What are these like later on?

[Kytes]

Hi. Quick question: What are rangers like later on, in raids and other grouping events? Atm I'm finding it a bit hard to solo and I hardly ever use my bow, which is quite strange. - Thanks <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Siclone]

<p>well a "well played" ranger can top the DPS charts on raids......thats the good news</p><p>the bad is</p><p>you need a fabled bow to do it</p><p>most rangers are not well played</p><p>you can't solo that well compared to other classes</p><p>there really is no overall need for a predator in a raid, They provide nothing but DPS, where as, other classes that can match or come close to your DPS,  provide other things that Raids like and need.</p>

[Andok]

As you raise levels, you’ll get more and more ranged CAs and you’ll live by the damage you pump out of your bow.  Personally, I don’t like soloing because it really lowers my DPS compared to how much I can dish out in a group.  Still, I solo at times, and I find it more difficult than other classes.  Two things that have helped me solo much better were getting the end ability in the AGI tree and doing the Raincaller HQ, so I highly recommend both when you get higher level.

[Elephanton]

<p>Siclone wrote: </p><blockquote><p>there really is no overall need for a predator in a raid, They provide nothing but DPS, where as, other classes that can match or come close to your DPS,  provide other things that Raids like and need.</p></blockquote><p>You are not right here. Rangers do have nice debuffs... of course there are other classes that have better debuffs, but they don't get as much DPS as we do.</p><ul><li>2000+ heat debuff</li><li>46 defense debuff (-9 levels)</li><li>60 parry debuff (-12 levels)</li><li>60 deflection debuff (-12 levels)</li><li>Debuffs from poison (quite nice with rare poisons)</li><li>Two very nice debuffs from KOS INT AA (Poison Combination and Intoxication) : thanks Gareorn</li></ul><p>That's pretty awesome if you ask me... so rangers don't bring just T1 DPS to the raid, we are definitely a capable debuffing class and our debuffs can mean a lot against yellow/orange con epics.</p><p>As for other raid utilities, I would also mention the trick shot line, and hawk dive.</p>

[Gareorn]

<p>And don't forget the Intoxication debuff!  It's very nice and it lasts 48 seconds.</p><p>Plus if anyone has ever had to raid without the hate transfer that an Assassin or Swashie brings, they know how important that at least one predator (Assassin) can be to a raid force.</p>

[gfx]

<cite>Siclone wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>you can't solo that well compared to other classes</p></blockquote>eh .. wh .. what ? If you think you're right here, then you need to learn how to play your class. If you master kiting, you WILL be able to solo very very well. I've taken down Green, Blue, even White ^^^'s.

[EomerFarst]

<cite>ElephantonRU wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Siclone wrote: </p><blockquote><p>there really is no overall need for a predator in a raid, They provide nothing but DPS, where as, other classes that can match or come close to your DPS,  provide other things that Raids like and need.</p></blockquote><p>You are not right here. Rangers do have nice debuffs... of course there are other classes that have better debuffs, but they don't get as much DPS as we do.</p><ul><li>2000+ heat debuff</li><li>46 defense debuff (-9 levels)</li><li>60 parry debuff (-12 levels)</li><li>60 deflection debuff (-12 levels)</li><li>Debuffs from poison (quite nice with rare poisons)</li><li>Two very nice debuffs from KOS INT AA (Poison Combination and Intoxication) : thanks Gareorn</li></ul><p>That's pretty awesome if you ask me... so rangers don't bring just T1 DPS to the raid, we are definitely a capable debuffing class and our debuffs can mean a lot against yellow/orange con epics.</p><p>As for other raid utilities, I would also mention the trick shot line, and hawk dive.</p></blockquote>How exactly does our defence debuff work ? It's something i've not fully read up on <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[TeflonS7]

Not really sure what you mean by how does the defense debuff work.  At lvl 70 it's called Cover Fire, lasts for 36 secs and reduces the mobs defense by 46.  This affects its general ability to take hits.  Also, you in no way NEED to have a fabled bow to top dps parse.  I don't currently have one (aside from Raincaller) and I actually happen to favor a Treasured one atm - Ghostly Bow of Bylze.  Your group make-up makes a WORLD of difference.  Properly played, you will do big dps even w/o a fabled bow.  Also, I think we're one of the better classes to solo.  We have several stuns, roots, and snares, all of which I make use of while soloing.  I love soloing on my ranger; it keeps things interesting, not boring like root-nuke-root-nuke-ad nauseum. 

[Juniette]

Vinasaar@Nagafen wrote: <blockquote><cite>Siclone wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>you can't solo that well compared to other classes</p></blockquote>eh .. wh .. what ? If you think you're right here, then you need to learn how to play your class. If you master kiting, you WILL be able to solo very very well. I've taken down Green, Blue, even White ^^^'s. </blockquote><p>I agree; it does take learning your class and what combinations of buttons you need to push in order to solo.</p><p>I was never into kiting (warrior mentality from EQ1), but I soloed most of my way up to 65. I never found it difficult, even now its easier with 2 stuns -- Cheap Shot & Point Blank Shot (AP)-- & the root CA. With the combo of one root or either stun you have enough time to hop around or move, sneak whatever, stabby, poke, plink...</p><p>About the debuffs, since Rangers are great on raids, <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> don't forget the level 20 Splitpaw spell [Trick of the Hunter] -- 48% Snare & 1155 magic debuff</p>

[Mohawk876]

Wow! Interesting insights here. I disagree about there being no "overall need" for predators in Raids. In fact, 80% of the raids I've been on have 2 Rangers and at least one Assassin, maybe 2 (the Assassin can be a make-or-break a raid, IMO), and make it in the top 5 DPS always. When our predators volunteer to stand down for others, we are politely declined. We also have the safest T1 DPS with our static deagro (Primal Agility) and so many freakishly effective deagros that if a Ranger pulls agro, some schooling may be required. This deagro ability makes us very effective situational pullers, as well. To echo Juniette: Trick of the Hunter is my mainstay. I almost never use Vines anymore. Our debuffs are relevant and compliment other classes' debuff ability well. TeflonS7 is absolutely right about group makeup, though. I can become T3 dps in the blink of an eye... __________________________________________________ _________________________________________ As far as soloing goes, I find we are very situational: Outdoor zones? No problem. I kite blue ^^^ and pick up more blue ^^^ adds along the way. Raincaller is an absolute blessing when doing this, and this is where Trick of the Hunter comes in play. Good primary snare, can be cast on the run and helps Raincaller proc much more frequently. Done right (and with some luck), many mobs can be stun locked in combo with our previously mentioned stun CAs. This goes for groups of mobs too, as Selection can be cast on the run, and along with traps, we become the open-space soloing Idols. Indoor zones? Not so much. Big open spaces in dungeons are rare, and even with our very good defensive stance, and Defense EoF AA penalty remover, as well as cure potions, I suck at dungeon soloing. I sometimes get owned by green ^^^. Maybe I am a [Removed for Content], but I think this was intended, and fits in taken in a RP aspect. __________________________________________________ _________________________________________ To address one of the OP's concerns: You haven't indicated your level, but at around 30, we become much more bow-dependant for our potential DPS.

[gfx]

I have no problem with soloing the first 6-8 nameds in SoS. Leg Shot m2 (level 42 CA) helps alot. I don't use raincaller, but I do use stupefying poison. Procs quite alot...