History Main / ForestRanger

Primarily meshes with ArcherArchetype, but Rangers with AnAxeToGrind or wielding a BladeOnAStick are also common. If they are more civilized, they might use BowAndSwordInAccord. Lesser known fact - the word 'ranger' does not mean 'one who fights from range', but 'one who watches over a range.' Like modern day Park Rangers. So they are not at all limited to ArcherArchetype. Not to be confused with ''bushranger'', a term for a 19th century Australian outlaw.

* In ''Anime/QueensBlade'', Allyene moreso than her protege Nowa. They wield staves instead of bows, and use the mobility and cover of the trees they protect.

** The Ents were created for this very purpose, according to ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. As the Shepherds of the Trees, their main reason for existence is to prevent humanoids from abusing forests, and to prevent trees from getting homicidal.

*** This is explicitly the case with the Green-elves or ''Laiquendi'' of Ossiriand in the First Age, who regard intruders as "unfriends" and who enforce No Trespassing with camouflage, stealth and arrows.

* ''Franchise/TheWitcher'''s short stories provide a dark {{Deconstruction}} to this trope. There are Rangers who fit the general description, being master bowmen and spending most of their time in the forests -- but they spend it hunting elves, dryads, rusalkas and other non-humans, some in revenge of their kin who were murdered by the Scoia'tael terrorists, others simply for the reward or out of racist hatred.

** Among playable classes, rangers, druids, hunters, shifters and some shamans all tend to revolve around this trope in some form or another, depending on how focused they are on protecting the wilderness from humanity versus protecting humanity from the worst of the wild's monsters.
** Treants, leshies, other plant creatures and many types of fey and kami likewise live to protect the wild places of the world against both the axes of civilization and creatures of dark magic.

** The Wood Elves are extremely protective of their forests and will murder anyone who tries to cut it down. There's a specific class, the Waywatchers, for whom this trope is the entire job description.
** Dwarf Rangers cross this trope with MountainMan, their haunt being mountains and valleys rather than forests. Generally consisting of dwarfs who do not fit in their society, Rangers range overland routes and valleys between major [[UndergroundCity dwarfholds]] alone or in small groups, keeping passes and roads open, hunting monsters or keeping watch for orc troop movements. They fill a vital, if unappreciated, role in dwarf society.

** High elves and blood elves (rangers), night elves (sentinels) and Undead elves (dark rangers) have these.

* Anden Goodmanner (and potentially [[PlayerCharacter the Princess]], if leveled as such) in ''VideoGame/ADanceWithRogues''. Anden is a clear, classic example of this, as he's an archer, who wears green clothing, an excellent tracker, feels comfortable in forests and laments their mistreatment. He does possess a few differences in that he isn't hostile to people or self-appointed as a Ranger, but rather is part of a guild that maintains the safety of the forested roads to Betancuria and seems to observe the condition of the woods. Anden is also a human, instead of an elf, and what little is seen of the guild seems to be composed of humans as well.

* Voden from ''VideoGame/{{Gigantic}}'' is a "forest-lord" who protects the wilderness from anyone who would despoil it. His methods seems to mostly involve shooting people with arrows and poisoning them with toxic spores.

* The Sniper from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has an aesthetic half-way between this trope and GreatWhiteHunter, and clearly draws some inspiration from Film/CrocodileDundee despite not getting to spend much time in the actual countryside.

* In ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'' the Ranger is a class, focussed on [[BeastMaster attacking alongside trained animals]], and with moves that include setting traps and [[NatureHero wilderness survival]].

* ''WesternAnimation/CraigOfTheCreek'': The Green Poncho is a mysterious kid who wears a green hooded poncho and uses a bow and arrow to keep kids from crossing the bridge leading to the neighborhood on the other side of the creek. He is not protecting the wooded area itself per say, but rather [[spoiler:the kids in Craig's neighborhood from being subjugated by The King of the Other Side of the Creek, a tyrant who bosses the other kids around and punishes anyone who doesn't do what he says]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': The Guatemala gargoyle clan have made it their mission to protect "The Green". They destroy equipment to protect the rain forest, but are careful not to harm the locals, only scare them.

* Roger's Rangers during the mid 18th century colonial North America whose mission was to protect British settlers from raiding Native Americans and their French allies. In the North American wilderness, the European style of standing armies and linear warfare did not work in the woods because the Native Americans [[CombatPragmatist did not play by the same rules]]. They would fight using ambush and HitAndRunTactics. The concept of the "Ranger" was to take frontiersmen who are able to live in the wilderness and adopt the Native American's guerrilla tactics and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame. The Rangers did two things in history: they patrol and they raid. The idea of "Ranging" or being a borderer means protecting the boundaries of your nation or your home.

Primarily meshes with ArcherArchetype, but Rangers with AnAxeToGrind or wielding a BladeOnAStick are also common. If they are more civilized, they might use BowAndSwordInAccord. Lesser known fact - the word 'ranger' does not mean 'one who fights from range', but 'one who watches over a range.' Like modern day Park Rangers. So they are not at all limited to ArcherArchetype.

** This is explicitly the case with the Green-elves or ''Laiquendi'' of Ossiriand in the First Age, who regard intruders as "unfriends" and who enforce No Trespassing with camouflage, stealth and arrows.

* Myth/RobinHood is probably the archetypal ranger, one of England's best archers and no slouch with a sword either.

[[folder:Films -- Animationd]]

[[folder: Anime And Manga]]
* In ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'' San acts something like this.

[[folder: Card Games]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]
* ComicBook/GreenArrow as of ''ComicBook/BrightestDay''. Done as part of playing him up as a RobinHood {{Expy}}.

[[folder: Film -- Animated]]
* Grandmother Willow in ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}'', who [[PlantPerson WAS a tree]].

[[folder: Film -- Live Action]]
* ''[[Film/BrokenArrow1996 Broken Arrow]]'': TheChick who helps the hero along the way is a forest ranger. She carries a large survival knife and occasionally freaks out over the destruction of important natural features, to comedic effect.

[[folder: Folklore]]
* Myth/RobinHood is probably the archetypal ranger, one of England's best archers and no slouch with a sword either.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

** The Ranger class and many of its five million variants from all versions of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' also fits, depending on how you play it. There are a ton of [[PrestigeClass prestige classes]] from 3rd Edition that are all about defending the forest.

** The Scout subclass for Rogue in 5th Edition fits here, being a guerilla fighter that can survive and thrive in the wilderness.

[[folder: Video Games]]

* The Ranger class in ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' and ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' due to the games being technically in the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' universe.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''

[[folder: Webcomics]]
* Dellyn Goblinslayer in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' was presumably this (Ranger class, Bow and Sword, half-tree), [[SubvertedTrope but he seems to be more inclined to city life now]]. Then again, he agreed to go adventuring again, so...
* ''WebComic/StandStillStaySilent'': In that PlagueZombie infested world in which RaisingTheSteaks applies to all non-feline mammals, army scouts have the duty of killing the Plague Zombies in forests surrounding human dwellings to help protect the non-infected animals and humans alike. Lalli is a night one by profession, taking the shifts during which the infected individuals are the most active.

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/CraigOfTheCreek'': The Green Poncho is a mysterious kid who wears a green hooded poncho and uses a bow and arrow to keep kids from crossing the bridge leading to the neighborhood on the other side of the creek. He is not protecting the wooded area itself per say, but rather [[spoiler: the kids in Craig's neighborhood from being subjugated by The King of the Other Side of the Creek, a tyrant who bosses the other kids around and punishes anyone who doesn't do what he says]].

[[folder: Real Life]]

We are talking about the forest-dwelling [[TheHermit recluse]] who serves as a self-appointed guardian for their ancient and enchanted home. They may wear [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience green]] in an [[HighlyConspicuousUniform attempt to blend in to their forest surroundings]]. They guard their forest with their bow [[SticksToTheBack slung across their back]], and would rather [[TwangHello take your hat off with an arrow]] than post a polite notice to please put out your campfire before you leave. In a StandardFantasySetting, expect at least one [[OurElvesAreBetter elf]] to be this trope.

** The [[OurElvesAreBetter Bosmer (Wood Elves)]] of [[TheLostWoods Valenwood]] basically have this trope as a cultural hat. They are masterful archers and are bound by the "Green Pact", an agreement they made with their patron deity long ago to never harm or allow harm to come to the forests of Valenwood.

[[folder: Web Comics]]

** Dwarf Rangers fill out every aspect of this trope except that they live in mountainous regions, so not so many forests around. Generally consisting of dwarfs who do not fit in, Rangers range the overland routes and valleys between major [[UndergroundCity dwarfholds]] alone or in small groups, keeping passes and roads open, hunting monsters or keeping watch for orc troop movements. They fill a vital, if unappreciated, role in dwarf society.

** Dwarf Rangers fill out every aspect of this trope except that they live in mountainous regions, so not so many forests around. Generally consisting of dwarfs who do not fit in, Rangers range the overland routes and valleys between major [[ElaborateUndergroundBase dwarfholds]] alone or in small groups, keeping passes and roads open, hunting monsters or keeping watch for orc troop movements. They fill a vital, if unappreciated, role in dwarf society.

** Dwarf Rangers fill out every aspect of this trope except that they live in mountainous regions, so not so many forests around. Generally consisting of dwarfs who do not fit in, Rangers range the overland routes and valleys between major [[ElaborateUndergroundLair dwarfholds]] alone or in small groups, keeping passes and roads open, hunting monsters or keeping watch for orc troop movements. They fill a vital, if unappreciated, role in dwarf society.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': The Wood Elves are extremely protective of their forests and will murder anyone who tries to cut it down. There's a specific class, the Waywatchers, for whom this trope is the entire job description.

[[folder: Real Life]]
* Roger's Rangers during the mid 18th century colonial North America whose mission was to protect British settlers from raiding Native Americans and their French allies. In the North American wilderness, the European style of standing armies and linear warfare did not work in the woods because the Native Americans [[CombatPragmatist did not play by the same rules]]. They would fight using ambush and HitAndRunTactics. The concept of the "Ranger" was to take frontiersmen who are able to live in the wilderness and adopt the Native American's guerrilla tactics and BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame. The Rangers did two things in history: they patrol and they raid. The idea of "Ranging" or being a borderer means protecting the boundaries of your nation or your home.

* Grandmother Willow in ''Disney/{{Pocahontas}}'', who [[PlantPerson WAS a tree]].

* The Wood Elves from ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}''. They're extremely protective of their forests and will murder anyone who tries to cut it down. There's a specific class, the Waywatchers, for whom this trope is the entire job description.

Primarily meshes with ArcherArchetype, but Rangers with AnAxeToGrind or wielding a BladeOnAStick are also common, and if they're more civilized, they might use BowAndSwordInAccord. Lesser known fact - the word 'ranger' doesn't mean 'one who fights from range', but 'one who watches over a range.' Like modern day Park Rangers. So they aren't at all limited to ArcherArchetype.

The Forest Ranger may also be a NatureHero and have similar associating tropes, however, the Forest Ranger is not a hero and may be a member of a large group of forest dwellers, such as elven city, or even be guard to such a city.

We are talking about the forest-dwelling [[TheHermit recluse]] who serves as a self-appointed guardian for their ancient and enchanted home. They may wear [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience green]] in an [[HighlyConspicuousUniform attempt to blend in to their forest surroundings]]. They guard their forest with their bow [[SticksToTheBack slung across their back]], and would rather [[TwangHello take your hat off with an arrow]] than post a polite notice to please put out your campfire before you leave. In a fantasy setting, expect at least one [[OurElvesAreBetter elf]] to be this trope.

We're talking about the forest-dwelling recluse who serves as a self-appointed guardian for their ancient and enchanted home. They may wear [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience green]] in an [[HighlyConspicuousUniform attempt to blend in to their forest surroundings]]. They guard their forest with their bow [[SticksToTheBack slung across their back]], and would rather [[TwangHello take your hat off with an arrow]] than post a polite notice to please put out your campfire before you leave. In a fantasy setting, expect at least one [[OurElvesAreBetter elf]] to be this trope.

Supernatural variants, be they TheFairFolk, [[{{Treants}} tree-creatures]] or {{Nature Spirit}}s, may also be a GeniusLoci.

Most of these are ArcherArchetype, though you'll also find those who use BowAndSwordInAccord. Compare NatureHero. Contrast CityGuards.

Primarily meshes with ArcherArchetype, but Rangers with AxAxeToGrind or wielding a BladeOnAStick are also common, and if they're more civilized, they might use BowAndSwordInAccord. Lesser known fact - the word 'ranger' doesn't mean 'one who fights from range', but 'one who watches over a range.' Like modern day Park Rangers. So they aren't at all limited to ArcherArchetype.