Some newbie ranger questions

[greatultram]

<DIV>I'm a lvl 23 ranger and I've got a few questions:</DIV> <DIV>1.  Where can I buy debuff poisons in Antonica? The shops are all selling the damage posions and I can only acquire user-crafted poisons from brokers.</DIV> <DIV>2.  When grouping, do you alternating between ranged CAs and melee attacks, or just concentrating on ranged attacks? I'm currently using the former tactics as I found that I had nothing better to do while waiting for the ranged CAs to recharge.</DIV> <DIV>3. I saw the terms PGT and SSoY a lot in this forum, what are they?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thx!</DIV>

[Randall-Rain]

Of course you have to mix melee damages and ranged attack. Ranged attacks are too long to reload to wait for them while doing nothing. PGT : Polished Granit Tomahawk. Heritage weapon that does a great job. <span class="data-statplus">+6</span> Strength   <span class="data-statplus">+10</span> Agility   <span class="data-statplus">+27</span> Health   <span class="data-statplus">+30</span> Power and a proc to regain some power. SSOY : Short Sword of the Ykesha. Heritage weapon that also does a great job. <span class="data-statplus">+5</span> Strength   <span class="data-statplus">+5</span> Intelligence   <span class="data-statplus">+10</span> Agility   <span class="data-statplus">+35</span> Health   <span class="data-statplus">+35</span> Power and a DD proc. <div></div>

[Davilan]

<DIV>Later on you will have enough skills to cycle without having to sit and wait for a CA to be available. I had down time until I turned 28 last night and got triple shot which can be used with open shot and is the same type of ranged CA. Now with that, I can run behind a mob, do all my ranged CA's, do the stealth and melee CA's and by the time Im done with the melee CA's, a couple ranged are available and I do those and then some melee are available and so I switch like that. I never find myself waiting to push a button anymore. Its a lot of fun and sweet to be able to do non stop CA's. Drains a lot of power but I dont find my bar empty unless my group is killing reds. But until u reach this level, there will be some downtime on available CA's so just let the autoattack go and slash away til u get an available melee or ranged CA. But always switch back and forth. Rangers are amazing DPS dealers if u focus on getting as many CA's in a fight as possible. But once the mob is getting low on health, dont waste your big CA's on it if its going to die fast anyways so u can be ready to use on the next mob since they are slow at recharging.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope this helps :smileyhappy:</DIV>

[Jay]

<P><FONT size=2>Remember the Sweet Spot!!</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>There is a certain distance from every mob where you can use your ranged CAs and your melee attacks without moving. This is extremely helpful. The distance varies based on the mob (ppl use the height of the mob to gauge the appropriate distance; giants have a HUGE range) but it pays to practice this. Later on, you'll get to a point where you don't really have to think about it, but it takes some getting used to at first. You'll also gain some 'long range' melee attacks later, these are good for rotating some melee CA damage in while kiting with your bow. Good luck! </FONT></P>

[greatultram]

1 more question: is it worthwhile to upgrade the debuff CAs like Corner, Dirty Tricks to adept level? From the examine window, the adept upgrades do nothing but increase the power cost of the CAs.

[HappyLoveBa]

hrm, mine went up slightly so i guess if you got the money to spare and or can find them for cheap on the broker then i'd say go for it, not worth an adept 3 however.  however skills like impede and snares do 30 or 35% @ any skill level so dont bother upgradign those <div></div>

[gossi]

<P>It is very important to upgrade your combat arts.  Last time I did a count, I had something like 13 or 14, 40+ adept 3's and 5, 40+ masters.  Not every upgrade changed the skill much, but some were a great and noticable improvement.  There is also issues at times with the effect listed in the examine window not giving the correct numbers or information.  Sony Developers do a great job testing and tweaking each classes abilities, so you never know when that App 1 that you upgraded to Adept 3 will get a nice revamp.  </P> <P>Rangers often complain about their DPS compared to other scouts.  With a little fuddling around with your character, you can stand out from the crowd.  The reason for my high DPS is that I try and upgrade everything.  But don't think that you will be outdamaging everyone all the time, there ARE classes that do better DPS....simple.  </P> <P>You should not only be upgrading your arts for the immediate effects it has on your character, but for the future of your character in general.</P> <P>Poisons can be found in a variety of places, do some investigating at shops and you will find some pretty easy.  Once you are able to go to Enchanted Lands and Zek, there are merchants right on the docks that have some basic poisons.  For some reason, docks usually have merchants that sell poisons at the mid ranged levels....</P> <P>I use melee and bow skills interlaced.  Usually start with straight melee at the beginning of the encounter.  Depending on whats going on, gray out all the melee arts.  Then quickly back up fire off certain ranged arts, then get back in for melee.  It does differ for each encounter type though, have to adjust to the situation that your in.</P> <P>Linyen<BR>50 Ranger Permafrost<BR>Fires of Heaven</P> <p>Message Edited by gossin6 on <span class=date_text>04-26-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:07 AM</span>

[Sotaudi]

<P>At level 23, you have Backshot, Openshot, and Wounding Arrow.  Between the long recast timer for Backshot and the fact that you only have three shots, you will naturally have to spend time waiting for shots to recharge at this level.  Thus, getting into that optimal range where you can use both ranged and melee attacks is particularly important for this level.</P> <P>By the time you reach level 28, you will have three more bow shots (Trick Shot at 24, Hidden Shot at 26, and Triple Shot at 2<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.  These shots are all on different timers.  Backshot and Hidden Shot have long recast timers, but while Open Shot has the longest cast time, it does tend to be recastable rather quickly as are Wounding Arrow and Trick Shot.  If you are in a group and behind the target (for Backshot), you can cycle a lot of bow shots in a single encounter.  But you will still want to be in that optimal range so you can cycle through your high damage stealthed melee attacks in those times where you have run through all your ranged attacks.</P> <P>By level 30, you will pickup an upgrade to Backshot (Sniping Shot) and Open Shot (Flaming Shot).  These are on the same timers as the ones they replace, of course.<BR></P>