Gneen
06-21-2005, 07:25 AM
<DIV>The "short" guide to solo kiting. The excellent long guide by Rian18 may be found at <BR><A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=39&message.id=7881" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=39&message.id=7881</A></DIV> <DIV>and it covers the very basic stuff and the very advanced stuff much better than THIS post.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Kiting really gets to be fun in the low 30s ... only way for a ranger to solo. Hope these tips</DIV> <DIV>will encourage you to give it a try ... or to work at it to achieve kiting perfection!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. Use poison. Get the best store-bought purple poison and keep it active.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2. Buy the best imbued crafted bow you can use (or afford).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3. Never go out without less than 1000 arrows ... either summoned or tin.</DIV> <DIV> And summon at every opportunity (Makeshift Adept one is a necessity)</DIV> <DIV> (this means you'll need to dedicate some "pack-space" for your spares)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4. Upgrade all the skills you use to Adept one (at least)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5. Don't get hit. Repeat: don't get hit. Repeat: don't get hit. You'll be fighting</DIV> <DIV> mobs that are higher level than you and can probably mash your head</DIV> <DIV> until it hurts very badly. So. Don't get hit.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6. Buff up to taste - anything that makes you faster or more accurate</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>7. Start the battle from afar with a couple of specials that can only be<BR> used when you are stationary as many as you can manage before</DIV> <DIV> the mob gets close ... start backing up as soon as the last one fires ... </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>8. Next up - a special that will slow the target as you lead him to your</DIV> <DIV> pre-scouted kiting area ... </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>9. Switch from melee to ranged attack </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>10. Next up - spam the specials you can use while you are moving while<BR> you're running in a circle ... don't get hit! Rinse and repeat as fast as</DIV> <DIV> the timers will allow and slow your opponent whenever you can.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>11. Know your opponent - casters are kiter-killers ... pick on the mobs<BR> that like hand-to-hand and never let them hit you. Any opponent with<BR> ranged attacks is one best handled with friends.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>12. Scout the area before you begin ... be sure there is a clear area where<BR> you can lead your prey for the "circling" ... know what wandering mobs<BR> might do and how to avoid their paths ... unexpected adds can be painful</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>13. Have an escape route planned - and don't be shy about yelling for help<BR> and taking that route at full speed. Make sure you have enough power<BR> left for a short sprint and then keep going until you lose them. You<BR> will live to kill them the next time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>14. The ESCAPE skill is your friend - but you will be fighting mostly orange<BR> mobs out in the wild by yourself and ESCAPE means a long run unless you<BR> are done for the night. Yell for help and run ... don't be embarrassed and </DIV> <DIV> live to fight another day.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>15. If you're fighting against a group, use the tab to switch between them<BR> every now and then ... keep the poison going on each ... objective is<BR> to have them all die at the same time and to keep your target on the<BR> healthiest one (if yor target dies, it is harder to keep rhythm with<BR> your movements - so let the poison kill them when they are NOT tagetted).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>16a. Watch your ammo supply - replenish as necessary during long battles (there<BR> is a nice little "ammo supply" add-on if you're into that sort of thing:<BR> <A href="http://www.eq2interface.com/downloads/fileinfo.php?id=3397" target=_blank>http://www.eq2interface.com/downloads/fileinfo.php?id=3397</A><BR> Keep an arrow inventory widow up and double-click on an arrow stack if low.</DIV> <DIV><BR>16b. Watch out for your poisons dropping ... if they drop in the middle of a<BR> tough battle then get outta there - battles are a LOT harder without poison.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>17. Back off your "view" as far as possible ... bumping into things can be<BR> fatal and you want to watch for trees/rocks/whatever as well as adds.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>18. PRACTICE ... this isn't all that easy but the rewards are great for <BR> those that love to follow. You'll find shortcuts for running in circles<BR> while facing your target in full battle mode ... experiment with your<BR> mouse and keyboard settings until you can fly that kite in your sleep.<BR> See if you can fight a group of blues without getting hit before you<BR> start tackling anything more difficult.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>19. Set up your hot-keys for the specials that you'll use ... I navigate with<BR> the keyboard exclusively and mash the specials with my mouse ... all a<BR> matter of personal taste, but you'll need to keep moving and at the same<BR> time keep spamming your specials ... and depending on the battle you may<BR> be doing this for several minutes per battle.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>20. Power. Power is more valuable to a kiter than health - because you are<BR> NOT going to get hit and need the power for your specials. Food and drink<BR> will help you recover faster beteween battles, but kiting is a real-world<BR> physical exercise and I enjoy the rest between battles.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I discovered kiting in my late 20s ... after makeshift arrow it became my exclusive<BR>mode of battle and really kept my interest from waning because I could complete<BR>quests myself - even those up-arrow guys at the end. Many more subleties of the<BR>art are in Rian18's excellent post reference above. Enjoy the art and revel in<BR>the "rangerness" of kiting!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>=Gneen (Leaver of Shards on AB and proud Saga member)</DIV>