Quintessential Ranger, The

The brave outlaw, clad in forest-green leathers, carrying on a guerrilla rebellion against an unjust King the only way he knows how, robbing tax collectors and giving the proceeds to downtrodden peasants. The dedicated tracker and hunter, able to follow the faintest, oldest trail with ease, and bring down the most fearsome game. The fierce raider, riding down from the hills to carry off what plunder he can, fading into the night once again. The trail-hardened explorer, wandering far from civilization, filling in areas of maps which previously said simply, ‘Here Be Dragons.’ All these are examples of the ranger, one of the most versatile classes within the game. The Quintessential Ranger is a sourcebook that will greatly expand this class, turning the ranger from a simple forester and tracker to a fully fleshed out character with as much interest and innovation as the most wily wizard, mighty-thewed fighter, cunning rogue or avenging cleric.

The ranger is potentially one of the most powerful character classes in the game. He is a good, solid combatant, but with a far greater array of off-the-battlefield class features than the fighter, barbarian or paladin, and more skills to boot. He may not have the feats of a fighter or rage of the barbarian, but on his own ground, in his element, there is no-one to match him. He is full of surprises, too, throwing in a spell here, using his preferred combat style to deadly effect there, then demonstrating some other unexpected quality before finally just plain enduring through whatever obstacles are placed before him, as grimly resolute as the day he set out on his quest.

With the aid of this sourcebook, any character adopting the ranger class will find his options and capabilities greatly expanded into new realms he once only dreamed of. Through the use of character concepts, rangers may now be given a complete background and history of how they actually came to be a ranger in the first place. Prestige classes are presented for rangers to aspire to – not many will have the dedication and perseverance to qualify as an Animal Champion or Green Knight. New feats will dazzle other party members as the ranger routinely soldiers on through incredibly dangerous conditions, performing forced marches through days and nights at a time while following a trail anyone else would assume to be dead. New weapons, armor and equipment provide the ranger with his required tools of the trade, allowing him to fight, survive, hunt and forage more efficiently than ever before. Every ranger will likely make use of a large number of such tools, picking and choosing the most appropriate pieces of gear to take with him on each adventure.

As he gradually becomes more experienced, the ranger may lead great expedition to the ends of the earth, tracking down the most fearsome and monstrous beasts in the land. He may deal a devastating blow to his favored enemies, at the head of a guerrilla army of the forest, composed of animals, centaurs, fey, and elves. At home anywhere in the great outdoors, he may have half a dozen semi-permanent encampments hidden throughout his preferred area, and a dozen more equipment caches and sniping positions besides. Sooner or later his fame will spread throughout the greenwood and beyond, and he can be assured of hospitality and even alliance wherever he goes in the wilderness.