I have played my Ranger up through the levels and have found it to be a disappointing class. It does have it's pluses, but for the most part it seems to be a damage light class. After playing a warrior and running some tests, I find a sword wielding warrior (max dmg fire bow compared to a dragon sword) does about 90% the damage my ranger does and takes about half the damage (warrior shield has ar 16). When compared to a hammer build (again max dmg), the warrior quickly outstrips the ranger in damage output (hammers really throw down damage) and the knockdown abilities in the hammer line are impressive.
The ranger has some good skills, but I haven't found a combination that makes them as effective as my warrior builds. Damage wise my ranger isn't even close to my hammer build or my elementalist and truthfully in fights my ranger drops fast once I go through lightning reflexes. I have even noticed in PvP rangers becoming the last targets in fights as people don't seem to be as worried about them as they are monks, warriors and elementalists.
Ranger disappointment
Straegen
iotc247
No other profession is supposed to do as much damage as a warrior without skill. I mean come one warriors are the easiest to play. Just run up and slash or bash. Other professions require skill to do the same amount. Rangers were never meant to deal the same damage with our bows without some kind of strategy. Im very happy with my ranger. In the academy I had a few kills because no one attacked me because they figured heh just a stupid ranger. Its all about strategy. Get up to a high place and do a preperation and attack. It also requires the right combination of attributes. Expertise and marksmanship are your 2 most important ones. 
Straegen
I just find it odd that there is a class that takes significantly less damage and deals almost the same damage or takes slightly less damage (about 20%) and deals more damage. I wouldn't even mind if the ranger was a more finese class requiring coaxing to get a really high damage output, but unless I am missing something rangers are way down on the dmg output list.
I like the built in heals, elemental armor and reflex spells which I guess are the upsides of rangers, but no ranger skill I have seen offsets for adren/shield or hammer/knockdown. Switch to the elementalist and you have skills such as aura of restoration which is far superior to troll ungent not to mention some earth armor spells which IMO are as good or better than lightning reflexes.
As a primary it seems rangers are weaker, but I may just be playing the class wrong.
I like the built in heals, elemental armor and reflex spells which I guess are the upsides of rangers, but no ranger skill I have seen offsets for adren/shield or hammer/knockdown. Switch to the elementalist and you have skills such as aura of restoration which is far superior to troll ungent not to mention some earth armor spells which IMO are as good or better than lightning reflexes.
As a primary it seems rangers are weaker, but I may just be playing the class wrong.
iotc247
Part of my guild has gone from like gates of kryta to crystal desert in about 7 hours.. Easily with henchman. 2 rangers with pure ranger skills no secondary profession skills and a w/mo. Plus 3 hench (Enchant, Fighter, Mage). We beat them all easily and failed less then the one time we tried with human players. If 2 rangers are on the team then obviously were doing something right because the hench were busy dying..
Rion
Yeah... What you're not taking into account though, is that Guild Wars is not as simple as just Attack/Defense, or Damage/Armour...
Rangers are pretty jack-of-all-tradesy. I mean, look at Mesmers. They don't focus in damage or defense, really, but in their own way they aid such. Interrupts, Debuffs, Buffs, Snares, Conditions and everything else all plays its own part. If you get a team of 8 Warriors, while they can indeed bash the hell out of you with a lot of damage, they could be shut down by a team with a Necromancer (and people think Necromancers suck
) that debuffed their attacks.
What I'm trying to get at in my poorly structured manner is that while Rangers are indeed not kings of damage, they are very versatile. A Ranger can annoy casters with interrupts, snare runners, defend critical points with traps and so on and so forth.
But yeah... If you want straight damage I'd advise you just play a War/El or El/x... *shrug*
Rangers are pretty jack-of-all-tradesy. I mean, look at Mesmers. They don't focus in damage or defense, really, but in their own way they aid such. Interrupts, Debuffs, Buffs, Snares, Conditions and everything else all plays its own part. If you get a team of 8 Warriors, while they can indeed bash the hell out of you with a lot of damage, they could be shut down by a team with a Necromancer (and people think Necromancers suck
) that debuffed their attacks.What I'm trying to get at in my poorly structured manner is that while Rangers are indeed not kings of damage, they are very versatile. A Ranger can annoy casters with interrupts, snare runners, defend critical points with traps and so on and so forth.
But yeah... If you want straight damage I'd advise you just play a War/El or El/x... *shrug*
Duin
yea i have found rangers to not be as good as they can be either... there isnt any true damage output at all on then. the only tru damage i have seen rangers do is when the are crossed with mesmer or warrior. other than that i havent seen any damage at all...
Straegen
Well I guess it seems I have been playing my ranger correctly. It just seems the ranger is too situational (which can be good in some circumstances). On paper they read great (practically a self contained class), but in actual play they could use a bit of tweaking. Early on, they start as good if not better than other classes. However, my ranger fell quickly in usefulness once we got into Crystal Desert and beyond.
Mesmers ability to cast faster and hit with drains make them formidable. I fear a Me/E combo more than an E/Me combo. Sure the E/Me is going to cast more, but you are going to see damage flying out of a Me/E likely dropping a monk early on.
As for ranger groups in PvE, won't argue they get the job done. However, anything a ranger/ranger group can do an Elementalist/Monk group will likely do faster and easier. If you have ever seen the monk tank/ele nuker combo or the ele tank-nuke/monk support combo run you would have no doubt either... doesn't work in PvP, but PvE it is disgusting. Watching a W/Mo group is fun too... seeing zeros fly over your head while a zealot fire drops tons of critters is equally amazing.
Mesmers ability to cast faster and hit with drains make them formidable. I fear a Me/E combo more than an E/Me combo. Sure the E/Me is going to cast more, but you are going to see damage flying out of a Me/E likely dropping a monk early on.
As for ranger groups in PvE, won't argue they get the job done. However, anything a ranger/ranger group can do an Elementalist/Monk group will likely do faster and easier. If you have ever seen the monk tank/ele nuker combo or the ele tank-nuke/monk support combo run you would have no doubt either... doesn't work in PvP, but PvE it is disgusting. Watching a W/Mo group is fun too... seeing zeros fly over your head while a zealot fire drops tons of critters is equally amazing.
Griminald
"It does have it's pluses, but for the most part it seems to be a damage light class"
If it's pure damage you're looking for, then Ranger is not for you. Rangers are much more a support and team-based class than they are a soloing class, as Rion is saying.
I play a Ranger/Necro, focusing on Curses. I may not do a warrior's damage, but between Faintheartedness (or Shadow of Fear), Weakness and Price of Failure, that warrior's going to be doing even less damage to me or someone else.
If it's pure damage you're looking for, then Ranger is not for you. Rangers are much more a support and team-based class than they are a soloing class, as Rion is saying.
I play a Ranger/Necro, focusing on Curses. I may not do a warrior's damage, but between Faintheartedness (or Shadow of Fear), Weakness and Price of Failure, that warrior's going to be doing even less damage to me or someone else.
Lank
While a warrior is pretty good in terms of ease of use for damage, they're the most easily dealt with if they're unskilled. Last night, I was using my R/W in a team arena match, and was using Barbed Trap and Apply Poison to annoy the other team's entire party. Somehow the 3 other players on my team died, and there were 2 warriors left on the other team. Of course, they both attack me, hacking and slashing away.
My solution: I immediately hit Gladiator's Defense as soon as they focus on me, and I run around them to force them to be adjacent (took .5 seconds) and hit them with Throw Dirt. With both of them at 10% chance to hit, and 25% chance to hit after that, they were taking damage on every swing. I took this opportunity to throw down a Barbed Trap for them, and to Apply Poison again on my sword. Around this time, my Gladiator's Defense wore off, so I threw up Whirling Defense.
Bottom line: As a Ranger/Warrior I took down 2 Warrior primaries at the same time and with only 50% of my health. After the fight I got a couple WTF's.
Now, I know this would never work if they'd take Wild Blow. It'd really just shut me down. Since they didn't, they were very easy to deal with. Truth be told, it was probably the most favorable situation I could hope for with that character.
Could I have done the same as a Warrior/Ranger? NO. HELLLLL NO. It's all because of the incredibly long duration of Whirling Defense and the ease of use Throw Dirt has. And they're both Expertise skills. There's your Finesse. As a Ranger primary, see where your Expertise skills can get you. You should be using it anyway.
My solution: I immediately hit Gladiator's Defense as soon as they focus on me, and I run around them to force them to be adjacent (took .5 seconds) and hit them with Throw Dirt. With both of them at 10% chance to hit, and 25% chance to hit after that, they were taking damage on every swing. I took this opportunity to throw down a Barbed Trap for them, and to Apply Poison again on my sword. Around this time, my Gladiator's Defense wore off, so I threw up Whirling Defense.
Bottom line: As a Ranger/Warrior I took down 2 Warrior primaries at the same time and with only 50% of my health. After the fight I got a couple WTF's.
Now, I know this would never work if they'd take Wild Blow. It'd really just shut me down. Since they didn't, they were very easy to deal with. Truth be told, it was probably the most favorable situation I could hope for with that character.
Could I have done the same as a Warrior/Ranger? NO. HELLLLL NO. It's all because of the incredibly long duration of Whirling Defense and the ease of use Throw Dirt has. And they're both Expertise skills. There's your Finesse. As a Ranger primary, see where your Expertise skills can get you. You should be using it anyway.
Serafita Kayin
My ranger/mesmer trick shot build has left many an enemy AND player crying.
Lead off with Backlash, Chaos Storm, and Conjure Phantasm, then rain down special arrow attacks. Not much stands under the barrage.
Lead off with Backlash, Chaos Storm, and Conjure Phantasm, then rain down special arrow attacks. Not much stands under the barrage.
abimelech
Quote:
Originally Posted by Griminald
"Rangers are much more a support and team-based class than they are a soloing class
I think it's been decided that rangers are a solo class with self-containment skills but not a team class. They can't do anything others can't do better, and in teams, that'll get you passed up for someone else.
as Lank said, there's no doubt that rangers have potenital to be great with melee weapons. In fact I have done, and seen countless times when a r/w beat the whole team by himself even with a monk on the other side.
now, what about bow rangers? check this thread. ignore the newbies spewing garbage:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=11055
as Lank said, there's no doubt that rangers have potenital to be great with melee weapons. In fact I have done, and seen countless times when a r/w beat the whole team by himself even with a monk on the other side.
now, what about bow rangers? check this thread. ignore the newbies spewing garbage:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=11055
Straegen
After reading how ranger X beat up two warrior Ys it is clear that warrior Ys were REALLY bad players. My W/Mo build removes "keep you alive" crap, then throws on bulls charge and runs players down. Reflex would keep you alive for a few seconds, but when that thing wore off you would be eating damage and you sure wouldn't be stopping to fire arrows. I am just an average PvP'r with probably an OK build... a better PvP person would ripsaw a ranger especially one that used enchantments and hexes as lead damage.
I believe there are situations, but I was hoping someone would post some cool combo of damage that is ranger based (not mesmer/warrior/ele) to reinvenerate my ranger. I think the barrage/dual shot/hunter/ignite arrows/live vic might be a nice build, but i haven't gotten barrage yet to try it. As it stands now, I think my first character the ranger is the gimp of my bunch R/Mo, W/Mo, E/Mo, Me/E (not sold on the Me/E so far either).
I believe there are situations, but I was hoping someone would post some cool combo of damage that is ranger based (not mesmer/warrior/ele) to reinvenerate my ranger. I think the barrage/dual shot/hunter/ignite arrows/live vic might be a nice build, but i haven't gotten barrage yet to try it. As it stands now, I think my first character the ranger is the gimp of my bunch R/Mo, W/Mo, E/Mo, Me/E (not sold on the Me/E so far either).
taion
Whirling defence lasts on the order of 20s at maxed expertise. Modulo wild blow, are you planning to just sit there and hack at the ranger and somehow maintain the equivalent of 100+ dps while hoping the ranger doesn't have net 30-40 dps, or do you have some sort of better plan in mind?
Epinephrine
Quote:
Originally Posted by abimelech
I think it's been decided that rangers are a solo class with self-containment skills but not a team class. They can't do anything others can't do better, and in teams, that'll get you passed up for someone else.
Hmm, I have trouble with that statement, but I am very literal... I think Rangers can do plenty of things better than anyone else. Traps are something nobody else has - a way to store damage to release automatically on enemies coming into range - that's pretty neat. They kite better than anyone else, having evasion/running skills as well as crippling skills. The distribute conditions over targets better, and can affect the whole of the battlefield more - nature rituals are overlooked, and are a superb contribution to team builds. They deal with elemental damage better than anyone else. I think Rangers do lie in the middle in terms of damage output, though they can deal it very effectively, and it is true that many builds have their abilities too spread to really be effective. They are very weak in the early game, due to the way expertise works, but make up for it later.
The Red Knight
ever seen a ranger use judges insite + barrage? I did in a bwe did around 60 dmg on 5 targets for 5 energy.. please tell me how this is bad -_-
Davin Kabak
As with almost any build, it could be said "my X/X could beat up your X/X", and they could be right. We all know how balanced this game really is.
That being said, Rangers do have the benefit of Ranged attacks that run the gambit of the skill spectrum. They can effect conditions of all sorts, elemental damage, and even armor penetration, all while being out of range of the enemy. Combined in a team environment, rangers are particularly effective at directing mass damage on individual targets.
All in all, its not what you play, but how good you (and your team) are with it.
That being said, Rangers do have the benefit of Ranged attacks that run the gambit of the skill spectrum. They can effect conditions of all sorts, elemental damage, and even armor penetration, all while being out of range of the enemy. Combined in a team environment, rangers are particularly effective at directing mass damage on individual targets.
All in all, its not what you play, but how good you (and your team) are with it.
Shrapnel_Magnet
Ranger's are all about support. As a self contained class, they play terrible. Troll Unguent is horrible and their other stances have ridiculous recharge times.
A trapping Ranger can be a pest in PvP and can really hold the other team up if they are played well.
R/N is easily one of the best combos. Using cheap curses like Enfeeble, Shadow of Fear or the real winner, Rend Enchantments and you'll be happy. Never forget Distracting Shot or Debilitating Shot in PvP... Pin Down is pretty nice too, if a bit pricey. You COULD still run Debiliating Shot + Malaise if you wanted, but it's effectiveness has been lessened now that it ends if your target's energy reaches zero.
Any and all ranger's using bow skills should be using Tiger's Fury (unless you're a R/W for some reason). Tiger's Fury boosts your DPS quite a bit. Pick up a Half Moon or Short Bow... I was never a big fan of the lessened range but I've been converted totally now.
Barrage + Zealous Bow String is gorgeous as an energy powerhouse, especially when used with Tiger's Fury.
Ra/Me is another viable class. Maybe even Me/R... I've heard a lot of good things from Echo + Debilitating Shot.
Ra/Mo is good for a soloing Ranger... Healing Breeze makes Troll Unguent look retarded... but you're a pretty bland ranger if you're doing minor healing and bow skills. Judges Insight is nice with Barrage, but it's that 2 second cast time that really bothers me. It's really up to you.
Either way, Ranger's are quite useful out there... don't discredit them totally because they're not matching the damage of a Hammer Warrior. They can be played many different ways for a variety of reasons.
A trapping Ranger can be a pest in PvP and can really hold the other team up if they are played well.
R/N is easily one of the best combos. Using cheap curses like Enfeeble, Shadow of Fear or the real winner, Rend Enchantments and you'll be happy. Never forget Distracting Shot or Debilitating Shot in PvP... Pin Down is pretty nice too, if a bit pricey. You COULD still run Debiliating Shot + Malaise if you wanted, but it's effectiveness has been lessened now that it ends if your target's energy reaches zero.
Any and all ranger's using bow skills should be using Tiger's Fury (unless you're a R/W for some reason). Tiger's Fury boosts your DPS quite a bit. Pick up a Half Moon or Short Bow... I was never a big fan of the lessened range but I've been converted totally now.
Barrage + Zealous Bow String is gorgeous as an energy powerhouse, especially when used with Tiger's Fury.
Ra/Me is another viable class. Maybe even Me/R... I've heard a lot of good things from Echo + Debilitating Shot.
Ra/Mo is good for a soloing Ranger... Healing Breeze makes Troll Unguent look retarded... but you're a pretty bland ranger if you're doing minor healing and bow skills. Judges Insight is nice with Barrage, but it's that 2 second cast time that really bothers me. It's really up to you.
Either way, Ranger's are quite useful out there... don't discredit them totally because they're not matching the damage of a Hammer Warrior. They can be played many different ways for a variety of reasons.
Xanthippe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Straegen
I just find it odd that there is a class that takes significantly less damage and deals almost the same damage or takes slightly less damage (about 20%) and deals more damage. I wouldn't even mind if the ranger was a more finese class requiring coaxing to get a really high damage output, but unless I am missing something rangers are way down on the dmg output list.
I like the built in heals, elemental armor and reflex spells which I guess are the upsides of rangers, but no ranger skill I have seen offsets for adren/shield or hammer/knockdown. Switch to the elementalist and you have skills such as aura of restoration which is far superior to troll ungent not to mention some earth armor spells which IMO are as good or better than lightning reflexes.
As a primary it seems rangers are weaker, but I may just be playing the class wrong. That is becuase Rangers actually require skill, unlike the hack 'n slash Warrior who requires zero to no skill.
And you my friend seem like a cadet whom the warriors are looking for. Someone who just wants to do DAMAGE and turn their mind off from skills and just Chop/slash/hack/stab/(u get the idea).
I like the built in heals, elemental armor and reflex spells which I guess are the upsides of rangers, but no ranger skill I have seen offsets for adren/shield or hammer/knockdown. Switch to the elementalist and you have skills such as aura of restoration which is far superior to troll ungent not to mention some earth armor spells which IMO are as good or better than lightning reflexes.
As a primary it seems rangers are weaker, but I may just be playing the class wrong. That is becuase Rangers actually require skill, unlike the hack 'n slash Warrior who requires zero to no skill.
And you my friend seem like a cadet whom the warriors are looking for. Someone who just wants to do DAMAGE and turn their mind off from skills and just Chop/slash/hack/stab/(u get the idea).
Straegen
Shrapnel_Magnet, thanks for the ideas. I will give some a whirl and see what pops out. I hope it is just a finese thing on my end and not a flaw in the overall design of the Ranger class. Personally, I still think there is a problem in the bow dps... max dmg bows should at least be on par with max dmg hammers.
Quote:
Whirling defence lasts on the order of 20s at maxed expertise. Modulo wild blow, are you planning to just sit there and hack at the ranger and somehow maintain the equivalent of 100+ dps while hoping the ranger doesn't have net 30-40 dps, or do you have some sort of better plan in mind?
Quote:
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And you my friend seem like a cadet whom the warriors are looking for. Someone who just wants to do DAMAGE and turn their mind off from skills and just Chop/slash/hack/stab/(u get the idea).
It all boils down to dps in these games. Whether it is how much you can absorb, how much you can dish, you much you can help your team dish/absorb or some combination. My original post is about how I could not find a balance of dps that was as good as other classes I tried. I may not have found the "secret" mix of skills that enables the ranger to be on par with the other classes. If that skillset exists, I would like to hear it. I have tried the popular builds and they don't seem as powerful as other builds in other classes. I don't believe the Ranger sucks by any means, but like I said earlier... I have been disappointed in their overall ability.
Akshara
Quote:
I may not have found the "secret" mix of skills that enables the ranger to be on par with the other classes.
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Like it or not, the Ranger is really about timing and patience. A single well-timed, prepared shot at just the right spot can make all the difference. Setting up traps in effective places, then luring opponents into them takes a lot of patience and control, especially when everyone else is spamming dps all over the place.
The Ranger's dps will never match the other more powerful classes, as you've already discovered. Well then... change the focus from damage per second to effectiveness per second.
If you could only take one shot during an entire party battle, what, when and where would that shot be to have the most effect on the overall outcome? Imho, if that question itself brings up any impatience or irritation, or it just doesn't excite or inspire the player very much, then Ranger isn't the profession for them.
Straegen
Quote:
Originally Posted by Akshara
The Ranger's dps will never match the other more powerful classes, as you've already discovered. Well then... change the focus from damage per second to effectiveness per second. Why then play a ranger when I can do the same timed shot with an Ele and get the desired dps? Like it or not "effectiveness per second" is still measured in can it kill me before I can kill it. I am just finding with my ranger in the higher end PvE and PvP environments that the class is fundamentally weaker (I PvE more than PvP so my views on this matter are likely scewed). I haven't gotten the holy grail of PvE ranger skills, barrage, so that skill might turn the tide. The ranger is a fine class, but it still makes me pause when fighters carve through stuff as fast or faster than my ranger can and take less damage. I understand the Ele doing more damage because it has less natural defense, but no class should exist in the game that has more defense AND more offense than another. Guess what it boils down to for me is either finding the right balance of skills that brings the ranger to par or living with it and enjoying the unique nature of some ranger skills. Knowing what I know now though, I would likely take ranger as a secondary. Maybe a Mo/R with a pet build. Probably catch a lot of players by suprise when the pet starts shooting damage out.
NiGht_HaWk
Quote:
Originally Posted by Straegen
Warriors are made to do immense amounts of damage. Rangers are not. Rangers are made to be versatile, being able to take any role decently well.
Necro and Mesmer hexes can totally shut down the warrior to basically nothing. Necro can lower their armor, damage, attack speed, among others. Mesmers can make the warrior's attacks a double edged sword, you could say; Empathy doing damage to them with every attack. Soothing Images doesnt let the warrior gain any adrenaline, weaking him even more. So the warrior is not that "invincible class" that has more defense and offense. it can be easily countered.
Even the ranger can combat warriors fairly well. traps like Spiked and barbed traps can damage, cripple and make the warrior bleeding, allowing you to make your escape. Throw dirt can make the warrior miss almost every time. The ranger has other defensive stances as well to keep on par with the warriors sustainability.
Beqxter
I play a R/W, and have shared your frustration at times - watching an Ele or Warrior on my team decimate foes while I chip away. I tend to solo more than group, so I use the henchies, which I find particularly challenging with a Ranger.
It's still satisfying, though, and I stick with it, because it's HARD. You can't just pick an enemy, hit the spacebar and then just hit the same old skill combinations to keep them fired. You have to take into consideration WHOM you're attacking, and WHAT THEY'RE DOING. You have to try and time your disruption or debilitating when going up against spell casters, or to slow down an oncoming warrior. You have to pay attention to terrain, getting up high without straying too far from your monk or boxing yourself in.
I think the builds are all balanced in terms of potential, but I think they're very different in the amount of skill it takes to REACH that potential. You can quickly and easily dish out damage with a warrior, but the Ranger is all about gameplay, finesse and strategy. Watching what's happening in the entire battle and responding. Warriors pay attention to enemies. Monks pay attention to allies. Rangers have to watch both.
It isn't for everyone, I think. It's hard. You die more. You level more slowly. But the satisfaction that comes from playing a battle perfectly and coming out alive is, I think, higher than if I was able to just autopilot through the battle. You can take more pride in your work. What fun is a game without challenge?
It's still satisfying, though, and I stick with it, because it's HARD. You can't just pick an enemy, hit the spacebar and then just hit the same old skill combinations to keep them fired. You have to take into consideration WHOM you're attacking, and WHAT THEY'RE DOING. You have to try and time your disruption or debilitating when going up against spell casters, or to slow down an oncoming warrior. You have to pay attention to terrain, getting up high without straying too far from your monk or boxing yourself in.
I think the builds are all balanced in terms of potential, but I think they're very different in the amount of skill it takes to REACH that potential. You can quickly and easily dish out damage with a warrior, but the Ranger is all about gameplay, finesse and strategy. Watching what's happening in the entire battle and responding. Warriors pay attention to enemies. Monks pay attention to allies. Rangers have to watch both.
It isn't for everyone, I think. It's hard. You die more. You level more slowly. But the satisfaction that comes from playing a battle perfectly and coming out alive is, I think, higher than if I was able to just autopilot through the battle. You can take more pride in your work. What fun is a game without challenge?
Straegen
Quote:
Originally Posted by NiGht_HaWk
Quote:
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It isn't for everyone, I think. It's hard. You die more. You level more slowly. But the satisfaction that comes from playing a battle perfectly and coming out alive is, I think, higher than if I was able to just autopilot through the battle. You can take more pride in your work. What fun is a game without challenge?
That was my conclusion as well. I believe you have to enjoy the class itself to go ranger. For me, I am a munchkin at heart and want to play streamlined builds. Whatever gives me an edge, I will likely use and abuse it. In GW to date the balance is superb, better than any complex PvP and/or PvE game I have played in a while. Truthfully rangers are fine and can kill players of all skill levels. I just found after leveling my warrior and ele up, that the Ranger was a handful by comparison. The game almost seems too easy with an ele. Oddly enough, they may be one of the better classes to teach PvP because you have to be on your toes. Quote:
Sorry and with respect, but I just think you're playing the wrong class for your gaming style. That you even asked this question indicates that an Elementalist would be a better choice, since what you're focused on is the amount of damage you can dish out in the least amount of time. And that's a great thing to want for sure, but it's just not what the Ranger is good at.
Quote:
Quote: Just because a hammer puts out higher numbers at a time doesn't mean it does more dps... |
Quote: So should both mesmers and necromancers not be in the game If you know how to play a mesmer, they can hold their own with the best of them. Mesmers have some really good PvP skills (such as backfire... OUCH!) and fast casting can often help them drop nukes from other classes faster. I haven't played a mesmer primary yet, but it is on my list. I know in PvP I respect them and consider them a target of opportunity once the monks are down. Necors as a primary, I don't worry about as much other classes, but they have some skills that are truly powerful skills. W/N and Ele/N builds can be very dangerous.
Quote: Originally Posted by Akshara Sorry and with respect, but I just think you're playing the wrong class for your gaming style. That you even asked this question indicates that an Elementalist would be a better choice, since what you're focused on is the amount of damage you can dish out in the least amount of time. And that's a great thing to want for sure, but it's just not what the Ranger is good at. That is only partially true. I play PvE as well (probably 70% of the time) and find rangers in PvE situations at a disadvantage as well both in groups and solo. How many times have you been in a town and someone spamming for a ranger to join their group? Not many I suspect.
Quote: Originally Posted by Akshara
the Ranger is a supporting role, not a frontline attacker. Rangers, in this game at least, are more akin to Mesmers with skills, not Warriors with bows. The Ranger may not be able to dish out as much damage as an Elementalist, but he/she can add situations or conditions to the battlefield that make everyone else's attacks more powerful and effective. They can keep others alive long enough to finish what they started, and interrupt or completely debilitate the actions of others. The Ranger can cause a whole lot more chaos much more quickly than an Elementalist can
In this regard they fail in a more obvious fashion. They do have some skills that disrupt, but a mesmer or monk is far more suited to this role than a Ranger. Rangers possess only a handful of skills compared to mesmers for support. I would even argue that a well built mesmer can out damage and cause more chaos than a ranger.
Again, I think the Ranger falls into the jack of all trades category master of none and that is the feel I got after leveling in PvP and PvE environments to 18. After going back through the game with an Ele and a War, I found that the ranger was a handful to play by comparison and I couldn't get the effectiveness out of the class.
Again, I think the Ranger falls into the jack of all trades category master of none and that is the feel I got after leveling in PvP and PvE environments to 18. After going back through the game with an Ele and a War, I found that the ranger was a handful to play by comparison and I couldn't get the effectiveness out of the class.
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Originally Posted by Akshara
I mean if it were all and only about damage done, then there would be no point in Mesmers or Necros either, and the vast lexicon of interrupts, hexes, enhancements, etc. would be a waste of space.
Its about killing them before they kill you. Mesmers are powerful in their disruption and drain spells. Personally, I find Necro mains to be at a disadvantage on the battlefield mainly because Soul Reaping isn't as useful as Energy Storage or Fast Casting. The fight usually turns before the necro can even get going, but the necro does have some VERY powerful game changing skills. Quote:
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