How can I improve my R/W?

MrTickle

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

delete this account

19 Aug 2006 at 10:26 - 1

My Ranger in post-sear plays quite well with a few henchmen or my fellow guild members. Thanks to help in these forums I've tried not to spread my attribute points too thinly.

Ariel Darkwood R/W Level 9
Swordsmanship 1
Tactics 1
Beast Mastery 3
Expertise 3
Wilderness 3
Marksmanship 6

Powershot, Ignite arrows, Ressurect Sig., Call of Haste, Penetrating Attack, Read the Wind, Comfort Animal, Hunters Shot.

In bold are the ones I use all the time and they seem effective at present. As you can see I've got nothing for warrior cos the only weapon I tend to use is the bow as I prefer a bit of distance.

Here's a list of other skills I have...

Wild Blow, Frenzy, For Great Justice, Troll Unguent, Gash, Sever Artery, Favorable Winds, Distracting Shot, Ferral Lunge, Cyclone Axe and Executioners Strike.

I'd like to keep my favorites but what others ought I add to them that's going to be most effective?

Thanks in advance

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

R/

19 Aug 2006 at 12:08 - 2

Erm - it's hard to make an efficient build at level 9 with the skills gotten from quests.

My lvl 10 "forever in pre" R/W (don't ask me why I picked W as a secondary, that was a mistake) use the following skills:

1 - Dual Shot
2 - Power Shot
3 - Point Blank Shot
(note: I use 2 and 3 only because otherwise I would have 2 empty slots in my skill bar - I alsmost never use those 2 skills, expect against healing bosses I need to spike - they are too expensive energy wise for a low level ranger)
4 - Ignite arrow (the main damage comes from the combinaison of dual shot and ignite - I keep it up all the time)
5 - Troll Unguent
6 - Healing Signet (needs to be used carefully)
7 - Charm
8 - Comfort

Of you course that's pre-searing so I suggest to replace healing sig by a rez sig in post.

For the attribute points:
Markmanship: the minimum to meet the requiremement of my bow (2 that is)
WS: everything else

-> advantage of the build: very good defense with troll unguent (and this is something I do need in pre to solo the charrs), high damage from dual shot + ignite.

-> disadvantage: it relies on ignite arrows and is less effective against foes with a high armor against elemental attacks.

If you want to use a simillar build, I'd suggest you to drop power shot or point blank shot as well and bring distracting instead.

Alternatively you could make a nive marksmanship based build: read the wind, power shot, penetrating attack, hunters shot. I'd say drop ignite arrows: preparations don't stack and that's a WS skill.

Al level 9 you have 40 att points, so I think you should focus on one attribute. Forget expertise: you won't have enough points to spent in that to make it effective.

Lambentviper

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

Noobs Just Took Halls [WTF]

Mo/E

19 Aug 2006 at 15:18 - 3

**sigh** it was fun being a level 15 R/Mo in pre...but god damn that got boreing!

But its true, its hard to make a solid build at low levels....due to the lack of expertise points. But dont mold your ranger into 1 kind of character. Switch things around and maybe drop the bow for a sword, axe or hammer and take advantage of your secondary for a bit.

Nothing is to set-in-stone in the early game, as its meant for you to practice and get to know your character and the pathes you've chosen.

HUZZAH

MrTickle

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

delete this account

N/

19 Aug 2006 at 18:24 - 4

I do have a rather nice Battle Axe of Charr Slaying. Dmg 6-16 (need axe 3), Double Adrenaline, Dmg +15%(against charr), Damage +20%.

Good enough? BTW I swapped the points from sword to axe. Just need 2 more axe points. 1 more mission and I get Level 10 \o/

Q: Why drop the bow for a hand held weapon?

Thanks for your replies