Ranger vs Druid & Elf questions.

[SpectralShadows]

A few questions...
(apologies if I failed my Search/Spot checks and any of this is covered elsewhere)


Reading this post about Druids and their gods, and it says "For the most part, in everything said here the term Druid is interchangeable with Ranger"

But it doesn't seem to say (unless I missed it) what the differences are. Is it just a standard difference of rangers being more combat-biased, or is there something else/more to it?



Also, I've been looking for any info about half-elves, but failed to find anything other than the odd mention, or that they're the base race for creating Centaurs.

I'm considering a Half-Elf, decended from a Human father and Avlissian Elf mother, but I was wondering if there was anything specific I would need to know for this?
In NWN, it says half-elves are generally considered outcasts from both races, but I think I read that this isn't the case in Avlis?

One last question, on speaking the elven language.
How much of a presence does it have? I know Common is the resident language in Avlis, but if elves/half-elves meet, they are likely to at least greet each other in Elvish, yes? But what about the less common words?
In essence: Should I just jot down the main parts, or is it worth a trip to the library to print out the entire thing?


Thanks.

[Bigdaddy037]

A common misconception is that Rangers are fighting druids.

This is not necessarily true.

Yes, you can play a ranger who is very into the same kinda things as a druid, but you can also play a ranger that is :
- a hunter and trapper (very un-druid like)
- a scout for a war party
- a terrorist for one side of a war or another
- a raider of anybody coming into a forest (CE Ranger anyone?:) )
and so on.

It is all up to your imagination.

[AbominationFascination]

At the same time, Rangers get Divine spells. Therefore, it would seem that they have some link to some deity.

I've always viewed rangers:druid::holy warriors:clerics.

I know that's not canonical. And I know that you can play a perfectly plausible ranger with low Wisdom who'll never cast a divine spell in his life, but you can say the same of paladins and other holy warriors.

Rangers are allowed to have a wider range of alignments than druids, which is a more significant argument against my point.

I'd think that any ranger who wants to have spells would have an active tie to a nature deity.

[Xiaou]

- a scout for a war party


I can attest with reasonable certainty that this is a damn blast. Highly recommended.

[Setanos]

I just want to throw in that any of the things listed a druid could do as well. Maybe not with as much proficiency as a ranger, but they can do it.

[SpectralShadows]

Thanks for the answers so far.

The concept I've got in mind (at the moment) is that of a guardian of nature thingy, a follower of Pelar who sees it as his duty to protect Nature from the destructiveness of others.

So I could probably give him an aggressive-defensive stance which takes him in the direction of joining T'Nanshi against M'Chek, and thus have him as scout... which sounds fun; I don't think I've roleplayed a proper stealthy-style character before (except in Deus Ex )

[khuff9]

Just some thoughts. I have played a Ranger since my PNP days witch started in about 1980, so I have some experience.

1.) In regard to spells. Yes they are devine in nature but depending on the spells you select they can RP'd to be more like skills the too best examples in NWN are the healing spells and camoflage. I usually think of my healing spells as knowing natural remedies that speed healing and camoflage is pretty self explanatory. So in essence a Ranger doesn't have to be that devoted to a god of the woods. Druid on the otherhand gets all their power from the wood so must follow the tenants of their faith to a tee.

2.) Druids are predominately spellcasters and party buffers. Alot of this has to do with equipment restrictions(No clue what they are here but have played on a server where they could not use any with metal and no bows. They were limited to the simplest of equipment) Rangers on the other hand have to be a jack of all trades. Tho many are archer based they are often called on to fill in gaps on the frontline(due to their hp and bab which is the same as a fighter). They also fulfill rogue responsibilites and also can be called on to aid clerics in healing duties. You must understand that as a ranger you will be a helping char. Alone you will not be able to do alot but a well played ranger can make a decent party great.


These observations are mainly from a mechanics POV. I have not touched on RP alot, that is a personal choice.


K

[Vanor]

it says "For the most part, in everything said here the term Druid is interchangeable with Ranger"

But it doesn't seem to say (unless I missed it) what the differences are.

I wrote that so I'm best qualifed to answer it.

What I was saying was, that when it comes to the relationship between a spellcasting Druid and spellcasting Ranger, and their god... There's no real difference.

So a Ranger of Pelar would act in much the same way a Druid of Pelar would. Here's an example.

A Druid of Pelar, is in may ways much like a modern day DNR agent. (Department of Natural Resources or Forest Ranger). His respect and love for animals are as high as O?Ma or Dru?El, but he also knows that some ways the best way to care for the animals is to remove the old and sick from the herd.

In that statement, every time you see Druid, you could replace it with Ranger.

Make sense?

[Melakin Skywieder]

A guide.

Could be similar to the scout but not necessarily. I know for a fact that Xiaou's character is a much better scout than mine but a poor guide

This is my favourite when I can.

And you only get spells if you get above a certain level so below that you really dont have to worry about it, something my ranger will never have to worry about getting.

[SpectralShadows]

Vanor: Yup, that makes sense, thanks.

khuff9 & Melakin:
I like the idea of spells as skills. I think I'll pick appropriate spells to do that with, (if/when I reach the appropriate levels). Although he'll still follow Pelar, but just doesn't get/need divine help from him.
At the moment I'm leaning towards a melee-based ranger/scout.
Guide is an interesting idea, but I think it's best to at least have my character know where he's going first, before trying to guide people.

[AbominationFascination]

I want to see someone play a Ranger of Verossa

[Vroshgrak]

*cough* I had an in-game roomate who was a Ranger of Verossa. *cough*

If only he hadn't taken to the drink (in real life) He would probably still be playing. Mmm His half of the cave is still empty.

But that Evil Tangleroot (tm) you cant trust him!

[Midknight]

IMO, a ranger in short is usually any sort of frontier type woodsmen, usually living in the wilds.
This doesn't make him a tree hugger like a druid, but he does have what you call a "healthy respect" of nature.
In addition to the above, a ranger is anyone skilled at tracking and/or hunting quarry - whether this be M'chekian soldiers, T'Nanshi elves, big game like deer, rich noblemen, wanted criminals, undead, the list goes on...

[SpectralShadows]

Thanks for all the comments & answers so far.

Is anyone able to answer my questions on half-elves & Nanshilae?

[NWDuneAuron]

Thanks for all the comments & answers so far.

Is anyone able to answer my questions on half-elves & Nanshilae?

The only people I've seen speak Elven in full sentences are NPCs. Primarily, its Pelail, Dotah, Fen, etc - short answers and greetings.

[Tangleroot]

I want to see someone play a Ranger of Verossa

Well, you're not the only one!

[SpectralShadows]

The only people I've seen speak Elven in full sentences are NPCs. Primarily, its Pelail, Dotah, Fen, etc - short answers and greetings.

I thought that was probably the case.

But I've gone and formatted the list of alphabetical words & phrases into a nice HTML page.
So I can put it on my Linux machine (once I've got it setup) and use that as a reference, rather than printing it off. (Ctrl-F doesn't work on printouts. )

[Melakin Skywieder]

Guide is an interesting idea, but I think it's best to at least have my character know where he's going first, before trying to guide people

Be prepared to spend alot of time mapping. That said there is less reason for me to do that now since there are generally alot more folks on the servers than there was a year ago.

And there are a couple of PC that use elvish in entire sentences....well one isnt a PC anymore, he's a god .

They also have written full paragrahs in elvish on the boards...

With no translation

Freaks!

[SpectralShadows]

Heheh, I remember trying to do mapping of MUDs - 'trying' being the key word. It's not easy when you assume all areas are the same size, then you end up trying to squeeze a zone between two others.

I was contemplating doing an elvish translator, but when I woke up and realised it would require significant effort to do anything more complex than a straight word converter, I decided not to.

I do like languages though, so maybe if I learn this one well enough then I'll be doing some full paragraphs too.

[Aloro]

And there are a couple of PC that use elvish in entire sentences....well one isnt a PC anymore, he's a god .

Nookan, eni doober Nanshilae mitayn eni yucol zecoras ayt...

- Aloro

[Bigdaddy037]

Nookan, eni doober Nanshilae mitayn eni yucol zecoras ayt...

- Aloro

Super Freak!!