I do not know if he said that with those exact words, but I recall him saying that most DMs and campaigns do not give the rangers the opportunity to shine and use their skills. I suppose that involves making a campaign where you have to track enemies and travel through forests at fast pace a lot, maybe? (Honestly, druids are better at that)
https://kotaku.com/the-ranger-class-is-getting-some-changes-in-d-d-and-ba-1835659585https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2018/12/dungeons-and-devs-revising-the-ranger-with-mike-mearls.htmlI understand what he is saying, but as a DM or a module creator, I do not know how to make a narrative that makes meaningful and fun that you have advantage in survival checks involving one type of enemy (Because that is what favored enemy is in 5e, you do not get combat bonuses anymore). Most of the time is like:
You are lost in the jungle.
I have favored terrain!-Says the ranger
-Ok, so you do not get lost in the jungle and reach the other side safely
(that´s it)
-You are in the vast ocean of darkness of the Underdark...
-Uh, uh I have favored enemy aberrations so I want to search for tracks of those foul creatures!!! With advantage, no lesss!!-Shouts the ranger.
-Well, I have 20 wisdom, also trained in survival like you and I have like 5 ritual spells I can cast to help with that. Also I can turn into animals with great sense of smell that have advantage too -Says the druid
-Yeah, I can track them with the +1000 divination spells that I have in my spellbook. Also works with all kinds of monsters, not only one type-Smiles the diviner.
-Shut up, you smartasses, this is my moment to shine!!!!-Roars the Ranger.
-Sure, knock yourself out, ranger, give me a roll, with advantage.
-Yeesssss!- He throws the dice.
-Ok, you roll it, and now you know there are tracks leading north, of aberrations.
-Yeaaaah! Those levels of ranger, totally worth it for this epic moment!!!!
-Sure... moving on.
-You are in the jungle again...
-Great, now this is getting serious. Now I am going to move at full speed in this difficult terrain, because I am a ranger!!!! and I am going to spend one minute making a camuflage so I can hide there without moving with a huge +10 to my sneak skill. And only took me 10 levels of ranger to learn those amazing tricks, muhahahahahahah!- Says the ranger.
-You plan on telling him that you have "pass without a trace" and several spells that can give that to the entire party since level 3, druid?-Asks the diviner in a whisper.
-No, just let him have his fun for a while, would you?-Answers the druid.
PD: I mean, I really dig rangers for RP purposes, but to be honest, their skills are laughable compared with the rangers in previous versions of D&D or with other games like pathfinder, for example.
