Is anyone else finding it difficult to solo ?

ary · 06-25-2006, 03:05 PM

After the social changes to mobs I am finding that if you use a range pull that is close to other group mobs you can get up to three groups coming for you. The only way to pull according to a gameplay thread is body pull. I cannot do that because I need the mob's health taken off by a hidden attack considerably even to survive.

How am I to play in areas where the mobs are packed close ? Meleeing will mean in the red every fight. Then using escape and waiting for it to come back before fighting again. Anyone have any ideas how I should play ?

Jayad · 06-25-2006, 09:02 PM

Betray?

mquiteshy · 06-25-2006, 09:46 PM

i dont see why they had to add that to solo groups, it makes it far harder to solo and realy the xp is hardly worth it. some people however cannot group, i have a 3 year old and a full time job, my time playing is eratic, i cant group because im afk as much as im at the keyboard. basicaly i can kill a few mobs, go take care of my son, then kill a few more. now its kill a mob, die by the adds, go take car of my son, curse SOE new agro change. then do it all over. im sick of allways halfing to run back to repair because its impossible to solo. i dont have the money to buy legendery gear, execpt for my weapons. so what does SOE want from me? im not asking for much, just the ability to solo without dying every other fight. im not even asking to bring up solo xp, i know they want to encourage groups, but dont discourage solo by this dumb agro crap. its not fair to the parent who wants to just take care of there kids needs to. i am off and on eq2, its not that i cant pay for the fee, its because this game is pusing soloing away. it seems to be going for the hardcore gammer, who can get in big guilds, raid for the big things, spend the time to craft rares, and have the social structure with there character to make it. i cannot be a hardcore gammer, i am a parent first and foremost and i refuse to let my life to revolve around this game. i should of hunted down a 30 day card unstead of just taking the 90 day card, something in the back of my head told me. i refuse to use my credit card because i hate that stupid survey it forces you to do. i have tired other mmorpgs, none of them as fun as eq2, but all these are the 2nd generation mmorpg, 3rd generations are comming out soon (example, vangaurd) i will probaly try these before i spend any more money on eq2, if these games target the casual gamer like eq2 seemed to do at one time, then i will give them my money. unless SOE (wich btw, and off topic, having the name sony is a hit against them in itself) starts to do some better changes towards people like me. just a little promise to any devs that might read this SMILEY

Recca[BK] · 06-26-2006, 08:57 AM

pull with surveil, youll lose your initial hit but you can get any mob aggro free.

Stigch · 06-26-2006, 02:59 PM

I see the same thing. I don't pull groups anymore. Never was a big fan of that to begin with. I can push over more singles with far less risk in the same time it takes to pull down a group of three. I can't do four. When soloing I pick my targets so that I don't have to group. I'd rather be slower to exp and more likely to succeed.

That being said, the social change to solo content is probably an oversight. Surely solo mobs aren't ment to social more, that's just silly.

Teksun · 06-26-2006, 04:59 PM

I agree Stig... it's really all about 'hunting'. I stick with single mobs and I spend most of my healing time stealthed and looking for the next target. It just takes a little patience and strategy to make sure there are no adds around...

ary · 06-26-2006, 06:10 PM

If I set my thorny trap down even now with the reduction of the root time I still can manage to kill 4 yellow con group mob but of course I am in the red.I do take a chance but now the problem is I can no longer pull them effectively . I will try surveil but then that means no more groups becuase without the initial attack damage I am stuck with pulling singles. Oh god this is going to be a long journey to 70 with singles.

Gareorn · 06-26-2006, 06:47 PM

Surveil works like proximity pulling in that it does not generate aggro to the mobs around the one you are pulling. However, due to the increased social range, this is not nearly as effective as it was in the past. If other mobs are close and social, they are coming with the one you pulled regardless of how you've pulled them.

griffit · 06-29-2006, 05:30 PM

I always figured that I was decent enough when it came to solo content, until I got to Maj'dul. Those Tear Grifter quests were beating me down, any arrow up mob were certain death for me. I was getting quite frustrated. Turns out I had a lot to learn.I had never used the root CA "Survival of the Fittest", well I used it but I didn't use it if you catch my drift.Well I was frustrated after almost dying 5x in a row so I finally dropped it then stepped back out of melee range quick and dropped miracle arrow. Well all of a sudden matches that were kicking my [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] were now cake walks. It was as simple as that. Which is really why I love Ranger as a class, the DPS is good enough but the more you learn and utilize all the myriad of abilities that we have, the better the damage and versatility of the class becomes apparent.

Message Edited by griffiths on 06-29-2006 08:31 AM

littleman17 · 07-02-2006, 07:23 AM

I find it very easy to solo as a ranger... the last time I went in even the orange was when I was killing a level 65 no arrow mob and a level 65 down arrow mob spawned.

Even if I can not get off a ranged attack, I have enough melee skills to kill any solo mobs that are not single up arrow mobs. (I can barely beat them unless I use sniper's shot)

Here is how I do it if I have to body pull or get jumped.

Lead off with our melee dot

Use the rip line

Lunging line

Back up

Debilitating arrow line

Start HO

Use our snare

follow with lightning strike

cheap shot

long blade

dire blade

all these CA will put even a yellow con (up to two levels above you) in the orange at which time all the melee CA you used will be back up and ready to be used again. Oh yeah the next time that Cheap shot pops up, use it then use long blade into raven fire. (that right there is an extra 800 dmg at level 64)

And that is how to be a melee ranger yo!

Either that or body pull over our thorny trap the plunk off a few ranged arts... then use my melee strategy.

Message Edited by littleman17 on 07-01-2006 08:25 PM

SnakeMalo · 07-02-2006, 07:12 PM

Like the other posters said, if you have the right tricks up your sleeve, any is soloable within reason. Sure there have been some changes to gameplay mechanics, but we adapt and move on,

I am able to take on multiple mobs of the same level , no ^, and come out on top by using the right strategy. Yes I can take out mobs higher as well, but it was just an example.

Alot of it depends on our root attacks, sure they dont last as long but still work.

Sniping shot,

Miracle Shot,

Lunging strike,

Move back a few yards, repeat with whatever attacks you like to use. When the mobs health starts to get low, toss in some melle shots and dont waste the roots or arrow attacks, and just move on to the next one. If you do it right you'll come out ontop.

ary · 07-03-2006, 12:26 AM

Yes I have been body pulling over thorny trap but the agro through walls and from cliffs is really annoying.I think the way this game was designed makes this social aggro thing very poorly implemented without the attendent changes to mob placement. Some quests in pillars of flame are literally impossible because everything and the kitchen sink walks over to beat me to death if I don't escape first. That was with body pulling too. They were packed so close and no place even to safely body pull to. It is not the melee bit that is difficult its the adds.

BSbon · 07-03-2006, 01:24 AM

littleman17 wrote:

I find it very easy to solo as a ranger... the last time I went in even the orange was when I was killing a level 65 no arrow mob and a level 65 down arrow mob spawned.

Even if I can not get off a ranged attack, I have enough melee skills to kill any solo mobs that are not single up arrow mobs. (I can barely beat them unless I use sniper's shot)

Here is how I do it if I have to body pull or get jumped.

Lead off with our melee dot

Use the rip line

Lunging line

Back up

Debilitating arrow line

Start HO

Use our snare

follow with lightning strike

cheap shot

long blade

dire blade

all these CA will put even a yellow con (up to two levels above you) in the orange at which time all the melee CA you used will be back up and ready to be used again. Oh yeah the next time that Cheap shot pops up, use it then use long blade into raven fire. (that right there is an extra 800 dmg at level 64)

And that is how to be a melee ranger yo!

Either that or body pull over our thorny trap the plunk off a few ranged arts... then use my melee strategy.

Message Edited by littleman17 on 07-01-2006 08:25 PM

Message Edited by littleman17 on 07-01-2006 08:25 PM

you can get 2 arrow attacks off if you cast the lunge root while backing up. stop when it lands. in 4 seconds you should be able to get devitilizing off and the double shot line easy.

littleman17 · 07-03-2006, 07:17 AM

Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack...

One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing.

Sirlutt · 07-03-2006, 08:45 AM

littleman17 wrote:

Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack...

One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing.

absoloutly.. get the vitality breach poisons.. i have no issues soloing.. specially after the betrayal SMILEY

.. and i dont eve have the full set of AD3 like my ranger had.. a couple of masters and all AD1 or AppIV.

TofuPatty · 07-03-2006, 09:36 AM

littleman17 wrote:

Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack...

Huh? The root on the lunging line is unbreakable for the 4 seconds that it lasts.

littleman17 · 07-03-2006, 11:27 AM

When did they change that O_o Last time I checked, it broke on dmg... oh well... not like solo mobs are worth my arrows anyways.

Saihung23 · 07-03-2006, 05:17 PM

Sirlutt wrote:

littleman17 wrote:

Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack...

One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing.

absoloutly.. get the vitality breach poisons.. i have no issues soloing.. specially after the betrayal .. and i dont eve have the full set of AD3 like my ranger had.. a couple of masters and all AD1 or AppIV.

Yep same here...but wait! I didnt even betray! And I have no issues solo'ing...

Do I die occassionally? Sure, but death is a non issue with no real penalties

Can I solo ^^^'s that arent 9 or 10 levels below me? Hardly...but thats not what they intended for any class to do (bugger the "unless you are decked real well" argument).

Do I have a full set of Adept III's? Nope, I just have good poisons, a good potion or two, and a solid strategy gained from talking and reading on these forums. Hell...I dont have ONE master...except the M2's that we all get...

I think some folks at lower levels may have issues sure...do I think that rangers are so broken that I am going to run for the freeport hillls? HELL NO.

Jay said it perfectly one time...and was singed a bit from flames...

Culling the weak...thats what times like this are in my mind...a time when the strictly DPS conscious (Sirlutt...I am not picking on you...you just gave me a big opening to get some of this off of my chestplate) fotm players are flocking to the other side of the fence because they "cant solo".

If Rangers were fixed tomorrow and at the top of those imaginary tiers of dps...we would have an influx of people coming back...

Run for the hills folks...we are not DPS giants or kings anymore...just mere DPS mortals

I solo yellow con (two levels above me) solo heroics just fine...I take down the occassional green ^^^ (9-10 levels below me) but have to be ready to run...

And I like it just fine like that.

Saihung23 · 07-03-2006, 05:18 PM

TofuPatty wrote:

littleman17 wrote:

Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack...

Huh? The root on the lunging line is unbreakable for the 4 seconds that it lasts.

It has always been like that as far as I have known.

BSbon · 07-04-2006, 12:32 AM

Saihung23 wrote:

TofuPatty wrote:

littleman17 wrote:

Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack...

Huh? The root on the lunging line is unbreakable for the 4 seconds that it lasts.

It has always been like that as far as I have known.

that is correct. it's been like that from day 1. i can hit the mob with 2 arrow attacks everytime unless i mess up.

Sirlutt · 07-04-2006, 02:02 AM

Saihung23 wrote:

Sirlutt wrote:

littleman17 wrote:

Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack...

One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing.

absoloutly.. get the vitality breach poisons.. i have no issues soloing.. specially after the betrayal .. and i dont eve have the full set of AD3 like my ranger had.. a couple of masters and all AD1 or AppIV.

Yep same here...but wait! I didnt even betray! And I have no issues solo'ing...

Do I die occassionally? Sure, but death is a non issue with no real penalties

Can I solo ^^^'s that arent 9 or 10 levels below me? Hardly...but thats not what they intended for any class to do (bugger the "unless you are decked real well" argument).

Do I have a full set of Adept III's? Nope, I just have good poisons, a good potion or two, and a solid strategy gained from talking and reading on these forums. Hell...I dont have ONE master...except the M2's that we all get...

I think some folks at lower levels may have issues sure...do I think that rangers are so broken that I am going to run for the freeport hillls? HELL NO.

Jay said it perfectly one time...and was singed a bit from flames...

Culling the weak...thats what times like this are in my mind...a time when the strictly DPS conscious (Sirlutt...I am not picking on you...you just gave me a big opening to get some of this off of my chestplate) fotm players are flocking to the other side of the fence because they "cant solo".

If Rangers were fixed tomorrow and at the top of those imaginary tiers of dps...we would have an influx of people coming back...

Run for the hills folks...we are not DPS giants or kings anymore...just mere DPS mortals

I solo yellow con (two levels above me) solo heroics just fine...I take down the occassional green ^^^ (9-10 levels below me) but have to be ready to run...

And I like it just fine like that.

i'm hardly FOTM, but i *AM* DPS focused as this is my raid toon.. as a Ranger thats the only thing i bring to a raid .. and to be reall yhonest..its pretty average unless you have alot of coin to spend. When the changes came to ranger, it wasnt the damage reduction that upset me, i liked the animations from the procs. In a group setting when someone had agro (expecially a pally) .. i felt like i was a MLRS battery ..hehe.. my last name was even Heavy'Artillery .. but the changes killed that for me.. not only did my damage suffer alot unless i used top tier arrows and grand master poisons .. but i didnt FEEL like i did alot of damage.So i shelved my ranger, and heres where you know i am not FOTM, i leveled a Guardian to 70 .. hardly a FOTM class.. and i was a ranger long before they were FOTM... i betrayed my Ogre to become a ranger.. when i changed guilds.. there was an oportunity for me to let someone else tank the raids.. and the new betrayal system meant i could take my non fun Ranger and make him an assassin. It would either put some fun back in, or at least give me something new for a while.I was pleasantly surprised to find that I can keep up on parses in raids, being only lvl 66, with lvl 70 Rangers who are fully legendary. I cant keep up with our fully mastered Ranger who has fabled weapons and uses all grandmaster poisons and player made arrows.. but i know if i had the same gear I'd be easily able to keep up, if not do more DPS.The bonus i encountered is I can now solo just about anything i want to take down solo wise, and green ^^^ heroics are no longer scary.. even a blue ^^ is do-able. The single best thing though is that I have used 250 arrows this week, and can put out a crap load of DPS... poisons are my only cost and I can get them cheaply enough .. i actually HAVE money in my pocket and can save up for masters.. something I could never dream of with a ranger because the masters are on par with Guard master prices, and because i could never keep coin in my pockets.I am sure there are alot of rangers who are very happy with the class, and I am happy for them. I wasnt so happy with it anymore, i didnt feel like i was a RANGEr .. unless i was grouped... but now i DO feel like an assassin.. i can chain together 5 back attacks and watch the mobs health bar drop in chunks.. i can mark them and watch the same.. i am having fun again SMILEY

Maravis · 07-04-2006, 07:28 PM

I'm not doing well solo. I'm only level 15 but find myself having problems with things my own level. I'm still trying to figure out what works best as methods of attack. Sometimes I do great and try again and get my butt handed back to me by something 2 levels lower than me. I rarely fight anything equal level because I'll have to run or lose. I'm thinking it may be the gear I have. I can't find much in shops or with the broker. I have only 1 poison (can't find a debuff) and my weapons are nothing to fear.

Tamalain · 07-05-2006, 11:35 AM

Solo.... That is more or less all I know. I will group for the never to be cursed enough writs, and the epic^^^x2 mob for the hq. But that sums it up.

I have found a good set of poisons and debuffers are the best friend of a ranger.

At 59 I am stuck with some lower end materials still. My alchy is finally getting into the 50s. A good Poison DoT. And a wonderous bit of fluid. Turgon I think it is called. 16% combat slow for 1 min 24 sec. Add on FBSS, the combat AA, and the wonderful Bravo's Dance, 116% Combat speed boost. Meat grinder time.

I use my bow at every turn. If I can fall back and unload Triple shot or some such all the better. Love Cheapshot for slipping around and putting a few well placed daggers in the baddies back.

Thorny trap can still be fun. Drop trap, fall back to max range. Storm of Arrows. Many times the slow hits all of them at once. They hit the trap....BAM! Hit first target till it drops. Then retarget and shot till root drops. By then the entire group will be messed up.

My prefered hunting is in the wide open spaces of course. Am I rambling.... Yes. Just a 59 Ranger that has fun.

Bledso · 07-05-2006, 09:23 PM

This takes a bit of time I admit. If no one else is killing the same mob as I am. I am a 54 ranger and stack 3 poisions - and use lvl 50 arrows.

I watch its tracking movement if I see a point where it breaks away from the surrounding mobs - I time it to where I lay down thorny trap - use take aim then fire off my highest damage attack.

When he hits the trap I use dibilitating arrow - lunging attack back off hit with the 2nd highest damage ranged and sometimes if quick enough I can hit a second round quick shot attack.

I have adapt 3 point blank - so I use rip then PB (inbetween I am running an HO) then I just routinely hit em with ever melee and debuff (usually debuffs first) I got - then when lunge is up I hit em again- back off -range him -rinse and repeat.

I have been able to solo non arrow yellows and one up whites this way. Not sure how this stacks up but its the best I can do.

littleman17 · 07-05-2006, 10:11 PM

No offense Bledso, but your way wastes a whole lot of arrows on solo mobs... If you really know the ins and outs of the Ranger class, you can colo a no arrow mob that is two levels above you without going into the orange without using a ranged attack.

But then again I usualy lead off with stealthy fire into precise shot or culling into deb arrow. (depends on which ones are refreshing or if the mob is a brawler)

Also, ALWAYS use your defense stance if you are gonna be melee'ing... the offensive stance is just asking to get killed. With our level 60 defense stance, I can send myself over 50% avoidance as compared to only about 28% in my offensive. If you feel like getting spiffy and want the SLIGHT chance of getting extra dmg on your pull, you can lead off with offensive stance then switch to the defense stance.

Saihung23 · 07-05-2006, 11:29 PM

Sirlutt wrote:

I am sure there are alot of rangers who are very happy with the class, and I am happy for them. I wasnt so happy with it anymore, i didnt feel like i was a RANGEr .. unless i was grouped... but now i DO feel like an assassin.. i can chain together 5 back attacks and watch the mobs health bar drop in chunks.. i can mark them and watch the same.. i am having fun again

I am sure that there are rangers besides myself still having fun playing a ranger. It doesnt mean that you have to drop into any thread that is discussing ranger issues with your flippant remarks about betrayal.

You betrayed. I am happy for you...but to act like betrayal is the solution to ranger issues is bad form for the ranger forum....wouldn't you agree?

I am also happy that you are having fun again, if the numbers are whats important to you then hopefully you never see a decrease in assassin effectiveness...because then you will just be unhappy again.

Have fun SMILEY

110euph · 07-06-2006, 05:21 AM

littleman17 wrote:

But then again I usualy lead off with stealthy fire into precise shot or culling into deb arrow. (depends on which ones are refreshing or if the mob is a brawler)

How do you pop off Culling the Weak as a second attack? It has to be fired from behind the mob, which means I use it exclusively in grouping. The one time I get behind the mob while soloing, I always go with Ranger's Blade, which is a melee attack.

littleman17 · 07-06-2006, 09:14 AM

I don't use it as a second shot in solo'ing, it is usualy my first pull attack. I think you misread that because my pull methods are:

Stealthy Fire then Precise Shot

OR

Culling the Weak then Devitalizing arrow.

And why waste Ranger's blade in a pull when you can use it during the regular fight if the mob isn't ^.

Cheap shot

Jump over mob

Longblade

Ranger blade

Nearly 2k dmg right there.

Bledso · 07-06-2006, 06:45 PM

littleman17 wrote:

No offense Bledso, but your way wastes a whole lot of arrows on solo mobs... If you really know the ins and outs of the Ranger class, you can colo a no arrow mob that is two levels above you without going into the orange without using a ranged attack.

But then again I usualy lead off with stealthy fire into precise shot or culling into deb arrow. (depends on which ones are refreshing or if the mob is a brawler)

Also, ALWAYS use your defense stance if you are gonna be melee'ing... the offensive stance is just asking to get killed. With our level 60 defense stance, I can send myself over 50% avoidance as compared to only about 28% in my offensive. If you feel like getting spiffy and want the SLIGHT chance of getting extra dmg on your pull, you can lead off with offensive stance then switch to the defense stance.

No offense taken - but you really did not explain the ins and outs did you. Adding a how to suggestion would have taken you to constructive critism.

I can't melee those mobs I do not have enough dmage output - at lvl 52 with the 3 stacked poisons - using two HQ weapons - the dirk from reaching blade of the assassian and the short sword of the yhakish (?spelling) from saving the greenhoods - i usually wind up close to death or evacing. I have almost 1900 mitigation with lots of legendary armor and jewlery all lvl 45 or higher.

Agility is over 300.

I can solo 3 blues no arrow ups - with thorny trap - take aim and rain of arrows. Melee the first mob that breaks trap then I arrow the other 2. I used summoned arrows the majority of the time when I group or go into higher level zones I pack the bought lvl 50 arrows.

And I HO every time it comes up.

littleman17 · 07-06-2006, 09:58 PM

Ok sorry, I will give the ns and outs of my own personal strategy for fighting the various types of mobs.

Solo mobs (standard or lower):

To pull I do this (when the mobs are NOT social)

Lead of with either Culling or Stealthy Shot

Follow up with Devitalizing Arrow or Precise Shot

To pull I do this (when the mobs ARE social)

Body pull... no other way really

When the mob reaches me, I do this:

Cheap Shot

Jump over mob

Long Blade

Dire Blade

Start HO

Use melee debuff

Fatal Reminder

Arrow Rip

Cheap Shot

Jump over mob

Long Blade

Ember Strike

Start HO

Use snare

Shocking Thrust

Lunging

By now the mob should be in DEEP red and if you did it right, you will just barely start going into the yellow.

As for fighting mobs that are multi mob encounters (and still solo), pull like this and use the above methods

Lay Thorny Trap

Stealthy Fire the healer if there is one

As they charge, use Rain Of Arrows

After you kill any that managed to break free with the above method, arrow attack those that are still rooted.

While took me awhile to perfect my methods, I am happy to share them with the new generation of Ranger's. I get compliments every day from people at how amazingly adept at melee fighting I am.

Don't get me wrong, I can step back and kick some serious [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] with my ranged attacks if I have a good way to keep the mobs off me.

06-26-2006, 08:57 AM	#4
Recca[BK] Loremaster Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 123	pull with surveil, youll lose your initial hit but you can get any mob aggro free. __________________

06-26-2006, 02:59 PM	#5
Stigch Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 39	I see the same thing. I don't pull groups anymore. Never was a big fan of that to begin with. I can push over more singles with far less risk in the same time it takes to pull down a group of three. I can't do four. When soloing I pick my targets so that I don't have to group. I'd rather be slower to exp and more likely to succeed. That being said, the social change to solo content is probably an oversight. Surely solo mobs aren't ment to social more, that's just silly. __________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________ "Cheer up, it may never happen" - Edina Monsoon __________________________________________________ __________________________________

06-26-2006, 04:59 PM	#6
Teksun Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,048	I agree Stig... it's really all about 'hunting'. I stick with single mobs and I spend most of my healing time stealthed and looking for the next target. It just takes a little patience and strategy to make sure there are no adds around... __________________ Nerf the Hobbits

06-26-2006, 06:47 PM	#8
Gareorn Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,144	Surveil works like proximity pulling in that it does not generate aggro to the mobs around the one you are pulling. However, due to the increased social range, this is not nearly as effective as it was in the past. If other mobs are close and social, they are coming with the one you pulled regardless of how you've pulled them. __________________ 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, 07:23 AM	#10
littleman17 Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 675	I find it very easy to solo as a ranger... the last time I went in even the orange was when I was killing a level 65 no arrow mob and a level 65 down arrow mob spawned. Even if I can not get off a ranged attack, I have enough melee skills to kill any solo mobs that are not single up arrow mobs. (I can barely beat them unless I use sniper's shot) Here is how I do it if I have to body pull or get jumped. Lead off with our melee dot Use the rip line Lunging line Back up Debilitating arrow line Start HO Use our snare follow with lightning strike cheap shot long blade dire blade all these CA will put even a yellow con (up to two levels above you) in the orange at which time all the melee CA you used will be back up and ready to be used again. Oh yeah the next time that Cheap shot pops up, use it then use long blade into raven fire. (that right there is an extra 800 dmg at level 64) And that is how to be a melee ranger yo! Either that or body pull over our thorny trap the plunk off a few ranged arts... then use my melee strategy. Message Edited by littleman17 on 07-01-2006 08:25 PM Message Edited by littleman17 on 07-01-2006 08:25 PM __________________ Faynar: Level 71 Ranger Daynar: Level 57 Bruiser Tulnar: Level 61 Necromancer Kulnar: Level 50 Templar Bronar: Level 43 Paladin Vronar: Level 40 Defiler Everfrost FTW!

06-25-2006, 03:05 PM	#1
ary General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 65	After the social changes to mobs I am finding that if you use a range pull that is close to other group mobs you can get up to three groups coming for you. The only way to pull according to a gameplay thread is body pull. I cannot do that because I need the mob's health taken off by a hidden attack considerably even to survive. How am I to play in areas where the mobs are packed close ? Meleeing will mean in the red every fight. Then using escape and waiting for it to come back before fighting again. Anyone have any ideas how I should play ?

06-25-2006, 09:02 PM	#2
Jayad Loremaster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Raelyn @ Permafrost Posts: 1,306	Betray?

06-25-2006, 09:46 PM	#3
mquiteshy Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10	i dont see why they had to add that to solo groups, it makes it far harder to solo and realy the xp is hardly worth it. some people however cannot group, i have a 3 year old and a full time job, my time playing is eratic, i cant group because im afk as much as im at the keyboard. basicaly i can kill a few mobs, go take care of my son, then kill a few more. now its kill a mob, die by the adds, go take car of my son, curse SOE new agro change. then do it all over. im sick of allways halfing to run back to repair because its impossible to solo. i dont have the money to buy legendery gear, execpt for my weapons. so what does SOE want from me? im not asking for much, just the ability to solo without dying every other fight. im not even asking to bring up solo xp, i know they want to encourage groups, but dont discourage solo by this dumb agro crap. its not fair to the parent who wants to just take care of there kids needs to. i am off and on eq2, its not that i cant pay for the fee, its because this game is pusing soloing away. it seems to be going for the hardcore gammer, who can get in big guilds, raid for the big things, spend the time to craft rares, and have the social structure with there character to make it. i cannot be a hardcore gammer, i am a parent first and foremost and i refuse to let my life to revolve around this game. i should of hunted down a 30 day card unstead of just taking the 90 day card, something in the back of my head told me. i refuse to use my credit card because i hate that stupid survey it forces you to do. i have tired other mmorpgs, none of them as fun as eq2, but all these are the 2nd generation mmorpg, 3rd generations are comming out soon (example, vangaurd) i will probaly try these before i spend any more money on eq2, if these games target the casual gamer like eq2 seemed to do at one time, then i will give them my money. unless SOE (wich btw, and off topic, having the name sony is a hit against them in itself) starts to do some better changes towards people like me. just a little promise to any devs that might read this

06-26-2006, 06:10 PM	#7
ary General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 65	If I set my thorny trap down even now with the reduction of the root time I still can manage to kill 4 yellow con group mob but of course I am in the red.I do take a chance but now the problem is I can no longer pull them effectively . I will try surveil but then that means no more groups becuase without the initial attack damage I am stuck with pulling singles. Oh god this is going to be a long journey to 70 with singles.

06-29-2006, 05:30 PM	#9
griffit General Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 48	I always figured that I was decent enough when it came to solo content, until I got to Maj'dul. Those Tear Grifter quests were beating me down, any arrow up mob were certain death for me. I was getting quite frustrated. Turns out I had a lot to learn.I had never used the root CA "Survival of the Fittest", well I used it but I didn't use it if you catch my drift.Well I was frustrated after almost dying 5x in a row so I finally dropped it then stepped back out of melee range quick and dropped miracle arrow. Well all of a sudden matches that were kicking my [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] were now cake walks. It was as simple as that. Which is really why I love Ranger as a class, the DPS is good enough but the more you learn and utilize all the myriad of abilities that we have, the better the damage and versatility of the class becomes apparent. Message Edited by griffiths on 06-29-2006 08:31 AM

07-02-2006, 07:12 PM	#11
SnakeMalo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 9	Like the other posters said, if you have the right tricks up your sleeve, any is soloable within reason. Sure there have been some changes to gameplay mechanics, but we adapt and move on, I am able to take on multiple mobs of the same level , no ^, and come out on top by using the right strategy. Yes I can take out mobs higher as well, but it was just an example. Alot of it depends on our root attacks, sure they dont last as long but still work. Sniping shot, Miracle Shot, Lunging strike, Move back a few yards, repeat with whatever attacks you like to use. When the mobs health starts to get low, toss in some melle shots and dont waste the roots or arrow attacks, and just move on to the next one. If you do it right you'll come out ontop.

07-03-2006, 12:26 AM	#12
ary General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 65	Yes I have been body pulling over thorny trap but the agro through walls and from cliffs is really annoying.I think the way this game was designed makes this social aggro thing very poorly implemented without the attendent changes to mob placement. Some quests in pillars of flame are literally impossible because everything and the kitchen sink walks over to beat me to death if I don't escape first. That was with body pulling too. They were packed so close and no place even to safely body pull to. It is not the melee bit that is difficult its the adds.

07-03-2006, 01:24 AM	#13
BSbon General Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 605	littleman17 wrote: I find it very easy to solo as a ranger... the last time I went in even the orange was when I was killing a level 65 no arrow mob and a level 65 down arrow mob spawned. Even if I can not get off a ranged attack, I have enough melee skills to kill any solo mobs that are not single up arrow mobs. (I can barely beat them unless I use sniper's shot) Here is how I do it if I have to body pull or get jumped. Lead off with our melee dot Use the rip line Lunging line Back up Debilitating arrow line Start HO Use our snare follow with lightning strike cheap shot long blade dire blade all these CA will put even a yellow con (up to two levels above you) in the orange at which time all the melee CA you used will be back up and ready to be used again. Oh yeah the next time that Cheap shot pops up, use it then use long blade into raven fire. (that right there is an extra 800 dmg at level 64) And that is how to be a melee ranger yo! Either that or body pull over our thorny trap the plunk off a few ranged arts... then use my melee strategy. Message Edited by littleman17 on 07-01-2006 08:25 PM Message Edited by littleman17 on 07-01-2006 08:25 PM you can get 2 arrow attacks off if you cast the lunge root while backing up. stop when it lands. in 4 seconds you should be able to get devitilizing off and the double shot line easy. __________________ Click Here for Amazing Superteam Comics updated Tuesday and Thursday " width="360" height="81">

07-03-2006, 07:17 AM	#14
littleman17 Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 675	Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack... One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing. __________________ Faynar: Level 71 Ranger Daynar: Level 57 Bruiser Tulnar: Level 61 Necromancer Kulnar: Level 50 Templar Bronar: Level 43 Paladin Vronar: Level 40 Defiler Everfrost FTW!

07-03-2006, 08:45 AM	#15
Sirlutt Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,149	littleman17 wrote: Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack... One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing. absoloutly.. get the vitality breach poisons.. i have no issues soloing.. specially after the betrayal .. and i dont eve have the full set of AD3 like my ranger had.. a couple of masters and all AD1 or AppIV. __________________ I heart DE Broads

07-03-2006, 09:36 AM	#16
TofuPatty Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 76	littleman17 wrote: Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack... Huh? The root on the lunging line is unbreakable for the 4 seconds that it lasts.

07-03-2006, 11:27 AM	#17
littleman17 Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 675	When did they change that O_o Last time I checked, it broke on dmg... oh well... not like solo mobs are worth my arrows anyways. __________________ Faynar: Level 71 Ranger Daynar: Level 57 Bruiser Tulnar: Level 61 Necromancer Kulnar: Level 50 Templar Bronar: Level 43 Paladin Vronar: Level 40 Defiler Everfrost FTW!

07-03-2006, 05:17 PM	#18
Saihung23 Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Delaware:Home of...Home of...we got stuff! Posts: 1,527	Sirlutt wrote: littleman17 wrote: Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack... One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing. absoloutly.. get the vitality breach poisons.. i have no issues soloing.. specially after the betrayal .. and i dont eve have the full set of AD3 like my ranger had.. a couple of masters and all AD1 or AppIV. Yep same here...but wait! I didnt even betray! And I have no issues solo'ing... Do I die occassionally? Sure, but death is a non issue with no real penalties Can I solo ^^^'s that arent 9 or 10 levels below me? Hardly...but thats not what they intended for any class to do (bugger the "unless you are decked real well" argument). Do I have a full set of Adept III's? Nope, I just have good poisons, a good potion or two, and a solid strategy gained from talking and reading on these forums. Hell...I dont have ONE master...except the M2's that we all get... I think some folks at lower levels may have issues sure...do I think that rangers are so broken that I am going to run for the freeport hillls? HELL NO. Jay said it perfectly one time...and was singed a bit from flames... Culling the weak...thats what times like this are in my mind...a time when the strictly DPS conscious (Sirlutt...I am not picking on you...you just gave me a big opening to get some of this off of my chestplate) fotm players are flocking to the other side of the fence because they "cant solo". If Rangers were fixed tomorrow and at the top of those imaginary tiers of dps...we would have an influx of people coming back... Run for the hills folks...we are not DPS giants or kings anymore...just mere DPS mortals I solo yellow con (two levels above me) solo heroics just fine...I take down the occassional green ^^^ (9-10 levels below me) but have to be ready to run... And I like it just fine like that. __________________

07-03-2006, 05:18 PM	#19
Saihung23 Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Delaware:Home of...Home of...we got stuff! Posts: 1,527	TofuPatty wrote: littleman17 wrote: Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack... Huh? The root on the lunging line is unbreakable for the 4 seconds that it lasts. It has always been like that as far as I have known. __________________

07-04-2006, 12:32 AM	#20
BSbon General Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 605	Saihung23 wrote: TofuPatty wrote: littleman17 wrote: Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack... Huh? The root on the lunging line is unbreakable for the 4 seconds that it lasts. It has always been like that as far as I have known. that is correct. it's been like that from day 1. i can hit the mob with 2 arrow attacks everytime unless i mess up. __________________ Click Here for Amazing Superteam Comics updated Tuesday and Thursday " width="360" height="81">

07-04-2006, 02:02 AM	#21
Sirlutt Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,149	Saihung23 wrote: Sirlutt wrote: littleman17 wrote: Well seeing as how the root attached to the lunging line breaks when dmg is taken, you really only have time to use 1 arrow attack... One more thing, Life Tap poisons are your friends while soloing. absoloutly.. get the vitality breach poisons.. i have no issues soloing.. specially after the betrayal .. and i dont eve have the full set of AD3 like my ranger had.. a couple of masters and all AD1 or AppIV. Yep same here...but wait! I didnt even betray! And I have no issues solo'ing... Do I die occassionally? Sure, but death is a non issue with no real penalties Can I solo ^^^'s that arent 9 or 10 levels below me? Hardly...but thats not what they intended for any class to do (bugger the "unless you are decked real well" argument). Do I have a full set of Adept III's? Nope, I just have good poisons, a good potion or two, and a solid strategy gained from talking and reading on these forums. Hell...I dont have ONE master...except the M2's that we all get... I think some folks at lower levels may have issues sure...do I think that rangers are so broken that I am going to run for the freeport hillls? HELL NO. Jay said it perfectly one time...and was singed a bit from flames... Culling the weak...thats what times like this are in my mind...a time when the strictly DPS conscious (Sirlutt...I am not picking on you...you just gave me a big opening to get some of this off of my chestplate) fotm players are flocking to the other side of the fence because they "cant solo". If Rangers were fixed tomorrow and at the top of those imaginary tiers of dps...we would have an influx of people coming back... Run for the hills folks...we are not DPS giants or kings anymore...just mere DPS mortals I solo yellow con (two levels above me) solo heroics just fine...I take down the occassional green ^^^ (9-10 levels below me) but have to be ready to run... And I like it just fine like that. i'm hardly FOTM, but i AM DPS focused as this is my raid toon.. as a Ranger thats the only thing i bring to a raid .. and to be reall yhonest..its pretty average unless you have alot of coin to spend. When the changes came to ranger, it wasnt the damage reduction that upset me, i liked the animations from the procs. In a group setting when someone had agro (expecially a pally) .. i felt like i was a MLRS battery ..hehe.. my last name was even Heavy'Artillery .. but the changes killed that for me.. not only did my damage suffer alot unless i used top tier arrows and grand master poisons .. but i didnt FEEL like i did alot of damage.So i shelved my ranger, and heres where you know i am not FOTM, i leveled a Guardian to 70 .. hardly a FOTM class.. and i was a ranger long before they were FOTM... i betrayed my Ogre to become a ranger.. when i changed guilds.. there was an oportunity for me to let someone else tank the raids.. and the new betrayal system meant i could take my non fun Ranger and make him an assassin. It would either put some fun back in, or at least give me something new for a while.I was pleasantly surprised to find that I can keep up on parses in raids, being only lvl 66, with lvl 70 Rangers who are fully legendary. I cant keep up with our fully mastered Ranger who has fabled weapons and uses all grandmaster poisons and player made arrows.. but i know if i had the same gear I'd be easily able to keep up, if not do more DPS.The bonus i encountered is I can now solo just about anything i want to take down solo wise, and green ^^^ heroics are no longer scary.. even a blue ^^ is do-able. The single best thing though is that I have used 250 arrows this week, and can put out a crap load of DPS... poisons are my only cost and I can get them cheaply enough .. i actually HAVE money in my pocket and can save up for masters.. something I could never dream of with a ranger because the masters are on par with Guard master prices, and because i could never keep coin in my pockets.I am sure there are alot of rangers who are very happy with the class, and I am happy for them. I wasnt so happy with it anymore, i didnt feel like i was a RANGEr .. unless i was grouped... but now i DO feel like an assassin.. i can chain together 5 back attacks and watch the mobs health bar drop in chunks.. i can mark them and watch the same.. i am having fun again __________________ I heart DE Broads

07-04-2006, 07:28 PM	#22
Maravis Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13	I'm not doing well solo. I'm only level 15 but find myself having problems with things my own level. I'm still trying to figure out what works best as methods of attack. Sometimes I do great and try again and get my butt handed back to me by something 2 levels lower than me. I rarely fight anything equal level because I'll have to run or lose. I'm thinking it may be the gear I have. I can't find much in shops or with the broker. I have only 1 poison (can't find a debuff) and my weapons are nothing to fear.

07-05-2006, 11:35 AM	#23
Tamalain Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 74	Solo.... That is more or less all I know. I will group for the never to be cursed enough writs, and the epic^^^x2 mob for the hq. But that sums it up. I have found a good set of poisons and debuffers are the best friend of a ranger. At 59 I am stuck with some lower end materials still. My alchy is finally getting into the 50s. A good Poison DoT. And a wonderous bit of fluid. Turgon I think it is called. 16% combat slow for 1 min 24 sec. Add on FBSS, the combat AA, and the wonderful Bravo's Dance, 116% Combat speed boost. Meat grinder time. I use my bow at every turn. If I can fall back and unload Triple shot or some such all the better. Love Cheapshot for slipping around and putting a few well placed daggers in the baddies back. Thorny trap can still be fun. Drop trap, fall back to max range. Storm of Arrows. Many times the slow hits all of them at once. They hit the trap....BAM! Hit first target till it drops. Then retarget and shot till root drops. By then the entire group will be messed up. My prefered hunting is in the wide open spaces of course. Am I rambling.... Yes. Just a 59 Ranger that has fun.

07-05-2006, 09:23 PM	#24
Bledso Loremaster Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 222	This takes a bit of time I admit. If no one else is killing the same mob as I am. I am a 54 ranger and stack 3 poisions - and use lvl 50 arrows. I watch its tracking movement if I see a point where it breaks away from the surrounding mobs - I time it to where I lay down thorny trap - use take aim then fire off my highest damage attack. When he hits the trap I use dibilitating arrow - lunging attack back off hit with the 2nd highest damage ranged and sometimes if quick enough I can hit a second round quick shot attack. I have adapt 3 point blank - so I use rip then PB (inbetween I am running an HO) then I just routinely hit em with ever melee and debuff (usually debuffs first) I got - then when lunge is up I hit em again- back off -range him -rinse and repeat. I have been able to solo non arrow yellows and one up whites this way. Not sure how this stacks up but its the best I can do.

07-05-2006, 10:11 PM	#25
littleman17 Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 675	No offense Bledso, but your way wastes a whole lot of arrows on solo mobs... If you really know the ins and outs of the Ranger class, you can colo a no arrow mob that is two levels above you without going into the orange without using a ranged attack. But then again I usualy lead off with stealthy fire into precise shot or culling into deb arrow. (depends on which ones are refreshing or if the mob is a brawler) Also, ALWAYS use your defense stance if you are gonna be melee'ing... the offensive stance is just asking to get killed. With our level 60 defense stance, I can send myself over 50% avoidance as compared to only about 28% in my offensive. If you feel like getting spiffy and want the SLIGHT chance of getting extra dmg on your pull, you can lead off with offensive stance then switch to the defense stance. __________________ Faynar: Level 71 Ranger Daynar: Level 57 Bruiser Tulnar: Level 61 Necromancer Kulnar: Level 50 Templar Bronar: Level 43 Paladin Vronar: Level 40 Defiler Everfrost FTW!

07-05-2006, 11:29 PM	#26
Saihung23 Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Delaware:Home of...Home of...we got stuff! Posts: 1,527	Sirlutt wrote: I am sure there are alot of rangers who are very happy with the class, and I am happy for them. I wasnt so happy with it anymore, i didnt feel like i was a RANGEr .. unless i was grouped... but now i DO feel like an assassin.. i can chain together 5 back attacks and watch the mobs health bar drop in chunks.. i can mark them and watch the same.. i am having fun again I am sure that there are rangers besides myself still having fun playing a ranger. It doesnt mean that you have to drop into any thread that is discussing ranger issues with your flippant remarks about betrayal. You betrayed. I am happy for you...but to act like betrayal is the solution to ranger issues is bad form for the ranger forum....wouldn't you agree? I am also happy that you are having fun again, if the numbers are whats important to you then hopefully you never see a decrease in assassin effectiveness...because then you will just be unhappy again. Have fun __________________

07-06-2006, 05:21 AM	#27
110euph Loremaster Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Posts: 182	littleman17 wrote: But then again I usualy lead off with stealthy fire into precise shot or culling into deb arrow. (depends on which ones are refreshing or if the mob is a brawler) How do you pop off Culling the Weak as a second attack? It has to be fired from behind the mob, which means I use it exclusively in grouping. The one time I get behind the mob while soloing, I always go with Ranger's Blade, which is a melee attack. __________________ Iscani Emeraldflame Chancellor of Antonicas Nameless Resident geek

07-06-2006, 09:14 AM	#28
littleman17 Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 675	I don't use it as a second shot in solo'ing, it is usualy my first pull attack. I think you misread that because my pull methods are: Stealthy Fire then Precise Shot OR Culling the Weak then Devitalizing arrow. And why waste Ranger's blade in a pull when you can use it during the regular fight if the mob isn't ^. Cheap shot Jump over mob Longblade Ranger blade Nearly 2k dmg right there. __________________ Faynar: Level 71 Ranger Daynar: Level 57 Bruiser Tulnar: Level 61 Necromancer Kulnar: Level 50 Templar Bronar: Level 43 Paladin Vronar: Level 40 Defiler Everfrost FTW!

07-06-2006, 06:45 PM	#29
Bledso Loremaster Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 222	littleman17 wrote: No offense Bledso, but your way wastes a whole lot of arrows on solo mobs... If you really know the ins and outs of the Ranger class, you can colo a no arrow mob that is two levels above you without going into the orange without using a ranged attack. But then again I usualy lead off with stealthy fire into precise shot or culling into deb arrow. (depends on which ones are refreshing or if the mob is a brawler) Also, ALWAYS use your defense stance if you are gonna be melee'ing... the offensive stance is just asking to get killed. With our level 60 defense stance, I can send myself over 50% avoidance as compared to only about 28% in my offensive. If you feel like getting spiffy and want the SLIGHT chance of getting extra dmg on your pull, you can lead off with offensive stance then switch to the defense stance. No offense taken - but you really did not explain the ins and outs did you. Adding a how to suggestion would have taken you to constructive critism. I can't melee those mobs I do not have enough dmage output - at lvl 52 with the 3 stacked poisons - using two HQ weapons - the dirk from reaching blade of the assassian and the short sword of the yhakish (?spelling) from saving the greenhoods - i usually wind up close to death or evacing. I have almost 1900 mitigation with lots of legendary armor and jewlery all lvl 45 or higher. Agility is over 300. I can solo 3 blues no arrow ups - with thorny trap - take aim and rain of arrows. Melee the first mob that breaks trap then I arrow the other 2. I used summoned arrows the majority of the time when I group or go into higher level zones I pack the bought lvl 50 arrows. And I HO every time it comes up.

07-06-2006, 09:58 PM	#30
littleman17 Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 675	Ok sorry, I will give the ns and outs of my own personal strategy for fighting the various types of mobs. Solo mobs (standard or lower): To pull I do this (when the mobs are NOT social) Lead of with either Culling or Stealthy Shot Follow up with Devitalizing Arrow or Precise Shot To pull I do this (when the mobs ARE social) Body pull... no other way really When the mob reaches me, I do this: Cheap Shot Jump over mob Long Blade Dire Blade Start HO Use melee debuff Fatal Reminder Arrow Rip Cheap Shot Jump over mob Long Blade Ember Strike Start HO Use snare Shocking Thrust Lunging By now the mob should be in DEEP red and if you did it right, you will just barely start going into the yellow. As for fighting mobs that are multi mob encounters (and still solo), pull like this and use the above methods Lay Thorny Trap Stealthy Fire the healer if there is one As they charge, use Rain Of Arrows After you kill any that managed to break free with the above method, arrow attack those that are still rooted. While took me awhile to perfect my methods, I am happy to share them with the new generation of Ranger's. I get compliments every day from people at how amazingly adept at melee fighting I am. Don't get me wrong, I can step back and kick some serious [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] with my ranged attacks if I have a good way to keep the mobs off me. __________________ Faynar: Level 71 Ranger Daynar: Level 57 Bruiser Tulnar: Level 61 Necromancer Kulnar: Level 50 Templar Bronar: Level 43 Paladin Vronar: Level 40 Defiler Everfrost FTW!