the #dnd Ranger is what happens when you try and expand a single rather 2D character (aragorn) into a character class and I hate it?
WIZARD: I study the art of magic
FIGHTER: I wield many weapons
ROGUE: I am skilled and cunning
RANGER: a dragon pooped in this room 2 weeks ago having a bow and maybe owning a pet dog are not a fantasy archetype worthy of an entire character classcan we just fold it back into the fighter already, it's barely a subclass. or maybe replace it with something that makes more sense like an official Monster Hunter
— Oliver Clegg 🌈 (@deathbybadger) April 17, 2020
It’s a class for the “cool, stoic, loner going off on his own” characters, but that archetype of “hero” was a bit outdated even by 3.5’s day. It’s like the writers keep it around because “well, people are going to want to play as Drizzt, right?” Nowadays, we don’t, really. Drizzt isn't much of a ranger.
He has a figurine of wondrous power, not an animal companion, and he likes wielding 2 weapons, which was a hallmark of drow in Unearthed Arcana (the book).
He's more fighter than ranger, but he has occasionally been statted up as a fighter/ranger.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) April 17, 2020
I only read the first 3 so far(it was a gift). I remember that some guy by the name of M. told him he had a ranger’s soul or something like that. So he kind of is like that in lore I suppose. Maybe he would be a beastmaster in 5e. He REALLY loved that panther. The panther isn’t a panther. It’s a magic item.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) April 18, 2020
I always though Ranger was supposed to be more like Aragorn or Legolas than it is supposed to be like Drizzt.
From what I’ve understood, a Ranger is more like the equivalent of a wandering forestry agent. In medieval times, a ranger was someone quick and light on their feet. Somebody who attacked so fast in battle that the enemy hardly knew they were there before they were dead. In this sense of the word, Frizzy was very much a Ranger.
Actually the panther is an astral entity, and the figurine is just a summoning device.
Guenwhyvar absolutely is a real panther. She was made into an Onyx Figurine but she’s still a sentient, living creature.
Drizzt is the coolest of the cool..he is simply Drizzt. No more and certainly no less
He was raised as a drow fighter and escaped to the surface and needed up living and training with a ranger for a few years before moving to Icewinddale I’m the books. All this I am sure is on the internet.
Drizzt’s panther Guenhwyvar is an actual panther and also a magic item. Read the Anthology “Guenhwyvar” for your answer. Also I see it hard for Drizzt being a ranger because you don’t read of Drizzt using spell casting from the rangers spells. Drizzt only uses his drow spells and only faerie fire and darkness never dancing lights. Also he has another class were he dips into but no spoilers from me. Waiting for Relentless and hoping it will be the final book.