Before We Get Started . . .

. . . here are a few more points to keep in mind:

First Edition Rules

   The ranger has undergone several changes since the publication of the 1st Edition AD&D® rules. For that reason, those using the 1st Edition rules may find the ranger character described in these pages all but unrecognizable. Our suggestions: (1) take the plunge into the 2nd Edition rules, and become familiar with the 2nd Edition DUNGEON MASTER Guide and Player's Handbook before considering the ideas in this handbook, or (2) ignore the chapter references in this book, as they all refer to the 2nd Edition rulebooks. Find the relevant material by consulting the indexes or contents pages of the original books, then carefully adapt the handbook rules of your choice to the style of your campaign. For reference, a summary of the 1st Edition ranger rules can be found in the Appendix of this book on page 122.

Proficiencies

   The ideas in this book lean heavily on the concepts of weapon and nonweapon proficiencies introduced in Chapter 5 of the 2nd Edition Player's Handbook. If you haven't been using proficiencies in your campaign, we suggest you review the rules before proceeding with this book. (And if you're not using the proficiency rules, you ought to reconsider—they're not that hard, and they make the game a lot more fun!).

A Note About Pronouns

  

For convenience and clarity, masculine pronouns are used throughout this book. This in no way implies favoritism towards the male gender; in fact, males and females are equally represented in the ranger population. In all cases, read he as he or she, and his as his and her.

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