Balanced Ranger build for new player?

BrimstoneGW

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2007

I know this question gets asked over and over, but I'm having a hard time finding what I'm looking for on the wiki, IRC, etc.

I'm brand new to GW (and a relative RPG noob) and only have Prophecies at this point. I'm looking for a R/Me, R/N, R/Mo, or R/E build (PvE only) that's balanced and lets me use a combination of bow and magic skills. I'm not looking for an elite or "best"...just something that's fun to play for a new player and works well.

I was thinking of R/N initially, but several have recommended R/E for the conjure skills. R/Mo always seems to be popular, and the R/Me looks fun.

Here's a few that I've found:
R/Me Feverish Archer http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Build:R/Me_Feverish_Archer

R/N
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Build:R...ering_Marksman

Burninator
http://gwvault.ign.com/View.php?view...Detail&id=1079

Any suggestions? I'm open to anything.

roblethal

roblethal

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

USA (EST)

Ultimate Genesis [GEN]

R/

If you intend on casting spells, you shouldn't primary ranger. The Ranger's primary attribute Expertise reduces the energy costs for only certain skill types:
Quote:
Originally Posted by GuildWiki
Expertise reduces the energy cost for the following types of skills:

* All Ranger skills
* Attacks from any profession
* Binding Rituals
* Touch skills from any profession

No other types of skills are affected. This means that you should use spells very sparingly as a ranger, unless you are using certain specialty builds (all of which would not be the "balanced build" that you are seeking).

My opinions:
You can obtain better results than The Shivering Marksman by going pure ranger imo.

The conjurer rangers can be fun at first, but they tend to get old very quick. Most conjur builds have 2-3 spells that need to be put up before you even start to do any fighting.

The Fevered build is very nice. I'd start with that. Until you get Fevered Dreams you can run one mesmer hex on your bar without depleting your energy reserves to bad. Empathy, Conjur Phantasm, or an interrupt are good choices that mesh well with the ranger Primary.

zling

zling

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

a ranger doesnt really need a secondary profession, it's already the most versatile class in gw, the secondary profession just adds more to the versatility, such as touch rangers, bunny thumpers, etc but the core is pure ranger.
you could start as a marksman or a beast master and see what fits you best, later you can advance to other things such as trapping, barraging, thumping, etc

Angel Netherborn

Angel Netherborn

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

Lower Ward, Sigil

Goda Vos

If you're looking for a balanced/general ranger build, and since you're also new to rangers, I'd suggest going a pure marksman using ranger-only skills. The easiest to get into.

Take a degen elite like Burning Arrow or Poison Arrow, bring interrupt/damage skills like Savage Shot, Distracting Shot, Screaming Shot, or Penetrating Attack, then throw in one or two defensive/self-heal skill like Whirling Defense, Lightning Reflexes, Troll Unguent, Throw Dirt, and you're set to go.

The remaining empty slots can go to preparations like Read the Wind and Kindle Arrows, or speed boosters like Storm Chaser. And don't forget res skill.

If you still want spells, try /Me for some interrupt skills to help out the party in interrupting key enemy skills. Or /E for the Conjure skills.

Once you get the idea of Rangers, try moving on to pet builds or move to melee and try thumpers.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

If you are new to the class, I would suggest using the following formula to creating a build. Try different combinations in order to get a feel for what skills makes a build energy sustainable as well as efficient.

Attack Skill
Interuption Skill (usually Savage or Distracting)
Attack Skill
Preparation
Defensive Skill
Utility Skill
Self Heal/Utility/Defensive Skill
Rez of choice

Teh [prefession]-zorz

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2007

wisconsin

Spiders Lair Kurz [SpL]

W/A

I got through the game easily just being R only skills, by far the most versitle class imo. I Recommend the Burning arrow/apply poison, since i belive its easily capped in NF in early stages

KazeMitsui

KazeMitsui

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

pretty sure its all up in yo face

[WHAT]

R/

ok so no one at all read the op cause he kinda stated that he had only proph at this point. so to ALMOST everyone l2read before posting.

but yea if you want an easy to use build and cast spells go like r/mo and do something like

poison arrow
savage
distracting
ignite/kindle
trolls
some stance
mend ailment
some sort of rez

and its like wow ggggggggggg

and l2read again almost everyone keyword ALMOST

this is brought to you by the words LearnToRead

have fun and yes when you do get nightfall do go the burning arrow apply poison way it is too much fun in pve and in pvp

Sir Mad

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

R/

I would tell you that learning to read isn't enough: you also need to learn to write.

*Flames away*

Yeah the build you posted is pretty nice.

You could also use a basic barrage build (Barrage, a couple of interrupt, Whirling Defense, Throw Dirt, Troll maybe, rez - make room for a pet if you want). Or a punishing Shot build (with read the wind, dual shot maybe, or penetrating attack) or even a Quickshot build (although I like to have Needling Shot then) with RtW and interrrupts.

But you should forget spells, really.

Valterian

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

none

W/Mo

With Proph as your starting point I would go Beastmaster and Markmanship strong. Putting some in Expertise and Wilderness survival.

As you progress, you can add what you wish but as stated above Ranger almost does not need secondary skills. They are a great utility class almost like Batman with the utility belt

Valterian

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

none

W/Mo

With Proph as your starting point I would go Beastmaster and Markmanship strong. Putting some in Expertise and Wilderness survival.

As you progress, you can add what you wish but as stated above Ranger almost does not need secondary skills. They are a great utility class almost like Batman with the utility belt

Valterian

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

none

W/Mo

With Proph as your starting point I would go Beastmaster and Markmanship strong. Putting some in Expertise and Wilderness survival.

As you progress, you can add what you wish but as stated above Ranger almost does not need secondary skills. They are a great utility class almost like Batman with the utility belt