It didn’t.

In my previous article here I’m going in length why the class doesn’t work.

I’ll briefly explain why the official Ranger still doesn’t work in D&D 2024 and what to do if you want to actually enjoy playing a Ranger character.

Why the Official Ranger Still Fails in D&D 2024

The core problem of the Ranger has never been numbers alone. It is the identity.

In the 2024 version, the Ranger is still mechanically behind other classes in several key areas:

• It deals less damage than Fighters and Rogues
• It has weaker skill scaling than Rogues
• Its spellcasting is limited and unfocused
• Its role overlaps with other classes without excelling at any of them.

The decision to bind the Ranger’s core gameplay even more tightly to Hunter’s Mark makes the situation worse. Instead of reinforcing a class fantasy, it forces the Ranger into a narrow mechanical loop built around a single spell.

In obvious ways it is a problem of underdeveloped Pillar of D&D – Exploration.

As a result, many players realize that:

• A Fighter can be built to explore just as well
• A Rogue can outperform the Ranger as a hunter
• A Druid offers better spellcasting and survivability

The Ranger fantasy sort of exists. Alas, the official class just doesn’t support it.

What the Ranger Should Be

A Ranger should feel visibly different from other martial classes and druids. In principle, it boils down to an identity of the class – both mechanically and lore wise.

It should:

• Have a strong narrative role in the world
• Prepare for specific threats instead of relying on generic bonuses
• Adapt, evolve, and change to survive enemies others cannot

That is the design direction behind my homebrew Ranger for D&D 2024.

Ranger 2025: Class Re-Worked – A Homebrew Ranger with Identity

Ranger 2025: Class Re-Worked was created to fix the fundamental issues of the official class by giving the Ranger a clear, mechanical and narrative core.

This homebrew Ranger is built around three pillars:

1. Defender of the community – Rangers have a defined social and world role
2. Forced evolution – Rangers mutate, adapt, and transform to face impossible threats
3. Everything is a tool – Weapons, magic, and even the Ranger’s body are means to an end

Mechanically, this redesign introduces features such as:

• Outfitting, allowing Rangers to prepare specifically for certain enemy types
• Hunter State, a focused, high-impact combat mode without relying on Hunter’s Mark
• Subclasses that reinforce transformation, preparation, and adaptation instead of passive bonuses

The full class, subclasses, spell list, and lore are included in the product.

Homebrew Ranger 2024 Subclasses

I’ve designed 3 subclasses. The beloved Beast Master with animal companion that hopefully will be more on part with stronger enemies and give more flexibility. Hunter – strongly inspired by Witcher series. War Golem – my personal favourite (that’s why you can find a short story in the product), that is loosely based on Space Marines from Warhammer 40k.

• Beast Master
  A Ranger who externalizes their transformation by manifesting an inner beast. This subclass focuses on the bond between hunter and beast as two aspects of the same entity, emphasizing protection, aggression, or control depending on how the Ranger evolves.
  
• Hunter
  A pure predator archetype built around studying, harvesting, and adapting to enemies. Hunters grow stronger by learning from what they kill, shaping their evolution through trophies and preparation rather than raw power or spellcasting.
  
• War Golem
  A heavily augmented Ranger shaped by war and sacrifice. This subclass represents a Ranger who has merged armor, weapons, and ritualized enhancement into their body, becoming a living bulwark designed to hold the line against inhuman threats.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a homebrew ranger for D&D 2024 that finally delivers on the promise of the class, a redesigned approach with a strong identity is the best solution. It is also compatible with classic 5e so if you play with 20214 rules, it is good to go.

Artykuł Homebrew Ranger D&D 2024 – A Better Way to Play the Ranger pochodzi z serwisu Before You Roll.

I’ve never finished it.

As I look at the major file today, it is 36 pages of text, which would probably translate to 50 or more pages in final editing. I still think there is a lot of juicy stuff in the supplement but it was always lacking in some aspects. I had some free time lately and what I realized was, my approach was wrong from the start.

DnD Supplement vs Setting

This supplement was though to be just that. A supplement. Something that you can take and use anytime in your campaign, whatever the setting. You apply the supplement, new events take place in your world and new stuff is appearing in your setting.

As much fun as it sounds, there is a few major issues with this approach:

1. When you have already build the world – you don’t want to suddenly change it.
2. If you implement it mid-game, there is almost no need for new races, classess, rules – your players are already playing the game.
3. There can be to many inconsistancies with the supplement and your world so you would need to tweak it too much.

In other words, the supplement is a neat idea for a stale game and bored DMs, who need a change. And that’s a very narrow target group. Most of DMs I know have more ideas than time to implement it.

But lately I was bold enough to think about a setting. That’s right, tbe big S!

Creating a setting give me instantly some major benefits.

1. I can fix what is broken in D&D.
2. The “supplement content” will have less conditional options.
3. It will be more coherent.
4. Bored DMs can still pick it apart but otherwise it could be use from day one.
5. Setting give me platform for creating new things within it.

Obviously the biggest issue with creating the setting is how vast of a project it is. Considering my schedule it is a lifetime work but, the good new is — it doesn’t have to be done to be playable.

Keith Baker’s DnD Setting Philosophy

I consider Eberron to be the best D&D setting. I won’t delve into specifics, but I want to talk about Keith Baker’s design philosophy. Reading his blog and his books one thing is instantly visible – he creates a world with the D&D game system in mind.

The game system informs the setting as much as the other way around.

In effect, we almost have a diegetic mechanics. Since I want to use D&D as a system but still design new setting that will be my approach as well.

Example of Diegetic Setting Design Philosophy

I will look at the piece of mechanics and think “ok, how does it fit in the world I’m building”. Here is a quick example (I’m using the new 2024 D&D version btw.)

We take Cleric class and look what it can do in first 3 levels.

• Cast spells
• Channel Divinity – Divine Spark and Turn Undead
• Diviner Order

So right there we have a lot of choices to make as a setting designer.

• How does the cleric cast a spell
• Where does the power come from – is it gods or something else
• What is channel divinity at it’s core and what it means for the world – e.g. a peron can become a vessel for a god a moment.
• Why all clerics have Turn Undead ability? What if there was a cleric of Death / Undead ?
• How picking Divine Order defines clerics in different cultures and religions – why do all of them pick one or the other.

Answering those and more questions can point you into a direction of a cleric that in the core of it’s mechanical aspects describes the world.

1. Clerics cast spells as miracles – they pray for an outcome and it comes thru. This makes it easy for people to believe in gods, however there are clerics that don’t worship any god and still cast those spells – WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
2. Channel Divinity is a opening up to specific domain that occupies a physical space throughout the planes.
3. Turn Undead is not a divine ability per se, but an aspect of Human Divinity that is hidden within all living creatures thus no matter what Subclass the cleric is, they can still use it.

As you can see, even through this example there is already a lot of ideas that can come through the mechanics. I will be using it a lot to build up this new setting.

Building my setting with you

I’m done with creating a final product and only then releasing it. It takes too much time, it is creatively cruel for someone who does all of the design, writing, art and product setup. Designing the re-worked Ranger class was super fun, but getting it published was a nightmare.

(or this unfinished project which from design point of view is DONE but not pretty enough to be published)

I’m done with that model for now.

The whole process will be done right here and you will see the way I work. I already have a lot of ideas and I want to put it out there, before it becomes this huge pile of text that nobody ever sees.

If you want to be sure you get all the updates, subscribe to my newsletter!

Artykuł I’m building D&D setting pochodzi z serwisu Before You Roll.

Narrative Path to Story-Driven Dungeons – Establishing a Compelling Story

The foundation of any story-driven dungeon lies in its narrative. A well-crafted backstory and purpose for the dungeon set the stage for exciting encounters and immersive gameplay. Consider the following elements when designing the narrative of your dungeon:

Hooks and Motivations

Provide players with compelling reasons to venture into the dungeon. This can be in the form of a quest, a rumor, or personal character motivations. Make sure these hooks are integrated seamlessly into the broader campaign or storyline.

Choose a theme or concept that drives the design of your dungeon. Whether it’s a lost temple overrun by nature or an ancient fortress haunted by restless spirits, a consistent and evocative atmosphere enhances the player experience.

Architectural Path to Story-Driven Dungeons – Structuring the Dungeon

Once you have a solid narrative foundation, it’s essential to structure the dungeon in a way that promotes exploration and keeps players engaged. Ability to build fast, solid dungeons with modular tools can be a huge advantage while playing – no matter if you spend hours on prep or you go with the flow. I strongly suggest checking and supporting Realm Brew Kickstarter for exactly that reason.

Here are some considerations for designing the layout of your dungeon:

Nonlinear Paths

Allow players to make meaningful choices and decisions as they navigate the dungeon. Nonlinear paths create a sense of agency and make exploration more rewarding. Incorporate multiple routes, hidden passages, and optional areas to encourage thorough exploration.

Creating a non-linear dungeon design can add depth, exploration, and player agency to your tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) experience. Here are some steps to help you create a non-linear dungeon design:

1. Determine the Dungeon’s Purpose: Consider the purpose and backstory of the dungeon. Is it an ancient crypt, a hidden temple, or a wizard’s labyrinth? Understanding the purpose will help you shape the dungeon’s layout and the types of encounters or challenges players may face.
   
2. Establish Key Areas: Identify the main areas or landmarks within the dungeon. These could be unique chambers, puzzle rooms, treasure vaults, or encounter locations. Each key area should have a distinctive feature or challenge that makes it memorable.
   
3. Create Multiple Entry Points: Design the dungeon with multiple entry points, allowing players to choose different paths to enter or exit. This can include secret passages, collapsed tunnels, or alternative routes. Multiple entry points provide players with choices and encourage exploration.
   
4. Connect Key Areas: Determine how the key areas are connected to each other. Consider creating a network of passages, corridors, or portals that interconnect the different regions of the dungeon. This allows players to navigate between areas in various ways, providing opportunities for non-linear exploration.
   
5. Incorporate Branching Paths: Introduce branching paths and intersections throughout the dungeon. These choices can lead players to different areas or encounters, offering a sense of freedom and allowing them to shape their own journey. Make sure each path has its own rewards or challenges to incentivize exploration.
   
6. Use Locks and Keys: Implement locks, keys, or other mechanisms that grant access to specific areas within the dungeon. Players may need to find hidden keys, solve puzzles, or defeat mini-bosses to progress further. This adds an element of puzzle-solving and strategic decision-making.
   
7. Provide Clues and Hints: Scatter clues and hints throughout the dungeon to guide players towards important discoveries or help them make informed choices. These can be in the form of inscriptions, riddles, symbols, or visual cues. Clues can be non-linear as well, allowing players to solve puzzles or unlock secrets in various orders.
   
8. Embrace Non-Linear Encounters: Design encounters that don’t have a fixed order or progression. This means encounters can be tackled in different sequences or avoided altogether based on player choices. NPCs, enemies, or factions within the dungeon can have their own agendas, creating dynamic and unpredictable interactions.
   
9. Reflect Player Actions: Allow the dungeon to respond to player actions. If players make choices or alter the dungeon environment, let those choices have consequences. This can lead to alternate paths, hidden shortcuts, or even new threats emerging within the dungeon.
   
10. Offer Multiple Endings: Consider providing multiple endings or outcomes based on the players’ actions and choices throughout the dungeon. This adds replayability and reinforces the notion that player agency and decisions matter in the game world.

As a DM you don’t have to create entire maps yourself! For maps just Google it (for real, there is plenty of free to use maps) or even better – use one of Dyson’s Maps, because they’re awesome. New option of AI generated maps emerge as well, but they’re never as creative and though provoking as those made by real artists.

Encounter Placement

Strategically place encounters throughout the dungeon to maintain a balanced pace. Consider the difficulty level and adjust it based on the players’ progression. Mix combat encounters with puzzles, traps, and role-playing opportunities to create a diverse experience.

Environmental Storytelling

Utilize the dungeon’s environment to convey its history and immerse players in the narrative. Broken statues, faded murals, or cryptic symbols can hint at the dungeon’s secrets and add depth to the storytelling. Environmental storytelling utilizes the environment and physical elements of a setting to convey information, evoke emotions, and enhance the overall storytelling experience. Instead of relying solely on explicit dialogue or exposition, environmental storytelling allows the players to piece together the narrative through visual cues, environmental details, and implied storytelling.

Here is a great video on this topic that you should definitely watch.

Narrative Path to Story-Driven Dungeons – Pacing and Climactic Moments

Pacing is the art of controlling the rhythm and flow of the dungeon, ensuring that players remain engaged and excited throughout. Pacing is crucial in storytelling as it maintains engagement, builds tension, delivers emotional impact, controls information flow, develops characters, balances the narrative, satisfies the audience, manages story complexity, controls storytelling techniques, and enhances suspension of disbelief. By understanding and implementing pacing techniques effectively, DMs can create compelling narratives that resonate with the players on deeper level and help you lead the game.

Here are some techniques to help you achieve great pacing:

Build Tension

Gradually increase the tension as players delve deeper into the dungeon. Introduce escalating challenges, both mechanical and narrative, to heighten the stakes and maintain player investment.

Here is few options that can help you manage that:

1. Escalating Challenges: Gradually increase the difficulty of encounters, puzzles, and obstacles as players progress deeper into the dungeon. This creates a sense of mounting pressure and keeps players on their toes.
   
2. Time Pressure: Introduce time-sensitive elements or ticking clocks to add urgency and raise the stakes. Deadlines, impending disasters, or the presence of a powerful antagonist can create a palpable sense of tension as players race against time.
   
3. Diminished Resources: Restrict or deplete the players’ resources over time. This can include dwindling supplies, limited rest opportunities, or reducing the availability of essential items or abilities. The scarcity of resources forces players to make tough choices and adds an element of risk and tension to their decision-making.
   
4. Ambiance and Atmosphere: Set a tense mood through descriptive language, sound effects, or music. Create an eerie or foreboding atmosphere that keeps players on edge, heightening their anticipation and creating a sense of unease.
   
5. Hidden Threats: Introduce lurking dangers that players may not immediately be aware of. Foreshadow ominous presence, unseen enemies, or potential traps, building a sense of tension and anticipation for their inevitable confrontation.
   
6. Moral Dilemmas: Present players with challenging moral choices that have significant consequences. Force them to make difficult decisions that test their values and potentially put them at odds with each other. The moral ambiguity adds emotional tension and depth to the narrative.
   
7. Unpredictable NPCs: Include non-player characters (NPCs) with hidden agendas, conflicting motivations, or unpredictable behavior. This keeps players guessing and adds an element of tension as they navigate complex social interactions and try to decipher the NPCs’ true intentions.
   
8. Consequences and Sacrifices: Make sure player actions have meaningful consequences. Highlight the potential risks and sacrifices involved in their decisions, emphasizing the potential loss or negative outcomes. This creates a sense of weight and tension as players grapple with the ramifications of their choices.
   
9. Dwindling Options: Narrow down the players’ available choices or escape routes as they delve deeper into the dungeon. This increases the feeling of being trapped and heightens the tension, forcing them to confront the challenges head-on.
   
10. Cliffhangers: End sessions or chapters on cliffhangers or unresolved dilemmas. Leave players hanging in suspense, eagerly anticipating the next session and the resolution of the tense situation.

Encourage Resource Management

Mastering resource management in D&D 5e enhances gameplay by adding depth, strategy, and challenges for players. It encourages thoughtful decision-making and forces players to make tough choices, resulting in engaging and rewarding gameplay experiences.

Here are a few key points about resource management in D&D 5e:

1. Hit Points: Characters must strategically allocate their hit points to endure encounters and survive battles. Healing spells, potions, and resting mechanics play a significant role in replenishing hit points.
   
2. Spell Slots: Spellcasting classes have limited spell slots of various levels that determine how many spells they can cast between long rests. Players must decide which spells to use and when to conserve or expend their spell slots wisely.
   
3. Long Rests and Short Rests: Long rests allow characters to fully recover their hit points, spell slots, and abilities, while short rests provide an opportunity to regain hit dice and certain class features. Balancing when to take these rests is crucial for optimizing resource management.
   
4. Consumable Items: Characters often possess consumable items like potions, scrolls, or magical ammunition that provide temporary benefits. These items need to be used judiciously, as they are limited in quantity and may be crucial in critical situations. One of the best advice I got as a DM, is to give players strong consumable items because it will always trigger tactical thinking in them.
   
5. Abilities and Features: Many character abilities, such as class features, racial traits, and feats, have limited uses per rest or day. Players must strategically choose when to utilize these abilities for maximum impact during encounters.
   
6. Action Economy: Managing actions, bonus actions, and reactions effectively is vital for optimizing resource usage. Choosing the right actions and abilities during combat can make a significant difference in conserving resources or achieving tactical advantages.
   
7. Inventory Management: Keeping track of equipment, ammunition, and supplies is essential to avoid shortages or overburdening the character. Balancing the need for utility items and combat essentials is crucial for resource management.
   
8. Exploration and Time Management: Resource management extends beyond combat encounters. It also involves rationing supplies, managing time, and making strategic decisions during exploration, ensuring characters have enough resources to tackle challenges ahead.
   
9. Team Cooperation: Effective resource management often requires coordination and cooperation among party members. Pooling resources, coordinating spellcasting, and sharing consumable items can optimize resource utilization and ensure everyone’s survival.
   
10. Adapting to Circumstances: Resource management is a dynamic process that requires adaptation to changing situations. Players must assess the urgency and difficulty of encounters, adjusting their resource expenditure accordingly.

Design encounters (not only combat encounters, mind you!) that require players to make strategic choices and manage their resources effectively. This includes limited healing options, scarcity of ammunition, or time-sensitive situations. Resource management adds tension and forces players to think creatively.

Obviously one of the best example of resources management and drama that can come out of it is the big finale of Critical Role’s 1st campaign. The Counterspell moment delivered by Sam (no to go into too much details).

Climactic Moments in Story-Driven Dungeon

Plan for key climactic moments within the dungeon that offer significant payoffs for the players’ efforts. This could be an epic boss battle, a critical plot revelation, or a game-changing encounter that alters the course of the narrative. Obviously in D&D – a game about killing monsters – having a great boss at the end of the dungeon is usually the most important and iconic Climactic Moments in the campaign. For more information on creating great bosses, check this article.

Here are some tips to help you build a climactic moment in your TTRPG sessions:

1. Foreshadowing: Drop subtle hints and foreshadowing throughout the game to build anticipation for the climactic moment. This can be in the form of prophecies, rumors, or NPC interactions that allude to an upcoming significant event or confrontation.
   
2. Rising Stakes: Increase the stakes as the story progresses. Introduce challenges, obstacles, and conflicts that become progressively more difficult or dangerous, leading up to the climactic moment. This raises the tension and creates a sense of urgency.
   
3. Character Arcs: Connect the climactic moment to the personal goals, growth, or conflicts of the player characters. Develop their individual storylines and provide opportunities for them to shine, face their fears, or make impactful decisions that contribute to the climax.
   
4. Build Suspense: Use pacing techniques to build suspense leading up to the climactic moment. Slow down the narrative, intensify the atmosphere, and focus on sensory details to create a sense of anticipation. Emphasize the consequences and potential outcomes of the upcoming event.
   
5. Converging Plot Threads: Bring together multiple plot threads, storylines, or character arcs during the climactic moment. This convergence adds complexity and depth to the moment, making it feel significant and impactful to the overall narrative.
   
6. Epic Setting: Set the stage for the climactic moment in a memorable and epic location. Whether it’s a grand battlefield, a sacred temple, or a crumbling ruin, the setting should reflect the gravity and importance of the moment, heightening the dramatic impact.
   
7. Intense Challenges: Design challenging encounters or obstacles that the players must overcome during the climactic moment. These can involve powerful adversaries, complex puzzles, or high-stakes skill checks. The challenges should push the characters to their limits, testing their abilities and resolve.
   
8. Emotional Resonance: Infuse the climactic moment with emotional weight. Use storytelling techniques, such as impactful dialogue, character revelations, or dramatic events, to evoke strong emotions in both players and their characters. This creates a deeper connection and investment in the outcome.
   
9. Player Agency: Provide opportunities for player agency during the climactic moment. Allow them to make meaningful choices, take decisive actions, or influence the outcome of the event. This empowers the players and makes them feel like active participants in shaping the climax.
   
10. Resolution and Impact: Ensure that the climactic moment has a resolution that brings closure to the narrative arc or storyline. The outcome should have lasting consequences that reverberate throughout the game world, leaving a significant impact on the characters and their future adventures.

Your Story-Driven Dungeon

In crafting engaging story-driven dungeons, we’ve uncovered the secrets of pacing in D&D. Now, it’s your turn to dive into the depths of creativity. How will you captivate your players with thematic environments and compelling hooks? How will you shape non-linear paths, challenging their choices and resource management? Can you imagine the climactic moments that will leave them breathless?

As a dungeon designer, you hold the power to transport players to extraordinary worlds and immerse them in unforgettable adventures. So, embrace the art of storytelling, wield your imagination, and create dungeons that will make legends.

People often ask

Artykuł D&D Dungeon Pacing Guide – How to Keep Players Engaged pochodzi z serwisu Before You Roll.