Wussyness

[gl0ma]

I am fairly new to ranger in eq2, just hit 25, and figured i should go play around some in splitpaw. So i claim my shard, zone in and kill the first group of 2 with easy. Then i pull with ae shot and 1 other(all i had time for), a group of 4. I manage to kill 2, but then i'm at 5% health. I have all chain armor, quite updated jewelry(within 5 levels), same with weapons and mostly adept 1 ca's.Now, i have noticed this earlier too, that i'm super wussy compared to playing my monk or necro. Even my warlock didn't really have a problem doing this first part at 21 wtih fairly bad gear. Am i somehow doing everything wrong? Forgotten to get some vital skill or ability? Things go well as long as i can splurge out all my damage on a single target and just own it, but as soon as it's several, i just go down super fast.My defense is something like 115/125, parry likewise. Mitigation against = mobs is 30% apx and avoidance says 9% on my ui.Does this sound fairly normal? I inspected a ranger on my monk, he was level 30 with not very good gear, and he had like 40% avoidance but i forgot to see if he had all chain or not.Hope someone can shed some light on why i feel so incredibly weak <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[Ranja]

<div>Rangers don't really come into there own until 28 or 29 when you get triple fire. Even then it is hard to take on muiltiple mob encounters until you get spring or Storm of Arrows.</div><div> </div><div>Are you using poisons? This maybe the reason for your "wussyness". Get a high DD poison and always keep it applied. There are also stun poisons and debuff poisons when all three are stacked you can take out some serious mobs. Stun poisons are your friend. Also, what stance are you in. Use offensive when you are using your ranged skills but when the mobs close you might have to switch to defensive stance. Also, are you using cheap shot. Cheap shot take a step back and blast your highest archery CA right into their face.  Cheap shot will stun all non -^ mobs for 6 seconds. Plenty of time to get off 1 or 2 CAs.</div><div> </div><div>What are your weapons? Are yuo using an imbued bow? At your level I think you should be using a Imbued Fir Bow (the rare wood at t3). Make sure it is imbued. What kind of armor do you have on? Make sure none of your gear is grey if you inspect it.</div><div> </div><div>Elbryan60 Ranger</div>

[TaleraRis]

<div></div>Splitpaw at that level I had to do hit and run, ie kill one and yell, then rinse and repeat until they were all dead. Groups are our weakest spot I think.

[chanaho]

I would say your biggest problem is your defense and parry at 115/125. Get those up by lettingsome low lvl mob beat on you for a while.<div></div>

[gl0ma]

Thanks for the reply. I do indeed use poisons, although i admit i am still using my fist vial which i got at level 10 or so. So should be some upgrade there. My bow is indeed a imbued rare and does great damage. I also use cheap shot a lot, i have a 33 dirge from launch so i'm used to that. None of my gear is grey, except arrows. I have completed up to aq4 and bought chain bp and leggings to keep me until i get aq5+6 done.To me, it really is melee combat which is the problem. At range, i do plenty damage and mobs die quickly. But when i have to melee down more than 1, i take a lot of damage quickly.<div></div>

[Saihung23]

<div></div><p>Good Luck in your future forays into Splitpaw.  One thing I wanted to make sure of was that you were using your cheap shot and getting behind them when the melee fun begins. </p><p>If not, make sure you incorporate the cheapshot and back attacks into your battle.  Also it allows you to throw in a mastery attack too (Gnoll masters strike).</p><p>Just in case, here is the pattern I use</p><p>after ranged, beginning melee,</p><p>1) Heroic Opportunity started</p><p>2) I use first the pick off CA (lowers defense and moves the HO along)</p><p>3) Culling the Herd (the one that lowers targets mitigation, also this completes the HO if it hits)</p><p>4) HO starter</p><p>5) cheap shot (moves the ho along and stuns)</p><p>5a) At this point move your character <u>into </u>your target.  You will pass around behind him very quickly, dont be fancy like I tried for the longest time.</p><p>6) Longshank (does damage and makes you invis this wont progress the HO though)</p><p>7) either of your back attacks, one will complete your HO the other is the Flame one that isnt used for HO's</p><p>At this point (finishing one back attack) you can use your Surveil to go invis and hit him once more from the rear with whatever back attack you missed.  I have gotten 3 attacks in from behind on one Cheap Shot.  Conversely, you could stun back attack then root him and back up enough to get off another ranged CA or two.</p><p>I hope this helps someone if not you <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Saihung Talechaser</p>

[Ranja]

<div></div>If you are already doing all the things metioned then you have stumbled upon our weak spot - groups of mobs. Not until you hit 50 and get SoA and Thorny Trap (52) will you be able to solo groups efficiently. At Splitpaw I had to do the kill and run thing as well as another posted did. kill one mob, break the encounter and flee. Rinse and repeat. Or use stun poisons<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[LokiHellsson]

<div></div>Rangers are not wussy's.  With legendary left side and some reasonable jewelry on right side and 5 or 6 AD3's, my level 25-28 experience after LU19 has been really fun.  I don't miss what I did not have and so far, it doesn't feel nerfed.  The damage is still insane.  The utilty is still top-notch with tracking and stealth and evac.  I don't tackle groups.  My Necro and Warlock do better with groups, but neither can handle white ^^^'s solo.

[gl0ma]

Thank you all for your responses. I just wanted to make sure i wasn't missing out on something major. I have to say that dps is extremely good, so single mobs are very easy. I'll just stick to the 1 at a time method then, when it comes to groups.<div></div>