Ranger (FiD)

Starfox's Blades in the Dark fan page

Skilled in tracking foes and gathering vital intelligence, rangers are experts at striking precisely and from a distance. Whether pinpointing an enemy’s location or neutralizing threats before they can act, the Ranger ensures they remain a step ahead of their adversaries.

An adaptation of the Hound playbook from Blades in the Dark. More focused on ranged combat than the D&D ranger. Rangers often multiclass with Animism to become more like ranges in D&D.

Touchstones: Little John from Flesh and Blood (1985).

Special Abilities

1. Focused: You may expend your Special Armor to resist a consequence of surprise or mental harm (fear, confusion, losing track of someone) or to push yourself for ranged combat or reconnaissance.
2. Friend of Nature: You can use Hunt to befriend animals and Non-Sapient creatures native to the natural terrain you are in. Limited outcome to be ignored, standard outcome to gain information, great outcome to make temporary Cohorts (p. 96).
3. Marksman: When you push yourself on a Hunt attack, you can do one of the following: make a ranged attack beyond what’s normal for the weapon—your shot momentarily halts onlookers—hit an impossibly small mark like a rope—hit a vital spot for increased effect..
4. Predator: When you gather information about a target, you can ask one additional question about their weaknesses or habits. Knowing a creature's weakness grants you potency.
5. Sniper: You get +1d to rolls to avoid detection and on Hunt attacks as long as your location is unknown. When you attack with Hunt from a hidden position, being revealed is a consequence.
6. Spirit Hunter: Your Hunting Pet is imbued with spirit energy. It gains potency when tracking or fighting the supernatural, and gains an arcane ability: ghost-form, mind-link, or arrow-swift. Take this ability again to choose additional arcane abilities for your pet.
7. Survivor: You are an expert at foraging and finding your way in the wild, +1d on all Hunt checks in the wild and improved effect when gathering food and +1d to all crew healing rolls. Crew can take an additional downtime action when camping out, to a maximum of two actions.
8. Tough as Nails: Penalties from harm are one level less severe (though level 4 harm is still fatal).

Dangerous Friends

˄ ˅ Aerin, a bounty hunter.

˄ ˅ Elior, a soldier.

˄ ˅ Lioran, a herbalist.

˄ ˅ Rael, a lawman.

˄ ˅ Theren, a spy.

Inventory

☐-☐ Fine long range weapon.

☐, ☐ Fine short range weapon.

☐ Light camping gear.

◯ Trained hunting pet cohort.

☐ Silver bullets.

☐ Spyglass.

• Fine Long Range Weapon: ☐☐ A masterwork weapon that fits you perfectly, improving your effect. This can be a rifle, crossbow, or longbow.
• Fine Short Range Weapon: ☐ A masterwork weapon that fits you perfectly, improving your effect. This can be a hand weapon such as an axe, sword or rapier, or a short range weapons like a sling, hand crossbow, or pistol.
• Light Camping Gear ☐: Bedroll, cooking pot, tarpaulin, fishing line, snares, all personalized and chosen to be lightweight. Roughing it out with this gear allows a single downtime action to remove stress. Lacking this does not allow any effective rest.
• Trained Hunting Pet ◯: Your animal companion obeys your commands and anticipates your actions. It is Intelligent. Cohort Expert: Hunter. See p 96.
• Silver Bullets ☐: Especially cast in a holy or magical place, these silver bullets make potent attacks with a firearm. A similar effect for bows and crossbows can be gained with silver-tipped arrows and bolts. You have enough silver bullets for the entire score. Consumable, Gadget.
• Spyglass ☐: Telescopic brass tube with lenses, amplifies three to four times. Gadget.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge with reconnaissance or violence.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Hunt 2

Survey 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Gather Information

• What do they intend to do?
• How can I get them to [X]?
• What are they really feeling?
• Where are they vulnerable?
• Where did [X] go?
• How can I find [X]?
• What's really going on here?