We ran into an issue in our game today, and I'm just wondering if anyone else has seen this or might know a solution.
One of our players is (well, was...) a ranger. Every time he would use animal companion (after level 5, this wasn't always the case), it would instantly aggro him and start a combat. No one else had him marked as an enemy, only the ranger. We once tried attacking it when we were in camp, and Astorian ran over to heal it. If no one made any moves and just ended their turn, the combat rotation just went in circles and nothing would happen. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
The problem is Swords Bard 7/Thief 3/Fighter 2 does everything that build does but better.
Swords Bard 6 is double Gloomstalker Ranger 5's damage in every situation, it gains more expertise and proficiencies, and it's full spell casting is insanely useful in dialog and combat. Enhance Ability basically means never failing a skill check from Bard 3 on.
Even the Fall back of SB 8/Thief 3/Fighter 1 outpaces the Ranger build on all fronts.
Gloom/Assassin is literally the only way to make rogues or rangers playable, so it's not impossible someone accidentally started that combo with a ranger
Why don't you fine rogues playable/useful ? I fight myself practically married to Astarion (and Shadowheart) In pretty much every playthrough because rogue is so useful/core. Not just for lock picking and trap disarming when needed, but also just for raw damage. In my first playthrough I had Astarion sneaking around and one shot nearly the entire goblin camp with stealth archery by himself. He killed everything with one arrow but the ogre and the two goblins next to it and the two goblins high up in their towers.
Was your ranger wearing the Abyss Beckoner gloves?
Abyss Beckoners (Found in the back of the Zhentarim cave at Waukeen's Rest)
Very Rare
"Demonspirit Aura: The wearer's summoned creature has resistance to all damage except Psychic damage.
At the start of the summoned creature's turn, it must succeed a Wisdom Saving Throw or be driven Mad."
My ranger did not encounter that bug but beast summons and certain druid forms do count as crimes in the game. Maybe for whatever reason, the companion is bugging out the crime system, leaving the players faction and becoming part of its own? Summon and shape based Ranger and druid is honestly borderline unplayable without the mod that essentially removes it as a crime.
And honestly, having played ranger until probably halfish of act 2... ranger doesn't only feel bad with no niche it excels at, no powerful feelings abilities, but also just unpolished. Want an archer that does lockpicking, etc? Roll a rogue. Want someone that has first aid and summons? Roll a druid. Want someone that can front line with swords and/or magic ? Go fighter and/or bladelock. I'm honestly thinking about remaking this character as something else but it would be yet another playthrough where I am married to Astarion because rogue is so useful.
I have limited experience with ranger. I have had episodes where non-companion NPCs are afraid of my familiar and/or summoned companion and run away from them or make comments like "go away". I have not had an animal companion instantly aggro my ranger Tav or anyone else. Definitely sounds like a bug.
I haven't picked up that game in a bit, but will now be trying it out for science.
pretending not to read the parenthesis have they tried NOT being a ranger? I'm sure it's just a phase like the time they kept insisting that bears eat beets 🤷