I brought this up on the last forum before that one was closed down, but I'm reeeally feeling the need to bring it up again.
Could special NPCs be added to each server to give characters who multiclass into Ranger the ability to choose the Archer or Sniper Paths? To be more specific, I mean adding NPCs that give characters with Ranger levels a conversation option that allows them to pick a combat style, similar to the various existing NPCs who are partly in the module to give Druids and Bards the option of gaining a Totem form or Warlock powers. It would probably make the most sense to place one in the Bramble Woods Outpost, one in the Heartwood Grove, and one in the Zurhkwood Forest, since those are the current centers of Ranger RP on each server, respectively.
There's no real way to gain an advantage from this change, even if someone were to switch to a Path after their 9th level of Ranger, because most characters interested in combat will already have developed a combat style by then (play-wise and RP-wise). And if anyone DOES think there could be some small mechanical advantage to gaining either Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot, and Mobility or +3 arrows somewhere in the teens to epic levels... I would point out that high-level Druids or Bards (I think?) who switch into a Path in game gain a much more obvious mechanical advantage, such as a huge super-strong Totem form at a point where the ease of buying equipment would make any ability loss negligible). And that stays balanced just fine. The main issue with the lack of Ranger Paths in game is that it is a detriment to Ranger training RP, since characters who are archery-based or simply don't want to dual-wield will gain very little from multiclassing into Ranger.
Until this changes, I will remain sad that I cannot have a Sniper Path character with less than 11 Wisdom. I just want to be a naive and absentminded archer!
Make Ranger Paths available in game
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