Memoirs of a Ranger

[RagingWolf]

<DIV>Hail all rangers of Norrath!  I bring you glad tidings, well at least a gesture of friendship and ideas and even questions of concern.  I am a  70 Ranger, Guild leader of the fine guild, Protector of the Fallen.  </DIV> <DIV>I remember when Rangers used to be extremely fast when melee was our choice of fighting instead of hanging back and shooting arrows.  Are we fast now, yeah its not too bad but I've been reading alot and talking to alot of people.</DIV> <DIV>A major concern of mine is that we don't do enough dps.  We have been nerfed to the point of where we can give some help to raids, with the Snipershot and storm of arrows, but other than that, we are in trouble for anything else.  I realize that every class is going to have its strengths that is going to stand out above every other class, but with us our only strength is shooting arrows, which is just barely enough since our dps has been nerfed.  Why? because of mages complaining about rangers being able to out dps them?  But that should not be held against us rangers, we just want to fit in bring skills to groups that are more useful not only to ourselves but the team aspect.  A question I've always had is, what ranger lives in the wild and doesn't know how to heal themselves?? hehe(old d&d way of thinking). </DIV> <DIV> I think the way programmers have nerfed us is appaulling and almost gets rid of a reason of having rangers in groups and raids.  Instead of nerfing Rangers, now that we do hardly any dps, should we nerf wizards to compensate for our lack of dpsing, or shall we make rangers better in dps, completely overhaul the class to where they can fire arrows on the move again, truly a good archer does not have to be standing still to shoot an arrow.  Maybe have a skill that allows to fire on the move, but have to train it up like tanks have to do with aggression. the higher the level the better the accuracy or chance of hitting target. Maybe adding more dps and stronger arrow attacks, to compete with the opposite class the assassins who have higher damage for their attack.  Or raise us up to a good level where we can do some serious damage, move up the wizards just a little bit because of their magical damage. maybe add exploding arrows, or magic infused arrows or something, along with poison coated arrows, haha maybe have poison arrows that explode that do aoe. </DIV> <DIV>I also would love to have a 70's level armor quest in the new land of faydwer. Although they is already armor you find for drops thats cool, get into a good group like 50 times and you'll possibly get something.  I just want something that you can quest for like maybe a diety quest for armor that has certain attributes on it that favor that God.  I go on alot of Raids when rangers are needed, however hard to get a good drop for fabled armor.  Lets be generous to the rangers and all the other classes.</DIV> <DIV>I don't know those are just some Ideas.  I really like being a ranger, in any game I ever played, I played a ranger .  Why cause they are cool, we live in nature, we use stealth to bring down our prey, our bows are deadly.  I don't think all things are bad, like running at 46%, thats a good thing.  And the fabled armor is nice and green like it should be, rangers look good in it, not the stupid red and black xegonite armor.  </DIV> <DIV>I love playing my ranger, and yes it sounds like whining, but can't fix things if you don't voice your opinion about something first.  Can't enjoy what your meant to do or be if you are kept from being at your potential.  To all my Rangers in Norrath stay positive, maybe they'll hook us up, maybe not, if not we do what we been doing, sticking together.  </DIV> <DIV>~Ragingwolf </DIV> <DIV>70 Ranger</DIV> <DIV>oasis server</DIV>

[TaleraRis]

The last time melee was the choice was fighting was like before level 20 when we weren't all rangers from the start, as far as I knew. I've been ranged-centric since Gwyn finally first got Back Fire.<div></div>

[Ranja]

Read the myriad of threads on this board about DPS. Rangers DPS fine if they have the right items. In a less than hardcore guild, rangers will top the parse more often than not without top items. It is only in hardcore guilds where the disparity between rangers without top bows and the rest become evident. Our EoF AAs have given us quite a bit of DPS back and made us even with our assassin breathern. Since I got the double attack AA I am hitting 1800 on the parse with Grizzles/Raincaller and t7 ammo. I have had highs of 2K. MY gear is so-so. Nemesis bracers, gloves and hat. Mark and DT amulet and Draketooth Hoop. GDoH and DoN and relic BP. Needless, to say , I am happy where I am at with my DPS now - I jst cant wait to get extension so I dont miss so much<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />We can shoot on the run. Auto-attack FTW.<div></div>

[AziBam]

<div><blockquote><hr>bentgate wrote:Read the myriad of threads on this board about DPS. Rangers DPS fine if they have the right items. In a less than hardcore guild, rangers will top the parse more often than not without top items. It is only in hardcore guilds where the disparity between rangers without top bows and the rest become evident. Our EoF AAs have given us quite a bit of DPS back and made us even with our assassin breathern. Since I got the double attack AA I am hitting 1800 on the parse with Grizzles/Raincaller and t7 ammo. I have had highs of 2K. MY gear is so-so. Nemesis bracers, gloves and hat. Mark and DT amulet and Draketooth Hoop. GDoH and DoN and relic BP. Needless, to say , I am happy where I am at with my DPS now - I jst cant wait to get extension so I dont miss so much<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />We can shoot on the run. Auto-attack FTW.<div></div><hr></blockquote>If I could choose any issues to correct, it wouldn't be DPS as that seems to have been corrected but would be arrows and utility.  Rangers seem to be able to DPS on par with most other top classes now but what beyond that do they bring to the table?  No group buffs, heals, hate transfer, etc.   Combine that with their main form of damage coming from a consumable item that needs constant tending and it sucked the life out of the ranger for me.  I admit that I was one of the people who betrayed to assassin after they over-corrected rangers related to procs.  At that time, the combination of lowered dps, no group utility, and arrows drove me away.   Unfortunately, while I know many people love the playstyle of assassins, I just haven't been able to bring myself to enjoy it as much.  So, looking back at the other side of the fence I see improved dps but still a shortage of utility (other than general scout abilities) and still an awful game mechanic for arrows when it comes to rangers.   I'd personally be willing to re-betray if either one of those problems was addressed despite the huge amount of time/money that a betrayal costs.  I know there is a large faction that says forget utility I only want more DPS but I just can't come to agree with that.  Most of the top damage classes dps within a range of each other depending on player skill, masters, group setup, etc.  So, if a ranger gets the same dps as a necro why would you want the ranger on araid?  (Not picking on necro's just using them as an example.)  Necro can rez, heal to some extent, give power, has beneficial group buffs, and still crank out great dps.  Rangers just seem to be lacking in the "whole package" department.  It's unfortunate as the ranger used to be my main but it just stopped being fun.  <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[TerriBlades]

<P>Just to set the record straight, Necros and Conjys have been above the bar for a very long time. They shouldnt ( In my opinion.. for all you clothies ) bring that much utility and that much dps. It just shouldnt happen. However, on longer fights, they should tend to do much better, and if for no other reason, they dont have to spend alot of mana in a fight. So when everyone else goes OOP, they are like the energizer bunnys of raids. Of course in that situation, they should parse better.</P> <P>I have to buy into the theory that at least 1 Dev plays a Necro or a Conjy. </P>

[AziBam]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> TerriBlades wrote:<BR> <P>Just to set the record straight, Necros and Conjys have been above the bar for a very long time. They shouldnt ( In my opinion.. for all you clothies ) bring that much utility and that much dps. It just shouldnt happen. However, on longer fights, they should tend to do much better, and if for no other reason, they dont have to spend alot of mana in a fight. So when everyone else goes OOP, they are like the energizer bunnys of raids. Of course in that situation, they should parse better.</P> <P>I have to buy into the theory that at least 1 Dev plays a Necro or a Conjy. </P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Ok I agree, I did pick a class to use as an example that has utility overflowing from it's ears. I guess my point is that if you take a top 5 list off of just about any parse and look at the classes on it you won't find any class in there with as little group utility as a ranger.  No group stat buffs, no group haste, dps, hate transfer, procs, etc. etc.    Nothing whatsoever that gives an "until cancelled" style of buff or ability to anyone other than the ranger themselves.  Woohoo...rock on rangers are the fastest to rebuff after a wipe.  Erm...wait, maybe that says something.  </P> <P>I see in the other thread that arrows are kinda sorta getting a half of a fix which is something to look forward to in a couple of LUs.  With CAs no longer consuming the arrow it will help some.  So now I guess I have to decide if 1/2 of a fix on arrows is enough to make me swap back over.  :/  Whole lot of spongy and masters to get if that is the case.  Have to weigh in the fun factor though as I just don't get into the Assasin fighting style.  More to ponder I guess.</P>

[TerriBlades]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Dkel wrote: <P><BR>Ok I agree, I did pick a class to use as an example that has utility overflowing from it's ears. I guess my point is that if you take a top 5 list off of just about any parse and look at the classes on it you won't find any class in there with as little group utility as a ranger.  No group stat buffs, no group haste, dps, hate transfer, procs, etc. etc.    Nothing whatsoever that gives an "until cancelled" style of buff or ability to anyone other than the ranger themselves.  Woohoo...rock on rangers are the fastest to rebuff after a wipe.  Erm...wait, maybe that says something.  </P> <P>I see in the other thread that arrows are kinda sorta getting a half of a fix which is something to look forward to in a couple of LUs.  With CAs no longer consuming the arrow it will help some.  So now I guess I have to decide if 1/2 of a fix on arrows is enough to make me swap back over.  :/  Whole lot of spongy and masters to get if that is the case.  Have to weigh in the fun factor though as I just don't get into the Assasin fighting style.  More to ponder I guess.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Im not real clear how you can call it 1/2 fixed. It looks like its getting fixed all the way around. If only autoattacks consume arrows and on the average, with 100% haste on a 7s delay bow, you'll fire 1 arrow, every 3.5s. Or roughly 17 arrows a minute. 170 every 10 mins (if its not stop fighting). While it may not completely emilinate the need to buy arrows, its certainly going to cut down on the amount we would otherwise have t buy. </P> <P>And just to set the record straight, we do have 1 buff that lasts until cancelled, thats availible to everyone else in the group as a buff. Its useless, but we do have one.<BR></P>

[RagingWolf]

<DIV>What puff is that besides pathfinding, which I do believe is one of the better abilities now running at 46%.  That is nice cause those in your group that do not have horses are able to run at same speed even faster then most horses.  Dang I wish I would have known that before I got my mistrunner, such a waste of money, oh well.</DIV>