Ranger Subclass: The Trapper Conclave (Revised)

The trapper conclave is all about patience and persistence. Instead of stalking your prey waiting for the right moment, you set up the right moment and wait. Primarily you do this through your traps, to wrong foot your opponents and strike while they’re weak, learning how to make them stronger over time. 

 

Combat Trapper

When you choose this archetype at level 3 you learn how to place down traps quickly during combat.  You learn how to make three traps of your choice,

You learn one additional trap of your choice at 7th, 10th, and 15th level. Each time you learn new traps, you can also replace one trap you know with a different one.

Traps take an action to place or throw at a range of 10 feet and take up a 5-foot square. You also cannot put a trap on a square that already has a trap on it and if a creature goes on the square that a trap has been placed on, it triggers. 

You can only have a number of untriggered traps out equal to your Proficiency bonus.

Saving Throws. Some of your traps require your target to make a saving throw to resist the trap's effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:

Trap Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier

Investigation Checks. When these traps are placed, you may also choose to hide them. You do not need to roll sleight of hand to do so, instead a creature who is aware there are traps in the area may make an investigation check against your Trap Save DC.

 

Set and Strike

At 7th level when you use your action to place one of your traps, you can use your bonus action to make one weapon attack.

 

Easy Mark

When you reach 11th level, you may use your reaction to attack or cast a single target spell at a creature you can see who has triggered one of your traps.

 

Remote Detonation.

At 15th level, you can use a bonus action to activate all of your traps at once, without needing someone to step on them. Once you use this ability, you cannot use it again till you complete a short or long rest.

 

Traps

The traps presented here are presented in alphabetical order.

 

Acid Trap

Prerequisite: 3rd level ranger

When this trap is triggered, the triggering creature must succeed a Dexterity saving throw or their Armour Class is reduced by 1. This trap does not affect magical, mithril or adamantine armour. 

 

Consecrated Trap

Prerequisite: 7th level ranger

When triggered this lets out a spray of holy water in a 5 feet radius, creatures within a 5ft radius of this must succeed a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 radiant damage if they are a fiend or undead.

In addition, any fiend or undead damaged by this has disadvantage on attacks until the end of their next turn.

 

 

Fire Trap

Prerequisite: 3rd level ranger

When triggered lets out a quick incendiary explosion, everyone in a 5 feet radius of the trap when it is triggered succeed a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d10 fire damage. On a success, they take half as much.

This increases to 2d10 at 7th level, 3d10 at 11th level and 4d10 at 15th level.

 

Freeze Trap

Prerequisite: 3rd level ranger

When triggered, this lets out an explosion of ice that covers everyone in a 5 feet radius, and they must succeed a Constitution saving throw or take 1d6 Cold damage and their movement is reduced by 10 feet until the end of their next turn. On a success, they take half of the Cold damage and are not slowed.

The damage increases to 2d6 at 7th level, at 11th level their movement is halved rather than reduced by 10 feet, at 15th level their speed is reduced to 0 and the damage is increased to 3d6. 

 

 Poison Trap

Prerequisite: 5th level ranger

A small container of gas, that when triggered fill a 5 feet radius with poison. This area lasts for one round of combat, and each creature who starts their turn in this area or enters it within this time, takes 1d4 poison damage. They must also succeed a Constitution or become poisoned until the end of their next turn.

This damage increases to 2d4 at 7th level, 3d4 at 11th and 4d4 at 15th.

 

Lightning Trap

Prerequisite: 10th level ranger

When triggered, this trap releases a ball of lightning that sparks out in a 5 feet radius. Every creature that is hit by this must succeed a constitution saving throw or be stunned until the start of their next turn.

 

Spike Trap

Prerequisite: 3rd level ranger

A spring trap, that when triggered covers a 5 feet radius with small thorns, caltrops, or other sharp objects, making the area difficult terrain. Creatures who start their turn in the area or end their turn in the area, take 2d4 piercing damage at that point. Creatures who traverse the area also take 2d4 piercing damage for every 5-foot square crossed. This area lasts a number of rounds equal to your Proficiency bonus.

This area increases to a 10 feet radius at 7th level, 15 feet radius at 11th level, and 20 feet radius at 15th.

 

Sticky Trap

Prerequisite: 3rd level ranger

A spring trap, that when triggered, covers a 10 feet radius with a sticky substance that counts a difficult terrain for the duration. In addition, everyone in the area when it goes off must succeed a Strength saving throw or be restrained until it dissolves.

A restrained creature may use their action to make a Strength (athletics) check against your trap save DC. On a success, it frees itself.

At 11th level, creatures who succeed on the initial save or succeed later on their Strength (athletics) check are knocked prone after doing so.

The substance dissolves after a number of rounds equal to your Proficiency bonus.

 

Thunder Trap

Prerequisite: 3rd level ranger

A large boom of energy releases from this trap when it is triggered, all creatures within 5 feet of it must succeed a Strength saving throw or be pushed back 10 feet. They take 1d4 bludgeoning damage if this causes them to impact heavy objects or walls.