Be a useful ranger. :)

[Dashofpepp]

<DIV>So....I'm a L29 Ranger.  Maybe it is just my networking skills, but I get groups fast.  I even get /tells from people that have grouped with me asking me to come group with them.  I also get a lot of "I wish more scouts were like you."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So here's some feedback on how to be useful.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  TEACH your group about HOs.  Take the time and teach them what HOs are appropriate for what mobs.  If you don't know, learn.  Because Scout-started HOs are the absolute best.  Create a macro to help.  Mine says "STARTING HO:  Please end spells and abilities."  Then I crank it up and my groups know which skills to use.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  Pulling!  Most groups I'm in...I'm the puller.  Stalk / Shadow decreases your hate towards mobs.  And their hate starts at zero!  And it has INCREDIBLE range.  If I take a group on a mission to kill 10 of this, 25 of that...I'm priceless.  Take the ruins by Varsoon.  There's a lot of skeletal tooopers, skeletal captains, commanders, soldiers, an occassional named, and a few veterans.  So a quest to kill 25 skeletal veterans has two possibilities.  </DIV> <DIV>      a.  We fight our way through to each veteran.  We fight off all the adds because mobs wander around.</DIV> <DIV>      b.  I use tracking and find a skeletal veteran.  I do some intricate dancing around mobs until I'm in range to use Stalk / Shadow and I use it.  It aggroes the mob onto the NEAREST group member.  Since I teach the tank to be closer to me than anyone else in the group, I just generated hate TOWARDS the tank.  When the veteran gets in range, he taunts it and gets even more hate.  Yep...Rangers get a taunt towards the tank if you learn how to use it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  Everyone knows the value of escape...and disarm...and pathfinding</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.  Notes on your friends list!!!!!  Every tank that does a good job gets on my friends list with the note "Tank."  Same for healers and damage dealers.  Stay in contact with people!  Its gotten to the point where sometimes I send someone a /tell that says "Hey there!"  And their response is "Oooh...where do you want me?"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5.  Be a leader!  Tell people when they are doing a good job at whatever they are doing.  Offer constructive advice on how to get better at something.  I teach tanks to run out past me after the taunt and "turn the mob"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>          -I use shadow and aggro the tank.</DIV> <DIV>          -The tank taunts it.</DIV> <DIV>          -The tank runs PAST me and past the mob so it turns its back to me.</DIV> <DIV>          -I utilize my stealth for a trick shot, a wounding arrow, a back shot, a triple shot, macro out that an HO is starting, and close in to start beating on its butt.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6.  Bring some humor to the group.  Make yourself someone that they liked grouping with.  I'd rather group with a "friend" than a "stuck-up 1337 t4nk"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hopefully, our class will get fixed.  There's a lot that isn't working right...we all understand that.  But in the meantime, find uses for yourself!  I usually make a group with two tanks, two healers, and two damage dealers.  The primary tank is sword and shield; the backup tank has other utilities...paladins can help heal and control adds; monks (paper tanks) can dish out more damage.  My healers do the same:  One is primarily a healer, the other controls buffs/debuffs.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sure...I don't outdamage, out-tank, CERTAINLY don't outheal anyone.  But post-AQ quests, I can count the number of times ANY group member of mine has died on one hand.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Retribution - Befallen</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[stainremov]

try pulling with trick shot. that's what it's for. and i dont care how long your range is on shadow, trickshot will have at least equal to or greater range.miracle shot also does a much better job than shadow =

[Timt]

I'm pretty sure the Shadow range of skills has a *much* longer range than any of bow skills.Bow skills are limited to 37 metres or so once you get higher bows, and Shadow seems to have a much bigger range than that.If I want to pull, I use Shadow. As the mob is running towards me I *can't* fire off any bow CA attacks as it is still outside my bow range..That's how far away Shadow works to !

[Jay]

<DIV><FONT size=2>Great tips. I don't have Shadow yet (still 27) but I've been trying to get more groups to let me pull with the bow, just using Trick Shot and then Evade / Stalk while the tank closes in and taunts. Works like a charm if you get a tank who can handle the change in their precious pulling tactics and are with a group that's able to adapt. Especially on long pulls or crowded areas, our range and pinpoint accuracy are very valuable.</FONT></DIV>

[Dashofpepp]

Since there are still lots of complaints about being useless, here's a refresher on being useful. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Neec]

<DIV>Well i read the title </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Be a useful ranger.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>opened it up and expected it to say ..... REROLL A USEFUL CHARACTER.. </DIV>

[CoolDa]

<DIV> </DIV><p>Message Edited by CoolDawb on <span class=date_text>06-13-2005</span> <span class=time_text>04:36 PM</span>

[Jay]

<DIV>CoolDawb, it looks like you're the one that needs to get a grip. These kinds of threads are valuable contributions to the ranger forums. Posts like yours are useless and puerile. If you don't have the time or inclination to learn to play your character, that's just fine - don't bother, nobody else cares. Log in, do some killing, and then leave. For the people that want to develop the finer points of their gameplay, tips like these are useful. Use them if you want, or ignore them if you don't, it makes no difference to anyone but you. Strangely enough, we all have lives, families, jobs, and plenty to do outside of this game... but some of us, while spending time playing it, like to improve our abilities. If you'd rather play ignorantly, that's your choice.</DIV>

[GrlGmr]

<DIV>Just because you only have an hour or two of playtime doesn't mean that you can't use your time to get better.</DIV>

[Ranja]

Very good post thank you.  If more people were concerned with playing their ranger well we would not have so many "I am a useless ranger pity me" posts. As to the other poster who flamed, don't post if you don't have anything to say constructive.  I swear people post just so they can change their rank. It is like p-ranking. They post the stupidest drivel to increase their rank.  If they took away rankings I think alot of these stupid remarks would go away. <div></div>

[RangerCalis]

<DIV>The OP has some great points.  I use Surveil (shadow line) to pull more than <U>any</U> other skill.  As a matter of fact, our guild strategy for pulling King Drayek for "Fire and Ice" starts off with me pulling him with Surveil and the tank intercepting with an arrow.  Insta agro for the tank, and he never had to move an inch.  Had he gotten into range to shoot an arrow at Drayek...GAME OVER.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Being creative and receptive to new ideas...that's what this is all about, and it's what seperates mediocre players from great players imho.  I think it is a bit odd to flame someone because they were kind enough to share their creativity with others.  Try to refrain from doing such in the future please, we try to keep this forum friendly. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Teksun]

Thank you CoolDawb for reviving a 2 1/2 month old thread just to whine about it. I think all the info is great! I've never tried pulling with shadow, but I will definately give it a try. I too believe we should be the pullers. I do it quite a bit in group, though, like others, I generally use trick shot. Now I have a new option to try (shadow - trickshot when in range - give it to the tank). I grouped with a husband and wife team in my guild over the weekend. They usually just duo. They were STUNNED at how fast the MOB's were dropping with me in there group. All in all we had a great time, and I'm still blushing from the praise <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>

[CoolDa]

<p>Message Edited by CoolDawb on <span class=date_text>06-13-2005</span> <span class=time_text>04:36 PM</span>

[Jay]

<P>GrlGmr - props on the iksar ranger!! I don't think I've ever seen one in-game, gotta wonder why more betrayers don't go that route. They're almost as cool as kerra. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </P> <P>Teksun - was the husband / wife team anyone I might know? I've grouped with or talked to a lot of your guildmates, just curious. BTW, saw you on Feerott dock the other night, I was the dude soloing groups of Huuptic hunters... sloppily. I pulled the first one just in time to realize my poison and half my buffs had worn off. That nearly got embarassing.</P> <P>Thanks for keeping these forums fun and informative, folks. Happy hunting. </P>

[CoolDa]

<P>Hi Everybody,</P> <P>I truly want to apologize for the post in which I made. I guess sometimes it's not good timing to make fun. Please find it in your heart to let this one slide. </P> <P>I shall strive to post positive, and tauntless posts from hereafter.</P> <P>Respectfully yours,</P> <P> </P>

[HerrReins]

Nice Post Dashofpepper! Nice to see other rangers <DIV>have fun with this char. I don't need ub0r DPS to have fun.</DIV> <DIV>Most important is Point 6 :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV>People often forget that EQ2 is a multiplayer game. Your skill to interact with</DIV> <DIV>other people determines the fun you can get out of this game.</DIV> <DIV>A nice group with people i like, gives me much more than ub0ritem_001 or a 3k hit.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>my 2 cent.. have fun</DIV>

[Lesca]

<P>Thanks to Trick Shot and Miracle Shot, you can actually get some good pulling going on, if you have a tank that knows what they're doing. I group with a Paladin on a very regular basis, so we know each other's play style inside out and know how to work together.</P> <P>Best place to work these has been Cazic Thule, up on that back temple top. There's a ^^ glare lord hiding at the bottom under a ledge, but a lot of roamers in the way. Tank can't pull it without either pulling all the other mobs and fighting those first or getting a lot of adds. So. Ranger goes into stealth, runs down, targets the mob, runs back up and fires off a Mircale Shot. No line of sight needed. As the eyeball scoots up the stairs, my Pally taunts it off before it even gets a hit on me.</P> <P>Similar deal with pulling mobs on top of the other pyramids, only this time I use Trick Shot so he'll peel aggro easier. If you have a long bow then you can jump down a couple of ledges to the corner by a brazier, let loose with the arrow, then hop back up as he runs down to meet the mob.</P> <P>When it works, it's a beautiful thing. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[CoolDa]

<P>HI all,</P> <P>When does a scout, particularly a level 27 Human Ranger, get maricle shot - or can the skill be bought at a bookstore, or from a trainer?</P> <P>I just haven't had any new skills since level 25 it seems;  is this normal for a Human Ranger? Not complainning by any means, but just a bit curious.</P> <P>One of the great things I like to do as a Ranger is escort a person, or group through rough terrain using tracking (when it works *laughs*) </P> <P>Matter of fact I mapped the whole of Nektulos Forest using sneak, and save people just arriving to Nektulos some time by pointing them in the right direction for mobs, and so forth.</P> <P>Best of Luck to you all</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Saihung23]

You should have recieved Leaping Cut (or something like that) to replace Bleed at level 26.5 and I know I got something at 25 & 26....I think...?  Miracle Shot....I am not sure...there should be a list on the forums somewhere. <div></div>

[Zholain]

<div></div><span><blockquote><hr><font size="2">CoolDawb wrote: </font><p><font size="2">HI all,</font></p> <p><font size="2">When does a scout, particularly a level 27 Human Ranger, get maricle shot - or can the skill be bought at a bookstore, or from a trainer?</font></p> <hr></blockquote><font size="2">Hiya!  You should get Miracle Shot at lvl 32.  And for a list of everything you have to look forward to, this is a pretty cool site  <a href="http://www.thescoutsanctuary.com/" target=_blank>http://www.thescoutsanctuary.com</a> The info may not be exact, as SOE changed the point at which you receive interim skills from 60% of lvl to 50% of lvl...but I believe other than that it's pretty accurate. </font></span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Zholain on <span class=date_text>06-08-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:48 AM</span>

[Teksun]

<span><blockquote><hr>Jay42 wrote:<div></div> <p>GrlGmr - props on the iksar ranger!! I don't think I've ever seen one in-game, gotta wonder why more betrayers don't go that route. They're almost as cool as kerra. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p> <p>Teksun - was the husband / wife team anyone I might know? I've grouped with or talked to a lot of your guildmates, just curious. BTW, saw you on Feerott dock the other night, I was the dude soloing groups of Huuptic hunters... sloppily. I pulled the first one just in time to realize my poison and half my buffs had worn off. That nearly got embarassing.</p> <p>Thanks for keeping these forums fun and informative, folks. Happy hunting. </p><hr></blockquote>Sorry I missed you in Feerott... I just got access Sunday - LOL. WHAT A BLAST!!! The couple in question are Mystykaa (Warden) and Berthgar (Guardian). If you ever get the chance, they are a lot of fun to group with <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div>

[CoolDa]

<DIV>Hi all,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Zolhain, that was a great reference link to the website you posted. Answered my question.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks</DIV>

[Donc]

<P>The OP was great! I have to admit that I haven't done as much group play in EQ2 as in previous games, probably because my play schedule is so erratic. Because of these forums (which I have neglected to read of late) I have become a much better ranger. Thanks to all the regular posters here for the very useful advise. I know I am a much better player because of it. It's fun now to get into a group and see their amazement when I get the big bad mob down to half health before it reaches us due to my bow CA's. And tanks are often puzzled as to why I'm pulling the mob off them (cause I'm hitting so hard). I just made lvl 30 and am looking forward to using some new weapons and armor I've had stashed away for a while. I wouldn't be any other class. Rangers rule!</P> <P>Cooldawb, we forgive you. There really is a lot of useful stuff here for all level of players.</P> <P>Ojif, Ranger and Woodworker, Lucan DLere</P>