advantage on
Constitution saving throws against exhaustion from a forced march.
Mark
By 3rd level, you have become adept at tracking your foes.
Choose a single creature you can see, or of whom you have a depiction or
description. You must spend 10 minutes concentrating on them, after which they
become your Mark, the creature you are sworn to bring to justice. You deal an extra 1d6 damage to your Mark whenever you hit it
with a weapon attack, and you have advantage on any skill check made to find
your Mark. You may only have one mark at a time. If you select a new Mark, you
lose these benefits toward the original.
You may select two marks at once when you reach 7th level, three at 11th level, and 4 at 15th level. In addition, when you reach 15th level, you have advantage on attack rolls against your Mark.
You may select two marks at once when you reach 7th level, three at 11th level, and 4 at 15th level. In addition, when you reach 15th level, you have advantage on attack rolls against your Mark.
Crippling Strike
Beginning at 7th level, when you take the Attack action on your turn, you can attempt to cripple your target. The creature you attack must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature's speed is halved and has disadvantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws for 1 minute. After using this ability, you cannot use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Bring 'em Back Alive
Starting at 11th level, you are able to trip your enemies at range using bolas, a thrown weapon made of a set of weights on the ends of interconnected leather cords. Treat a set of bolas like a net with the light property and a range of 20/60. You can create a single set of bolas during a long rest if you have 1 gp in tanned leather and a leatherworker's kit.
Track the Trackless
By 15th level, you can track your Mark if you are on the same plane,
even if they left no tracks. Your Mark always trails a faint magical aura that only you can see. You must make a Wisdom (Perception) check with a DC equal to 5 + the number of hours since your Mark was in the area to locate and follow this aura. You must make this check each hour to continue following your Mark. If you fail this check, you must move at least 100 feet away before you may attempt it again. Creatures benefiting from nondetection or a
similar magic effect which prevents the target from being targeted by divination magic are immune to this effect.
Changelog:
9/16/2015: Scrapped Steadfast, replaced it with Bring 'em Back Alive.
Steadfast is mechanically weak. The Dodge and Disengage option are nice, but it's tied to much better options to save for, even w/ short rest. Additionally, the conditions that can be done by the ranger, all other divine casters, and bard, at level 5 with Lesser Restoration. The only benefit being it can be done as a bonus action, and doesn't require a spell slot/components.
ReplyDeleteConsider keeping the disengage/dodge options separate from the rest. Or, if you wanted to completely revise it, consider the Bounty Hunter's objectives - he wants to capture his mark dead OR alive. Perhaps giving advantage to acrobatic/athletic checks when attacking or defending with/vs grapple/shove/tumble/etc. to targets whom the BH have marked. Perhaps some feature that allows him to sneak on his target more easier.
Here are a couple of alternative options:
DeleteCloak of the Hunter
Starting at 11th level, you have advantage on Dexterity(Stealth) checks made to hide while tracking your Mark. Additionally, you can use a bonus action on your turn to take the disengage, dodge, or hide action.
Bring 'em Back Alive
Starting at 11th level, you are able to trip your enemies at range using bolas, a light thrown weapon with a range of 20/60. Bolas deal no damage, but instead are treated like a shove attack at range. If the target is successfully knocked prone, it is considered restrained by the bolas wrapping around its feet. The restrained creature can use its action to make a DC 15 Strength saving throw on each of its turns to break free. The target must have legs for the bolas to work. You can create a single set of bolas during a long rest if you have 1 gp in tanned leather and a leatherworker's kit.
Steadfast
Starting at 11th level, as a bonus action on your turn, you can take a Dodge or Disengage action, or end one disease afflicting you, or end of the following conditions afflicting you: blinded, deafened, paralyzed, or poisoned. After using this feature, you must complete a short or long rest before using it again. In addition, you have advantage on saves against being blinded, deafened, paralyzed, or poisoned.
Steadfast
DeleteStarting at 11th level, as a bonus action on your turn, you can end one disease afflicting you, or end of the following conditions afflicting you: blinded, deafened, paralyzed, or poisoned. After using this feature, you must complete a short or long rest before using it again. In addition, you can use a bonus action take a Dodge or Disengage action.
I decided on Bring 'em Back Alive for the new 11th level feature.
DeleteDC on Crippling Strike? Just the thing that caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteThat'd be your spell save dc.
DeleteI love the flavor on the second portion of Swift Tracker. Very cool archetype!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it!
Delete"DC equal to 5 + the number of hours since your Mark was in the area "
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is "the area". If youre in the same 50 mile forest, is that the same area? What if youre in different parts of a city? What if youre on different floors of the same building? Its kind of a vague measurement.
The particular part of the path that you are trying to locate is the area. I kinda wanted to leave that to DM discretion. I can make the wording a bit more concise next time I'm in front of a computer.
DeleteAny way you could change Bring 'em Back Alive with bolas being in the Craftsman as simple ranged weapons?
ReplyDelete