How do you folks think about the fact that Rangers can be evil in 3rd Edition? I really like 3E, but I had mixed feelings when I heard that Rangers can be evil. I always thought of them as guardians and protectors, of nature and people. It also had a special meaning for Drizzt, coming from such an evil upbringing and heritage, then becoming the closest thing an elf could be to a Paladin in 2E, and keeping his integrety despite all the persecution he suffered. If Salvatore had first written Drizzt with 3E, would he be a Paladin instead? Just my thoughts.

Well, now that any idiot can be a ranger, it sort of takes away the novelty.

I don't know. I've always just thought of rangers as expert woodsmen and outdoorsmen. Fighters who are at home in the wilderness. I've never really seen them quite as noble as Palidans, and have been perplexed as to their inability to be evil. But then, please note, I know nothing of the classes other that what I've experienced in CRPG, so feel free to disount my 2 cents worth :)

My impression of rangers is that they are the cowboys of Faerun, riding around and upholding good in the wilderness.

I'm not too keen on the Evil Ranger thing.

Unless they were only hanging out in evil forests...Like Mirkwood or some such. Technically, I would feel better about true neutral Rangers mostly because they are associated with woods, and in general woodlands are neither good nor bad.

But I do get the impression that Rangers are like Cowboys of the woods running around helping people.

Well if you think of them as they where something like Shadow druids the idea is not that bad...

This is true, they can even work in concert with Shadow Druids.

Or like partisans or guerrilla fighters, that kind of thing.

I think it's fine, just as it's fine that Druids can now be evil, too. Because nature is full of good things (rainbows, flowers, and kittens) and a darker things (wolves, snakes, and decay), so it makes sense for some Rangers or Druids to be more philosophically aligned with the more predatory, ruthless, and bloody aspects of nature while still serving and respecting it.

i think it's great! i've always wanted an evil ranger!

Good idea! My next characther is going to be
"Andorian the politically correct" who loves flowers and bunnies. I'd like to see my friends face if I try that kind of characther...