Help me optimize my Ranger please. :)

[Dashofpepp]

<DIV>Hello fellow Rangers. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I've done some extensive reading through these posts, and am not anxious to reach the end game with my Ranger.  I agree that Rangers have less "usefulness" than other classes, so instead of looking for groups, I always make them and pull people in.  But here's what I have and what I am looking for:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm a L27 Wood Elf Ranger.  For equipment I'm using AQ 1-5 (didn't do 6 because I don't want to have centuars aggro to me for harvesting reasons).  After 19 hours of camping Lord Gydak in Stormhold I have the Stormfire to use next level.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Melee weapons: Steel Stiletto and Bloodtalon.  They're both about at the end of their life expectancy.  Advice?  Any questable weapons that stand out above the rest?  And what quest it is?  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Armor:  What's best at L28? Should I wait till 30?  Then what?  Feyiron chainmail?  MY AQ stuff is starting to go blue.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Skills:  All my skills are Apprentice IV with a very few adept 1.  Life is different after the agility nerf, and I'm wondering if upgrading some of my T3 skills to Adept III would make soloing any easier?  (thinking about shadow lunge).  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Combat:  When I solo, I get as far from a mob as I can.</DIV> <DIV>     -racial upgrade to back shot (something critical shot) where I have to be behind or flanking; </DIV> <DIV>     -wounding arrow .... then start backing away </DIV> <DIV>     -impede followed by Open Shot</DIV> <DIV>     -close to melee and start an HO</DIV> <DIV>     -dirty trick replacement starter (can't think of the name) </DIV> <DIV>     -impale (or turning if it isn't Ringing Blow).  </DIV> <DIV>     -Pierce</DIV> <DIV>     -Stunshot (then toggle off attack)</DIV> <DIV>     -Stalk / Shadow Lunge</DIV> <DIV>     -Leaping Strike (Bleed Replacement)</DIV> <DIV>     -Another HO with Pierce as the kicker (impale isn't reset)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any thoughts on improvement?  Any of those worth getting Adept III for?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm L27--I've got about 15pp and another 2pp in rares and gear (I have 4 serrated bone dirk across my toons).  I can afford the Adept IIIs, I just don't know if it is worth the investment.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Retribution - Befallen</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Jay]

<DIV><FONT size=2>I was reading along, nodding, thinking "I have all these same questions, this guy is in almost the exact same place I am."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>And then I hit the "I have 15pp in cash, and a few more plat in rares" part. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Wow. I'm poor. I got excited last night b/c I finally broke the 10gp mark. <sigh> I'll never have a pony at this rate. :smileysad:</FONT></DIV>

[Temy]

<DIV>Same here! <laughs> except I don't even have 10 GP!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sorry I can't help out with the equipment, but I'm right there also.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I will say that i've been searching for equipment and weapons for a couple of weeks now and haven't really seen anything out there, not saying it doesn't exist, but I haven't found it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It looks like we may have to tough it out until after 30.</DIV>

[Randall-Rain]

The better thing for you to do is to hire me as a consultant, that will be 7PP thx.Advices will come after payment.

[Kthaara]

<DIV>Having just made 30 I will tell yo what I did.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I used Steel Stillettos until 30.  At 30, I equipped Tonarims Dagger.  This is a quest reward from the dusty blue stone quest, easily done at 27.  I still have some of my AQ armor, and I will tough it out until I can wear some of the quested armor from Zek.  There is a guy named Hammer there and he gives kill quests for armor.  I have 2 pieces so far.  I cant wear them til 31 or 32 I think.  No problem tho, because soloing got a bit easier at 30.  Use posion and feyiron arrows.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you really have 15PP, armor and jewelry should be no problem for you.  At 30, you could spend 10-15 gold and get all orange con good armor.  The rest of us will have to work a bit harder (not that you didnt work your butt off for 15pp tho)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Kwentavius</DIV>

[Flust]

<DIV>Start searching the broker for Feysteel stuff.  At 28, I think you can start using the Feysteel Orante Spear.  Its a slower weapon, but in groups, where you are running non stop CAs, it does better dmg than a fast weapon.   Most feysteel mob dropped weapons you can pick up for a little over a gold.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you EL access already, go there and start In defence of the flower patch quest.  You'll get a Ring of essence. Easy quest to do and a good ring for the effort.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do the Outland Brigand Reports quests in TS.. its a good belt, that I think you can start wearing at 29, maybe 30.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You can get an Ebon Eye weapon in Zek doing Shadow's quest.  It just takes some sneaking around.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you are willing to spend the money, buy Feysteel clusters and find an armorsmith.  The Pristine Feysteel chain is very nice.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I would also suggest start doing the PGT and Haden's Earring quests.  Both are very nice upgrades that you can use in the early 30s. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Trials of Sir Morgan has a nice necklace or ring that you can use it in the late 20s.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>RoV silk quest is easy to sneak to and you can get an Earring that is nice for your lvl. </DIV>

[Jay]

<DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks, Fluster! Just the info I was hoping to find in replies to this thread. Sounds I needs me some EL and Zek access... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></FONT></DIV>

[stainremov]

<blockquote><hr>Dashofpepper wrote:<DIV>Hello fellow Rangers. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I've done some extensive reading through these posts, and am not anxious to reach the end game with my Ranger. I agree that Rangers have less "usefulness" than other classes, so instead of looking for groups, I always make them and pull people in. But here's what I have and what I am looking for:</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>I'm a L27 Wood Elf Ranger. For equipment I'm using AQ 1-5 (didn't do 6 because I don't want to have centuars aggro to me for harvesting reasons). After 19 hours of camping Lord Gydak in Stormhold I have the Stormfire to use next level. </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Melee weapons: Steel Stiletto and Bloodtalon. They're both about at the end of their life expectancy. Advice? Any questable weapons that stand out above the rest? And what quest it is? </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Armor: What's best at L28? Should I wait till 30? Then what? Feyiron chainmail? MY AQ stuff is starting to go blue. </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Skills: All my skills are Apprentice IV with a very few adept 1. Life is different after the agility nerf, and I'm wondering if upgrading some of my T3 skills to Adept III would make soloing any easier? (thinking about shadow lunge). </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Combat: When I solo, I get as far from a mob as I can.</DIV><DIV> -racial upgrade to back shot (something critical shot) where I have to be behind or flanking; </DIV><DIV> -wounding arrow .... then start backing away </DIV><DIV> -impede followed by Open Shot</DIV><DIV> -close to melee and start an HO</DIV><DIV> -dirty trick replacement starter (can't think of the name) </DIV><DIV> -impale (or turning if it isn't Ringing Blow). </DIV><DIV> -Pierce</DIV><DIV> -Stunshot (then toggle off attack)</DIV><DIV> -Stalk / Shadow Lunge</DIV><DIV> -Leaping Strike (Bleed Replacement)</DIV><DIV> -Another HO with Pierce as the kicker (impale isn't reset)</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Any thoughts on improvement? Any of those worth getting Adept III for?</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>I'm L27--I've got about 15pp and another 2pp in rares and gear (I have 4 serrated bone dirk across my toons). I can afford the Adept IIIs, I just don't know if it is worth the investment. </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Retribution - Befallen</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV> </DIV><hr></blockquote>1) upgrade shadowlunge to adept3. your replacement for it isn't til your 40s. very good skill to upgrade early. well worth the money.2) for weapons, since you're rich, make some weaponsmith out there happy and order a pair of pristine forged feysteel leafblades. although they're slower, since you have stormfire (and arrows dont matter to you right now and shouldn't matter later on...) just remain in ranged attack at all times (this surprisingly ups your dps). in grps just spam melee and ranged ca's all the time with a couple arrow shots thrown in every now and then (there's a certain distance where you can use both bow skills and melee skills w/o moving. it takes a couple of tries to find, but it exists).

[Kthaara]

<DIV>You can get an Adept2 version of shadowlunge at 30 for free if you pick the right training.  I cant remember the name of it, Hagars something.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Kwent</DIV>

[Flust]

<DIV>The lvl 30 backstab upgrade also has a recast timer of 45 secs insted of 60 secs.   </DIV>

[GoNom]

<DIV>Hagars Deft Lunge I think is the Adept equivilant Upgrade, my Max hit with it is 599.</DIV>

[HappyLoveBa]

I've just got one question...how the [Removed for Content] did you manage to get yourself 15pp by the time you hit 27. Are you the harvesting god or what, I'm a level 24 ranger and i'm about 25g away from one plat and the only reason I have that much is because of tradeskilling.Nefego- Level 24 Ranger

[stainremov]

i'd pick the shadowflame with the dot over the shadowlunge upgrade (that's why i said adept3 of the shadowlunge). but that's just me. an adept3 shadowflame with the training shadowlunge isn't a bad choice either

[Fennir]

get what I have.

[Dashofpepp]

<DIV>Great advice all.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'll look up some of those quests Fluster.  I've been very seriously considering getting a full set of pristine feysteel at L30.  (I'm L29 now).   I'm on the harvesting pristine granite pieces for the PGT quest.  I can't wait to get that weapon.  I did upgrade my Blood Etched Talon to Kragnoks Axe (Very Good axe and VERY SIMPLE quest).  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Very hard decision:  The Shadowflame/DoT upgrade or the Shadowlunge Adept II upgrade.  And is it just me, or did cheapshot and ambush never get upgrades?  I'd like to get a new cheapshot.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Get a group of six.  Talk to Kragnok (Troll who patrols near the gate to Nek inside of the Commonlands).  He will send you to kill a Nighfall Shaman in Nek (who is in the NW corner of the map).  Everyone goes up and kills it (its a giant).  Everyone gets the update.  Everyone go back to Kragnok and have ONE person talk to him.  He turns aggro and after you kill him; drops (100% of the time) a chest containing Kragnoks axe.  Either wait 5 minutes or zone to CL2 if there is one.  Have the next person talk to him, same thing.   By the end of it, you'll have six of the axes.  And you can probably convince one of your non-dual wielding party members to give you one so you have two of them to dual wield. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My group made the mistake of everyone talking to him at once, so we all got the update to kill him.  Then we killed him and got one axe between the six of us.  Our tank won the lotto, but was nice enough to give it to me.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And I'm up to 18pp!  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Finally made it onto Befallen's 100 wealthiest list.  Now I'm struggling to stay on / rise.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Retribution - Befallen</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>*EDIT*  OH...another AWESOME quest to get done:  There is a clickable rock in Thundering Steppes by Tower 1...between tower 1 and the scarecrow field.  It sends you on a quest to kill 25 skeletal veterans.  The veterans are deep in the ruins between tower 4 and 5.  Great xp, and there is a named skeleton (Something the Malorific or something)  that spawns in there too.  The quest reward is a CLASS SPECIFIC earring that is OMGWTFBBQPWNED awesome.  Its orange to me at L29 too.  Definitely the best quest reward (non-heritage) that I've gotten since the AQs.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Dashofpepper on <span class=date_text>03-11-2005</span> <span class=time_text>06:26 AM</span>

[Flust]

<DIV>Persoanlly, I chose the Lunge upgrade.  Reason being, the 45 sec recast is nice, more often then not the ^^ single pull fights I'm in last between 45sec -1 min, so I usually get 2 Lunges in one fight that way.  Second being, Shadowflame gets upgraded earlier and the side effect on Raven Embers is better than a DoT imo.  It lowers resistence to Slash dmg, but a good amount even at App 1.   Plus the dmg on it at app1, is greater than an adept 1 Shadowflame, so not that much less than the intial dmg on the Shawdowflame upgrade.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>They are both good choices, really would depend more on your play style.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dash, I would suggest getting atleast a Pristine forged Feysteel Bp, Boots,  and Legs.   They have very nice stats.  The Boots will make the transition from DWBs to non heritage boots a lot less painful.  </DIV>

[Dashofpepp]

<DIV>Hello again!  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now I'm L30, and hoping for some more feedback.  I did most of the quests that Fluster listed; I have "The Blackfire Rapier" which is the best dual wield weapon I have yet to see for L30, and I have Kregnok's Axe.  I cannot use PGT till 32.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Armor is the question now.  I'm still wearing my AQ armor except for the breastplate; I never did that because I didn't want centuars to be aggro when I'm harvesting.  They are mostly grey now, so I'll probably finish AQ6.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So here's my dilemma.  I've done a side by side comparison of Pristine Feyiron Chainmail and Pristine Feysteel Chainmail.  Overall, it seems that Feysteel has about 15% better AC and stats across the board.  Is 15% better equipment worth 100x the price?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Are there great quests I can do at L30 for medium armor that are better than Pristine Feyiron?  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Retribution - Befallen</DIV>

[Jay]

<P><FONT size=2>Aye, I have the same questions as Pepper (again) and probably lots less cash (still), so I'm especially interested in questable armor. I do have Zek access now, just need the boatride to complete EL access. </FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>Congrats on 30 btw, Pepper! You're really moving along, sounds like I have some catching up to do. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2></FONT> </P>

[BuddhaM]

Pepper, check this one out too for dual wields, won it off a named spider in RoV: It's called Poison Edged Stiletto: http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/item.vm?itemId=8479 also got this on the boatride to EL: http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/item.vm?itemId=8762 I can't seem to solo at this lvl at all (28 atm) I can only do grinnins pretty well, haven't found any great spots in TS. Any suggestions, since you just cruised through those lvls? Oneday, I'll actually be able to use those weapons. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Flust]

<DIV>The Feysteel imo isn't worth paying for at the pre made or buying the clusters for the stat difference.  However, I would recomend trying to get some, since they are very good pieces.   Getting Feysteel isn't that hard.. its actually the rare harvest item that I have gotten the most of.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In Thundering steppes and RoV named mobs do have a chance to drop Feysteel harvest equalvilents.   I recieved all but one of my feysteels that way.  Nek castle is another great place to try and get t4 rare harvest dropped equalvilents.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As for weapons.. start on your PGT.. its usable at 32, but can start at 28.  Other than that, I just used mob dropped feysteel.  If you are in a good guild and or have a high 30s low 40s tank friend a good quest to do would be the instance zone in Commonlands for the Slime coated weapons.  If you can get the same group to take down the Anciant watcher in Codemed catacombs instance in Ant.  The ancient Slaers ring of agility is quite nice.  Just remember on both of these two instance zones, you have to talk to the npc outside before you go kill the boss.  The bosses are low 30s ^^^ raid mobs, but are doable with one group.  Its just a long fight, so bring some kind of power feeder for the healer.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do the Shiny Shard quests for a bracelet.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do the Unscathed bone quest for the necklace.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>These will either take a lot time trying to find ? or just check the broker often, you will evendually find the pieces cheap.  The Gnoll and orc unscathed though are usually a couple gold each still on my server.  Aside from that I was able find the rest fro under 20s each.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>By now, you should be starting a lot of heritage quests.  They give great rewards, plus you can usually pick up some nice drops while working on them.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Belt wise, the Outland should last til almost mid 30s.  I would start working on the Mysterious Medalion quest in Zek, its to kill 300 orcs, get the quest over by DFC from a skeleton on a stick.  Or if you can get some Runnyeye groups, start working on the mud caked loin.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Jay]

<DIV><FONT size=2>Fluster, you da man. (Or woman...whichever works.) <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Thanks for all the valuable info!</FONT></DIV>

[MaenaBowy]

<DIV>Personal opinion:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>After latest feature update, imbued crafted weapons appear the way to go, though PGT's proc is pretty sweet for soloing.</DIV>