Ranger vs Swash

[Raage]

<DIV>Maybe I should post this in the "Scout" section, but here goes anyways: I want to create an alt for when my monk needs a break, and I've been debating over one of these 2 classes. I REALLY enjoy playing the monk, but we're sorta a tank, and sorta DSP.  I am planning on making a Guradian (or Zerk) and either a Ranger or Swash. Just looking for a little input, no statistical break downs needed =) [tho they would be read and appreciated]</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For those who have opinions and/ or advice both ?'s are Ranger v. Swash</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Group DPS?</DIV> <DIV>Soloability?</DIV> <DIV>Cost to maintain Fun Factor (ie potions, poisons, arrows, other. Do both use the same?)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any other things to consider, please feel free to expand upon my questions.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thx!</DIV>

[TowerII]

<P>Well I don't know a whole lot about the workings of a Swashbuckler. I grouped with two today and on both occasions I vastly outdamaged them.</P> <P> </P> <P>The only thing though is the first swash I grouped with had very little str. Like 32 str at level 23 or so.</P> <P> </P> <P>A ranger can throw out some massive damage in a very short amount of time. I don't think anybody can complain about our DPS in that regard.</P> <P>I have no problem soloing as long as I know what to solo. Things that cast magic are out of the question unless they can be killed in a few seconds. Rangers are great at kiting named mobs and ^ ^ things if there is enough space and little aggro. I can solo yellow ^ ^ and orange ^ ^ nameds pretty easily as long as they do not cast.</P> <P>I have yet to use poisons but I think they're used only for kiting. I enjoy playing the class and everyday I'm in awe of the damage I do. Each level has been very fun for me so far. As for spell costs that just depends on how dedicated you are to your class. Upgrading CAs to App IV and Adept 1 is very worth it. I've had some very good luck and have a few masters including Shadow Lunge (Just had to put that out there I love to brag about it). </P> <P>I only pay for CA upgrades and gear. You can pretty much keep yourself stocked on arrows when you get Makeshift Arrows. AppIV and Adept 1 will give 30 I think, and Adept III is 45 arrows. The recast is 10mins so you can make a stock of arrows while you're in town.</P>

[Akakill]

<P>as far as makeshift goes, I have adept 3 and I definately keep more than full, i dont have the best bags, and my arrow stockpile takes up too much room lol, and I dont even keep its mashed all the time</P> <P> </P>

[Merkad]

Arrows are not costly *except* when you wish to use alternate methods of dealing damage, such as crush/slash. And then it really depends on what type you buy, tin hunting arrows are dirt cheap slashers, while ebon are blunt and cost a bit more. You can find a good variety in between. As for the damage, makeshift, or tin hunting arrows do the same damage when you use a CA as the expensive ones, the only time you need a higher quality arrow is when you use ranged attack (not a CA, but auto range). Regarding poisons, player made will vary as per server economy. But vendor sold tier 5 is about 30 silver, not bad imo. I highly suggest, whether you play swash or ranger, to always use poisons, it is an amazing boost in DPS. This is especially evident if you play a ranger, because procs generally get a massive innate  boost to chance to proc. It is not rare at all to use Triple Fire and score a poison proc on all three hits, sometimes your weapons proc too, which shows up as a great amount of spam (I love combat spam) you may have 10-12 hits in row with it for ~1500 damage. A side note, due to the number of ranged attacks rangers get, I personally use the high DD low DoT, because I proc far to much to see the value of DoTing. That said, if you choose Ranger, you will have one major disadvantage to all other scouts, we have no self haste spell except the blood lines one that all scouts get (26% adept 1 or 41% at adept 3) that lasts for 1:21 mins and has a 5 min recast. Also, some people won't like the way rangers are constantly moving, you cannot just sit next to the mob and expect optimal DPS, you must also mix in your archery attacks. I still don't think rangers are really great dps, but we are not bad anymore (should have played them when arrows affected CA damage, and poisons sucked completely), at any rate, I am relatively happy, I guess. I would not play another class over my ranger. Anyways, my take on the Ranger, I don't knwo enough of the Swashbuckler to really comment on them. Merkades. <div></div>

[Raage]

<P>Great info...thx for the responses. </P> <P> </P> <P>A Ranger it will be</P>

[Igac]

i see that you already made you choice but i figured i would throw in my 2 cents... I also have never played a swashbuckler but i have grouped with them before, and i can honsetly say, they are deffinately a DPS class, hands down. With that said, i have never seen anyone do as much damage as a ranger does. I am lvl 31 right now and there is only 1 person in my guild that can hold agro from me. I use all the anti-aggro abilites i have, plus i get the tank to taunt, plus i use trick shot (which gives hate to the next person that attacks the mob) and there we go, the mob comes running at me. As far as kiting, wow, i just recently learned how to do this and it is the best thing ever. I love the fact that i can solo 7 yellow ^ orcs in Zek at the same time. Another good thing about rangers is the ranged melee CA's that we get, which means that while you are kiting, you can pull with three different bow CA's, do at least 2 more over and over while kiting, then you can be doing high damage melee attacks as well, which equals out to a hell of a lot of damage -- then double that damage if you are using poisons. And the best thing about it all? When you kite you can smile at the dead corpse at your feet and be smiling because you never took a single hit from the orange double up arrow you just killed solo! <div></div>