Ranger NPCs & How to Use Them for EVERY Tier of Play
If this is your first time reading this series, we’re going through each of the official classes in D&D Fifth Edition and making NPC statblocks inspired by them. They are not intended to be carbon copies of these classes, but rather to simplify your NPCs while maintaining the flavor and familiarity of a full character. If you are curious about this reasoning, you can read the first article in the series on paladins.
For each of the tiers of play, we’ll make an NPC stat block based on the relevant class. These tiers are a loose way of comparing your NPC’s power level to that of your party. Of course this is far from perfect, but you’ll be able to give the general feel of whether an NPC is over, under, or near the power level of a comparable player character. For reference, those tiers of play are:
Local Heroes (Levels 1-4)
Heroes of the Realm (Levels 5-10)
Masters of the Realm (Level 11-16)
Masters of the World (Levels 17-20)
With the table set, let’s move into our third round of NPCs: rangers!
How to Use NPC Rangers
In D&D, much of the actual adventuring gets done far away from civilization. Sure, there are the classic murder mysteries, uncovering the criminal underbelly beneath the city, and other urban questlines that make up a balanced game experience. But much of the game is designed around exploration: slaying the monster in the woods, uncovering the lost artifact, speaking to the oracle deep in the Underdark. In a world so riff with dangers and unmapped terrain, a ranger is always in high demand.
In your game, a ranger may be the first to discover something that is amiss in the natural world, leading to an adventure for your party. Or maybe the party already has an adventure they want to pursue, but don’t know how to find their ultimate destination. A ranger could even serve as an antagonist in your game as they seek to unleash ancient elemental powers on the world in order to return it to its natural state.
However you decide to use them, rangers play a key role in a traditional DnD setting. They are on the fringes of civilization and can be crucial allies in places where friends are hard to come by. And, they can be used effectively regardless of the level you are playing at.
Tier 1 Rangers
Tier 1 rangers will typically be encountered between levels 1 and 4, although you may use them as allies or henchmen of more powerful beings at later levels. These rangers may be hermits living solitary lives away from civilization, scouts that uncover hidden dangers in the woods, or elven archers on a hunting trip.
Customizing an NPC. For the majority of NPC rangers, the following statblock will be more than sufficient. However, if you have an important/long-term NPC, you may want to add something that distinguishes them from other rangers. To customize a ranger of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Add one (or both) of the 3rd level features from an appropriate ranger conclave (subclass).
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game. While it is not necessary to assign a NPC to a specific conclave/subclass, it can help you think of how rangers naturally fit within your world. Different types of rangers will be found in different locations, have different motivations, and may perceive your party differently. Of course you can give them the specific abilities of that subclass (as detailed in the “Customizing an NPC” sections) but that is far from necessary. The way you describe the character, how they are found in your game, and the motivations they have will do far more to establish the tone than a class ability or two. With that in mind, here are some examples of how to use Tier 1 rangers in your game:
A goblin war band has begun forming in a nearby forest. They are cutting down trees and overhunting the area at an alarming rate. A typically antisocial ranger and his wolf companion are forced to head into town to acquire assistance in dispersing the camp. (Beast Master Conclave).
While walking down a less traveled road, the party sees a figure burst out from the treeline. The figure makes a beeline to them, all while calling for help and nocking an arrow into their bow. Seconds later, an enraged owlbear emerges from the forest and lets out a mighty roar. (Hunter Conclave).
Tier 2 Rangers
Tier 2 rangers are most likely to be encountered in between levels 5 and 10, although they may be introduced earlier as a potential patron, mentor figure or future antagonist. You may also use them at later levels as allies or lieutenants of even more powerful creatures. At tier 2, these rangers could be retired adventurers now living a reclusive life, defenders of sacred natural sites, or immigrants to strange and exotic lands like the Feywilds.
Customizing an NPC. To customize a ranger of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Add one (or both) of the 3rd level features from an appropriate ranger conclave (subclass).
Add the 7th level ability granted by the appropriate conclave.
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game.
While traversing through the Underdark, the party comes to a halt as one of the PCs hears a faint noise from behind them. They look, but see nothing. From the darkness, an unseen gravelly voice warns, “keep goin’ that way and you're liable to run into a pack of mind flayers. Or worse.” (Gloom Stalker Conclave).
Storms have been raging atop a tall mountain for days on end. A long dormant portal to the Elemental Plane of Air has reopened and some malevolent entity is attempting to access the Material Plane. An ancient society of guardians are attempting to hold off the evil minions coming through the portal, but they will only last for so long without reinforcements. (Horizon Walker Conclave).
Tier 3 Rangers
Tier 3 rangers are most likely to be encountered from levels 11 to 16, although you may insert them earlier as a potential patron or mentor figure. They may be used at later levels as allies or lieutenants of even more powerful creatures. Unless your setting has uniquely powerful NPCs, tier 3 rangers should be very rare. They may not be well-known to the public, but more often than not they may be the first line of defense against grave threats to the natural world. These NPCs may be the guardians of a planar portal, the favored servant of a powerful nature spirit, or a renowned monster hunter.
Customizing an NPC. To customize a ranger of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Add one (or both) of the 3rd level features from an appropriate ranger conclave (subclass).
Add the 7th level ability granted by the appropriate conclave.
Add the 11th level ability granted by the appropriate conclave.
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game.
A ranger returns to town, out of breath and haggard. While hunting, he came across a massive horde of ghouls and other undead creatures. He attempted to circle around them and learn where they came from, but he was spotted. He took out quite a few of the creatures, but was forced to retreat before learning anything more. (Hunter Conclave).
An adult red dragon has been rampaging through a dense forest, burning acres of it to the ground. It appears to be searching for something, but no one is quite sure what. A ranger has tracked down the location of the dragon’s lair but needs help to slay it, or failing that, at least stop its destruction. (Monster Slayer Conclave). osting a tournament, the prize money has drawn competitors from all across the land. One of the fighters is rumored to be the heavy favorite.
Tier 4 Rangers
Tier 4 rangers will probably be encountered by PCs from levels 17 to 20, if at all. A tier 4 ranger is comparable in many respects to a level 20 adventurer, there may only be one such figure in your entire setting. Rangers of this renown may be the spokesperson of a nature deity, the elderly leader of a powerful elven clan, or a stalwart against planar invasions or terrifying aberrations.
Customizing an NPC. To customize a ranger of this tier, you can do one or more of the following:
Add one (or both) of the 3rd level features from an appropriate ranger conclave (subclass).
Add the 7th level ability granted by the appropriate conclave.
Add the 11th level ability granted by the appropriate conclave.
Add the 15th level ability granted by the appropriate conclave.
Plot Hooks/Use in Your Game.
A secret organization has reason to believe that one of the denizens of the Tarterian Depths of Carceri has learned of a way to get through the portal they have guarded for millenia. Carceri is the prison plane, the home of traitors, would-be despots, and other horrid planar creatures. If a way out were ever truly discovered, our entire plane would be in danger. The ranger needs assistance in tracking down this particular denizen in Carceri and silencing them before they can make good on their plans. (Horizon Walker Conclave).
While flying overhead, a ranger spotted a massive section of land miles wide that was dried up and dead. That, along with the massive, clawed tracks left behind, seem to indicate the presence of a blight dragon. Left alone, it will continue to drain the very life from the region until there is nothing left. (Drakewarden Conclave).
Up next week: NPC clerics to lead your churches, provide crucial healing and other magical services, or serve as wandering missionaries!
