Considering the brain-dead bow ranger bars available at the moment, I had to laugh at the idea that a dagger or scythe ranger was "easy mode". I like the diversity!
[ranger rant]
I also have a serious problem with rangers being limited to bows - what is it with that? I can't get my head around it. Is it a misguided idea that "ranger" = "ranged weapon"? "Ranger" is from the verb "to range", which means to travel. "Ranged" weapons are named such because they have a travelling component. That's English for you.
My first contact with rangers was 2nd edition AD&D, and rangers were for close combat because they got free dual wield and everyone I knew went longsword/shortsword. Bows were for Fighters, they had the advantage of deeper weapon specialization and they were way better than a ranger with a bow.
Simply put, "ranger" does not equal "bow".
[/ranger rant]
Expertise is a balanceable attribute, and is reasonably balanced by skill costs. Are rangers running really degenerate R/X bars? I don't see them. Touchers? Dagger R/As? Scythe R/Ds? Gimme a break! Bow bars are stronger today, everything else is spice.
Where is the Fast Casting discussion? Why are people running water mesmers in GvG? Firstly, FC is a passive "IAS" for spells. It's a bit like a free spellcasting "frenzy", with no down side, and most importantly lets them cast spells a primary ele would likely be interrupted casting. A primary ele with higher water spec is useless if they don't get a critical cast off, and smart players recognise this and take advantage of Fast Casting.
Discussing Fast Casting's impact on the pvp battlefield - the mesmer's superior "battlefield presence" - seems a far more topical debate than Soul Reaping, which got stomped on in PvP ages ago. Soul Reaping/Expertise is a dead horse discussion imo.
2c.
Expertise and Soul Reaping in PvP
Cirian
newbie_of_doom
the only overpowered build with SR or exp now is the machine gun necros, while they have nothing to do with SR
(N/Rt healers are fairly balanced and R/D or R/P or R/A are just RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing retarded)
and as the guy who posted before me stated, most bow rangers are retarded now too
(N/Rt healers are fairly balanced and R/D or R/P or R/A are just RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOing retarded)
and as the guy who posted before me stated, most bow rangers are retarded now too
jaximus
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Cirian
Where is the Fast Casting discussion? Why are people running water mesmers in GvG? Firstly, FC is a passive "IAS" for spells. It's a bit like a free spellcasting "frenzy", with no down side, and most importantly lets them cast spells a primary ele would likely be interrupted casting. A primary ele with higher water spec is useless if they don't get a critical cast off, and smart players recognise this and take advantage of Fast Casting.
Discussing Fast Casting's impact on the pvp battlefield - the mesmer's superior "battlefield presence" - seems a far more topical debate than Soul Reaping, which got stomped on in PvP ages ago. Soul Reaping/Expertise is a dead horse discussion imo. |
as for fast casting, yes its highly useful in competitive pvp. though the downside comes with the secondary constriction. an ele can spec higher in the attribute like you said, but also can carry death pact or something else that the team build supports. the great thing about gw is the ability to trade one thing for another. you trade your ability to have a hard rez for the ability to give you a greater chance of getting the key skill off at a needed time. its all about team synergy.