Ranger (character class)

Rangers are a type of warriors appearing in fantasy fiction and role-playing games.

Rangers are usually associated with the wisdom of nature. Rangers have high wisdom, cunning, perception and are skilled woodsmen. Usually being skilled in stealth, as trackers and archers, though there are many instances where rangers use a variety of weapons, skills and sometimes magic or have a resistence to magic.

In the Forgotten Realms, rangers typically worship a nature god or goddess, and they take a role similar to druids, protecting nature and slaying foul creatures. Also haveing a "Racial Enemy" such as spiders, hobgoblins or gnolls.

Overall, rangers are naturally inclined to solitude, particularly from commoners, as in the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Rangers tend to prefer the company of fellow rangers, and they are extensively trained.

Rangers often act as the guardians of others, whether appreciated or not, by repelling "evil" forces, as in Tolkien's or George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

The most famous fictional Rangers are Drizzt Do'Urden and Aragorn.

Ranger archetype

Rangers tend to be skilled warriors with darker personalities. Often rangers are veterans of wars, or have lived in the woods their entire lives. They tend to be rather stoic, accepting what fate throws at them rather than rage against it. In many stories or games where elves exist, elves are (or would be) the best Rangers due to their natural way of life.

Rangers tend to be poor soldiers due to not often dealing with people. Their perception and cunning are better suited as a front-line leader (Lieutenant - Captain) or as a solo fighter against a small number (1-3) of fighters at a time.

Rangers skills in books and games can include and are not limited to:

-Skilled with the bow, usually because they use them so often, for the hunting of wild animals. It has been noted that this might also be a play on their seclusion: they would rather be far away from things rather than close. -They tend to be well versed in other forms of combat however, most notably duel-welding short swords or long knives. In Dungeons and Dragons 3.0, rangers get a free feat for dual-wielding weapons. This has been changed in 3.5 to make it an option instead. -Stealth. -Detecting or laying traps. -Taming, calming or charming animals. -Tracking and leaving no trail to be tracked. -Knowlage of herbs for medical and poisonous uses. -The art of healing (magical or medical) due to their self reliance. -Posibly land and nature related magic and enchantments or the ability to recognize them or resistence to them. -In some definitions, rangers may have some understanding of the divine arts, though not as great an understanding as that of a druid. Rangers' connection to druids is often compared to that of clerics and paladins; the one being a magic-user, the other more of a martial artist, but both still sharing mutual interests.

Rangers in many books tend to have a wide range of skills not usually used in games due to maintaining a ballenced system of play.