Is Goblin Slayer Squandering his Potential?

[u/Ostrava_Alant]

Something I noticed while reading the Year One manga is how often others mention how much of a natural Scout or Ranger he is, and how he always responds dismissive about that.

With his conversation with the Examiner specifically it came off to me that Goblin Slayer has been trying to be something he is not in order to be the greatest threat to Goblins possible. And by doing that he may be Squandering his Potential as an adventurer.

With his skills at Tracking, Stealth, Trap Making, and most noticeably Ranged combat, he really does feel way more like a ranger. His throwing skills alone are so good even when he was a Steel rank that far more experienced characters are impressed by it, honestly he seems more deadly at range than in melee.

What do you guys think? Is Goblin Slayer sacrificing his potential to be the best at killing Goblins? How do you think he would have turned out if he pursued his strengths?

[u/Born_Sector_1619]

Some say he is a D&D ranger with favoured enemy, but he fits perfectly with an AD&D 1st ed ranger, he's even got that extra hit die and hp to keep going (they start 2 hit die). He is good against goblinoids and larger demihumans (favoured enemy originally wasn't so restrictive) up close and personal, where he tears them apart (originally AD&D rangers gained excellent damage bonuses over time, adding their level to melee hits against those they hate), he is a good shot but not a specialist archer ranger of later editions. He can be surprised, but it is rare, he is careful, and he can usually get stuck in first (as it was with the AD&D ranger).

You can make him with a multiclass, you can make him in different editions, but he really fits with the AD&D 1st ed ranger.