Rangers=Good?

[StealthP]

<DIV>I like freeport a lot more then Quenos and was just wondering why do rangers have to be good? That to me makes no sense at all. Rangers can be good or evil, i can understand why a paladin or a warden has to be good, but in my opinion Rangers should get to decide if they wanna be good or evil.</DIV>

[Wooddiee]

Never heard of a bad Ranger ... Maybe I dont read enough fantasy books :smileysad:

[Taubin]

<div></div>For those that never played the forgotten realms campagne, or never read the books, Drizzt was a Drow Ranger....  He was supposedly played by one of the creators of D&D...  Although I cannot verify this.  Wikipedia describes Drzzt Do'Urden as thus:<p><b>Drizzt Do'Urden</b> is aFictional Charactor in the D&D-based Forgotten Realms setting, who has forsaken both the evil ways of his people and their home (in the Underdark). He is one of only a few drow known to live on the surface. (Other than Drizzt, there is a small community of Vhaeraunite drow who reside in Cormanthor, the former home of the elven court, and worshippers of  <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilistraee"></a> Eilistree, goddess of good drow, can also be found in very small, scattered communities.)</p><p>Drizzt's story is told in the fantasy novels of R. A. Salvatore including <i>The Icewind Dale Trilogy</i>, <i>The Dark Elf Trilogy</i>, the <i>Legacy of the Drow</i> series, the <i>Paths of Darkness</i> series, and <i>The Hunter's Blades Trilogy</i>, but he has also been featured in some D&D-based computer role-playing including the Badlurs Gate series and the more action-oriented Forgotten Realsm - Demon stone.</p><p>My DM in AD&D was nice enough to introduce my party to him once...  Quite nice really.  I will stop rambling now...</p><div></div>

[Akakill]

<DIV>in Role playing games, rangers stand for whats right, i believe that robin hood was a ranger, i have NEVER heard of an evil ranger, so thats why there is a good/evil restriction here, just my 2 cp though</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Absinth]

/shrug. It just is. It's a design decision that the game designers made. You could argue that you could have an evil paladin. You could also argue that this is exactly what a Shadowknight is. You could equally argue that an evil ranger is basically an assassin. Rangers are typically associated with protection of the wilds, and "protection" is typically something associated with good and noble motives. But the real answer, to me, is that it's just how the designers decided to do it. Why are ratonga evil? Because that's the world that the designers created. <div></div>

[Jay]

<P>Ditto Absinthe. It's that way b/c the designers made it that way. They certainly have precedent in realm of fantasy lore (Tolkein's Dunedain provided that archetype), but this question is kinda moot, since none of us made that decision. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>But I actually agree that "ranger" shouldn't necessarily be good. I'm made and played evil rangers in other games. I don't really attribute a moral orientation to every character class I play. Some of them make sense - like a paladin or perhaps necromancer - but I tend to look at most classes in fantasy RPGs as professions, nothing more. The concept with my evil rangers is slightly different - there's no tree-hugging "save the animals" crap - they're stalkers, proficient in woodcraft, wilderness survival, tracking, hunting, etc. They may have a healthy respect for Nature without doing anything to protect it or serve some kind of higher cause. The kind of guy you'd hire to hunt down and kill a state leader or wealthy merchant caravan travelling overland. Someone who has isolated himself from civilization, lives in the wilderness by the skill of his bow and blade, and generally shuns contact with outsiders. A guy who'd watch coldly from his camouflaged vantage in a nearby tree as a hapless intruder fell headlong into a hidden pit trap and was impaled, screaming, on poisoned spikes at the bottom. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[My]

<P>You could try an assassin. In this game's lore an assassin basically *is* an evil ranger. We can track, use a bow, etc. The primary difference between us is the nature of our attacks. Rangers are more focussed on the bow and slightly weaker in melee, while assassins are better with melee and weaker with a bow.</P> <P>Other aspects, tracking, hiding, stealthy movement are largely the same between the two classes.</P> <P>Bear in mind these are greatly generalized statements. Assassins have some very capable bow skills, and rangers are by no means [Removed for Content] in melee. Just two different styles.</P> <P>I became as assassin because of the very reason you are torn with. I wanted to be a ranger, but hated Qeynos and liked Freeport...so here I am. :smileyhappy:</P> <P> </P> <P>Good luck to you with whatever you chose =)</P>

[StealthP]

Jay is talking the exact thing im thinking. Its like you have to be good to be good with a bow? I mean im level 35 ranger so im not going back now its just Quenos is BLAH i hate it but i guess now i have to deal with it. For those of you that havent tried Freeport, yuo should. O BTW for those out there that like Quenos this is just my opinion so dont freakout.

[gossi]

You good roleplay a ranger who desperately wants to become evil??....or just make an assassian. Linyen 50 Ranger Permafrost Fires of Heaven <div></div>

[cyres]

<DIV>That is sorta what I do. I have a ranger and all my other chars, and guilds chars are evil. I actually ran him over to commons soon as I could. I pal him around with an Inquisitor, and only go back to town when I have to. I now hunt in thundering stepps often and just meet my evil friends there.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I too kinda hoped that they could be evil. They are alot different then an assassin to be just meerly called the good version of an assassin. Oh well they are still a blast, and would take one over an assassin any day.</DIV><p>Message Edited by cyressa on <span class=date_text>07-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:28 PM</span>

[Sulas]

I would argue that my ranger is not necessarily good or evil, he's just from Qeynos.  Granted, I have a disposition that is more generous and protective of others.  However, there are plenty of people that I don't rush in to help.  I might have even stood on the sidelines as I watched someone run headlong into danger.  :: wink :: I suppose I see the differentiation between Qeynos and Freeport as philosophical ones, kind of like political parties.  It's been noted in other threads that FP and Qeynos aren't at war with each other.  I think the words we use are just for convenience. <div></div>

[StealthP]

I still think its really lame because dont know about you guys but i see Wizards as good only and warlock and evil only before i ever see rangers good only. For me i kinda think that the whole idea of some classed having to be good or evil is just not a good one. If i play i should have fun and choose if i want to be good or if i want to be evil(would never be good unless i have to), i shouldnt have to suffer and be in a city that i just dont like when i could be in a city that i enjoy.

[Wooddiee]

<DIV><FONT color=#ff9900>StealthPro ~ i shouldnt have to suffer and be in a city that i just dont like when i could be in a city that i enjoy.</FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <HR> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sad fact but true ..... some people like to punish themselves. If ya dont wanna be good ... dont. I am not trying to be rude in anyway period, but if ya knew that Rangers were only good why did you make one ??? So to be honest your only suffering because you placed yourself there ... by your own choice. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Again I am not bashing ya just trying to understand ya.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now if they make a option to become an Evil Ranger I will be on it ASAP :smileyvery-happy:</DIV><p>Message Edited by Wooddiee on <span class=date_text>07-16-2005</span> <span class=time_text>09:16 AM</span>

[StealthP]

Because i wanted to be a ranger and not a assasin....

[Jay]

<P><shrug> Unfortunately you can't have it both ways. I actually tend to agree that these professions shouldn't necessarily have moral alignments attached to them, but while I'm in Norrath, I can accept those limitations. They haven't been such an obstacle to me that it has seriously interfered with my enjoyment of the game. </P> <P>Strangely enough, I didn't realize how subconciously aware I am of playing a "good" character until I started playing a bard. Dirges and troubadours are both 'neutral' classes, and I actually started playing my dirge that way without even thinking about it. I feel like he has more leeway. Not that I've ever felt restrained by Kaeros being of "good" alignment, but I play him as a generally kind, considerate dude. The bard is quite a more selfish and cavalier about other people's woes. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Wooddiee]

<P>*hugs Kaeros*</P> <P>Sorry didn't mean to pinch your there .....Muahahahahahahaha  :smileyvery-happy</P>

[Vicenzo]

<P>I think too much emphasis is placed by players on the 'good' or 'evil' choice.  Neither Lucan or AB have any in-game political agenda, so there is no good or evil.  Its just a monarchy and a dictatorship.</P> <P>And the reason there are no Rangers in Freeport? Its surrounded by a desert.  A desert that gets an unusual amount of rain I might add, but a desert nonetheless.  Little wildlife, no plants, few trees.   Thats my theory anyway/</P> <P>Oh, and the Queen has outlawed the Assassin profession too.</P>

[Grisha]

If you do not believe that the cities are supposed to be good and evil, I suggest you do the betrayal quests and see exactly how "evil" you have to be to be accepted by Freeport, and how "Good" you have to be to be accepted by Qeynos. If you're into roleplay, these quests suggest that betrayers are the very paragons of their new cities. And as for the class distinction, I think this flavour is fine.  There's perhaps more difference between rangers and assassins than the other good/evil classes, which is where the problem arises, but it's the flavour of the game. I'd have thought that evil rangers are most seen in Arabian Nights type settings, so maybe with the expansion (or probably not!). <div></div>

[Vicenzo]

<P>Oh I don't deny there is good/evil content within the betrayal quests (and its well done by SoE), but that is all - it affects a tiny percentage of characters very early in their life.  I was merely suggesting that people place too much importance on being 'good' or 'evil' when there is nothing to gain by being either.    Quests, resources and currency are the same, as are the methods of obtaining them.   I just feel the flavour of good and evil is lacking in an otherwise excellent game.</P> <P>Freeport should have myriad examples of persecution and slavery, it should be absurdly lavish in parts and horrendously poor in others.  Low quality goods incredibly cheap, high quality goods ridiculously expensive. </P> <P>As it stands, its really just two cities, one with a rural feel, the other urban.</P>

[ArcticRang]

<P>Here's a term that some of you might recognize, including you pre-2nd edition AD&D gamers.....</P> <P>AntiRanger</P> <P>or was it Anti-ranger?</P> <P>It's been so long I cannot remember <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P> </P>