The Story ...

[Katzil]

I posted, then self-moved the following from here.  It was inappropriate there (arguably here as well, I suppose).

 

The bitter wind buffeted my uncovered face with millions of icy daggers. It was cold. Colder than I could have ever imagined Everfrost to be. I suppose it's what I should have expected given its all-too-appropriate name. I took a wrong turn on my way to Antonica and ended up in this hellish frozen tundra. But time wasn't pressing, so I decided to check things out a bit. After nearly being mangled by a megalodon, I decided I was better off in my ship and will continue the journey to Antonica after procuring a few provisions.

“This is no place for a wood elf”, I thought to himself, shivering .. but it wasn’t the first time I’d taken a wrong turn lately.  Recently my mind had become foggy .. and my former ability to track using the northern waypoint star has me so confused I feel fortunate when I can stay on dry land! 

 

I inspected my armour .. and noticed that I was a lot colder because of the maul marks that Megalodon left in the chain breastplate.  Only a few weeks ago, that beast would have been roasting over a nice fire right now. 

 

I took a deep breath.  The chill that resulted went right to my toes.  Ahh .. those toes .. what a loss.  For reasons I still don’t comprehend, my former ability to kite and do damage with a bow has completely gone.  Fast on my feet only a few weeks ago, and able to dance with the best of them, the gods chose to side with the evil casting groups .. and I can no reliably longer pull down anything stronger than an elderly lowland badger with it’s back to me.  “Why?”, he asks himself.  They still have root.  Why would rangers be singled out to remove their ability to solo?  It seems so unfair.

 

Reflecting more on the lost battle, it suddenly came clearer .. only a few weeks ago, my highest damage recurring skill ceased to be effective in most situations.  ‘Stream of Arrows’ was a wonderful ability.  It was his only high-damage attack that could be enacted from afar .. but still worked when the target was up-close-and-personal.  Earlier today, that Megalodon had closed the gap after a single shot had been fired.  Getting a single shot off sure didn’t help matters.  Yes, it was still useful in groups .. but who will want a has-been ranger to adventure with?

 

I hung my head a bit lower .. but this time it wasn’t the cold.   “I must have seriously angered the gods”.  It was not just the loss of kiting .. nor the loss of his most effective attack .. but the compounding skill losses that have been heaped upon me like those stacks of unused nacre left lying around after the harvesting farmers were done for the day.  I started to add them up in my mind .. and my head sank ever lower ..

 - A couple weeks ago, his trusty Polished Granite Tomahawk .. a weapon that used to strike fear into enemies throughout my entire youth .. ceased to proc while using a ranged attack.  Sure, I’d switched to even better ones .. but the emotional loss had been devastating. 

 - Around that same time, I found my off-hand weapon ceased to proc as well.  How in Norrath could such a thing have happened?  It wasn’t overpowering the way it was.  My melee skills have always been secondary anyway.  Yet, it too was gone forever.

 - My ability to proc several times with the same ability was not gone too.  Triple arrow had a small chance of triggering fairly large damage.  Now only an initial hit will yield a chance at additional damage.  Stream of Arrow?  An enormous loss. 

 - Having supplemented my abilities by using a slower primary weapon, I awoke this morning to find that even that advantage had left.  Fewer procs is lower damage .. and repairing this armour after today’s incident with the Megalodon won’t be the last time it’ll be necessary to be sure.

 - My stealth attack had been disabled as well.  “What kind of ranger can’t reliably do damage from behind his solo opponent?” I thought  to myself.  But the opponents turned too quickly now .. far faster than my ability to engage this ability as I’d done ever since I’d been a young ranger roaming the Forest Ruins in behind Baubbleshire.

 

My stomach started to ache.  Was it the incessant skill degredation .. or the current lack of food.  It didn’t matter for the moment.  The hunger still had to be appeased.  Sure would’ve been nice to be hunting in a group like the good old days.  I haven’t heard from my friends today.  Sure hope they’re ok.  I suspect that caster who had been lurking around making snide comments may be with them now.  Oh well .. I’ve never been one to carry a grudge .. it’s time to go hunting for food.  This is one thing I’ve always been good at.  Unlike my caster friends, I’ve never had the money to buy my own food .. and hunting it just seemed ‘right’ somehow.  I sighed again .. as the image brought forth memories of fortunes lost.  Yes, I paid dearly for the ability to use poisons effectively in combat.  Sure, others used their gold on fancy houses or fast horses.  I took pride instead in my ability to make my group proud.  But that too is in the past .. and today, there’s hunting to be done.

 

As I glanced down to check my quiver, I looked upon my ring collection.  Heirlooms they are .. er .. were ..   Even they were damaged in the storm last night .. a shattered fraction of their former selves.  “Can’t count on them anymore either”, I thought to myself.   My eyes fell to my arrows .. once a source of pride.  Now, grey for several seasons, falling to ruin .. there they sit.   Upgrade to player crafted?  If only the woodworkers back in town didn't detest making them.  "Hardest item to make in Norrath" they say .. "no point in spending the time and cost .. you'll just shoot it away and want more anyway".  I've tried to argue, even tried to make them myself, only to find out they were right all along. 

 

How could I have been so betrayed?  It’s truly hard to fathom ..

 

I shook my head.  I’ve never been a pessimist!  What’s come over me?  I must look to the future.  Surely it will be brighter.  I reflected on the last communiqué I’d read before setting off toward Antonica.  Oh by the lords.  I’d put it out of my mind ‘til now.  Even the future looks grim.  Yes, a few seasons ago, I’d been bestowed with two good gifts.  The ability to lay a trap .. and the ability to do incredible damage with a single cast of the bow.  Surely, after everything they’ve done, the gods will bestow a future enhancement to these abilities.  But the communiqué said otherwise.  The quote rang in his mind .. “yes, while the battles you face will increase in intensity .. it’s been deemed that you are unworthy of skill upgrades”.   "Unworthy" .. the adjective stung like the cold of the Everfrost wind.

 

I looked out over the frozen tundra .. heart heavy.  There, in the distance .. a worthy foe .. and likely dinner for the next few months.  Slowly I set out .. dreading the adventures ahead.

[Arduatha]

So very well said.  Eloquent and poignant.  Sadly, I do think your story is going to fall on deaf ears.  We are being punished for the efficiency of the gods........Marina MawrClan Mawr ElderCrushbone Server52 ranger/60 carpenter

[Xzandr]

Unfortunatly you are very true on what you said.  To bad our class is reduced to nothing but a Harvest [Removed for Content] now.

[Jay]

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Katzilla wrote:

 

Sure would’ve been nice to be hunting in a group like the good old days.  I haven’t heard from my friends today.  Sure hope they’re ok. 

 

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LOL man, reading that just about made me cry. He sounds so forlorn and alone.

I hope we don't really end up that bad off, but it's catharsis now... good way to deal with things, here. Nice job.

[davian9]

Very nice and well written OP.  I hope in the future your story takes a turn for the better. :smileysad:

[Prandtl]

So sad. So true.

My own stomach rumbles in hunger.  Before I would have joined my friends in the fair fields of Norrath downing game and gaining fame.  Now....  I'm going to Wendy's

Message Edited by Prandtl on 02-21-200605:51 PM

[Meerosh]

Very well put together.  Too bad it had to move...didn't want to offend anyone with our tales now did we?  I have a level 60 Ranger and since LU20 I've been playing an alt and hating every moment of it.  It's this kind of story that needs to be heard so bring this to all your friends...let them see what we've become.  I rarely if ever speak ill but I'm just totally enraged that this has happened to a class that I TRULY love.  We'll see what happens with us in the near future.  Best of luck to all of you.

 

Thanks again Katzilla!!!

 

 

[sjaste]

That is a very well written story and I can not compliment you enough on it as it is I had been considering writing a simular tale but have yet to find time I appauld you and hope it gets read by every Person in the SOE corporation.

[woobang]

That was an awsome way to go bout this. Very humble indeed. Hope they fix us soon.

Message Edited by woobang on 03-02-200612:01 PM

[Saihung23]

Having just returned from a 3 day posting vacation, I didnt get a chance to read this till today.  Very nice, very nice indeed.

I wholeheartedly agree with Kaeros, that part about grouping really hits home.  I miss grouping with folks regularly.  Lockeye's post today has given us a glimmer of hope.

I never thought I would see a roleplayed post about nerfs to our class

 

I almost hope we get nerfed some more so I can read more from you [Removed for Content]...j/k j/k...I would rather read one where we are fixed.

 

Saihung

[tweety1972]

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Saihung23 wrote:

Having just returned from a 3 day posting vacation,

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Thats what you are calling it? :smileytongue: :smileywink: :smileyvery-happy: