Another newbie question regarding class choice : Swashy or Ranger ?

Springgan7 · 06-07-2006, 08:58 PM

Greetings, dear swashies: I'd played EQ2 for a while a year before, and quit playing OLG soon for personal issue, but now I am back to the world of Norrath. I found the world has changed a lot since I left, and I need your wisdom and advice for choosing my class in this new life of adventure. Simply put, I love scout classes, but I am not good at controling my char. For hitting the hotkey and moving around at the same time will be quite hard for someone as dumb as me. I need to ask, which class of the two is easier to play ? Which class requires more postion moving or maneuvering ? And I also wish to know which is easier to survive if I have to solo a lot ? Or should I just give up and play Conjuror ? I do like the swashy though ....and the pets are so ugly .. I really wish to stay focus on only one char, so this is an important decision for me to make. I post it here because emotionally I like swashy better, but I just need to know ........... Thank you all for your time.

Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:30 AM

Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:41 AM

Fait · 06-07-2006, 10:35 PM

My personal oppinion on this...first let me say that you have an interesting dilemma hehe. I have currently a swashy and have played a ranger but gave it up for the swashy. I believe that the swashy is better for soloing more then one mob at a time but combat for a swashy requires alot of repositioning and moving. The ranger can usually drop or seriously damage most single mobs from a great distance with thier bows. In many cases the mob would not ever reach my ranger and there is alot to be said for watching your enemy fall to the ground dead half a football field away from you while you lean back and dust your nails. Groups of three or more enemies can be much more difficult for a ranger and in melee combat the ranger must position and reposition themselves as well.

I guess it is a catch 22. Both have decent survivability and can wear decent armor. Soloing will certainly raise your avoidance in either case. The ranger was fun but the swashy is truely a blast to play. Should you decide to make a swashy i recommend taking the swathe line of spin attacks and the standard spin attacks at master level. If you can do this it will allow you to drop multiple enemies in seconds. This is especially true if you start with the 3 rear/stealth attacks followed by an HO starting with dirty tricks then the swathe spin attack to complete it and then the standard spin. An effective combination indeed.

Good luck with what ever you choose SMILEY

Shiverr · 06-07-2006, 11:50 PM

Go ranger. You'll never regret it.

Raveller · 06-08-2006, 06:21 AM

Springgan777 wrote:

Greetings, dear swashies: I'd played EQ2 for a while a year before, and quit playing OLG soon for personal issue, but now I am back to the world of Norrath. I found the world has changed a lot since I left, and I need your wisdom and advice for choosing my class in this new life of adventure. Simply put, I love scout classes, but I am not good at controling my char. For hitting the hotkey and moving around at the same time will be quite hard for someone as dumb as me. Playing any of the scout classes (well, maybe except the bards) means always paying attention and doing your best to adapt to every combat encounter as it progresses. I need to ask, which class of the two is easier to play ? Which class requires more postion moving or maneuvering ? Rangers have more positional combat arts than Swashbucklers. And I also wish to know which is easier to survive if I have to solo a lot ? Or should I just give up and play Conjuror ? I do like the swashy though ....and the pets are so ugly .. I really wish to stay focus on only one char, so this is an important decision for me to make. I post it here because emotionally I like swashy better, but I just need to know ........... Thank you all for your time.

Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:30 AM
Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:41 AM

Message Edited by Raveller on 06-07-2006 07:22 PM

Teksun · 06-09-2006, 07:05 PM

I have a 70 Ranger, 30 Swashy. Rangers move a lot more, they have to move out to range, close to melee, and look for the 'sweet spot' where you can actually do both. They solo well, being able to drop mobs before melee, and can handle groups with if they are prepared. Swashies have to be behind the target for a few hits and in front for only one hit. They have a few group attacks (more, more versatile than Rangers), and more 'crowd control'. If they get jumped towards the end of a fight, they have a MUCH higher survivability rate. I have rarely grouped with my Swashy but when I do he is a LOT of fun

Belizarius · 06-12-2006, 05:42 AM

I think swashies are a more interesting class, but in groups, I think you will find Rangers easier to play.

Soloing it's going to be a tough call either way, if your keyboard dexterity is not very high.

If you expect to solo a lot you may be better off with a summoner class.

Tarya · 06-12-2006, 12:15 PM

If you have hard time positioning yourself in fight - ask your tank to turn the mobs... if their backs are against you in the first place you can start hitting right away and no need to go behind or side etc. Some tanks don't turn - one explanation that I heard was that they've grouped with scouts that move very swiftly behind the mob. Well I think they should turn even because of the frontal AE - to protect the mages and healers, not just because of the scouts.

SageGaspar · 06-13-2006, 02:52 PM

Tarya wrote:If you have hard time positioning yourself in fight - ask your tank to turn the mobs... if their backs are against you in the first place you can start hitting right away and no need to go behind or side etc. Some tanks don't turn - one explanation that I heard was that they've grouped with scouts that move very swiftly behind the mob. Well I think they should turn even because of the frontal AE - to protect the mages and healers, not just because of the scouts.

Yep, tanks should always turn. Even if it's not necessary a lot of times at low levels, groups will appreciate those times that it is and it's great practice for high levels. Scouts that are used to moving behind a mob before it's turned should learn to adjust to this as well. Plus you have a class like a ranger that has a ranged CA from the back, you don't want them to have to run 30 meters down the hallway past the tank through aggro to get it off.A good tank will present the back of the mobs to you and then stay still unless a target gets its back stuck in the wall, aggro loss, incoming add, something like that. Even better tanks can choose targets and subtly adjust themselves midway through a fight to make it easier for the scouts to hop onto the next target as well. The important thing is that the scouts and the tank aren't playing that back and forth game where they both keep trying to adjust for the other one and it takes fifteen seconds to get positioning sorted out. Rule of thumb is that tank is the one that adjusts their position on the pull, scouts adjust their position during battle (though the tank can meet them midway like I said before).

shadowfell_ · 06-13-2006, 03:37 PM

Roll a ranger.......they pwn.

06-07-2006, 11:50 PM	#3
Shiverr Loremaster Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 282	Go ranger. You'll never regret it. __________________ Tanx and Scouts

06-08-2006, 06:21 AM	#4
Raveller Loremaster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 483	Springgan777 wrote: Greetings, dear swashies: I'd played EQ2 for a while a year before, and quit playing OLG soon for personal issue, but now I am back to the world of Norrath. I found the world has changed a lot since I left, and I need your wisdom and advice for choosing my class in this new life of adventure. Simply put, I love scout classes, but I am not good at controling my char. For hitting the hotkey and moving around at the same time will be quite hard for someone as dumb as me. Playing any of the scout classes (well, maybe except the bards) means always paying attention and doing your best to adapt to every combat encounter as it progresses. I need to ask, which class of the two is easier to play ? Which class requires more postion moving or maneuvering ? Rangers have more positional combat arts than Swashbucklers. And I also wish to know which is easier to survive if I have to solo a lot ? Or should I just give up and play Conjuror ? I do like the swashy though ....and the pets are so ugly .. I really wish to stay focus on only one char, so this is an important decision for me to make. I post it here because emotionally I like swashy better, but I just need to know ........... Thank you all for your time. Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:30 AM Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:41 AM Message Edited by Raveller on 06-07-2006 07:22 PM

06-09-2006, 07:05 PM	#5
Teksun Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,048	I have a 70 Ranger, 30 Swashy. Rangers move a lot more, they have to move out to range, close to melee, and look for the 'sweet spot' where you can actually do both. They solo well, being able to drop mobs before melee, and can handle groups with if they are prepared. Swashies have to be behind the target for a few hits and in front for only one hit. They have a few group attacks (more, more versatile than Rangers), and more 'crowd control'. If they get jumped towards the end of a fight, they have a MUCH higher survivability rate. I have rarely grouped with my Swashy but when I do he is a LOT of fun __________________ Nerf the Hobbits

06-12-2006, 12:15 PM	#7
Tarya Loremaster Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 91	If you have hard time positioning yourself in fight - ask your tank to turn the mobs... if their backs are against you in the first place you can start hitting right away and no need to go behind or side etc. Some tanks don't turn - one explanation that I heard was that they've grouped with scouts that move very swiftly behind the mob. Well I think they should turn even because of the frontal AE - to protect the mages and healers, not just because of the scouts. __________________ Moonbell lvl 70 Swashbuckler/Carpenter Iriwen lvl 70 Warden, lvl 60 Tailor Infinity on Lucan deLere

06-13-2006, 03:37 PM	#9
shadowfell_ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 22	Roll a ranger.......they pwn. __________________

06-07-2006, 08:58 PM	#1
Springgan7 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7	Greetings, dear swashies: I'd played EQ2 for a while a year before, and quit playing OLG soon for personal issue, but now I am back to the world of Norrath. I found the world has changed a lot since I left, and I need your wisdom and advice for choosing my class in this new life of adventure. Simply put, I love scout classes, but I am not good at controling my char. For hitting the hotkey and moving around at the same time will be quite hard for someone as dumb as me. I need to ask, which class of the two is easier to play ? Which class requires more postion moving or maneuvering ? And I also wish to know which is easier to survive if I have to solo a lot ? Or should I just give up and play Conjuror ? I do like the swashy though ....and the pets are so ugly .. I really wish to stay focus on only one char, so this is an important decision for me to make. I post it here because emotionally I like swashy better, but I just need to know ........... Thank you all for your time. Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:30 AM Message Edited by Springgan777 on 06-07-2006 10:41 AM

06-07-2006, 10:35 PM	#2
Fait Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 14	My personal oppinion on this...first let me say that you have an interesting dilemma hehe. I have currently a swashy and have played a ranger but gave it up for the swashy. I believe that the swashy is better for soloing more then one mob at a time but combat for a swashy requires alot of repositioning and moving. The ranger can usually drop or seriously damage most single mobs from a great distance with thier bows. In many cases the mob would not ever reach my ranger and there is alot to be said for watching your enemy fall to the ground dead half a football field away from you while you lean back and dust your nails. Groups of three or more enemies can be much more difficult for a ranger and in melee combat the ranger must position and reposition themselves as well. I guess it is a catch 22. Both have decent survivability and can wear decent armor. Soloing will certainly raise your avoidance in either case. The ranger was fun but the swashy is truely a blast to play. Should you decide to make a swashy i recommend taking the swathe line of spin attacks and the standard spin attacks at master level. If you can do this it will allow you to drop multiple enemies in seconds. This is especially true if you start with the 3 rear/stealth attacks followed by an HO starting with dirty tricks then the swathe spin attack to complete it and then the standard spin. An effective combination indeed. Good luck with what ever you choose

06-12-2006, 05:42 AM	#6
Belizarius Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 407	I think swashies are a more interesting class, but in groups, I think you will find Rangers easier to play. Soloing it's going to be a tough call either way, if your keyboard dexterity is not very high. If you expect to solo a lot you may be better off with a summoner class.

06-13-2006, 02:52 PM	#8
SageGaspar Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 964	Tarya wrote:If you have hard time positioning yourself in fight - ask your tank to turn the mobs... if their backs are against you in the first place you can start hitting right away and no need to go behind or side etc. Some tanks don't turn - one explanation that I heard was that they've grouped with scouts that move very swiftly behind the mob. Well I think they should turn even because of the frontal AE - to protect the mages and healers, not just because of the scouts. Yep, tanks should always turn. Even if it's not necessary a lot of times at low levels, groups will appreciate those times that it is and it's great practice for high levels. Scouts that are used to moving behind a mob before it's turned should learn to adjust to this as well. Plus you have a class like a ranger that has a ranged CA from the back, you don't want them to have to run 30 meters down the hallway past the tank through aggro to get it off.A good tank will present the back of the mobs to you and then stay still unless a target gets its back stuck in the wall, aggro loss, incoming add, something like that. Even better tanks can choose targets and subtly adjust themselves midway through a fight to make it easier for the scouts to hop onto the next target as well. The important thing is that the scouts and the tank aren't playing that back and forth game where they both keep trying to adjust for the other one and it takes fifteen seconds to get positioning sorted out. Rule of thumb is that tank is the one that adjusts their position on the pull, scouts adjust their position during battle (though the tank can meet them midway like I said before).