Ranger

**Rangers** were warriors who excelled at exploring the fringes of civilization and hunting down deadly monsters. Hunters, scouts, trappers, and assassins, rangers could be found wherever civilization bordered the wilderness. To aid them in their outback treks, rangers were trained in a number of combat techniques, survival skills, and even magic.

## Culture

Most at home on the edge of civilization, rangers were often hunters, trackers, or some combination of the above, serving as protectors of the civilized world against the wilderness' feral threats.

The stereotype of the nature-loving ranger was not without merit, however, and many rangers fit the image of cunning hunters and protectors of forests or other wildlands. These rangers saw themselves as guardians against nature's corruption and had a special affinity for barbarians and druids, who often shared similar goals. Other rangers were however more mercenary, fighting for personal glory or wealth. As their aspirations differed so did rangers' backgrounds: some came from special military training while others learned under solitary mentors who vested them with lessons on how to survive in places where few of the civilized races cared to tread. Regardless of how they came about their training, all rangers were fairly self-reliant and were as much at home (if not more) in the wild as in a bustling city.

“
I like walking. It clears the brain—a good thing, if you've anything else to fill it with. If you don't, enjoy the scenery, I suppose. There are worse ways to waste one's time.
— Thaulavvan Tridentstar, *A Ranger's Road*
”

## Abilities

Trained to be nimble and deadly, rangers were experts in survival wilderness, both on their own and with company. They could move quickly over difficult terrain, evade natural hazards, and disguise their tracks or camouflage themselves to blend in with their surroundings, hiding themselves from their enemies. Although these skills were often very general in nature, every ranger also had their own particular terrain that they knew best, over which they could travel, forage, and track more effectively. Some rangers preferred the wilderness of the surface world, while others dwelt beneath in the caverns of the Underdark. In either case rangers trained their senses to an extremely keen level, allowing them to focus their awareness on the area around them to notice if deadly monsters were nearby. With additional experience, rangers could even perceive unseen enemies as easily if they were visible.

Nearly all rangers were trained in some degree of magic, which they used to enhance their own abilities. This magic was often primal in nature, drawn from the power of nature itself. Each day rangers focused this power within themselves, preparing which spells they intended to cast.

Core Classes
Ardent • Avenger • Barbarian • Bard • Battlemind • Bushi • Cleric • Druid • Fighter • Invoker • Monk • Paladin • Psion • **Ranger** • Rogue • Runepriest • Samurai • Seeker • Shaman • Sorcerer • Spellscarred • Swordmage • Warden • Warlock • Warlord • Wizard

Primal Spellcasters
Barbarian • Druid • **Ranger** • Seeker • Shaman • Warden

Warriors
Barbarian • Crusader • Fighter (Bushi • Eldritch Knight • Slayer) • Hexblade • Ninja • Paladin • **Ranger** (Hunter • Scout) • Rogue (Thief) • Skald • Warblade • Warlord • Warrior