What level do rangers actually use a bow?

[Shrew]

<div></div>I have a very low level ranger... like lvl 8... he doesn't seem fun at all. My paladin is fun, my monk is fun, the wizard is sort of fun, but ranger just seems to massively suck and not be a ranger at all.When do they get really range soloable, and when do they get enough ranged abilities that you can use to burn down from range?Specifically, at these levels I do more damage 90% oif the time melee than I ever do with a bow... why even use a bow then... and hence it is all melee, why even play this class then when a monk or paladin is funner at melee ????I want to play an archer... this isn't one.<div></div><p>Message Edited by Shrewd1 on <span class=date_text>08-05-2006</span> <span class=time_text>02:53 PM</span>

[Drainlo]

<P>the higher you get in lvl the more bow shots you will have.  Tho i agree lots n lots of melee if you are solo. at lvl 13 you will get a 4second root.....then you can root and run away and shoot a shot off or two.....also at lvl 52 you get thorny trap, which will root for mobs for a lil bit so you can shoot away.</P> <P>Play what you enjoy!     i agree that monks are very fun <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[jago quicksilver]

at level 20ish i started to use my bow alot, and it starts to pick up alot at around 25-30.when soloing you have to melee quite a bit more, but even in groups when all your ranged combat arts are down you will wanna run in and melee. there is a few high damage melee attacks that i always use when they are up no matter what.

[TaleraRis]

I think since the change to let you be a ranger from the getgo, you should have low level versions of your ranged spells. Some lines you don't get till later on, but you can always use your bow to pull and to get some auto attack damage in after you smack them with Cheap Shot. <div></div>

[TaleraRis]

<blockquote><hr>jago quicksilver wrote:when soloing you have to melee quite a bit more<hr></blockquote>Not nearly as much as you think, given our root line and Cheap Shot. I used to melee a lot before the Lunge line was given a root, out of necessity. I barely melee now, mostly as a cleanup move once the mob has gotten to my feet and is almost dying. Oh! To the OP. Make sure you are using poisons. If not, you're killing yourself in the amount of DPS you can do. <div></div>

[Judist]

<P>When you solo in the medium to high levels you do alot of damage pulling mobs with your bow, but you'll almost always finish them off melee. Expecially fighting grouped mobs.</P> <P>A ranger only truely shines in a group where you have the freedom to stand back and do what Rangers do best, filling bodies with arrows.</P><p>Message Edited by BeatinGuts on <span class=date_text>08-05-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:42 PM</span>

[Selpone]

I use my bow often, even when soloing.  Slowing them down with your snare, then stunning them will give you enough distance to toss off a few arrow skills.  Also, the time it takes for the enemy to get to you is letting your skills cycle back up.  It's a bit slower combat, but with my style of play, it makes killing tough stuff easy.  Seconds count, in my opinion.

[Thumatos]

<DIV>i have been  having alot of fun with my lowbie ranger.   Start with backshot then double,  alot of times mob get to me with less than 50% health.  i then enable heroic cheap shot, take one step so im behind him, use the attack that puts me in stealth at the end and finish him off with one of the other 2 stealth attacks i got., ( sorry forget names atm  but  you have em too by now )   Im only 14 atm .  and was doingthis at 8.  ya sometimes he parries or i dont get it just right,  but i have been taking yellows this way.   Make sure you have a good bow, even a alder one is better than elm.   and bone is best at 12.  If your a newbie and on oasis.  send a tell to forestglade or better , mail me and ill try to help you with a alder if you cant do it.  ( they are easy to harvest though ) </DIV>

[Saihung23]

<P>Hiya Shrewd <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P> </P> <P>I just wanted to chime in...at level 8 you really arent a ranger...I dont care what it said on the character select screen...</P> <P>You are a scout, as a scout, you have limited ranged attacks as you are really learning the stealth attacks and melee portion of your skills.</P> <P>At level 10 and up you will start to see more and more ranged attacks as you go through the predator portion of your life (level 10-19). This is what they originally had people going through with the subclasses...all they really did is take away the titles of scout and predator...but you really arent a ranger yet.</P> <P>My suggestions for low level rangering:</P> <P>Keep your dual wield weapons up to date...use one piercing one slashing...</P> <P>Pull with your bow for a couple of reasons. 1) To keep your ranged skill going up. 2) You need every little bit of damage in as you can get.  Hell...kite the mob a little if you can...run in circles with ranged attack going off..use your snare ca to keep some distance...then move in for melee when they get down in hp's.</P> <P>Get your stealth attacks in during the melee part and use your HO's at every opportunity.  HO's are your friendly boost in damage every now and then.    </P> <P>Also, agility may give you power, but strength gives you extra damage.   Forego stat bonus' like Stamina and Wisdom...Take Strength and Agility or Intelligence.</P> <P>Good Luck and Happy Hunting.</P>

[Teksun]

Good posts guys... I have been a little upset by them calling the level 1 toons rangers... if that's the case, they need to make at least ONE pre-ten CA a bow shot... maybe even two. I'm not even 100% sure there isn't, but it seems like it.<div></div>

[Thumatos]

<DIV>they  do got two i think.   backshot or fire i believe and double.     </DIV>