Need help with lvl 14 choice

[Cazrack]

going to play ranger but at lvl 14 im choosing between Hunters Instinct   = increase AGI by 17.2 and dps by 36 % Shadow Blade     = 159 - 265 damage attackShadow blade seems nice at the moment at lvl 14 but will this [Removed for Content] my char in the long run ?thx for any advice/cazrack

[coltla]

I can't think of any choice that you could make at level 14 that would "[Removed for Content]" you in the long run.If you're good at the cheapshot-behind combo the Shadow Blade might be good, (If I'm remembering which it is correctly.) Otherwise, I'd probably go with that Hunters Instinct.

[Cazrack]

Where is the upgrade for Hunters instinct in this list ?http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/classes/index.vm?classId=39Where do Hunters Instinct get replaced with something better which overwrite it ?Thx/Cazrack<div></div>

[Ndi]

I went with Hunter's Instinct.  I cannot remember the sight that has the upgrades but there are on this forum...just go through a page or two you should find it.  Shadowblade is replaced before your hunter's instinct will be. 

[coltla]

I wouldn't use that one, I'd go here http://www.thescoutssanctuary.com/ranger.php at the very bottom it has them listed by upgrade. Hunter's Instinct Hunter's Instinct(13) -> Forester's Insight(27) -> Veil of the Forest(41) -> Shroud of the Forest(55)Every spell you can upgrade, will get replaced later, the question is how soon.Don't sweat it too much at this level, it will go pretty fast.

[xandez]

Choose whatever you like in those lvls, you'll be 30 in a week (or prolly even faster) anyway so it doesnt matter... But for those, choose the dmg thing since it helps you more than the slight increase in the buff... ++Xan <div></div>

[Mentla]

Shadow Blade.  You'll either open with this or use it during pretty much every single fight you have until you become a true bow user.  Even now I run in and use it during groups (I like to time it so it is the killing blow - looks impressive  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />) <div></div>

[Jay]

I think I took the equivalent of Shadow Blade, but in retrospect I might choose Hunter's if I did it all over again. I like buffs that increase my stats, as that helps all the time, where Shadow Blade w/b useful but limited to certain situations. Either way this isn't a critical decision, just pick whichever sounds more fun.

[Hakthaf]

Hunters is nice since it is the last one of the choices you will upgrade so its usefull for a longer period of time.

[Mentla]

lol - maybe you guys are too old to remember what it was like being that young.  <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span>  You don't have any decent bow attacks yet and a Master Shadow Blade will be by a long way (correct me if I'm wrong please <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />) your most damaging attack.  Like I said, I seem to remember using it in almost every encounter and - if you're like me - you group most of the time +AGI doesn't make a massive difference anyway. <div></div>

[xandez]

<div></div><div></div><blockquote><hr>Mentla wrote:lol - maybe you guys are too old to remember what it was like being that young. <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span> You don't have any decent bow attacks yet and a Master Shadow Blade will be by a long way (correct me if I'm wrong please <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />) your most damaging attack. Like I said, I seem to remember using it in almost every encounter and - if you're like me - you group most of the time +AGI doesn't make a massive difference anyway. <div></div><hr></blockquote>Yes you are absolutely correct here. I chose that for my teen ranger. He's now lvl 31 and still using the shadow blade whenever he can... gotta love those ~600-800 point hits! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <font color="#ff9900">*EDIT*</font><font color="#ff9900"> </font><font color="#ff9900">well my 2nd reply for this matter, so you know, you'd better choose shadow blade, or else!? <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> HAHA... sry for spamming, just wanted to clear why i chose Shadowblade and to say that Mentla was on the spot here with what he/she said.</font> ++Xan <p>Message Edited by xandez on <span class=date_text>12-14-2005</span> <span class=time_text>09:18 AM</span>

[Spectralmist]

<P>I chose Hunter's Instinct.  As a crafter though, it also helps with my power (a bit).  </P> <P>That said, I have Shadow Blade at App IV now, and as soon as I get a silver cluster, that'll be going Adept III.</P>

[Nak]

k, you should def get the hunter's instinct because thats the only perma dps buff rangers can get because that follows the assassin line of that spell, rangers version turns to increased attack speed imo DPS>speed...that attack will get outdated quickly but you can use the dps instead of speed later on <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span> k bye <div></div>

[xandez]

Well Naku9, you got it almost right there <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />The DPS buff while being nice and all doest affect our CA dmg. So... if you'll spend time meleeing or autofiring bow with autoattack later on (which i doubt you will be doing) then it would be a very nice buff... but since the DPS and HASTE buffs are somewhat useless (imo, of course if the DPS portion would be large enough it would make a difference) i'd choose the 300+ more dmg from master II comparing to adept1 of shadow lunge (which even in the long run is better imo) ++Xan<div></div>

[Mentla]

<span><blockquote><hr>xandez wrote:<div></div><div></div><blockquote><hr>Mentla wrote:lol - maybe you guys are too old to remember what it was like being that young. <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span> You don't have any decent bow attacks yet and a Master Shadow Blade will be by a long way (correct me if I'm wrong please <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />) your most damaging attack. Like I said, I seem to remember using it in almost every encounter and - if you're like me - you group most of the time +AGI doesn't make a massive difference anyway. <div></div><hr></blockquote>Yes you are absolutely correct here. I chose that for my teen ranger. He's now lvl 31 and still using the shadow blade whenever he can... <font color="#ff0000"><b>gotta love those ~600-800 point hits! </b></font><img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <font color="#ff9900">*EDIT*</font><font color="#ff9900"> </font><font color="#ff9900">well my 2nd reply for this matter, so you know, you'd better choose shadow blade, or else!? <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> HAHA... sry for spamming, just wanted to clear why i chose Shadowblade and to say that Mentla was on the spot here with what he/she said.</font> ++Xan <p>Message Edited by xandez on <span class="date_text">12-14-2005</span> <span class="time_text">09:18 AM</span></p><hr></blockquote>I can't tell you the exact figures, as Station Players seems to be down, but Buggy is about level 43-44 now and first thing I did when I got the new shadow blade (at 42 I think) was get it upgraded to AdpIII.  When my PGT procs (+27 STR) it kicks like a mule!!  I think her highest melee hit - which used to be about 600 - is now 1,200!! As I said above, wait until near the end of the fight (when grouped) run in behind, start HO, hit them with the DEF debuff (can't remember the name) then finish with shadow blade.  Time it right you you hit a big HO, kill them mob and get some "Wow!" s off the people in your group  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I always use tripple fire just before as PGT 90% of the time kicks in for the STR boost.</span><div></div>

[Berek_IronAxe]

Took Hunter's myself but I leveled so quickly it was replaced before I knew it. 

[Sokolov]

Good website for spell progression info: http://www.freewebs.com/ryokousha/Games/EQ2/eq2-class-progression-tables.html<div></div>

[Nak]

<div></div>k, i'll add more this time, if you want shadow blade just wait till lvl 24 upgrade which you can get master 2(shadow lunge) as well, people will porbably say blah blah get makeshift arrows blah blah but at that level you don't really have that many ranged ca abilities as compared to down the road(plus that tier of arrows is cheaper, although arrow types don't effect CA, or i haven't noticed any effect), so at 34 you could get salvaged arrows m2 when its slightly more needed...aslo at lower lvls the dps buff might prove more useful over time because you won't be relying on ranged CA's(although you shouldn't be relying on it later and using both types of CA's) and will be close up and use auto attack because you won't have much else to do till late 20's when you get more ranged CA's... <div></div><p>Message Edited by Naku9 on <span class=date_text>12-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:43 PM</span>