Wait, is this a tacit admission that the “internet-fueled view” of the beast master as underpowered has merit? It comes across as you recommending players avoid BM and play another class or ranger subclass and have a pet anyway. I'm recommending that you pursue whatever thing in the game will do the best job of delivering the play experience you desire. If you just want a pet, there's no reason to base your class/subclass choice on that.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 31, 2018
UAranger
UA Urban Ranger: The Vigilante pt1 – The Mike Mearls Happy Fun Hour
I had so much fun talking about the ranger on Happy Fun Hour today. I love that we can talk about design issues and concerns in a constructive way, plus working through it on stream helps me get a better grasp on an issue.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 5, 2018
Beast Master Ranger: “We continue to explore ways to make the classes you have better”
@JeremyECrawford As someone who loves the idea the Ranger class is trying to achieve (but sad w/ attempts to play w/ and as): w/e happened to "the class’s high levels of player dissatisfaction and its ranking as D&D’s weakest class by a significant margin"?
— Nathaniel Mosher (@RubiksMoose) July 30, 2018
For anyone who missed my talk on YouTube and Twitter about the ranger and other classes in 2017:
–We’re not releasing a second version of a class. Too confusing for people.
–We continue to explore ways to make the classes you have better, including revision in rare cases. #DnD https://t.co/Tt2qwKCZz5
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 30, 2018
Revised Ranger: there is one ranger, the one in the Player’s Handbook
Someone want to check the date on the last Revised ranger iteration for me? https://t.co/zA9ErQWiP7
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) July 28, 2018
Regarding the revised ranger, I mentioned back in 2017 that we have no plans to release an alternative version of a class. That plan hasn’t changed.
There is one ranger: the one in the Player’s Handbook. #DnD https://t.co/yDXwgY4uMb
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 28, 2018
Are you still considering alternate versions of some of the class and Beast Master features, like you mentioned in the 11/27/2017 Dragon Talk episode? https://t.co/egZderAGjH
— Armando Doval (@armando_doval) July 28, 2018
Alternate features for multiple classes are still a possibility, but we want to do more research before we invest time in them. We don’t want our design to chase phantoms but real desires held by a large number of players.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 28, 2018
Want your D&D character to have a pet/companion?
Here’s a little secret: you don’t need special rules for this. Through roleplaying and ability checks (most likely Animal Handling or Persuasion), you can have a buddy, as long as your DM is OK adding a creature to the group. #DnD
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 29, 2018
Is there plans to have a revised ranger that doesn’t use magic? I know players that love rangers but don’t want to be casters. If they want magic they’ll play full casting classes We have no plans to release an alternative version of a class.
Rangers are spellcasters. The fighter, barbarian, and rogue have some great options for a person who doesn’t want to play a spellcaster.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 29, 2018
I wish that was the default presented rules/guidelines in the book, much as anyway can pick up any weapon, and that the Beastmaster ranger wouldn't get a creature by class feature, but rather just better able to fight along with creatures that anyone could have
— Andrew Johnson (@The_Grand_User) July 29, 2018
The default assumption in the D&D rules is that you can befriend people and critters you meet on your adventures.
If a class has a special companion (Beast Master, find familiar, find steed, animate dead, etc.), that companion is in addition to creatures you might befriend. #DnD https://t.co/OlyuZCVOEl
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 29, 2018
In the end, there will be 1 ranger: the PH ranger. It will get alternative features. The official game won't have 2 versions of a class #DnD https://t.co/N48laXFp8o
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) October 10, 2017
Sure, but that creature's HP won't scale with level, making it hard to bring them with you the whole game. Sure, the DM could grant them extra HP as you all level, but then there's fears of main the Beast Master (partly) redundant.
— GeorgeSutherlandHoward (@Acr0ssTh3P0nd) July 29, 2018
The “Dungeon Master’s Guide” has guidelines for adding class levels to creatures.
Say your wolf friend has been fighting by your side for an adventure, the DM might give the wolf a level in fighter. This is a legitimate use of the DMG rules. #DnD https://t.co/0cD9gM5I3n
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 29, 2018
It helps not to think of the Beast Master as the pet subclass. Anyone can have a pet. The BM has an exceptional pet that works a certain way. I recommend picking that subclass only if a player wants the play experience it offers, not just to have a pet.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 29, 2018
It would be nice to see it talked about in more detail in a more official, widely-distributed form of documentation, but I'll take what I can get!
— GeorgeSutherlandHoward (@Acr0ssTh3P0nd) July 29, 2018
Want to add class levels to a monster or NPC? Take a look at the section "Monsters with Classes" in the "Dungeon Master's Guide" (p. 283). #DnD https://t.co/qwzrk8CvBX
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 29, 2018
Apparently you mentioned the Revised Ranger is nearly done
Hey, apparently you mentioned on the Happy Fun Hour the Revised Ranger is nearly done. Last I heard from @JeremyECrawford, the new features were modular and you can pick and choose the ones you want to bring in. Is this still the plan? There is still no plan to release a revised ranger. Alternate features might still appear. Nothing official to announce yet.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) July 4, 2018
Did I say ranger? Maybe meant artificer – we have another round of general game surveys going out. Want to see what effect Xan’s will have on ranger satisfaction.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) July 4, 2018
How to calculate the Bite STR save DC on a leveled wolf companion with UA Ranger rules?
how to calculate the Bite STR save DC on a leveled wolf companion with UA Ranger rules? I’m stumped, but have my 1st game soon!No rules here, but I'd try 8 + wolf's str mod + ranger's and wolf's prof mod
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 23, 2017
Thanks! Does wolf also use Str for the attack roll, or Dex? Is Bite a finesse weapon? :DNormal wolf gets +4 to attack, with +2 Dex and +1 Str.
— Ivan Belcic (@ivanbelcic) September 23, 2017
Can go either way – might also have a random bonus to hit CR. Monsters sometimes tweaked based on play testing
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 23, 2017
Does the “group not slowed down by difficult terrain” aspect of UA Ranger Natural Explorer apply in combat?
Does the “group not slowed down by difficult terrain” aspect of UA Ranger Natural Explorer apply in combat? In non-wilderness? Only during long-term travel (measured in hours or minutes), but in any terrain
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 9, 2017