LibriumArcana.Games

Who is your favorite heroic Ranger character in Fantasy? I've listed some obvious choices in a poll, but if there are any I left out, do speak up.

My natural choice, of course, would be Aragorn, from LOTR. He's simply awesome. He goes from a tracker in the wild to the frickin' king of Mankind, posessed a legendary magical sword, had a beautiful Elf girlfriend (later wife), and even had another lady wanting him. That's pretty damn awesome in my book. Aragorn constantly kicked Orc and Uruk ass, summoned an army of ghosts to help beat Sauron's army, and just generally had that fearless, unmitigated BAMF presence that would bring Drizzt to shame. Sorry to any Drizzt fans, but I just had to say that.

So, who is your favorite?

Aragorn is cool, but my favorite is Martin from Feist's Rift War saga. You've got to love a man who leads enemy troops into migrating dark elf bands and kicks ass in personal combat.

Who is Minsc?

And Martin is an ass kicker that even Sameul L Jackson must respect.

Who is Minsc?

Rashemen-originating Berserker Ranger from Baldur's Gate 1/2. Characterised by being tall, bald, and having tribal markings which look like a kindergarten class attacked him with the blue pastels. He has a 'Miniature Giant Space Hamster' as an Animal Comanion.



And, he would win my vote, but did you know that the famed assassin, Artemis Entreri, has levels of ranger? And, to be quite honest, Artemis is kind of millions of times more badass than Drizzt.

frigidmagi wrote:
And Martin is an ass kicker that even Sameul L Jackson must respect.

I love the killing of the bandit leader when they are surrounded in Silverthorn.

Martin shoots the guy (who is on horseback) at long range. The arrow hits the guy in the throat and he summersaults backward off the horse to land stone dead.

Arutha: "Show off."

Martin: "Hey, I had to clear the breastplate."

While i do like Aragorn aka Strider, i have fond memories of Tanis the half-elf from the DragonLance series. Actually, let me clarify: i remember liking him. I read the books quite a while ago and i don't recall many specifics at all aside from that he was cool.

Artemis is about has much a ranger as Drizzt is a barbarian (yes he has barbarian levels). Giving someone levels to fulfill a game mechanics does not make then a ranger or a thief or a barbarian.

Artemis is a fucking assassin, you can vote for him when there's a thread on assassin.

Okay, Minsc it is then.

'Make way evil! I'm six foot tall and packing a hamster!'
Minsc, for the BG ignorant out there.

Tanis Half-Elven of Dragonlance Fame.....

Agreed. Tanis was the shit.

'Make way evil! I'm six foot tall and packing a hamster!'

Wasn't Minsc taller than that? I seem to picture him being taller than I am at least.

Dakarne wrote:

'Make way evil! I'm six foot tall and packing a hamster!'

Wasn't Minsc taller than that? I seem to picture him being taller than I am at least.

Take it up with him. Minsc is the one who said that. Basically I'd agree, if nothing else on account of
'Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice-watch it, I'm HUGE!'

you have to take into account the fact that people in the middle ages were shorter than they are today

you have to take into account the fact that people in the middle ages were shorter than they are today

Point.

I'd probably look like a giant to most denizens of the realms. One who'd make a decent gnomish artificer. If only because it's the only job I'm eccentric enough for.

The 3E PH indicates human height is more or less in line with modern day Earth, as did the 2E one. While 6' isn't exactly small it's not particularly tall, either.
Unless the FRCS says different, of course.

I would point out that his intelligence is less than 10, so we cant really expect his number sense to be up to par

I would point out that his intelligence is less than 10, so we cant really expect his number sense to be up to par

Boo would tear out your eyes for that one

Dakarne wrote:

I would point out that his intelligence is less than 10, so we cant really expect his number sense to be up to par

Boo would tear out your eyes for that one

And my Monitor Lizard familiar will rip Boo to tiny bits

I suppose a pseudodragon would be pushing the matter

Food for thought: What exactly is a Realms foot? The moment we extend it to 35cm Minsc IS huge!
I shall not touch the familiar subdebate on account of not having one (unless we count Ace).

Comrade Tortoise wrote:you have to take into account the fact that people in the middle ages were shorter than they are today

That's actually very complicated. The upper classes were generally about as tall as we are do to getting enough to eat and having lots of protein in their diets. The average peasant had to endure a year with potential famine conditions (i.e. getting enough to eat wasn't a problem, getting enough to survive was) every seven years. That means he or she was likely short of food for one year of important childhood development and one year of the adolescent growth spurt. With those conditions in mind, its no wonder the lower classes smaller (it wasn't good for brain development either).

Studies of Icelandic bones shows that after interbreeding with shorter Celts the average Icelander was 5'7". Thats males and females and all classes averaged together, which makes them as tall as North Americans.

Ra wrote:Who is your favorite heroic Ranger character in Fantasy? I've listed some obvious choices in a poll, but if there are any I left out, do speak up.

My natural choice, of course, would be Aragorn, from LOTR. <snip>

I'm not really familiar with Tolkienverse, but I thought Aragon is a Knight or fighter instead of Ranger? I thought the Ranger is Legolas.

I'm not really familiar with Tolkienverse, but I thought Aragon is a Knight or fighter instead of Ranger? I thought the Ranger is Legolas.

He's referred to, many times over, as 'Ranger'. He may have some levels of fighter or paladin perhaps, but he's definitely a ranger. A dunedain ranger, to be precise.

In the Tolkenverse Ranger is a very specific title refering strictly to the men of the Dunedain who patrol the northern wilderness fighting various servents of Saron and other such menaces. They are the scattered remains the kingdom of Arndor, sister nation of Gondor.

Aragon is not only a Ranger, he is the Ranger. Leader of the Dunedain, rightful King of both Arndor and Gondor and High King of men. At the time of the Lord of the Rings he was considered the greatest of the Dunedain warriors and perhaps the greatest living warrior of humankind. This is kinda easy to do when you've been around for over 80 years and have been kicking the shit out foes since before you were 20.