Read the Wind vs Expert Focus (PVE)

Pericles

Pericles

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2007

[GoD]

R/

10 Sep 2007 at 15:47 - 1
Well,
as the title says, i want to start a discussion about these two skills because i think that Expert Focus will replace RtW as it's vastly superior.

Expert Focus has more or less the same (armor-ignoring) bonus damage AND makes it possible for rangers to invest less in expertise (for example 8 expertise would do).

The only argument i could think of in RtW's advantage is that RtW has the 'arrows move twice as fast'. This, imo, is not good enough to justify the use of RtW and not EF, because the arc size doesn't really matter in PVE.

Well, those are my thoughts, I'm hoping to see other people's point of views .

Kaida the Heartless

Kaida the Heartless

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2006

N/

10 Sep 2007 at 15:54 - 2
My PvE ranger uses Expert's Focus (Broadhead Arrow). Granted, he has savage shot and distracting shot for interupting off targets when I need it, which was the only situation in which RtW was better. He tags the next spell the enemy casts anyways, which is fine since the group target should be dazed anyways. With EF, he can now spam his skills easily without worrying much about his energy.

He uses a zealous flatbow by the way.

Expert's focus is a great skill.

stormrunner

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

Funkadelic Tempest[kiss]

R/Mo

11 Sep 2007 at 00:43 - 3
The one reason why I feel Read the Wind is superior to Expert Focus is that RtW is tied to marksmanship, while expert focus is tied to expertise. This really kills your argument, Pericles, because if you want the same damage as read the wind, you need to spec higher in expertise (and lower marksmanship). This in turn makes the energy gain somewhat worthless, negating any advantage you would receive from using it and lowering your overall damage output.

placebo overdose

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

N/

11 Sep 2007 at 01:11 - 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by stormrunner
The one reason why I feel Read the Wind is superior to Expert Focus is that RtW is tied to marksmanship, while expert focus is tied to expertise. This really kills your argument, Pericles, because if you want the same damage as read the wind, you need to spec higher in expertise (and lower marksmanship). This in turn makes the energy gain somewhat worthless, negating any advantage you would receive from using it and lowering your overall damage output. i agree but also lowered arch can be very useful and most rangers have enuff e management

Kaida the Heartless

Kaida the Heartless

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2006

N/

11 Sep 2007 at 04:50 - 5
Expert's Focus is there to further open the marksmanship line. Most rangers have only relied on condition degeneration to destroy targets. Skills that could be somewhat draining, such as needling shot on a low health character, are much more deadly now that you could spam them indefinitally, for example.

Xitoahc

Xitoahc

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

NYC

Kingdom of the Sixth Aspect [KSA]

R/

11 Sep 2007 at 05:05 - 6
So long as Expert's Focus continues to deduct energy before expertise, I'll never use it, not sure if its a bug or intended but its underpowered if it isn't.

haggus71

haggus71

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2007

FotS

11 Sep 2007 at 13:01 - 7
RtW is more useful for the primary focus of a ranger in most missions-interrupts. There is nothing disadvantageous to having your Expertise high. It's your primary. Read the Wind does great for decreasing the arc of trajectory, which is nice for flatbows and also helps for targeting kiters. You will notice how useful arc reduction is for interrupts if you use it. This for a point more extra damage than EF gives. You could get the same decent energy gain with a zealous bow, anyway, which I use if I'm not a cripshot ranger. That and a 5E vs 10E difference in initial cost....

I guess it would just be your play style as a ranger. Most are used to good E-management that the amount the skill brings is negligible.

iridescentfyre

iridescentfyre

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/

11 Sep 2007 at 16:45 - 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pericles
Well,
as the title says, i want to start a discussion about these two skills because i think that Expert Focus will replace RtW as it's vastly superior.

Expert Focus has more or less the same (armor-ignoring) bonus damage AND makes it possible for rangers to invest less in expertise (for example 8 expertise would do).

The only argument i could think of in RtW's advantage is that RtW has the 'arrows move twice as fast'. This, imo, is not good enough to justify the use of RtW and not EF, because the arc size doesn't really matter in PVE.

Well, those are my thoughts, I'm hoping to see other people's point of views . For pure PvE use, I agree. The faster arrow speed from RtW just isn't needed.

However in PvP there's a lot more gray area. Players (at least good ones) know and understand how to dodge slow arrows. Besides, when interrupting, RtW reduces arrow flight time considerably and thus makes interrupting those 1-second cast time spells a little easier.

Generally speaking though, my vote would be for Expert Focus... Rangers just don't need the extra damage of RtW (save for Spiking...) and in my opinion Expert Focus better serves Rangers doing what they were made to do: condition spreading and hindering opponents.

Darkpower Alchemist

Darkpower Alchemist

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

NYC

The Circle Of Nine[NINE]

E/N

11 Sep 2007 at 23:38 - 9
Expert Focus is not a bad prep, but sense I am heavily using Prep shot, it is not needed for my current builds. Maybe for a BA or BHA/PS build, or as mentioned a crip shot, but poison/bleeding is usually better for the overall efficiency.