Official dev stance on rangers...please?

[MacDaddy62]

<div></div>It's pretty widely accepted that rangers are currently lacking in DPS, especially compared to assassins, the most similar class.  This inferiority is really exemplified by the fact that some of the top raiding guilds in the game today refuse to recruit rangers at all because, quite simply, assassins do the same thing, only better.  However, we have not seen any improvements to our DPS or even gotten an official dev position on our DPS since LU21.  So devs, can we <i>please</i> get an official position on our status?  The disparity between us and assassins is absolutely clear and undeniable in my mind.  Do the devs feel the same way?  Please don't keep us in the dark any longer.-Azlea, Ranger of Strike on Butcherblock<div></div>

[Jayad]

The official dev position is they think we are fine.  It's been said by them.  I don't agree with them, but it is what it is.

[Jayad]

*shrug* It's a fair question.  But not one a dev will answer, and one that is likely to just get flame bait of various kind.  As I said, the devs have said there is no problem.

[MacDaddy62]

I've been watching the boards pretty consistently and I don't recall them ever saying this or anything about us since LU21.  Can anyone post a link to where they said this or at least give me the gist of what is was they said and in what context?  Thanks.<div></div>

[damahra]

unfortunately, it's their lack of response on anything that we have had to say clearly outlining where we fall short on quite a few things leads us to believe that they think "we're fine as is" .  we've had numerous threads stating exactly what is wrong, needs to be corrected, how we can be improved without going back to godlike status, which I'm pretty sure no one wants, we'd just like to be able to do the dmg we're supposed to do, and yet the flamethrower threads get attention and feedback, and the constructive posts which are well thought out, well posted, well documented, get absolutely no response.  I'd say that's response right there.

[Jayad]

Their response was in somebody asked them at a live Q&A, as I recall.  I don't have the thread.  It could change, of course.

[Jay]

They're very unlikely to respond to a thread like this, but kudos for trying.

[Teksun]

<div><blockquote><hr>MacDaddy62 wrote:I've been watching the boards pretty consistently and I don't recall them ever saying this or anything about us since LU21.  Can anyone post a link to where they said this or at least give me the gist of what is was they said and in what context?  Thanks.<div></div><hr></blockquote> unfortunately there is no link. At Fanfaire I was at one of the meetings and the first thing Blackgaurd said was: "Ranger DPS is fine". They did admit to a problem with arrow cost and were going to look into it...</div>

[Jayad]

<P>Maybe he got confused and meant to say, "Ranger dps and arrow cost are fine".  At least, it's what one could conclude based upon their actions. </P> <P>It's funny, they will push emergency fixes to fix issues much minor than a class wasting plat constantly, but on this issue.. nothing.  How many plat has been wasted in buying arrows game-wide?</P>

[Balerius]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Xney wrote:<BR> <P>Maybe he got confused and meant to say, "Ranger dps and arrow cost are fine".  At least, it's what one could conclude based upon their actions. </P> <P>It's funny, they will push emergency fixes to fix issues much minor than a class wasting plat constantly, but on this issue.. nothing.  How many plat has been wasted in buying arrows game-wide?</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Personally, I'm concerned that focusing on arrow costs distracts from the main issue that I perceive:  our poor dps.</P> <P>From my perspective, if all one does is solo/duo or group, the cost of arrows is fairly immaterial.  Reclaimed/Makeshift arrows are just fine.</P> <P>It's only when raiding that "tier appropriate" arrows become important.  And on raids, the bigger issue is our dps regardless of the type of arrows used.  </P> <P>Just curious:  Would you be willing to endure the cost of arrows if the result was that your overall dps was as great or even possibly slighly greater than assassins?</P>

[Gareorn]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Balerius wrote:<BR> <BR> <P>Just curious:  Would you be willing to endure the cost of arrows if the result was that your overall dps was as great or even possibly slighly greater than assassins?</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>That's a tough question.  If I was in Deathtoll, I guess I'd rather have the DPS.  But dang,  I am soooo tired of being broke all the time.<BR>

[Balerius]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Gareorn wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Balerius wrote:<BR> <BR> <P>Just curious:  Would you be willing to endure the cost of arrows if the result was that your overall dps was as great or even possibly slighly greater than assassins?</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>That's a tough question.  If I was in Deathtoll, I guess I'd rather have the DPS.  But dang,  I am soooo tired of being broke all the time.<BR><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Well see...that's the point.</P> <P>If your dps was as higher or slightly higher than an assassins, then your guild should be more than willing to buy your arrows and your poisons.  Mine did in the old days all throughout T5 and T6.</P> <P>But I would think it would take a lot of balls for a ranger these days to ask that his arrows be bought for him by his guild...given the fact that his dps is so mediocre even with those arrows.  Which is, I suppose, another way of illustrating how poor our dps is.</P>

[Jayad]

<P>They're both issues.  I wouldn't be happy unless both are addressed.  If you're asking me whether I'd rather be gimpy or broke, I would say, neither.   I was broke in T6 but we got value for our coin. </P> <P>p.s. a guild would be far better off paying for a ranger to betray and replace his spells than to buy him arrows.  You don't have to do too many raids before the cost-benefit reaches breakeven.  Although I love my ranger, if the option to betray at equal spells were available I would do it in a heartbeat because I raid.  It doesn't matter in raiding if you're "uber for a ranger" if a "good" assassin can beat the pants off you.  They're very objective in that way.</P><p>Message Edited by Xney on <span class=date_text>07-10-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:33 PM</span>

[Amwix]

I agree with Xney.Its nothing to do with cost(although this matters.  its costing me loads of PP between repair's/arrows).Its the fact that i work my bow string till its glowing red to get around the 800 - 900 dps on raid names.  Assasins work but not that hard and get that.  if they have a tank agro draining them.  they run at 1.2k+.  If i asked to betray im sure my guild would say "sorry we dont have the tanks to drain you as well".  So i take solice in knowning that althought i only do 800-900dps(if im lucky) i dont die if i make a mistake <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.<div></div>