How are Rangers Doing?

[+]

<DIV>Hey all,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Been holding off on making a Ranger until I saw some feedback.........how are Rangers doing?</DIV> <DIV>Played one in EQlive and it was a Blast!!!!  I don't really want comparisons EQ2/EQlive, just give me your gut feelings.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Presently playing a Zerker/Troll been alot of fun but really miss the Ranger class.......</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any input is appreciated.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>How is their DPS?</DIV> <DIV>Solo Ability?</DIV> <DIV>Are they Fun?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Valang]

I typically feel like a badass when I go adventuring, what with the knives going nuts and everything. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />There are a lot of people comparing Swashbucklers and Rangers, and a few people seem very disatisfied and are doing a lot of complaining. As of right now, I haven't played any other character, and I'm level 22. But I'm happy.However, judging from the posts I've been reading... if you don't like bows, don't become a ranger. It seems like the majority of skills from here on out are going to divert from melee and focus more on ranged. I don't have a problem with that...-if- the skills and ability we get with the bow aren't mediocre. It's probably too early in the game for anyone to be able to pull together a lot of speculation on what's going to happen, but it'd be easy to stiff Rangers by making them "kinda" better than everybody else with the bow, but a lot suckier with melee and stealth skills.I dunno.I will say, I've heard a couple of people who play other classes saying "Rangers should be -scouts-, not damage doers."Well, I'm not playing a computer game where my character's -main- purpose is to become invisible, go walk around ahead of everybody, then describe it to the group leader. How freakin' boring is that? This is a game. The focus should be on having fun, not being realistic.When I think of a "Ranger", I think of Tolkien's rangers....master woodsmen who live off of the land, and who'd sometimes rather work alone, using their sneaking skills with their bow-skills offensively.When you do your Predator quests in Qeynos, Vemerik describes Predators in exactly this manner.My thoughts? So far, I'm happy. I just hope the game stays true to the imagine of the Ranger, instead of making them an "accessory" class to the "essential" tanks and nukers. I understand that nobody can do it all on their own as the levels get higher, but whatever the case, Rangers (and all classes) will either need something that will make them uniquely valuable to a group, or uniquely more equipped to handle Norrath on their own.In summary: Yes, Ranger is a great class to play. ^_^

[Audio]

<DIV>I do like playing a ranger.  People know us as killers and damage dealers but I would like to see something a little more needed in the utility area such as a superior stealth or advanced tracking system (with greater tracking area).  I think we need just a little something extra to set us apart from other scouts seeing that bards have utility and rogues have group sneak and faster moving stealth (which makes no sense to me since predators are the ones that use stealth based moves primarilly and are supposed masters of stealth and hunting).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>All that being said I love my class and enjoy playing it immensly.  This is not a negative post and I'd encourage anyone who wants to play a ranger to do it.</DIV>

[Insisu]

<DIV>If you like running backwards, ranger is great !</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally I would have made an assassin if I could stay in Quyenos but you can't be "good" assassin. Like there's not assassins who's hired by "good" governments.. riiight.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you like doing DPS , assassin is your way. If anyone have something to contradict this, I'll point you to the highest melee attacks on the character database.</DIV> <DIV>Assassins = ownage, your not a major tank though, but predator is not tanking class or a healing class for that matter.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you want to do hectic amounts of damage, close range, dungeons etc. Assassin is your way, if you fight with groups, or like a tough solo career and dont forget to be great at running backwards.  GO ranger.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bards is cool for groupings, they got the coolest skills to boost group.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>O don't forget rangers get pathfinding ! </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rangers won't do the highest melee damage, they will constantly need to cast arrows. They are outperformed by other scout classes in groups but there's thousands of players so your bound to get a group , I think only to fill the gap. Once real monsters come into play lvl 40-50,  think most groups would choose a class they could actually benefit from. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally I think most people that play ranger, like the concept of the ideal ranger. Free spirit,tough life but very rewarding because it IS difficult. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So should you be a ranger ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you like shooting bows, trees forests and solo'ing at your own pace knowing you'll get to lvl 50 eventually and have some fun along the way. You should be a ranger.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you want to be do 1.5k damage at lvl 44, kill everything thing that bleeds and live in a godforsaken city called freeport. Assassin is your man !</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I've got lvl 23 ranger ,  woodworker and ... your not going to believe this.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>drumroll</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Level 17 predator,, alchemist on his way to betray freeport and also become ranger. :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=center><<EM>Think trainspotting here</EM>></DIV> <DIV align=center> </DIV> <DIV align=center>I guess I'm just a backwards running nature loving solo dying arrow casting pathfinding sneaking and hunting </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=center><FONT size=5>~<FONT color=#ff0033>R</FONT><FONT color=#ff6633>A</FONT><FONT color=#ff9900>N</FONT><FONT color=#ff9933>G</FONT><FONT color=#ff9966>E</FONT><FONT color=#ff6633>R</FONT>!~</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Ra]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Insisuru wrote:<BR> <DIV>If you like running backwards, ranger is great !</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>If you solo... and also if you are taking on a mob that you can't handle in the first place.  I have never had to run backward from a yellow unless I mess up distance and need time to finish Open Shot.  Oranges need a bit more caution.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally I would have made an assassin if I could stay in Quyenos but you can't be "good" assassin. Like there's not assassins who's hired by "good" governments.. riiight.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Not in EQ2</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you like doing DPS , assassin is your way. If anyone have something to contradict this, I'll point you to the highest melee attacks on the character database.<BR><FONT color=#ff0000>Highest melee hit plays one role in DPS but you are forgetting that DPS isn't measured on a hit-by-hit basis.  I'm not saying who will win the DPS [Removed for Content] contest, but I garuntee Ranger isn't far off the pace.  Those 2 high damage melee specials by Assassin's are each on a 5 minute timer.  In the time an Assassin can use both of those specials, I can fire 5 Sniping Shots for 200-400+ damage apiece.  Hell even my Shadowflame is starting to do 200+ damage and that's on a 10 second timer.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Assassins = ownage, your not a major tank though, but predator is not tanking class or a healing class for that matter.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you want to do hectic amounts of damage, close range, dungeons etc. Assassin is your way, if you fight with groups, or like a tough solo career and dont forget to be great at running backwards.  GO ranger.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Don't be fooled by the high Assassin hits.  I have already explained how they are balanced over time - how well balanced remains to be seen.  Agreed though, we do have a tougher time in dungeons.  SOE screwed up in having a <EM>Highest Melee Hit </EM>category... especially when some classes have comparable DPS but not the same shot at hitting that high hit.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bards is cool for groupings, they got the coolest skills to boost group.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>If you like strumming the banjo..</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>O don't forget rangers get pathfinding ! </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rangers won't do the highest melee damage, they will constantly need to cast arrows. They are outperformed by other scout classes in groups but there's thousands of players so your bound to get a group , I think only to fill the gap. Once real monsters come into play lvl 40-50,  think most groups would choose a class they could actually benefit from. </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>A little premature... Our Sniping Shot slows the mob in addition to very nice dmg.  Actually, some of our higher level upgrades do have side effects to damage.  Some Assassin skills are the same way.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally I think most people that play ranger, like the concept of the ideal ranger. Free spirit,tough life but very rewarding because it IS difficult. </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff0000>Indeed.  But DPS is part of it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So should you be a ranger ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you like shooting bows, trees forests and solo'ing at your own pace knowing you'll get to lvl 50 eventually and have some fun along the way. You should be a ranger.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you want to be do 1.5k damage at lvl 44, kill everything thing that bleeds and live in a godforsaken city called freeport. Assassin is your man !</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I've got lvl 23 ranger ,  woodworker and ... your not going to believe this.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>drumroll</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Level 17 predator,, alchemist on his way to betray freeport and also become ranger. :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=center><<EM>Think trainspotting here</EM>></DIV> <DIV align=center> </DIV> <DIV align=center>I guess I'm just a backwards running nature loving solo dying arrow casting pathfinding sneaking and hunting </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=center><FONT size=5>~<FONT color=#ff0033>R</FONT><FONT color=#ff6633>A</FONT><FONT color=#ff9900>N</FONT><FONT color=#ff9933>G</FONT><FONT color=#ff9966>E</FONT><FONT color=#ff6633>R</FONT>!~</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>hehe, Nice sig :smileyhappy:</P> <P>I guess I'm just a Ringing Blow, nature loving, group saving, dungeon adding, arrow flinging, pathfinding, scouting, sneak attacking Ranger myself.</P> <P>Message Edited by Ravi on <SPAN class=date_text>12-14-2004</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>07:04 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Ravi on <span class=date_text>12-14-2004</span> <span class=time_text>07:05 AM</span>

[Kaga]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Insisuru wrote:<BR> <DIV>If you like running backwards, ranger is great !</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally I would have made an assassin if I could stay in Quyenos but you can't be "good" assassin. Like there's not assassins who's hired by "good" governments.. riiight.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you like doing DPS , assassin is your way. If anyone have something to contradict this, I'll point you to the highest melee attacks on the character database.</DIV> <DIV>Assassins = ownage, your not a major tank though, but predator is not tanking class or a healing class for that matter.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you want to do hectic amounts of damage, close range, dungeons etc. Assassin is your way, if you fight with groups, or like a tough solo career and dont forget to be great at running backwards.  GO ranger.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bards is cool for groupings, they got the coolest skills to boost group.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>O don't forget rangers get pathfinding ! </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rangers won't do the highest melee damage, they will constantly need to cast arrows. They are outperformed by other scout classes in groups but there's thousands of players so your bound to get a group , I think only to fill the gap. Once real monsters come into play lvl 40-50,  think most groups would choose a class they could actually benefit from. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally I think most people that play ranger, like the concept of the ideal ranger. Free spirit,tough life but very rewarding because it IS difficult. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So should you be a ranger ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you like shooting bows, trees forests and solo'ing at your own pace knowing you'll get to lvl 50 eventually and have some fun along the way. You should be a ranger.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you want to be do 1.5k damage at lvl 44, kill everything thing that bleeds and live in a godforsaken city called freeport. Assassin is your man !</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I've got lvl 23 ranger ,  woodworker and ... your not going to believe this.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>drumroll</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Level 17 predator,, alchemist on his way to betray freeport and also become ranger. :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=center><<EM>Think trainspotting here</EM>></DIV> <DIV align=center> </DIV> <DIV align=center>I guess I'm just a backwards running nature loving solo dying arrow casting pathfinding sneaking and hunting </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=center><FONT size=5>~<FONT color=#ff0033>R</FONT><FONT color=#ff6633>A</FONT><FONT color=#ff9900>N</FONT><FONT color=#ff9933>G</FONT><FONT color=#ff9966>E</FONT><FONT color=#ff6633>R</FONT>!~</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Playing a ranger is a lot more work than playing an Assassin. Those highest melee hit scores have a 5min recast time, so it's not something they do every fight. If you want easy dps, play an assassin, if you want a little more style, then play a Ranger. After myself, and a couple assassin friends get to level 50, we are going to parse damage. Then we will know the actual difference. </P> <P>Also, Ranger get's a lot of debuffs, when compared to Assassin. And we also get damage increases where they get haste. <BR></P>

[-vali]

Personally, I love my ranger... just to discuss damage:Ok rangers dont hit, in a single melee, as hard as assassins, but we hit awfully hard....At level 26:Adept1 Impale does 100+Adept1 Pierce does about 70ishAdept1 Backshot anywhere from 100-300Adept3 Shadowstrike (whatever, replacement for shadowblade): max melee hit of 450ish (check server rankings on lucan d'lere)Adept1 Open Shot- 2 hits for 60-80ishAdept1 Shrouded strike - about 70ish, combo to shadowflame (cant remember name) - another 100-150App1 (doh) hidden shot - 100ishNow thats a lot of skills, plus all the debuffs, and self buffs, I can run myself out of power pretty quickly... Also, by the time you've got your debuffs up, and have dropped your bombs, undoubtedly some other ones are ready to use... Like impale, pierce, and the shrouded-to-flame combo (gnarly)Add to this the 2 poisons your using (tell me you're dual wielding with 2 poisons), the procs from bleed (or leaping cut) and the bladeflurry procs.... wild damage. That pretty much sums it up for damage... As far as group utility, we can do the typical scout stuff- sneakin around, trickshot is a beautiful pulling device to keep aggro on the tank (and not you after dropping the bomb), pathfinding, disarming, tracking... etc.Nothin more useful, when your doing quests for specific creatures (and who isnt?), than having a tracker around. To sumarize, I honestly don't see how another class can *consistently* out DPS us. Add to that, most of our group utility comes from the massive DPS, plus typical scout skills. I love playing ranger, because we're deadly and useful. So, drink some good drink, and run yourself out of power, dish out some ranger-loving!