What stance do you use,and when?

[Tobann]

I have been doing a fair amount of soloing with my 33 Rangere. I have found that in Offensive stance I can kill the mobs quicker but I take a fair amount of damage. In defensive stance it takes longer to kill but I dont take near the damage. I am wondering what other people do? In groups there is no question,unless Im tanking,Im in offensive. But is it more effecient to solo in Off. or Def. stance? What are your thoughts? Buaf  34 Ranger Faydark <div></div>

[brandi7920]

<P>Ok so I cut and pasted my response from a different thread gone off topic, lol - it is much better suited to this thread. :smileywink:</P> <P>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</P> <P>Hmm I've used my defensive stance..exactly once..and that was by accident. Very rarely (if ever) do I have the need to tank. My role is DPS, so I go all out DPS. Even when soloing, I take the mobs out with straight DPS and they usually aren't alive long enough to do any major dmg to me. (and if I do take a beating then I've learned a lesson and earned a new challenge - hehe) But then, that is my play style. I duo frequently with a Swashie and we bounce mobs back and forth between us, but of the 2 of us - he would be considered the tank. I have heard of other Rangers who use their defense buffs on a regular basis such as switching to defense buffs if a mob comes there way. For me, if I see a mob turn my way I turn on Stream of Arrows and burn 'em down, with my handy-dandy swashie backstabbing for all he's worth.  <IMG height=16 src="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/i/smilies/16x16_smiley-very-happy.gif" width=16 border=0> </P>

[Sulas]

Very rarely do I use it, but I've heard I might use it more often as I level past 38. I usually drop the MoB before I take any real damage, but the other night I pulled a couple of linked MoBs.  After dropping the first, I found my CAs were all recharging, so I switched to Defensive for the few seconds it took for a CA to come back. <div></div>

[Quillian Feetfa]

I almost never use my defensive, unless I'm getting the snot knocked out of me and I'm in fear of dying.  I always have my Ranged Stance on any other time.  I'm contantly running in and out of Ranged distance while waiting for my ranged attacks to recharge.

[Jay]

Offensive stance, 24/7. I can count on one hand the number of times I've used defensive stance. But I opt for overwhelming damage when I'm soloing, even if it means that I get hurt - it's just what I'm used to and the way I play. I'll switch to defensive if I'm in a group and I need to off-tank for a fight or two, but other than that I use offensive all the time.  

[Deml]

Archer's Frenzy master 1 FTW!  Only take it off when I'm dead.

[Jeff240]

<DIV>I'm offensive 90% of the time. </DIV> <DIV>I use defensive in these situations:</DIV> <DIV>1) Tank dies.  I'll drop aggro reduction, storm of arrows to grab all mobs, and defense stance.  2400 mitigation and 53% avoidance makes the ranger monk-like.  Just make sure the group knows that you are Plan B, and to assist like their lives depend on it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2) I'm tanking.  Again, 2400mit + 53% def - I've been known to tank a cyclops or two while we're between tanks.  I in no way want to tank in place of a real one.  I just don't want the group to stop while another tank in en route, or we're looking for one.  And... we dont' tank terribly well.  The hits hurt, and the healer's power suffers.  But xp still comes in.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3) Dueling melees.  After the initial stun and arrow volley, I usually switch to defensive and get thrown around by melee's knockback.  Then offense, stun, and backstab/ranged and defense again (although not much lives that long).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>BTW: lvl 54 here - I'm sure alot changes at lvl 55 <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[TaleraRis]

Since I have it now, I use Arrow Flurry while the mob is still far away and turn on Adroit when I have to go toe-to-toe. <div></div>

[Stormhawk]

Offensive stance all day every day. <div></div>

[jarlaxle8]

<P>i mainly use offensive. but if i have to go toe-to-toe i sometimes turn on defensive. especially when i see my health drop too quick, then i turn on defensive and endure. i still dish out enough damage. it may lower my dps, but i think the 59% avoidance i get makes more then up for that.</P> <P>solo, defensive mainly comes to use against ^, ^^ and ^^^ mobs. or groups of higher con mobs, so i can take the beating of the others while i work on one at a time. no arrow or down arrow stuff i am almost always in offensive.</P> <P>in grps of course i am in offensive if tank is around. i use defensive for the times i may offtank; or accidently draw agro from a mob that will wopp me good if i stay in offensive :smileyvery-happy:</P> <P>--------------------------<BR><A href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/pplayer.vm?characterId=383113204" target=_self>Ryilan Nightbreeze </A><BR>--------------------------</P><p>Message Edited by jarlaxle888 on <span class=date_text>12-08-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:13 AM</span>

[Dasanhgul]

<P>Usually always offensive stance, swapping between <EM>Blade Fury</EM> and <EM>Arrow Frenzy</EM> (soon <EM>Archer's Frenzy</EM>) depending if I go melee or bow.</P> <P>Very rarelly use our <EM>Survival Instincts</EM> defensive stance line, unlesstaking on a lot of damage and I know my little fury friend wont be able to shake it off me :smileytongue:</P>

[Jay]

Hmm... FWIW, I don't think using Blade Flurry really confers any advantage in melee, not if you're over level 50. The small amount of damage from that melee proc is probably offset by the substantially lower increase to your offensive skills. If someone's done hard testing that proves that assumption wrong, I'd be interested to see it, but IMO it's not worth it to toggle between two different offensive stances. Just my opinion though.

[Vimy]

Like most here I'll usually use offensive stance...  The one time I switch immediately to defensive is when soloing and I pickup an add for whatever reason.  If it's a solo add...   well I'm not going to get many bow shots off anyway, so tough it out and see how it goes.  If heroic?  Hit evac and hope that 50% avoidance is enough.   <span>:smileywink:</span> <div></div>

[Dasanhgul]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Jay42 wrote:<BR>Hmm... FWIW, I don't think using Blade Flurry really confers any advantage in melee, not if you're over level 50. The small amount of damage from that melee proc is probably offset by the substantially lower increase to your offensive skills. If someone's done hard testing that proves that assumption wrong, I'd be interested to see it, but IMO it's not worth it to toggle between two different offensive stances. Just my opinion though. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>They do add up nicelly in the end, on some melee fights (cause i either have aggro, am soloing, out of arrows... depends).</P> <P><IMG src="http://whisperlands.homedns.org:336/games/eq2/SkillImages/Predator/17-Blade-Flurry-adpt3.jpg"></P> <P>I'll have to test it out sometime this weekend...</P> <P> </P> <p>Message Edited by Dasanhgul on <span class=date_text>12-09-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:42 AM</span>

[xandez]

Offensive stance FTW! I use defensive stance when soloing and get a ^ arrow solo mob in melee or when getting adds or when have to finish some heroics. Same goes with grouping, if i draw aggro i usually switch to def stance + spam de-aggros (and autoattack off also if melee:ing) ++Xan <div></div>