How to Solo Post-Update - a tip collection

[Gneen]

<DIV>I love my ranger.  Before the update I was a kiting fool - everything fell<BR>before me as I scurried about lobbing arrows into the poor suckers.  I cannot<BR>do that anymore, but I'm here to say I still love my ranger - even if I can't<BR>take down the reds and heroics that I used to.  My goal is to write down<BR>some post-upgrade rangerin' tips for my friends - of course, all is my opinion<BR>and I look forward to reading some follow-on posts from those that know better<BR>than I.  The tips are for those of us that love to solo ... I leave the "tips<BR>for grouping" to others with more experience in the matter!  So here goes!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  Use your bow.  With a bow in hand a ranger is a killin' machine.  Now if<BR>    you're a solo type I'd say that a long bow is definitely preferable over<BR>    the short bow ... prior to the update I'd have recommended a short bow<BR>    for stats and close-in kiting but post-update get the best long bow you<BR>    can afford.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  Now that you got a bow you'll need arrows.  Use the tin ones early on and<BR>    after that use the summoned ones - you'll be using fewer arrows with the <BR>    upgrade and you're not going to run out.  In late game the quality of the<BR>    arrows may make a difference, but I haven't really seen it yet.  Keep <BR>    track of the arrows in your quiver (a nice little add-on window can be<BR>    downloaded so the count is always visible).  You do NOT want to run out<BR>    of arrows mid-battle - if you can't reload quickly - run for it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  You got a bow and you got arrows.  Now your gonna want poisons.  I'd <BR>    recommend a "high initial damage" poison and a poison debuff ... the<BR>    purple ones.  Buy from a vendor or from other players - the study of<BR>    poisons is an undertaking ... but for me - I choose the highest purple<BR>    ones I can find or afford for my level.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.  Getting ready ... always use your primary ranged stance ... turn it on<BR>    and leave it on for all your soloing.  Buff up to taste with rings and<BR>    whatever you got.  Kick in all your "speed" buffs"  Make sure you have<BR>    some food and water for downtime recovery and go find some baddies.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5.  OK - you got the equipment ... have you got the skills?   With the <BR>    upgrade my strategy has changed significantly.   Specifics vary with<BR>    the level, but since the upgrade you're gonna try to kill most everything<BR>    before it reaches you.   The basic steps:  Move to max range and hide;<BR>    smack the bad guy with your best stealthed ranged attack; smack him <BR>    again with an attack that will slow him; and finally smack him with<BR>    your highest damage ranged attack.   If he's yellow or less, non-heroic,<BR>    and all alone ... you can now loot his body.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6.  But ... what happens if he's staring you in the eye?  Now is the time for<BR>    phase two of the battle.  You've got a stun capability that works ... it's<BR>    time to use it.   Now you've got two choices - a lot depends on what's<BR>    in the vicinity - wide open spaces or tight quarters.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    option a:  Use your stun ability ... take two steps back and unload the<BR>    two most powerful ranged attacks you've got left ...  [or]</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    option b:  Use you stun ... step in back of the bad guy and unload one<BR>    or two of your backstab options.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    You can now loot his body.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>7.  But ... what happens if he's not down yet?  Well ... surprisingly enough<BR>    you can still do a bit of kiting ... you can still run in circles and<BR>    you probably have a few arrow attacks that will work while moving.<BR>    However, unlike pre-update, your goal is to avoid getting hit until your<BR>    stun timer resets - along with a useful damage attack as well.  Avoid<BR>    getting hit until the timer resets, then attack with step 6a or 6b to<BR>    your taste.  Rinse and repeat.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    You can now loot his body.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>8.  Word of warning on your stun attack - there are other threads in the <BR>    ranger section that indicate its effectiveness on up-arrow or heroic<BR>    bad guys may not be quite what you expect!  Which brings me to the next<BR>    two items on the list:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>9.  Know your abilities and those of your enemy.  We rangers will always fare<BR>    better agains slow-moving brutes than those casting fellahs ... but we<BR>    now have an edge against casters that may not be evident:  many casting<BR>    bad-guys must stop to cast - that gives us another opportunity to get<BR>    of a stationary arrow attack that can stop him dead in his tracks before<BR>    he can get off a spell.   Walk over to him and loot his body.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>10. Keep your abilities at the highest level you can affort ... most all<BR>    rangers are raking in enough loot to easily keep them in Adept Ones.<BR>    When you respec and choose your Master II capabilities keep several<BR>    things in mind including when your spells will be upgraded (several<BR>    threads dealing with this); which can be used when moving and which <BR>    require you to be still;  which have quick timers allowing for more<BR>    than one use during a battle;  how long you plan on playing your <BR>    character before you get an upgrade; and what your favorite battle<BR>    techniques might be.  Considering solo vs group may also be a factor.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    If you harvest a rare from a stone - save it and make friends with<BR>    an alchemist and a jeweler ... you'll need them to make an adept III.<BR>    But there are treatises on that subject elsewhere.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    This link may help you with upgrade paths and knowing what abilities</DIV> <DIV>    are available when moving:  <A href="http://dinsights.com/EQ/scout.html" target=_blank>http://dinsights.com/EQ/scout.html</A></DIV> <DIV>    (The information is not mine - the two primary sources are given at that link.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>11. Spend some time arranging your hot-buttons ... of course this choice<BR>    is very personal ... but I recommend four banks of buttons visible:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    Bank one:  Your hide and your initial set of stationary ranged attacks<BR>    Bank two:  Your ranged attacks that you can make while moving <BR>    Bank three:  Your Heroic and starter and your melee attacks<BR>    Bank four:  Your speed buffs, your primary ranged stance, and any<BR>                  jewelry buffs, other stuff that gets turned on and stays on</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>    My hide ability, a run-away and yell help macro, and escape mixed in.</DIV> <DIV><BR>    I tend to use the mouse on banks one and two, and my keyboard for<BR>    for bank three.  I keep bank four visible cause I'm always forgetting.<BR><BR>    And while I'm at it - if you like user interface mods, these two are essential:<BR>    a) <A href="http://www.eq2interface.com/downloads/fileinfo.php?id=3397" target=_blank>Eq2interface Ammo WIndow add-on</A> - see number of arrows left<BR>    b) <A href="http://www.eq2interface.com/downloads/fileinfo.php?id=3509" target=_blank>Eq2interface EQ2MAP add-on</A> - points of intrest on your map<BR></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>12. And since I mentioned ESCAPE - it is probably your most important <BR>    hot-button when soloing.  When you are alone it's a lot easier to<BR>    decide when you want to call it a day.  Remember, it may be a long<BR>    walk back to your favorite huning grounds but at least you'll have <BR>    less repair cost, less poison replacement cost, and less fear than<BR>    if you are on a shard run.   And a word of caution - we can sneak <BR>    around pretty much anywhere but entering into dangerous territory<BR>    with an expired ESCAPE timer is ... well ... not too bright.  And<BR>    when you're soloing, nobody will know you chickened out!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>13. Remember where those good hunting grounds are for those nights when<BR>    you feel like grinding out a level ... you know, where the orange<BR>    bad-guys are never gouped and never heroic, where you've got a little<BR>    bit of space to run, where you know the escape root, and where you<BR>    can do a bit of harvesting in your down-time.  And if there is a <BR>    quest you can complete while grinding - so much the better.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>14. Be humble.  When somebody rides by and is amazed at how easily you<BR>    are taking down the bad guys two or three levels above you, just tell<BR>    them you got lucky that time.  No sense bragging.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm sure I've left out a bunch of good tips ... and I'm sure that others<BR>will have slightly different approaches.  I eagerly await some other posts,<BR>for we rangers can always learn from our peers and hone our crafts even<BR>further.  Thanks for your time reading my ramblings!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>=Gneen - Leaver of Shards - Ranger of 46 seasons - Member of Saga on AB.</DIV> <P>Message Edited by Gneen on <SPAN class=date_text>10-12-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>05:48 AM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Gneen on <span class=date_text>10-13-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:10 PM</span>

[MaGoo2U]

<DIV>Nice post, thanks for the tips, I have been trying my best to drop what I can before it gets to me as well, I found that the melee skills aren't to bad either, I have done my fair share of damage after crunching all the ranged and melee buttons and just closed in and let the Ranger do the slashing and piercing, with the poison and imbued melee weapons the damage is still good and I usually don't need to bother fighting that way for long as the mob never seems to last long anyway:smileywink:. </DIV>

[TaleraRis]

<DIV>I'm realizing that the turning point for 20s rangers is level 26 when we get Hidden Shot. I killed fast before, but I kill so much faster now, and I really think I'll have a chance at Splitpaw now since I can get those casters down before they know what hit them. Backshot even at Adept 1 and Open Shot at App IV just weren't enough, but Hidden does more in the first shot than both of those combined I've seen.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, quest experience was given a significant boost lately, so if you have a quest you can do in an area, such as a repeatable one, do it. It's worth it.</DIV><p>Message Edited by TaleraRis on <span class=date_text>10-11-2005</span> <span class=time_text>11:22 AM</span>

[GrayStorm]

<DIV>Between storm of arrows and my Natural Selection master, solo'ing has changed for me lately.  If I come across a group of 3-5 mobs, I go stealth->natural selection and Wham that hits them all for up to 1000 points each, plus the procs, then Storm of Arrows is another AE that you can cast on the move.  Sometimes, even against yellow groups, the fight is over and there's a buch of corpses laying at my feet lol.  Sometimes 1-2 of them survive and I backpeddle and get off Debilitating Arrow, which is another bow art u fire on the move, and at Master level, is pretty sick.  At this point they are close to me and I may just melee art them to polish them off.  Or, there's the forester's noose->stun->back up for more bow arts or stealth attacks... whichever is better for you.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I know this is a solo topic thread, but I want to add... try duo with a warlock... u can take turns pulling alternating your AE timers and pretty much hop from group to group to group without ever coming up for air hehe.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>When it's a single mob, I start with culling and legshot, usually this drops the mob to a crawl.  Follow up with Triple fire and Sharp Shot.  If the poisons, etc. all proc fight's over.  Otherwise, go into forester's noose, stun.. blah blah see above...  maybe throw in a the dots and what not if it's a double up even con mob and I'm concerned about my livelyhood. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There's never been a better time to be a Ranger!  All of you junior rangers hang in there because there's a wicked bag of tricks waiting for you down the road!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P>Edited repeatedly as a result of sloppy typing.. uh oh, the boss is coming...</P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P><p>Message Edited by GrayStorm on <span class=date_text>10-11-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:09 AM</span>

[brandi7920]

<DIV> <DIV>>I know this is a solo topic thread, but I want to add... try duo with a warlock... u can take turns pulling alternating your AE timers and pretty much hop from group to group to group without ever coming up for air hehe.<</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My boyfriend and I leveled our characters together, always duoing. Between his Swashie and my Ranger, we do crazy sick damage. However last night, we were in a group with some of our Alliance member, one of whom is a Warlock - between the Warlock and myself...no one had a chance to even get a hit in, the mobs were dropping like flies! Throw in a Swashie, Guardian, another Ranger and a Healer - we were unstoppable. Carnage is fun!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ok...I'll stop reminscing about the insane DPS...and move on to the topic at hand. :smileyhappy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I LOVE my Ranger! She does crazy damage with her bow. She sucks at hand-to-hand, however you guys have given me a few things to try. Now I REALLY can't wait to get home from work!! I've not really tried the Forester's Noose after my cheap shot / stealth attack combos....I Like the idea of throwing a snare on the mob and backing up and nuking a bit more. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This is my general came plan when soloing:</DIV> <DIV>I open with my Leg Shot Master 2 (sooo glad I got that!!) which slows the mob by 64%</DIV> <DIV>he's practically crawling to me..so I usually have time to cast 3 ranged nukes (occasionally 2 if I'm not too far back)</DIV> <DIV>If the mob isn't dead after that, then it's really close. (again, depending on level and number of arrows up)</DIV> <DIV>So I move in for a Cheap Shot and LongShank and Backstab (drew a blank- lol - whatever the name of the dang T5 spell is =P)</DIV> <DIV>and that usually has the mobs very dead (depending on the level and number of arrows up).</DIV> <DIV>If this is a tough mob heroic, etc..then I bring in the HOs and kite a bit till my moving ranged are back up and Cheap Shot / sneak attack combos are ready again. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have to say that most of my fight don't last more than a few seconds though. I usually don't get to the HOs step, unless the mob has a few arrows or is very heroic, lol.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm rambling a bit...I'm at work and really wanna go home and blaze a trail through the Sinking Sands!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyways, I'm so excited that the forums (at least) are not behind a firewal!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ciarra, lvl 51 Ranger, Lavastorm server</DIV></DIV>

[xandez]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>TaleraRis wrote:<div></div> <div>I'm realizing that the turning point for 20s rangers is level 26 when we get Hidden Shot. I killed fast before, but I kill so much faster now, and I really think I'll have a chance at Splitpaw now since I can get those casters down before they know what hit them. </div><hr></blockquote>Yeah... but  when you get the triple shot at lvl 28, THEN you will notice a real turnover in your ranged burst dmg! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ++Xan

[TaleraRis]

So I've heard, but even just Hidden Shot is a huge improvement in my ranged damage capabilities.

[ShadarLoco]

<P>before the combat changes I would solo triple ups 3 at a time......</P> <P>after combat changes at first suck killing single up's</P> <P>now after practice and training I solo 1-2 triple ups at the same time...</P> <P>Rangers are still god like if you know what your doing I do more damage and kill faster then a full group. I getting about 20% of level per hour with no advanture vitality.</P> <P>its sad but at 47 I doing 218-400 dps with out any problems and groups still don't want rangers because 80% of rangers suck balls.... Rangers are a class that is very player skill dependent... Not just button mashing.......</P> <P> </P>

[Keredh]

<P>If you are a writting ranger who likes to solo, there's a great opportunity at T5. </P> <P>When you hit the first half of the T5 writs you get the opportunity to hunt in Everfrost. The EF writs used to be the second half of T5 and I learned this the hard way, levelling to 46 on the necessary mobs - without taking writs. Doh! :smileyvery-happy:. </P> <P>Anyway, the key point is that the area is low aggro (watch out for the wolves and avoid the 1-up Alpha Wolves), the Bitteriwnd Pioneers and Bitterwind Explorers are up to 46-47 1-downs (avoid the grouped 1-ups and 2-ups) and I can't reinforce how satisfying it is as an early 40s ranger to drop mobs in 5-10 secs that you see high 40s/early 50s 'zerkers, SKs and others spending 40-60 seconds on (sometimes more). Note that the Explorers and Pioneers are separate writs (I'm guessing the're EXPing :smileysurprised: ).</P> <P>These 1-down mobs are susceptible to a lot of upfront ranged damage (they parry and avoid quite well once you get into melee) and dropping them in two CAs, even at Adept I (with poisoned makeshift carbonite arrows and a Pristine Imbued Cedar Bow) can't help bring a smile to your face as you watch the nearby SK drop to 60% health.</P> <P>A nice bonus is the fact they drop good coin and the odd chest, including one or two nice armour pieces (some good wis/sta arms for druids), books and EF quests.</P> <DIV>Ker</DIV> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P><p>Message Edited by Keredh on <span class=date_text>10-12-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:25 AM</span>

[Tibbwini]

This is an absolutely great list of tips. I'd been away from the game over the CU (on honeymoon!) and came back to an almost unrecognisable character. However, using these tips I was able to solo my way around the Splitpaw zones - something I'd never been able to do before. Kudos to those that did the hard work figuring all this stuff out, cos post-CU Rangers are indeed godly <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Keredh]

<P>Lovely to see you on the boards, Tibbwini... Venril Sathir seems a long time ago! :smileyhappy:</P> <P>Ker</P>

[Quillian Feetfa]

<P>Very nice tips!  One particular CA that I like to use is Crippling Arrow.  I usually like to line up behind the MOB and open with that CA.  It snares the target and it gives me enough time to get my Triple Shot and my Flaming Shot off before I get to melee range (if the MOB makes it that far.  Caster Mobs ususally die at the Triple Shot.)  I've read lots of posts about opening with stealth and Hidden shot, but I usually can't get triple shot off if I do that.  After I get into Melee, it's business as usual (Cheap shot, pouncing attack,  Shadow Lunge, and if I have the right Enemy mastery strike, through that in, if the Mob is still up.  I've found that it works very well for me.  If Crippling Arrow isn't up, then I use Hidden Shot.</P> <P> </P>

[Crychtonn]

Hidden Shot / Hidden Fire become a more useful starting shot after you hit 44 and get Leg Shot.

[hayaikaze]

Hi fellow rangers....can you help? The post is great, but it mentions using arrow CA's while moving if possible. Before the Combat Update I remember we had one I think we could use while moving, but now, post CU, seems we don't have any. I am lvl 33, maybe I don't have a bow CA I can use while moving yet? Will I get one, or am I missing something? Thanks in advance!

[Gneen]

<P>Check out this table of upgrade paths - I tried to indicate which are available when moving with an additional column added to the tables supplied by others more knowledgeable than I.  Hope you fnd it useful - i so, it prints pretty well onto a single page.  I plan to edit it into the initial post ... </P> <P><A href="http://dinsights.com/EQ/scout.html" target=_blank>http://dinsights.com/EQ/scout.html</A></P> <P>=Gneen - Leaver of Shards</P>

[hayaikaze]

<P>Thanks Gneen, seems there is only one damage dealing Ranged line that can be used moving:</P> <P> </P> <P></P> <P>Wounding Arrow<BR>(*20*)</P> <P>Crippling Arrow<BR>(*34*)</P> <P>Debilitating Arrow<BR>(4<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Crychtonn]

<P>Storm of Arrows (50) can also be used on the run.  And if your in a group you can use the Natural Selection AE line on the move also.  That line requires stealth to use so shooting it off on the run won't happen much.</P> <P> </P>

[xandez]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>hayaikaze wrote:<div></div> <p>Thanks Gneen, seems there is only one damage dealing Ranged line that can be used moving:</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>Wounding Arrow(*20*)</p> <p>Crippling Arrow(*34*)</p> <p>Debilitating Arrow(4<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><hr></blockquote> Hmm... earlier it used to be that wounding arrow could NOT be used on the run, the others yes. Anyone can confirm? ++Xan

[TaleraRis]

<P>Wounding Arrow and Open Shot can't be used on the run. You get the interrupted message.</P> <P>I need to test Back Shot this weekend. Havne't played a lot lately between school, work and doctor's appointments.</P>

[Quillian Feetfa]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> TaleraRis wrote:<BR> <P>Wounding Arrow and Open Shot can't be used on the run. You get the interrupted message.</P> <P>I need to test Back Shot this weekend. Havne't played a lot lately between school, work and doctor's appointments.</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Back Shot, Sniping shot can be used while moving.  Of course, it's harder to get the mob to come at you while he's running backwards.  <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>