The Explorer
Wander forth and tame the wilds! "A wiry human crawls through the undergrowth¸ cautiously creeping up on an ogre. The unkempt giant picks its teeth with a finger bone¸ unaware of the danger as its hunter slowly unsheathes their twin swords. A dour-faced dwarf raises a hand to halt the adventurers behind him¸ attention caught at a seemingly innocuous flagstone ahead. He raises a hand and traces a complex arcane sigil in the air¸ muttering words of power. The divination confirms the presence of a trap¸ and he guides his comrades carefully around it. A tangled mass of plant growth blocking a dirt road halts a stolen wagon full of spoils. As the goblins aboard dismount to investigate¸ a wolf leaps from among the trees and brings one of them down. Astride the wolf sits a gnome wielding a shortbow. She buries one of her arrows in a second goblin's eye socket before the others have time to react. All these and more are explorers¸ heroes that make it their business to understand the wilds and the dark places where monsters dwell." The Explorer class is a reinvention of the Ranger¸ reworked from the ground up with three goals in mind: To open up a broader range of character concepts¸ such as the Delver¸ a dungeon explorer. To address some aspects of the Ranger class that I was less than keen on. Chief among these was the Ranger's reliance on magic. With the Explorer you can now build an entirely nonmagical ranger¸ but you also still have the option of embracing magic by selecting one of two magical archetypes! To remain compatible with existing Ranger archetypes¸ should you wish to use them. The Explorer class contains the following: The full 20-level Explorer class progression¸ featuring a new resource: the Explorer spends exertion to improve dice rolls as well as cast magic if they have any. 4 archetypes-the Avenger¸ Delver¸ Ranger¸ and Watchkeeper (descriptions below). Compatibility with Ranger archetypes including (but not limited to) the Beast Master (or Beast Conclave if you prefer)¸ Gloom Stalker¸ Horizon Walker¸ and Monster Slayer. A new feature for Beast Master Explorers and Rangers alike¸ "Friendship Beyond Death"! Muticlassing guidelines. The Avenger As an avenger¸ you have sworn to mete out vengeance against a creature or group of creatures that has wronged you¸ your loved ones¸ or a faction to which you belong. You might just as easily be seeking justice against the dragon or orc raiders that destroyed your village when you were a child¸ or a member of an ancient order dedicated to the destruction of the undead minions of a vampire lord. Whatever your background¸ you dedicate your life to the pursuit of methods to combat the target of your vengeance¸ along the way become a master at fighting other creatures like them.