yet somehow rangers are still one of the highest dps classes in the currect meta.
I'm not experienced with 5e at all, but from playing BG3 I get the distinct impression that is mostly due to the level cap being low.
In any non-trivial fight, Hunter's Mark has HORRIBLE synergy with the rest of the class and will scale very poorly with level as it stands. Compare it to Sneak Attack which is trivial to set up, scales with level, doesn't require a Bonus Action, or Concentration, and can be switched at will between targets. Currently if you are a Bounty Hunter it stops you using Entangling Strike, if you're a Keeper of the Veil you can't use it with Protection From Evil & Good, if you're a Mage Breaker you can't use it with True Strike. That's on top of the fact you have Ranger as one of the only 2 classes with offhand damage bonus available, yet to get an offhand attack you give up applying Hunter's Mark, or hope you target something that fails to die for a full round, which is pretty rare. If you use it to try 1-shotting enemies from stealth you can't use it with Colossus Breaker. Its utility to the class is just so utterly atrocious as it stands.
IMO Hunter's Mark should be a class short rest mechanic like Action Surge, not require Concentration, and be reapplied as a Free Action. They could also make it apply to all Action attacks giving a second d6 at level 5.
I really want to play as a Ranger, but every playthrough I've started just feels so lacking compared to a Thief that brings more to the table in every possible sense except Armour Class...
