Ranger numbers falling?

USAFJeeper · 07-02-2006, 10:19 AM

A while back for the amusement of my guild I used the site www.eq2census.com to crunch a few mumbers to see the "health" of classes. On the Blackburrow server... To noones surprise we had too many level 70 rangers SMILEY

at 56 and way too many level 70 wizards at 98 (the broken class)! Coercers were low at 20 active level 70s. Since i did this exercise in silliness we had a couple of live updates.

The numbers of almost all classes has risen as you would expect (more people leveling and dinging) but, the number of "active" rangers dropped from 56 to 34 on Blackburrow! I know at least one new active ranger is there cause he is in my guild! So, are we no longer the FOTM and can we get back to rangering! Wizards at level 70 increased to 133. Summoners all increased as did assassins (passed up active rangers now) and the poor coercers went from 20 to 34 active.

These numbers are not bulletproof, only reflect the Blackburrow server and are merely for fun, just an exercise no more. EQ2census drops those below 20 and only counts active rangers - logged on recently so your MMV!

Enjoy!

SnakeMalo · 07-02-2006, 07:08 PM

I personally dont mind being a non-popular class such as the Ranger. Everyone chose the class they want to play for a reason, some people go where the money is, some people go where the fun is, some people jump ship at the first sign of change(nerf for those who actually use the word) but those of us who really appreciate the class stick with it.

I play what I play and I do it well. It just makes getting masters and items that much easier, makes me more sought out for rounding out group dps, and just makes me want to play more when I see "LF1M for RE, DPS NEEDED" more times in the chat then I can count. I have no problems with it whatsoever,

Oh and those who turned assassins recently, go suck on a dwarves toe SMILEY

Balerius · 07-02-2006, 08:30 PM

If active ranger numbers are falling....good.

One of the things some people often get confused about is the whole notion of all classes being viable. Clearly SoE has an interest in maintaining the viability of every class. From a business point of view, that's NOT the same thing, however, as maintaining class balance.

From a business point of view, SOE wants to ensure that there is a compelling reason for people to want to play every class. So they will focus their energies on making less attractive classes more desireable for players. That's really what the recent enchanter changes were all about. The opposite also holds true. So, for example, if people will play a ranger because they like using bows irrespective of the class's dps shortfalls, then there is no reason for SoE to devote any developer resources to correct the dps balance problem.

So hooray if players are leaving the class. If enough do, perhaps SoE will get around to fixing our dps problems (assuming they have any valid way of measuring dps in raid environments in the first place).

Gareorn · 07-02-2006, 10:38 PM

I'm with Balerius on this one. Woot! People are leaving the class. This should generate some interest. Frankly, I do not see the DPS issue generating anymore interest. I don't even see any interest from the devs towards fixing SoA, Hawk Dive, Bow damage ratings, etc. The only thing that will get us a look these days is the fact that there are very few people playing Rangers anymore.

To all those betraying, you have my complete support. I just saw the Devitilizing Arrow M1 for sale on the broker for the first time in months, and it's cost was only 2x the going rate for the Adept 3 versions. I snagged it right up. Thank you all for your support.:smileyhappy:

Jayad · 07-02-2006, 10:45 PM

Woot, people leaving because we have issues! Awesome! *cheers*

...... wait, what am I saying...

Heh seriously, I don't mind the FOTM types leaving but it's not totally a good thing. SMILEY

Gareorn · 07-02-2006, 11:14 PM

It isn't so bad. As of June 30:

Total level 70 Rangers = 1375

Total level 70 Assassins = 943

This was all servers combined. It looks like a lot of Rangers would have to betray to make any kind of difference when comparing to our evil counterparts.

ary · 07-03-2006, 12:22 AM

Good I am happy to be the class least played hopefully. Good news.

BSbon · 07-03-2006, 01:12 AM

yes you will see people leave. the people that leave are the people that were playing not because they like ranger but because it was the uber class that can solo ^^^ mobs and owned everyone in dps. when that was fixed they moved on to some other class in hopes of getting that ability back again. if the class they move to can do these things for them then that class will also get nerfed and again they will switch and will probablly never be happy because they choose class based on silly things rather than playing what they like.

110euph · 07-03-2006, 01:17 AM

I started my ranger in the hopes of being an archer. I can remember hunting in Zek and sending a tell to a lvl 50 (max lvl) ranger asking if we kept getting more ranged CAs, so I could stop meleeing alltogether. He said we did. I was happy.

Now I have to melee to maintain optimal DPS, but not all the time. I have to stay busy. Moving up, hit a few melee CAs, back off and burn through some arrows, pop back up... it's a lot more fun than I had thought it was going to be, and that's great.

I'm sticking with ranger regardless of the DPS issues or the class balance issues or the solo issues because I like being a ranger. and when I want to solo? heh.. that's what alts are for.

I cannot, however, bring myself to read most of the threads on this board, as y'all are just too depressing. The number of positive things said is miniscule compared to the number of complaints and the amount of whining. If you don't like it, quit. It looks like a few people are doing that anyway. That's great. I hate golf, so I don't play golf. I hate water polo, so I don't play water polo. I love EQ2.

07-02-2006, 10:19 AM	#1
USAFJeeper Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 276	A while back for the amusement of my guild I used the site www.eq2census.com to crunch a few mumbers to see the "health" of classes. On the Blackburrow server... To noones surprise we had too many level 70 rangers at 56 and way too many level 70 wizards at 98 (the broken class)! Coercers were low at 20 active level 70s. Since i did this exercise in silliness we had a couple of live updates. The numbers of almost all classes has risen as you would expect (more people leveling and dinging) but, the number of "active" rangers dropped from 56 to 34 on Blackburrow! I know at least one new active ranger is there cause he is in my guild! So, are we no longer the FOTM and can we get back to rangering! Wizards at level 70 increased to 133. Summoners all increased as did assassins (passed up active rangers now) and the poor coercers went from 20 to 34 active. These numbers are not bulletproof, only reflect the Blackburrow server and are merely for fun, just an exercise no more. EQ2census drops those below 20 and only counts active rangers - logged on recently so your MMV! Enjoy! __________________

07-02-2006, 10:38 PM	#4
Gareorn Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,144	I'm with Balerius on this one. Woot! People are leaving the class. This should generate some interest. Frankly, I do not see the DPS issue generating anymore interest. I don't even see any interest from the devs towards fixing SoA, Hawk Dive, Bow damage ratings, etc. The only thing that will get us a look these days is the fact that there are very few people playing Rangers anymore. To all those betraying, you have my complete support. I just saw the Devitilizing Arrow M1 for sale on the broker for the first time in months, and it's cost was only 2x the going rate for the Adept 3 versions. I snagged it right up. Thank you all for your support.:smileyhappy: __________________ Leader of the vast right-wing conspiricy... Hiding from the world's smartest woman in a bunker under a Hooter's restaurant.

07-02-2006, 11:14 PM	#6
Gareorn Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,144	It isn't so bad. As of June 30: Total level 70 Rangers = 1375 Total level 70 Assassins = 943 This was all servers combined. It looks like a lot of Rangers would have to betray to make any kind of difference when comparing to our evil counterparts. __________________ Leader of the vast right-wing conspiricy... Hiding from the world's smartest woman in a bunker under a Hooter's restaurant.

07-03-2006, 01:12 AM	#8
BSbon General Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 605	yes you will see people leave. the people that leave are the people that were playing not because they like ranger but because it was the uber class that can solo ^^^ mobs and owned everyone in dps. when that was fixed they moved on to some other class in hopes of getting that ability back again. if the class they move to can do these things for them then that class will also get nerfed and again they will switch and will probablly never be happy because they choose class based on silly things rather than playing what they like. __________________ Click Here for Amazing Superteam Comics updated Tuesday and Thursday " width="360" height="81">

07-03-2006, 01:17 AM	#9
110euph Loremaster Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Posts: 182	I started my ranger in the hopes of being an archer. I can remember hunting in Zek and sending a tell to a lvl 50 (max lvl) ranger asking if we kept getting more ranged CAs, so I could stop meleeing alltogether. He said we did. I was happy. Now I have to melee to maintain optimal DPS, but not all the time. I have to stay busy. Moving up, hit a few melee CAs, back off and burn through some arrows, pop back up... it's a lot more fun than I had thought it was going to be, and that's great. I'm sticking with ranger regardless of the DPS issues or the class balance issues or the solo issues because I like being a ranger. and when I want to solo? heh.. that's what alts are for. I cannot, however, bring myself to read most of the threads on this board, as y'all are just too depressing. The number of positive things said is miniscule compared to the number of complaints and the amount of whining. If you don't like it, quit. It looks like a few people are doing that anyway. That's great. I hate golf, so I don't play golf. I hate water polo, so I don't play water polo. I love EQ2. __________________ Iscani Emeraldflame Chancellor of Antonicas Nameless Resident geek

07-02-2006, 07:08 PM	#2
SnakeMalo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 9	I personally dont mind being a non-popular class such as the Ranger. Everyone chose the class they want to play for a reason, some people go where the money is, some people go where the fun is, some people jump ship at the first sign of change(nerf for those who actually use the word) but those of us who really appreciate the class stick with it. I play what I play and I do it well. It just makes getting masters and items that much easier, makes me more sought out for rounding out group dps, and just makes me want to play more when I see "LF1M for RE, DPS NEEDED" more times in the chat then I can count. I have no problems with it whatsoever, Oh and those who turned assassins recently, go suck on a dwarves toe

07-02-2006, 08:30 PM	#3
Balerius Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 259	If active ranger numbers are falling....good. One of the things some people often get confused about is the whole notion of all classes being viable. Clearly SoE has an interest in maintaining the viability of every class. From a business point of view, that's *NOT* the same thing, however, as maintaining class balance. From a business point of view, SOE wants to ensure that there is a compelling reason for people to want to play every class. So they will focus their energies on making less attractive classes more desireable for players. That's really what the recent enchanter changes were all about. The opposite also holds true. So, for example, if people will play a ranger because they like using bows irrespective of the class's dps shortfalls, then there is no reason for SoE to devote any developer resources to correct the dps balance problem. So hooray if players are leaving the class. If enough do, perhaps SoE will get around to fixing our dps problems (assuming they have any valid way of measuring dps in raid environments in the first place).

07-02-2006, 10:45 PM	#5
Jayad Loremaster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Raelyn @ Permafrost Posts: 1,306	Woot, people leaving because we have issues! Awesome! cheers ...... wait, what am I saying... Heh seriously, I don't mind the FOTM types leaving but it's not totally a good thing.

07-03-2006, 12:22 AM	#7
ary General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 65	Good I am happy to be the class least played hopefully. Good news.