EQ2 Ranger cmpared to EQ1 Ranger ?

[Cazrack]

HiIm thinking of starting a Ranger but im wondering do the Ranger class have plenty of utility skills/spells like they had in EQ1 ?Or is this just a Bow class with subpar melee dps ?Thx for any opinions./Cazrack<div></div>

[Pridebring]

<DIV>EQ1 vs EQ2 rangers, two very differant games as rangers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rangers in EQ1 were a good class often over looked for thier abilities.</DIV> <DIV>Rangers in EQ2 are an awesome class, picked up often for thier DPS, but this isnt the case until after the mid 30's. Evac is a utility sometimes asked for by groups as scouts get it before other classes in EQ2 do.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rangers in EQ1 had the ability to track in EQ1, they do in EQ2 as well but its not the same.  The little glowing trail is a nice added feature in EQ2 (although its a bit buggy in some zones)</DIV> <DIV>Rangers in EQ1 got druid spells and vise versa... none of that in EQ2 (thank gawd).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rangers in EQ1 did pretty decent dmg with weapons or bows, in EQ2 you do INSAINE dmg, and in EQ2 when done right you can keep your agro to a minimum.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>No endless quiver in EQ2, but we do get summon arrow spells, and combat abilities that provide arrows.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There seemed to me to be alot of bows to choose from in EQ1, the only really kick butt bows in EQ2 are player made (imho) and the ones that drop are very rare.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Scouts in EQ2 do very nice dmg (extreamly nice as far as high end rangers go). Rangers can get in and swing or get out at range and toss arrows and do extreamly nice dmg either way.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I hope this helps.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Merkad]

Imo, they don't compare very well.The Ranger of EQ2 is a beast on DPS, but if you want utility.. look elsewhere. Our utility looks something liek this..Snipe - neg 36 defenseDebilitating Arrow - neg 46 deflection/parrySnare 1 - neg 950 magic resistSnare 2 - neg 1200 heat resistPathfinding - 16% run speed increaseEvac - self explanatoryThorny Trap - damage/root/snare encounterThat is all you have other than DPS to assist your party. Unlike EQ1, snare is really not needed for grouping, and our only root is a 2 min recast, and ghetto CC'ing has sadly died (mobs die way too fast).As for our melee dps, while it is not on par (or even that close) with our bow dps, it is not all that bad either, we have a self perma haste spell, and decently short refreshes on the few melee attacks we get. We also have a few longer refreshing skills that really boost melee dps (5 min refresh on them).It is hard to say how you will like it though, if you want to be the Rogue of EQ1, but with a bow, we are now it. Personally, I would rather be my EQ1 Ranger, but since I am playing EQ2, and am compelled to always make a Ranger, here I am./mourn weaponshield/trueshot/cool sparklies (actually it is like perma trueshot now, in EQ2)Merkades, 60th Ranger.Tradeskills Suck, 34th Jeweler.Disciples of Destiny, Najena.