I think that the possibility of specialization would add some depth to the
ranger guild. Once a ranger has completed his training, he could be given the
option of choosing a terrain type (more guild levels or just end of guild
option). This terrain type would give the ranger access to additional
skills/abilities, and limit some others.

Possible types:

Forest ranger
The forest ranger feels at home in the forest, walking in f and F type
terrains takes practically 0ep, the plants of the forest are second nature to
him, he rarely has any detrimental affects from consuming these plants. In
other terrain types the hiking skill does not have as much of a beneficial
affect. Forest rangers are also much more comfortable using weapons with
wooden components, and that the most proficient rangers using these weapons
can have almost mystical affects.

Mountain ranger
The mountain ranger feels at home in the highlands, walking in h, and H type
terrains takes practically 0ep. Mountain rangers gain access to the
mountaineering skill and with their pathfinding skills, can sometimes find
trails across the mountains where others would need to climb for days. In
other terrain types the hiking skill does not have as much of a beneficial
affect. Due to the barren nature of the land he roams, the mountain ranger is
very comfortable with the earth; when using weapons with a stone/gem component
the mountain ranger is much more affective. It is rumored that a legendary
mountain ranger can cause the very earth to rumble in battle. Mountain rangers
rarely see the coast, and thus the great power of water is an unknown and
dangerous element to them.

Artic rangers
Hailing from Rothklein the artic rangers are somehow at home on the snowy
wastelands, walking in i and t type terrains takes practically 0ep. In other
terrain types the hiking skill does not have as much of a beneficial affect.
Ice rangers are fierce warriors, having little to do but hone their battle
skills. Artic rangers take little if any damage from cold related sources, but
if things heat up, they could find themselves in trouble. It is said that some
artic rangers know the home of the greater artic ice dragon, and that this
dragon can reduce the temperature of the rangers weapon to almost absolute
zero what benefit this provides is unknown, as no-one has lived to describe
the affects of such a weapon. It is said that if the greater artic ice dragon
ever dies the artic rangers weapon will shatter.

Aquatic ranger
Happier talking to a fish than a fellow adventurer, the aquatic rangers are an
odd bunch, swimming and moving in water (S/R/r rooms) is second nature to them,
taking practically 0ep. It has been rumored that an aquatic ranger can swim
between continents. People have seen aquatic rangers drinking from the sea
with no averse affect. As for the hiking skill... aquatic rangers might as
well not train it, if you can\'t swim there - why go there? Aquatic rangers
are rarely affected by psi spells, as spending so much time in the deep lets
their mind clear, cold will however affect them. It is said that one way to
assure a drowning death is to fight a ranger in a room that has some water in
it (be it a container or more than an inch on the ground). Races that are
allergic to water cannot become aquatic rangers.

Desert rangers
It\'s not a mirage, it\'s a desert ranger these study folks travel across any
desert as if they were a camel, other terrains being alien to them. The desert
rangers being whirling dervish\'s are the ultimate masters of bladed fury.
Desert rangers have been known to suck water from a stone, and rarely get
thirsty, because of this, they have issues with large amounts of water, and
cannot swim. If an artic ranger gets too wet their ability to fight with grace
is hampered. Some people claim that the mighty swishing of desert rangers
blades can cause a sandstorm to appear. Desert rangers are not as affected by
fire based spells as most.

Death rangers
Death rangers are at home where others fear to tread, walking in s and x
terrain types take practically 0eps. Death rangers take part in the deadly
sport of fire walking, testing each other so see how far down a lava trail one
can walk. Being at home in the badlands for so long makes them immune to almost
all poison, one of the few death ranger \'jokes\' is - I can win a staring
contest with a basilisk. Being around so much evil takes a toll on the death
rangers mind, they are susceptible to psi spells and those affecting evil, and
very quickly drift to evil from any other alignment. This malicious intent is
not wasted when it comes to combat though, the death ranger can easily find an
enemy\'s weakness and deliver a critical blow.



Each type of ranger has a lord (as defined by the standard ranger lord
checks). Once a month Sable has the ranger lords do battle to crown the high
lord, this high lord alone can summon the ranger cloak. If the current high
lord reincs, a contest is immediately held to crown the new high lord. Absence
means you automatically loose. Check with Sable as to the time of the next
contest. These occur at a different time each month to accommodate differing
time zones.

As with everything in batmud, no good skill go\'s unpunished. I would expect
that every bonus would be tempered with comparable banes. And that the feature
be whacked as often as needed with the tuning sticks. Hopefully giving
different terrain types different uses - Aquatic ranger wit ha druid casting
rain. Or a death ranger being useful against something that casts KC etc...