trouble with combat arts

[masterfleem]

<DIV><SPAN>I am frustrated on what I have done wrong.  I cannot understand how the game mechanics function for combat engagement.  I have gone to thundering steps at lvl 24 figuring I would be productive there.  The problem is that when I try to complete any quest that contains a mob that is blue or higher I have my butt handed to me!  I am aware that I do not have all my bow type skillz, but I had been using back shot very effectively in the Antonia zone.  Is this how the game is supposed to work?  As you get higher and go into tougher zones you are no longer able to solo?  I picked this class in order to have the ability to be self-sufficient.  The most I can kill is a mob that is lvl21.  I tried a couple of different type of mobs at lvl22 and only once was I able to kill that lvl22 and I was left with 10% health..  I am in no way exaggerating on this either.  I literally was almost DEAD!<img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN>Is this truely the games design?  If not what did I do wrong?  And yes I have made sure to use the new skillz I received at higher levels instead of the old ones I got originally at the earlier levels.  I make sure to clear that old skill form the hotbar too so I don't click on it instead.</SPAN></DIV>

[Fennir]

What stance are you using, offensive or defensive?Are your skills maxed? (piercing, slashing, ranged, defense, parry, etc.)<div></div>

[masterfleem]

<DIV>I use offensive to try and kill them faster as when I used the defensive I did not stand a chance in heck<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I could almost kill it before it got me when I used offensive so that is what I have stayed with. My pierce and other slash weapon skill are maxed at 120/120.  I have not switch out weapons for a long time.  Do I need to go to another weapon type?</DIV>

[Fennir]

You can basically switch stances at will, so if I were you, I would try starting the fight in offensive stance, and then switching to defensive when the mob gets to you, to keep it from tearing you up.Also make sure your defensive skills (parry, defense) are maxed or else this won't work very well.<div></div>

[Serventof Wrath]

Also make sure you are using atleast adept I lvl CAs and you have upgraded your weapons and armor to lvl 20ish gear.   Anything you're still wearing that is grey is contirbuting to getting you killed.

[masterfleem]

<P>That sounds like a battle plan to me.  However I might really want to think about a different class like a wizard which can do actuall damage output to the mobs.  This character seems to be a dead end.  I mean I have no real group buffs in order to be benificial to a group, and cannot really play one at this point without a group, so I don't see why I want to make my suffering go on any longer!:smileyhappy:</P> <P> </P> <P>Thank you for your input.  Just did not realize that at the higher levels when mobs get so much health that you need either a realy defensive class or a realy strong offensive class.</P>

[Fennir]

enjoy your wizzy, hopefully you don't give up on him so quickly =)<div></div>

[Prandtl]

Are you using poisons?  A large percentage of a rangers damage comes from his poisons

[VisualFoundry]

<P>Not sure if you've figured these out yet, but there are two basic melee strategies that are key to soloing with a ranger (for me anyway).</P> <P>Cheap Shot - this gives you a 2 second stun on the mob during which you can either back away and use a bow CA or position yourself behind the mob and use the combination of Hidden Attack (deals damage and puts you in stealth) and Shadow Lunge (deals alot of damage, requires stealth and position behind). Even with the recent reduction in the duration of this stun, I find I can get this combination to work 9/10 times.</P> <P>Root - Rangers have a line of CA's that provide a short duration root in addition to dealing a bit of damage. This is another key time to back away and fire of a couple bow shots. I can usually get two shots in before the root breaks and that usually accounts for a nice chunk of damage.</P> <P>A word of warning regarding your idea of trying wizard: get used to dying. While wizards may have a more attractive damage setup, they have the bodily fortitude of an 80 year-old woman. If you dislike the idea of going down after just a few hits from the mob, wizard will most likely be a step in the wrong direction for you.</P> <P>Hask Grayscale</P> <P>68 Ranger, 60 Toy Sword Maker</P> <P>Tacticians of Vengeance, Kithicor Server</P>

[Firam]

I started a ranger recently on Nagafen, and while I am used to playing a bruiser as my main (and soloing ^^^ with ease), the same basic principles apply to soloing as a ranger really.--Equipment:  KEEP IT CURRENT!  Every so often so a broker search for every slot, and check for the "good" treasured items.  (There are different tiers within the Treasured family.. for instance check the mitigation on the common crafted chain armor for your tier and use that as a baseline, you can generally find cheap treasured stuff once in awhile that is 15-30% better.) You'd be surprised what you can find for a few gold.  There are some near-legendary quality treasured items out there that show up quite often on the brokers.  Great mitigation, weapon damage, great level restriction, etc.  If you can afford legendary gear that's always worth it, especially your weapons.  You always want the best ratio bows or melee weapons as possible.  Your DPS is your lifeblood in the solo game, regardless of class (well, for most classes).--Spells:  ADEPT THREE!  Make it your mantra.  Essential.  AD3 is ~15% better than AD1 (and M1 is 15% better than AD3, but are often prohibitively expensive).  Harvest or buy the rare loams for your tier and get someone to make the spells for you.  Or even better, go down the jeweler path and do it yourself.  I saw a HUGE difference on my bruiser when I started going away from AD1's.--Poisons:  Always have them, and always have them on.  I'm a big fan of the regular DD (caustic) line, and you can find mastercrafted versions of that pretty cheap usually.  You will proc these a ton in regular combat, and almost always on bow autoattacks (7.0 delay normalizes the proc rate out NICELY... you ARE using a longbow, right?)--Mob Choice:  My ranger on Nagafen is L28 right now, and has exactly one legendary item (her bow, Stormfire), regular "good" treasured daggers, and regular "good" treasured equipment in the rest of the slots.  I can solo low green ^^^'s, if that makes you feel any better about the class.  I prefer to exp on high blue no arrow mobs when I solo though.  However, just as important as mob choice is the next facet:--Combat Strategy:  Get a few more levels, you're right on the cusp of all your good bow skills.  Once you have that, your options increase greatly.  Open up with your snaring bowshot, stalk yourself back into stealth and use the sniping shot, get off triple shot if you can.  Root the mob as soon as its in range, back off a few feet and shoot the other bow skills.  Charge back in (or more likely, it'll already be back on you by then), stun it, swing around behind it and use the stealthing lunge + backstab.  Always remember to use your "Aim" series just prior to launching your initial flurry of bow CA's.  The "CA bow flurry" strategy is really only necessary on the hardest mobs though, you will outright kill most blue no arrow mobs with the first 1-3 CA's if you use it.<div></div>--Grouping:  Soloing is great and lends itself to those who need a flexible playstyle, but grouping is where you'll really shine.  Make friends with people near your level who know how to exp correctly (high blue to low yellow ^^^'s is best exp, if they aren't doing that politely find another group).  When grouped you can put out sick DPS with your bow skills and bow autoattack, and mix in some melee CA's (backstabs and DoT ) as well.But for the quick and dirty answer to your troubles: Adept 3's + Current Level Gear + Correct CA Usage = dead mobs.Put Master spells and full Legendary equipment on ANY melee/scout and they'll solo like a freaking champion.  Not everyone has those resources, but scale down your expectations a bit while still making intelligent pursuit of upgrades and you'll do very well.

[BSbon]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> masterfleem wrote:<BR> <DIV><SPAN>I am frustrated on what I have done wrong.  I cannot understand how the game mechanics function for combat engagement.  I have gone to thundering steps at lvl 24 figuring I would be productive there.  The problem is that when I try to complete any quest that contains a mob that is blue or higher I have my butt handed to me!  I am aware that I do not have all my bow type skillz, but I had been using back shot very effectively in the Antonia zone.  Is this how the game is supposed to work?  As you get higher and go into tougher zones you are no longer able to solo?  I picked this class in order to have the ability to be self-sufficient.  The most I can kill is a mob that is lvl21.  I tried a couple of different type of mobs at lvl22 and only once was I able to kill that lvl22 and I was left with 10% health..  I am in no way exaggerating on this either.  I literally was almost DEAD!<img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN>Is this truely the games design?  If not what did I do wrong?  And yes I have made sure to use the new skillz I received at higher levels instead of the old ones I got originally at the earlier levels.  I make sure to clear that old skill form the hotbar too so I don't click on it instead.</SPAN></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>my guess is that this problem has to do with equipment rather than stance or lack of ranged CAs. check your gear for old stuff you got between levels 2-10.

[Storm_Runner]

<P>My ranger is 30 and he rocks at soloing.  I agree with what the others here are telling you.  I'd say your best bet is to check your gear and make sure you've got decent armor.  You can usually get some decent dropped stuff off of the broker.  Also what Bow are you using?  For your level I'd think you'd want to be using Stormfire or a rare crafted longbow.  I've been using imbued rare crafted bows since level 10 and I love them.  Also...even though it only affects auto attack make sure you are using tier appropriate arrows.</P> <P>As far as tactics goes...I had a few issues when I first went into TS.  I knew how to use the CheapShot combo but for some reason it wasn't working (stupid bears).  I usually use Cheapshot then jump over the mob, hit Shrouded Strike, and follow it up with Shadow Lunge.  For a while I could never get the mob to stay stunned and then I saw in here that if the mob has even 1^ that the stun is only 2 seconds.  Once I learned that I was able to adapt.</P> <P>Try the advice given here and don't give up on your ranger yet.  You may find you like the class more than any other.</P><p>Message Edited by Storm_Runner on <span class=date_text>07-20-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:39 AM</span>

[Ranja]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> masterfleem wrote:<BR> <P>That sounds like a battle plan to me.  However I might really want to think about a different class like a wizard which can do actuall damage output to the mobs.  This character seems to be a dead end.  I mean I have no real group buffs in order to be benificial to a group, and cannot really play one at this point without a group, so I don't see why I want to make my suffering go on any longer!:smileyhappy:</P> <P> </P> <P><STRONG>Thank you for your input.  Just did not realize that at the higher levels when mobs get so much health that you need either a realy defensive class or a realy strong offensive class.</STRONG></P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>You dont get much stronger than a Ranger when it comes to solo'ing solo mobs. I cant think of a class that can mow through solo mobs faster than a Ranger. <BR>