This I largely agree with. I think the Bounty Hunter, for example, is a good indication of how these features could be implemented well. I would like to remove the skill proficiency bonus, because it makes Rangers a 4 skill class when they are balanced around being a 3 skill class, but the idea that you get a special benefit when using the Ensnaring Strike spell is a cool way to give it flavor and impact.
Let's write some potential features that adresses the actual design problems Rangers have (too few spells, mostly useless flavor features) at lower levels, but that doesn't go outside the normal abilities a Ranger would have:
Bounty Hunter: You add the Ensnaring Strike spell to your spellbook. It does not count towards the number of Ranger spells you know and you cannot exchange it for another spell. You can cast Ensnaring Strike once per long rest without expending a spellslot, and normally with spellslots after that. Enemies have disadvantage on their saving throw when they are hit by an Ensnaring Strike cast by you.
Beast Tamer: You add the Speak With Animals spell to your spellbook. It does not count towards the number of Ranger spells you know and you cannot exchange it for another spell. You can cast it as a ritual (free, out of combat). You have advantage on dialogue checks when interacting with animals.
Monster Slayer (default in character creation): You add the Hunter's Mark spell to your spellbook. It does not count towards the number of Ranger spells you know and you cannot exchange it for another spell. You can cast it once per long rest without expending a spellslot, and normally with spellslots after than. You have advantage on saving throws to maintain concentration on Hunter's Mark.
Interesting. I’m not saying I wouldn’t want these skills, but I think they (or at least the bounty hunter and monster slayer ones) are quite a bit more powerful - or at least generally useful - than the FE options Larian have given us. A free Hunters Mark or Ensnaring Strike per rest at level one feels like it is going to make a lot more difference to a ranger than the spells in the current FE list, even with the INT based skill proficiencies they currently come bundled with. Even at subsequent levels when the ranger could potentially learn them anyway, an extra HM or ES each day feels significant given limited ranger spell slots.
To me they feel a bit much, given I didn’t feel my ranger was struggling at low levels, though I’d hope that it’s the sort of thing Larian might consider for FE improvements at level 6 if they carry on the theme of their home brew. But that’s just my instinct. They’re probably not enough to break balance in practice.
