Ranger + Heroes PvE Ownage

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

30 Apr 2007 at 22:27 - 1
I haven't tested it yet, but in theory, it should be incredibly powerful, even in Hard Mode.

PC: Ranger
14 Expertise (10 + 4) 12 Earth Prayers 9 Marksmanship (8 + 1)
[skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Distracting Shot[/skill] [skill]Called Shot[/skill] [skill]Needling Shot[/skill] [skill]Ebon Dust Aura[/skill] [skill]Vital Boon[/skill] [skill]Whirling Defense[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Acolyte Jin: R/Rt
15 Marksmanship (11 + 4) 11 Expertise (10 + 1) 10 Channeling Magic
[skill]Barrage[/skill] [skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Distracting Shot[/skill] [skill]Screaming Shot[/skill] [skill]Favorable Winds[/skill] [skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill] [skill]Whirling Defense[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Margrid the Sly: R/Rt
15 Marksmanship (11 + 4) 11 Expertise (10 + 1) 10 Channeling Magic
[skill]Barrage[/skill] [skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Distracting Shot[/skill] [skill]Screaming Shot[/skill] [skill]Favorable Winds[/skill] [skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill] [skill]Whirling Defense[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Olias: N/Mo
16 Blood Magic (12 + 1) 11 Soul Reaping (10 + 1) 8 Protection Prayers
[skill]Order of the Vampire[/skill] [skill]Well of Blood[/skill] [skill]Blood Ritual[/skill] [skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill] [skill]Aegis[/skill] [skill]Protective Spirit[/skill] [skill]Shield of Absorption[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

I use 2 copies of Favorable Winds so that I'm sure I have it at each battle (I disable them and manually cast them).

I, the EDA Ranger, blind everything while the other Rangers annihiliate the casters with Splinter Barrage. And Orders allows for some mad damage. (I haven't tested Olias's Energy Management to see if it's sufficient. I don't know if he'll use SoLS on Passive...)

Any thoughts? I want to test it soon...

MercenaryKnight

MercenaryKnight

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2006

Wolf of Shadows [WoS]

P/

30 Apr 2007 at 22:51 - 2
The only thing I could think of is maybe ditch the blood ritual. If you equip heroes with zealous bow strings their energy should be enough. Also, you might only need one ranger with splinter weapon but you'd have to precast it on everyone.

2 copies of screaming shot seems like a waste if your using it for the bleeding too, since the heroes will just probably both use it on the same enemy.

I am a noob though so don't worry about my thoughts too much.

Skuld

Skuld

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Thousend Tigers Apund Ur Head [Ttgr]

A/

30 Apr 2007 at 23:48 - 3
13 and 8 are the barrage expertise breakpoints, 11 doesn't do anything. What is the point of vital boon?

Teh [prefession]-zorz

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2007

wisconsin

Spiders Lair Kurz [SpL]

W/A

30 Apr 2007 at 23:55 - 4
maybe somethings to think about: drop the favorable winds for a nightmare weapon, and you drop needling shot for f.w.

what do you think?

Oso Minar

Oso Minar

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Zealots of Shiverpeak [ZoS]

Rt/

01 May 2007 at 02:15 - 5
Heroes don't use Splinter Weapon correctly (only on themselves, just before a Barrage).

The build also neglects the need for all the enemies to be effectively grouped together....by henchman Warriors?

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

01 May 2007 at 02:37 - 6
Ebon dust aura spread by single-target attacks, isn't going to be very effective in the places were splinter would be, I.E. lots of melee foes that close fast while bows attack slowly.

You could turn your PC into a cyclone axe tank with ebon dust, then you can gather aggro nicely for your heroes. (If you aren't gathering aggro, then splinter weapon is going to be rather limited.) Of course if you are gathering aggro anyway, why not just out-tank instead of blinding...

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

01 May 2007 at 03:15 - 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by MercenaryKnight
The only thing I could think of is maybe ditch the blood ritual. If you equip heroes with zealous bow strings their energy should be enough. Also, you might only need one ranger with splinter weapon but you'd have to precast it on everyone.

2 copies of screaming shot seems like a waste if your using it for the bleeding too, since the heroes will just probably both use it on the same enemy.

I am a noob though so don't worry about my thoughts too much.
That isn't a bad idea. I hadn't considered Zealous strings. (Although the Zealous Weapons I have aren't that great; Graygore's Zealous Shortbow and Gargash's Recurve. I'll manage).

Pre-casting is too slow. Might as well spread the Splinter to everyone! (Splinter Weapon on Henchman Monks might be amusing)

If I use those bows, I might as well only give Screaming Shot to the Shortbow user...and I'll need to think of another skill to put in its place.

Quote: Originally Posted by Skuld 13 and 8 are the barrage expertise breakpoints, 11 doesn't do anything. What is the point of vital boon? Good idea. Might want to try 16 Marksmanship 10 Channeling 9 Expertise in that case.

Vital Boon is a cover enchantment and is just generally a good free health boost. (And I can't think of a good skill to replace it with, as the Marksmanship is too low to replace it with a bow attack)

Quote: Originally Posted by Teh [prefession -zorz]maybe somethings to think about: drop the favorable winds for a nightmare weapon, and you drop needling shot for f.w.

what do you think? If the Heroes have both Nightmare and Splinter, they will spend too much time casting and not enough time attacking, especially since Nightmare adds little raw DPS

FW on my character isn't a bad idea. Hmm.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oso Minar
Heroes don't use Splinter Weapon correctly (only on themselves, just before a Barrage).

The build also neglects the need for all the enemies to be effectively grouped together....by henchman Warriors? AFAIK, Heroes will cast Splinter on other characters. When playing with my Jin, I noticed that she cast Splinter Weapon on Olias (who was set on Passive, oddly)

Henchman Warriors are an obvious accessory to an Orders Necro.

Casters themselves often stay grouped themselves. I blind the melee, and I can take all the time I need.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxBat
Ebon dust aura spread by single-target attacks, isn't going to be very effective in the places were splinter would be, I.E. lots of melee foes that close fast while bows attack slowly.

You could turn your PC into a cyclone axe tank with ebon dust, then you can gather aggro nicely for your heroes. (If you aren't gathering aggro, then splinter weapon is going to be rather limited.) Of course if you are gathering aggro anyway, why not just out-tank instead of blinding... Called, Savage, Distracting. That's 3 Blinds in 4 seconds (including aftercasts) An EDA Ranger grants Blind flexibility in places where it's rare (i.e. anywhere but Tyria)

Amy Awien

Amy Awien

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

R/

01 May 2007 at 07:47 - 8
No (self)heal? Nightmare Weapon at least would steal a 120 HP every 12 seconds. With 12 Earth prayers you can keep no more then 4 foes blinded, if that.

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

01 May 2007 at 10:58 - 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amy Awien
No (self)heal? Nightmare Weapon at least would steal a 120 HP every 12 seconds. With 12 Earth prayers you can keep no more then 4 foes blinded, if that. Self Heals in PvE are completely and utterly unnecessary, especially for Ranged classes.

And when in PvE will you encounter more than 4 melee/Rangers in the same mob?

Amy Awien

Amy Awien

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

R/

01 May 2007 at 13:02 - 10
You need some healing, not neccesarily selfhealing. The prot skills on the necro suggested small teams.

Many high end area's have mobs with 4 or more attackers and in crowded situations the switching between targets will likely mean you can't keep 4 attackers blinded.

But try it out, you'll find out how well it works, better then from discussing it. It looks like a good start for use in an 8 man team. Might try 12/8/10 in attributes (plus runes), 9 expertise is as good as 11 for the barrage rangers builds.

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

01 May 2007 at 13:22 - 11
Why not just use 3x Rangers with Barrage, Throw Dirt, Dust Trap (not on the heros). 16 Marksmanship, 13 Expertise (or 9 and 11 Wilderness if you're using Dust).

Then bring Razah with 16 Channeling, 13 Restoration or something. Precast the Splinter Weapons before a fight, mid fight, do it yourself and leave Razah to it with Weapon of Remedy/Vengeful or something. Much more effective than wasting half your attributes for the same thing on each Ranger. It also destroys any mob that is grouped up instantly (worked vs Stygians in DoA and almost everything in FoW).

Can also spec in Tactics or Command on either of the Barragers to let em use Watch Yourself and Shields Up or Go For The Eyes and Never Give Up/Surrender.

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

02 May 2007 at 04:30 - 12
Alright, round 2 (taking many of Evilsod's suggestions). Pure Barrage sounds better.

PC: Ranger
16 Marksmanship (12 + 4) 13 Expertise (12 + 1) 4 Wilderness Survival (3 + 1)
[skill]Barrage[/skill] [skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Distracting Shot[/skill] [skill]Throw Dirt[/skill] [skill]Favorable Winds[/skill] [skill]Serpent's Quickness[/skill] [skill]Whirling Defense[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Acolyte Jin: R/W
16 Marksmanship (11 + 4) 9 Expertise (10 + 1) 10 Tactics
[skill]Barrage[/skill] [skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Distracting Shot[/skill] [skill]Screaming Shot[/skill] [skill]"Watch Yourself!"[/skill] [skill]"Shields Up!"[/skill] [skill]Whirling Defense[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Margrid the Sly: R/P
16 Marksmanship (12 + 4) 9 Expertise (8 + 1) 10 Command
[skill]Barrage[/skill] [skill]Savage Shot[/skill] [skill]Distracting Shot[/skill] [skill]"Go for the Eyes!"[/skill] [skill]"Never Surrender!"[/skill] [skill]Anthem of Envy[/skill] [skill]Whirling Defense[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Razah: Ritualist
16 Channeling Magic (12 + 4) 11 Spawning Power (10 + 1) 9 Restoration Magic (8 + 1)
[skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill] [skill]Nightmare Weapon[/skill] [skill]Wailing Weapon[/skill] [skill]Warmonger's Weapon[/skill] [skill]Vengeful Weapon[/skill] [skill]Weapon of Warding[/skill] [skill]Wielder's Zeal[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

SQ + FW adds some momentum witht he constant moving in PvE.

I don't have Razah yet...but I plan to cast Warmonger's on myself while I Barrage the casters, Jin with Wailing, and Margrid with Splinter. Then Razah can do what he wants; he has unlimited Energy.

That should be more practical.

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

02 May 2007 at 04:39 - 13
Tbh i've tried him with Wielder's Zeal. If you were aiming to spec him pure Channeling/Spawning it might be useful. But if you're aiming to spec into Restoration too it starts to drag you down. My latest version complete scraps Spawning for 16 Channeling, 13 Restoration with:

[skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill][skill]Bloodsong[/skill][skill]Spirit Transfer[/skill][skill][/skill]Spirit Light[skill][/skill]Vengeful Weapon[skill][/skill][skill]Weapon of Remedy[/skill][skill]Flesh of my Flesh[/skill]

The stats may be better in a different set out (ie, 15 Restoration, 14 Channeling using 2 majors) and you may prefer another Channeling weapon spell. But in general i find once you've fired off the first wave of Barrage and used up Splinter, he works much better acting as a healer than maybe wasting Weapon Spells on the wrong players automatically or just having to use the skills which may have a limited usage.

Edit: This skill display thing is shit.

Lodurr

Lodurr

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Our Other Name Was Funnier [BaN]

W/E

03 May 2007 at 10:39 - 14
Triple barragers seems like overkill. You could go back to the earlier idea and use EDA but on a Cyclone Axe warrior. Thusly:

Warrior/Dervish
9 Strength (8 + 1) 15 Axe Mastery (12 + 3) 10 Earth Prayers
[skill]Ebon Dust Aura[/skill] [skill]Cyclone Axe[/skill] [skill]Dismember[/skill] [skill]Penetrating Blow[/skill] [skill]Wild Blow[/skill] [skill]Enraging Charge[/skill] [skill]Flail[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Wild Blow is there as a general necessity in HM.

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

04 May 2007 at 16:05 - 15
It works much better with a command para and Barrage/Keen arrow spike, also using an A/R with sharpen daggers and critical eye. Its what I always use.

Hero AI is terrible with damage buffing weapon spells, they never use them correctly.

xDusT II

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

Melbourne

05 May 2007 at 00:26 - 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zinger314
Razah: Ritualist
16 Channeling Magic (12 + 4) 11 Spawning Power (10 + 1) 9 Restoration Magic (8 + 1)
[skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill] [skill]Nightmare Weapon[/skill] [skill]Wailing Weapon[/skill] [skill]Warmonger's Weapon[/skill] [skill]Vengeful Weapon[/skill] [skill]Weapon of Warding[/skill] [skill]Wielder's Zeal[/skill] [skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill] Having too many spammable weapon spells on a heroes bar means that he's going to be overlapping weapons before they can even be used. Limiting him to just Splinter Wailing and Warmongers and replacing Nightmare weapon with restoration heals (Winnowing + spirit light?) that work with the ranger spirits you already have might be a beter idea.