Looking over nearly every type of Ranger/Archer class around I find that the vast majority of them are secret spellcasters. While this isn’t a problem I find it slightly annoying that yet another non-big 4 class is just some shade of fighter/magic-user. When I think of Rangers I think more along the lines of a tracker or forester. Someone who is really in touch with nature, not in a supernatural sense but in a common-sense, I’ve been doing this a long time.
The Forester is my take on that idea of Ranger. I don’t suspect that he’ll be anyone’s cup of tea, but if any of you like him or use him tell me what you think/thought.
The Forester
Foresters are men and women who feel the most at home in the forests of Eira. The walk the land and know its ways. The forester makes her living from th eland, always taking just enough to sustain herself without hurting the natural world. A gifted archer, tracker and guide the Forester can be a valuable asset to any group adventuring out into the wilderness beyond the walls of towns and the civilized lands of farms and dales.
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Prime Attribute: Wisdom, 13+ (5% experience bonus
Hit Dice: 1d6
Weapons permitted: Staffs, axes, bows
Armor Permitted: Leather
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Forester Abilities
Companion – at 3rd level can befriend an animal from the forest. Despite their individual appearance the Companion of the Forester are manifestations of a benevolent Genius Locus (see boggarts in Creature Catalogues) who bound with the Forester. All Companions have Hit Points equal to 1d4 (per level) and attack for 1d6 + 2. Companions share the Forester’s Saving Throw and Experience values.
If the Forester should ever turn against the land they’re Companion will leave them.
Table 1 – Companions
|
Roll (1d6)
|
Companion
|
|
1
|
Raven
|
|
2
|
Boar
|
|
3
|
Wolf
|
|
4
|
Dog
|
|
5
|
Bear
|
|
6
|
Great Cat
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Favored enemy – Starting at 6th level the forester may pick one type of monster as a foe that they have an uncanny knowledge and hatred of. In all combat situations with this enemy the Forester receives a +2 to all To-hit rolls against that enemy.
Sure-Footed – The Forester knows how to walk on uneven and dangerous ground and doesn’t suffer any penalty for walking on such and can move at normal speed..
Survival – Foresters receive a +2 bonus to all saving throws for foraging, gathering and knowing eatable from uneatable plants as well as potable water.
Tracking – Receives a bonus equal to half her level on all saving throw to track.
Table 2 – Forester Advancement Table
|
Level
|
Experience
|
Hit Dice
|
Saving Throw
|
To-Hit Bonus [AAC]
|
|
1
|
2,500
|
1d6
|
15
|
0
|
|
2
|
5,000
|
2d6
|
14
|
0
|
|
3
|
10,000
|
3d6
|
13
|
0
|
|
4
|
20,000
|
4d6
|
12
|
+1
|
|
5
|
40,000
|
5d6
|
11
|
+2
|
|
6
|
80,000
|
6d6
|
10
|
+3
|
|
7
|
160,000
|
7d6
|
9
|
+4
|
|
8
|
320,000
|
8d6
|
8
|
+4
|
|
9
|
500,000
|
9d6
|
7
|
+5
|
|
10
|
700,000
|
+3hp
|
6
|
+5
|
|
11+
|
+200,000
|
+3hp
|
5
|
+6
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Table 3: Forester Attack Table
Target AC Value
|
9
[10]
|
8
[11]
|
7
[12]
|
6
[13]
|
5
[14]
|
4
[15]
|
3
[16]
|
2
[17]
|
1
[18]
|
0
[19]
|
-1
[20]
|
-2
[21]
|
-3
[22]
|
-4
[23]
|
-5
[24]
|
-6
[25]
|
-7
[26]
|
-8
[27]
|
-9
[28]
|
|
|
Level
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
1-3
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
|
4
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
5
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
7
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
|
8-10
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
|
11-15
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
|
16-19
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
|
20
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
