Armor and Weapons
Like all warriors, the ranger is allowed to wear any type of armor. However, lighter armor provides him with special benefits, while heavier armor imposes a few restrictions.
A ranger may use two weapons simultaneously without the standard penalties (which are -2 for his main weapon, -4 for the second weapon) when wearing studded or lighter armor (armor with an Armor Class of 7 or more). The following restrictions also apply:
· The ranger must be able to wield his main weapon with one hand.
· The second weapon must be smaller in size and must weigh less than the main weapon.
· The ranger can't use a shield when using two weapons.
The ranger's choice of armor also determines whether he can hide in shadows and move silently. Armor with an AC of 6 or less--scale mail armor or heavier--is too inflexible and too noisy to enable him to take advantage of these special abilities.
Table 6 summarizes the AC, costs, and weight of the armor available to the ranger. The table also notes whether the armor allows the ranger to fight with two weapons without penalty, and to use his abilities to hide in shadows and move silently.
Table 6: The Ranger's Armor
|
Cost |
Weight |
||||
|
Armor |
AC |
(gp) |
(lb.) |
T-W |
HS/MS |
|
Leather |
8 |
5 |
15 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Padded |
8 |
4 |
10 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Studded |
|||||
|
Leather |
7 |
20 |
25 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Ring Mail |
7 |
100 |
30 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Hide |
6 |
15 |
30 |
No |
B |
|
Brigandine |
6 |
120 |
35 |
No |
B |
|
Scale Mail |
6 |
120 |
40 |
No |
B |
|
Chain Mail |
5 |
75 |
40 |
No |
B |
|
Splint Mail |
4 |
80 |
40 |
No |
B |
|
Banded |
4 |
200 |
35 |
No |
B |
|
Bronze Plate |
4 |
400 |
45 |
No |
B |
|
Plate Mail |
3 |
600 |
50 |
No |
B |
|
Field Plate |
2 |
2,000 |
60 |
No |
B |
|
Full Plate |
1 |
4,000+ |
70 |
No |
B |
Abbreviations
T-W = Two-weapon fighting penalty. ("Yes" means the standard penalties for two-weapon fighting are ignored while wearing this armor.)
HS/MS = Hide in shadows/move silently. ("Yes" means these abilities can be used while wearing this armor. "B" means these abilities can be used if the DM uses the Optional Armor Adjustments; see Table 13.)
Rangers can use any weapons listed in Chapter 6 of the Player's Handbook. As they rise in level, they're able to make more than one attack per round, as shown in Table 7.
Table 7: Ranger Attacks Per Round
|
Level |
Attacks/Round |
|
1-6 |
1/round |
|
7-12 |
3/2 rounds |
|
13-20 |
2/round |
As explained in Chapter 9 of the Player's Handbook, a character fighting with two weapons is allowed to make an extra attack each combat round with his second weapon. This is added to any multiple attack routine the ranger receives at higher level. For instance, a 13th-level ranger normally makes two attacks per round (see Table 7). However, when fighting with two weapons, he's allowed three attacks per round, two with the primary weapon and one with the secondary weapon.