Ranged weapons/tradeskill questions

[Hero0fGods]

Ok, this is a 2 in one question. I am fairly new to the game, and was just wondering somethin'.1) When you have a character with a ranged weapon, (Paladin, Guardian, etc.) is it critical that you lvl that up all the way? I am not too big on ranged weapons for other than pulling a monster or something2) Is it also critical that you skill up every gathering skill, (Gathering, fishing, foresting, etc.) every lvl?

[kaokhaai]

1) If it's only for pulling you shouldn't worry IMO. The mob *should* agro even if you miss. 2) Only those that you need for your profession really, but harvesting for rares is a good way to make money. So it might not be a bad idea to keep all the harvesting skills topped up, and harvest everything you come across unless you're in a hurry.

[Caleanne]

<p>This is just personal opinion, but unless I'm using a class that uses ranged combat arts I don't worry about maxing ranged. As for harvesting, the positive to maxing harvesting is that you no longer receive "Nothing Found." This makes harvesting a bit quicker as you're not trying multiple times to harvest a node that you could get in 3 shots. But it will not hurt if you wanted to wait a few levels between harvesting. Also remember that as you level your crafting, your max harvesting raises as well; 5 per level. So if you choose to harvest a higher tier at a lower adventuring level you just need the appropriate crafting level.</p>

[Spyderbite]

I keep my ranged skill just high enough that I hit pretty reliably on the first throw (I use daggers) so that I get the imbue effect and/or my target poisoned. And, like you, its basically to draw in a mob. In PvP I toss daggers when I can't out run somebody that's trying to get away.I'm a bit biased when it comes to harvesting cause that's my main trade. So I max out all the skills except fishing the first opportunity I get so that I can immediately move on to higher tiered zones as soon as I can. By the way it doesn't take very long to get those skills maxed out. Perhaps a half hour of harvesting in an area with a fast spawn.

[Lightfoot]

There is another minor thing as well.  There are a few quests that require you to harvest certain nodes and if your harvesting skills are not high enough for that area you won't be able to complete the quest. <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[kaokhaai]

For some of those quests you can buy what you need from the broker (like the wild apples in zek, for instance). Other times you just have to harvest x number of times to get a quest update though.

[TniEradani]

<p>I'm a firm believer in keeping all my skills maxed out at all times - yes even fishing.</p><p>Can't remember which class atm, but one class I played used Ordination skill for an attack.</p><p>If you max out your skills at every level, it's much faster than waiting to do it. There's some algorithm based on how difficult it is to learn depending on how much you have to learn.</p><p>For example: on the island, I used to put mats into the shared bank, tradeskill up to lvl 9, and then max out my harvesting skills in no time at all. A couple of months ago, this was changed so that if you waited till you were 5/45, skill ups are few and far between.</p><p>Now I just bite the zoning bullet and harvest till I've got about 5 frog leg's, sunfish, and coffee beans; go down to tradeskill and make the 3 food items for lvl 4; max out all my harvesting skills; tradeskill a couple more levels; rinse and repeat.</p><p>OR if I'm doing the newb island quests, I just stop and harvest 1/2 nodes of each type every time I lvl up and my harvesting skills stay maxed till I'm ready to hit the cellars.</p>

[Finora]

<cite>Hero0fGods wrote:</cite><blockquote>Ok, this is a 2 in one question. I am fairly new to the game, and was just wondering somethin'.1) When you have a character with a ranged weapon, (Paladin, Guardian, etc.) is it critical that you lvl that up all the way? I am not too big on ranged weapons for other than pulling a monster or something2) Is it also critical that you skill up every gathering skill, (Gathering, fishing, foresting, etc.) every lvl?</blockquote><p>1) It isn't hugely critical unless you have ranged attacks (some scout classes, I can't think of any others that have ranged specific attacks). I've not really tried to raise it on my berserker, but once I got into the 20s, even just using it for pulling it doesn't lag that far behind my cap. </p><p>2) This one is more important to me, but I am an avid tradeskiller and actually enjoy harvesting. It is up to you though. If you plan to pursue a trade then I highly suggest keeping your skills capped at least for the nodes you will regularly be harvesting to get raws. Otherwise, as someone else said, harvesting can be a good money maker. Some raws themselves sell very well and then there are the rares which can either be used by you to get some better gear made or sold for a profit.</p>

[Lightfoot]

<cite>kaokhaai wrote:</cite><blockquote>For some of those quests you can buy what you need from the broker (like the wild apples in zek, for instance). Other times you just have to harvest x number of times to get a quest update though.</blockquote><p>Call me scrooge if you like, but why pay for them if it only takes a few minutes to harvest them (providing you've got your harvesting skills leveled up for the area). <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p><p>Nothing goes to waste for me because I've got 9 crafters.</p>

[Hero0fGods]

OK, awesome, thanks for the help guys. I was just wondering one more thing. Does anyone know which classes have range specific attacks that have to be skilled up, or is there a website I can check stuff like that? Thanks

[DrkVsr]

<span style="font-size: medium;color: #993300;font-family: comic sans ms,sand;">That will be the scouts (it was only sometime this year that mah Pally was even able to equip, and use, a bow)</span>