How are you using Point Blank Shot?

[Kelader]

<div>I am a level 51 ranger and have either 6 or 7 AA points.  I have been going down the agility line to improve my dps in groups and to help me solo.</div><div> </div><div>I loved PBS pre LU 21.  It definitely helped me solo.  I could cast, step back, and launch triple or a similar ranged skill.  Post LU 21 it lasts 2.7 seconds with two points.  I played last night and was not able to make a single ranged shot before the mob closed to melee range.  This is not a question of standing at that magical distance where you can use either melee or range arts.  The mobs don't let you when you are solo - they close the gap.  This spell is of limited benefit in groups so I am not sure why the duration was so dramatically curtailed in the recent update.</div><div> </div><div>PBS is a solo spell - and it appears to be unfunctional at its current duration.</div><div> </div><div>If others have found a way to make it work - please tell!</div><div> </div><div>If not, I think we need this spell legnthened.  It could either start at 3.5 seconds and go up in .2 increments or alternately it could start at its current 2.5 seconds and go up in larger increments.  I think the goal should be to have it last at least 4 seconds after putting 4 points into it.  I don't think we should have to put 8 aa points into a skill that is basically a requirment in order to use our class defining ranged skills in solo combat.</div><div> </div><div>Cross</div><div>51 Ranger</div><div>Unrest</div>

[Caliga]

Yeah, I don't know why they changed it. <div></div>

[strider19]

are you serious? man, now I'm going to reset my AAs<img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I don't want a worthless PBS ...<div></div>

[BigDawgy]

<div></div>Yea, it kind of sucks now.  I cant belive they changed it.

[Fennir]

i use it to setup a longblade/rangers blade combo when soloing (usually just enough time for it)it's in my melee chain but i don't hit it as often unless its a hard mob.the duration is 3.2 at rank 5 though, so i'll probably throw my extra point into it in the end<div></div>

[Gareorn]

<div></div>I'm using mine in conjunction with the sharp/precise shot line.  It's a quick firing Ranged and I almost always get it off with one point into PBS.  I think the cast time is 1.8 seconds on prcise shot.  It's not a lot of damage, but every little bit helps.  Anyway, it's not totally useless.

[Jay]

<div></div>At four ranks, it lasts 2.8 seconds. Maybe I'm .2 seconds too slow, but I *barely* miss a Longblade > Ranger's Blade. I've tried it repeatedly and I just can't nail it, so I usually just back off and try for a bow CA. So yeah, it's not useless, it just isn't all that helpful without putting five or more ranks into it.

[Teksun]

Yes. They really did smooch the pooch on this one. I think they need to up the time by a second, that would help a LOT (if they don't want to reset it to pre LU21)<div></div>

[roblinb]

<div></div><div></div><p>I use Cheap shot followed by my best backstab which normally does about 1.3k damage since PBS is inconsistent at best now... when soloing.  In a group since our DPS is back on par with tier one and not godly I've become pretty good at not drawing aggro from the tank, although it does happen from time to time.</p><p>The whole AA thing doesn't excite me a whole lot.  The last three points I've gotten since LU-21 I just put into strength to help my other stuff.  The bounty AA has to be the worst though, lol.  I killed a named mob and got 3 silver woot! :smileyvery-happy:</p><p>Message Edited by roblinb on <span class="date_text">03-26-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:31 AM</span></p>

[Dirtgirl]

<div></div><p>It helps give the tank a little extra time to peel an add off a healer or squishy. So is lunging thrust. Between those two skills and cheapshot, I can give the tank an extra 6 or 7 seconds to get the mob taunted off. That seems to be the biggest benefit Ive seen from those skills besides the obvious and oft mentioned solo application.</p><p>But yes, I am HUGELY disappointed in the change to PBS. For it to be 4sec at 4 points, and then maybe 6 at 8 points would have been the change I would like to have seen. But unfortunately they havnt put me in charge yet. :smileywink:</p>

[z3oslo]

<div></div><div></div><p>In groups i use it to save myself or any other partymembers if the tank cant hold aggro. When i do solo mobs, i usually just use 2 backstabs. If i solo .. uh .. something else :smileytongue: I use it in combination with vines master1 to get max distance, then i fire with whatever i have before i lay down another snare. Rinse and repeat.</p><p> </p><p>Message Edited by z3oslo on <span class="date_text">03-27-2006</span><span class="time_text">01:29 AM</span></p>

[Domyr Farseeker]

<div>Yeah, the nerf to PBS was a major disappointment for me, too. I mostly duo with a Fury, and my tactics are almost identical to my solo tactics. Before the change, PBS was a nice compliment to Cheap Shot. I could use Cheap Shot to work in a quick-casting ranged shot (like Sharp Shot) and follow up with PBS and a longer casting CA like Debilitating Arrow. Now they just seem redundant and pointless, especially with the change to Lunging with the root.</div><div> </div><div>I haven't had any problems getting a follow up attack in, though. I've only got one point into PBS, but I can still get Sharp Shot or Longshank in 90% of the time. If it fails, it's usually because I didn't turn off autoattack or tried to jump backwards uphill or something stupid like that. My complaint is that it's just so pointless now. If the ranged/positional CA I want to use is up and ready to cast, chances are that at least 2 of CS/PBS/Lunging are up and ready to use, too. I have no clue  why the devs thought it was so painfully redundant to have 2 melee DoT's, but not redundant to have 3 short-duration, situational, breakable stuns/roots.</div><div> </div><div>As for tips, I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing differently to get my CA's in after PBS. For one thing, don't even bother with Triple...even if you were able to cast it in time, the mob would close after the first of the three volleys. The thing that helped me the most was remapping my arrow keys to make the up-arrow=jump-forward and the down-arrow=jump-backwards...now, one keystroke=instant ranged distance. I usually follow my stuns with either Sharp Shot or a Longshank/Tangleflame combo, so I try to hit Forrester's Noose first. The debuff maximizes the heat damage and the snare helps with the timing. Also, Storm of Arrows and Culling can both be used while moving - PBS should give you enough space to get these off. It might also help that I've got a haste buff from FBSS and an attack speed buff from my Fury (don't think this works on CA's, but I could be mistaken).</div><div> </div><div>In groups where I'm not tanking, I just use it to minimize the damage my tank is taking by timing interrupts on casters, or to help protect the silly wizzie that just pulled aggro. I haven't gotten my PvP ranger high enough to gain AA skills yet, but can imagine it being somewhat useful in aggravating casters and healers. With our 2 roots and 2 stuns, we might actually be able to chain stun pretty effectively (which will ultimately lead to more nerfs, if true).</div><div> </div><div> </div>

[Racmo]

<div>If PBS wasn't on the way to crits I wouldn't waste points getting it.  As a matter of fact there's nothing in the AGI line I want BUT the crit.  Don't care for more agi, in combat run speed or even the reduced casting time...that's sure not worth 8 points.</div><div> </div><div>Tobi</div><div>57 Ranger</div>

[A]

<div></div><div></div><blockquote><hr>Racmoor wrote:<div>If PBS wasn't on the way to crits I wouldn't waste points getting it.  As a matter of fact there's nothing in the AGI line I want BUT the crit.  Don't care for more agi, in combat run speed or even the reduced casting time...that's sure not worth 8 points.</div><div> </div><div>Tobi</div><div>57 Ranger</div><hr></blockquote><p>You will change your mind once you have tried poise <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>It makes some so-so skills suddenly worth using.</p><p>Veiled fire for 4k damage in 2 seconds suddenly looks much better than 4k damage in 3 seconds  and it really allows you to burst damage in short fights...</p><p>PS : And right now it fixes Stream of Arrows too..</p><p>Message Edited by Ail on <span class="date_text">03-29-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:11 AM</span></p>