Ranger'd!

Kilguri

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

I went back to the desert today to try and capture Marskman's Wager from Thirsty River mission, and got myself into a little crazy group.

We did not finish the mission, but we got pretty damn close to doing, right down to the last group which refused to die after numerous attempts. We cleared the first two groups in about 6 minutes, and then kept retrying the last one over and over again for approximately 20 minutes before giving up and dying. We found out Ranger interrupts are easily countered by enemies using Throw Dirt, and we lacked some burst damage in general to take out the priest between interrupts. Does it mean what we attempted is impossible? Hardly, with a little more coordination and teamwork it would've been a breeze.

And why do I bother making a post about *almost* succeeding in doing Thirsty River mission? Simple enough, because this is the group setup we had.



I'm so tired of people complaining about Rangers being useless in groups, and how they'd rather have another Wamo instead, hell, I've had people leave groups because someone let me in when they already had a Ranger. Rangers may not the end of all class, but they are far from the useless weak class most of the idiots around make of them.

avnos

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

neat heh, i have a ranger main myself, but u gotta think how 6 eles woulda done ;\.

bstripp

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by avnos
neat heh, i have a ranger main myself, but u gotta think how 6 eles woulda done ;\.
Did the mission with 5 el/xx and 1 mo/xx who dropped before the first match. We made it to the last group and died on the healing boss. It was bad timing on our part and got caught by a rez which did us in.

Six competant players will do well no matter the classes.

Straegen

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

6 Ele knowing they are on their own would likely fair better. They would just need a ward and aura of rest going and probably wouldn't have any real trouble. If they had their timing down, each player dropping a set of AoEs down would be scary damage.

I generally don't run with those on my bar since a monk or two keeps me alive and I stay focused on damage, but knowing going in that I don't have a monk backup would definately allow me to slot some effective healing being an Ele/Mo especially.

LoKi Foxfire

LoKi Foxfire

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

Florida

One Corgi Army {OCA}

R/Rt

The problem with rangers is that most people who play them (PvE and PvP) don't know what the hell they are doing. I got a very nice PvE build using anti-caster/DpS skills and it works good. My PvP build is a nice anti-warrior build, then again, a lot of warriors are dumb too and will continue chasing you even though you have PD, HS, PA on them...

Awol Duteq

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Heh funny story to add to yours, I myself am a Rgr/Mo, the group starting up was me, another Rgr/Mo, and a Rgr/War or something of the like. We then invited a War/Mo who accepted then stated too many Rgrs and left the group. So we picked up a Nec/Ele an Ele/Mes and grabbed another War/Rgr. Funny part is, we smoked the river mission first try, even though as a group we said aw well, this wont work but might as well give it a go.

Dwiggit

Dwiggit

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Heroes Unlimited (HaCK)

R/Mo

Loki, I agree with your comment about people not knowing how to use Rangers. I think they take additional skill to use because not all their advantages are in their skills.

The damage increase you get from being higher in elevation than your enemy is very significant. I don't know what the actual modifier is, but it seems like I get 2X or better hits from above.

Whereas other characters don't rely on terrain very much, the archer should always seek higher ground, even when it means running right through a mob to get the "upper" hand!

Combine the Ranger with a Monk secondary, and you've got yourself a very durable character. By placing the "Mending" spell on myself, I've often been the only one alive after a major battle. Add the "ressurect" skill, and your party will love you!

Enjoy!
Dwig

Serafita Kayin

Serafita Kayin

Exclusive Reclusive

Join Date: May 2005

Tuscaloosa, AL

Seraph's Pinion (wing)

R/Me

R/Me here, and people love partying with me cause I can stand there in elemental attacks and laugh for quite a while before needing healing, especially when all the others are dead, cause they can't hold up to elemental...

Not to mention 100+ an attack if I crit, and always 50+ or better, and that's not even max damage bow.

Soul Monarch

Soul Monarch

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

In the between.

Heros Etc.

Me/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilguri
I'm so tired of people complaining about Rangers being useless in groups, and how they'd rather have another Wamo instead, hell, I've had people leave groups because someone let me in when they already had a Ranger. Rangers may not the end of all class, but they are far from the useless weak class most of the idiots around make of them.
Kilguri -

I they plan to turn down a R/x for a W/Mo, you don't want to be partied with them anyhow. The good players recognize the value of a Ranger.

Rangers have better defensive skills than the warrior, and with better elemental defense they make great tanks if play right. They've got damage about as good as an elementalist, they have some sweet utility with rituals and traps... oh, plus they have some snares and interrupts just to make sure that they can do part of the Mesmer's work too.

The only issue is that they can't do it all at one time. If someone spreads themselves out too much, naturally their character won't be much good. It's no surprise that Ranger's have a bad rep. So many options, that a lot of people probably try to do everything at once.

Lasher Dragon

Lasher Dragon

Draconic Rage Incarnate

Join Date: Apr 2005

Iowa

Alphahive

R/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by Soul Monarch
The only issue is that they can't do it all at one time. If someone spreads themselves out too much, naturally their character won't be much good. It's no surprise that Ranger's have a bad rep. So many options, that a lot of people probably try to do everything at once.
My Pyromancer buddy whines all the time because before we go on missions, I spend a few minutes in town rearranging my skills to suit the task at hand. He's got it easy - stand back and blow shit up. I've got to: call targets, spread the poison, interrupt, keep an eye on Alesia the Suicidal, watch my stances/preps and how much time I have left, switch bows for maximum effect vs different enemies, etcetera. All he has to do is throw points in Fire and Energy Storage and he's good to go.

Fye Duron

Fye Duron

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

Chico, CA, USA

Dragon Fang

I personally think that too many people do not know how to use the ranger skills well. And that is why people look down on them. I see too many rangers wanting to play tank, and that is always a joke.

tool++

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Surrey, UK (*EU Server!*)

Legion of Anarchy

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwiggit
Loki, I agree with your comment about people not knowing how to use Rangers. I think they take additional skill to use because not all their advantages are in their skills.

The damage increase you get from being higher in elevation than your enemy is very significant. I don't know what the actual modifier is, but it seems like I get 2X or better hits from above.

Whereas other characters don't rely on terrain very much, the archer should always seek higher ground, even when it means running right through a mob to get the "upper" hand!

Combine the Ranger with a Monk secondary, and you've got yourself a very durable character. By placing the "Mending" spell on myself, I've often been the only one alive after a major battle. Add the "ressurect" skill, and your party will love you!

Enjoy!
Dwig
Heh, after getting annoyed with my N/W, I tried a R/Mo and I love it - I've only died on a mission once (which is probably nothing special, but my old char would die like hell), plus when used properly the char is really really tactical - I'm usually the contingency guy that everyone thanks because they all died and I managed to get away, heal, and res 'em

On another note, I've seen rangers wearing big heavy cloaks - where on earth do I get them? Do they work for female rangers?

Cheers all

Edit: Currently I'm focussing on Marks. Expertise, and Healing - is that a good combination? (I'd probably class myself as a noob, as the furthest I got with my other character was Thunderhead D: )

Also I do useless damage against armoured targets and have no idea where I'm going to get Escape{elite}

thegriffgeeks

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2005

in the wild with Lion

Knights of the Old Republic

R/Mo

Three different groups of 4 rangers made it to the last boss set in Thirsty rivers. I was one of those rangers. The last group and final group I was on that made it had 2 Rangers. One of the groups that had 4 rangers had person leave because they said got too many rangers. No we did not.

Lasher Dragon is right. I spend a bit of time resetting before each mission. arranging skills and attributes and such. I'm often the person saying "wait not ready yet," and the mission button gets pushed anyway. So I end up in mission with a not so good set of skills. When I can do what I need to do before the mission, the results show for themselves.

In game, change is the key and I keep 2 different bows on hand to deal different types of damage. And I tank when needed cause that armor holds up. Now a days I'll be the last one standing (and rez-ing), unless everyone pulls back so the mob attacks me. Then I'm one of the 1st to go.

Playing the ranger seems easy at 1st, but if you want to be good the learning curve is much steeper. My monk skills focus on smiting prayers. Major dmg from a distance. I love it.

Soul Monarch

Soul Monarch

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

In the between.

Heros Etc.

Me/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon
My Pyromancer buddy whines all the time because before we go on missions, I spend a few minutes in town rearranging my skills to suit the task at hand. He's got it easy - stand back and blow shit up. I've got to: call targets, spread the poison, interrupt, keep an eye on Alesia the Suicidal, watch my stances/preps and how much time I have left, switch bows for maximum effect vs different enemies, etcetera. All he has to do is throw points in Fire and Energy Storage and he's good to go.
IMHO, Lasher, the only class requiring more work to play is the Mesmer. And even that isn't true depending on your set up.

Your buddy can complain all he wants, but I'll take you over him in my party any day. I don't need someone that blows stuff up, I need someone who can help watch my back in a fight.

Lasher Dragon

Lasher Dragon

Draconic Rage Incarnate

Join Date: Apr 2005

Iowa

Alphahive

R/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by thegriffgeeks
In game, change is the key and I keep 2 different bows on hand to deal different types of damage.
Currently I carry 4 different bows, however that will soon be 6: one of each element, a vampiric, and a sundering.

Lasher Dragon

Lasher Dragon

Draconic Rage Incarnate

Join Date: Apr 2005

Iowa

Alphahive

R/A

Oooooh this discussion reminds me of a good idea one of my guildmates had.. gotta go post it in Sardelac.

Pevil Lihatuh

Pevil Lihatuh

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Yorkshire, UK

R/Me

lol i like this post. i'm fed up with people turning you away due to your primary mission (we already have 3 rangers, i dont care if your secondary is x profession that we dont have *rolls eyes*). The point in this game is that you can have 6 rangers and they can all have different secondaries (well ok 2 would be the same :P) but as long as they are skilled it doesn't matter. Like how a primary monk is automatically accepted into the group on the basis that they are 'guaranteed' to be a dedicated healer, whereas a secondary monk is usually rejected.

I'd be very interested to hear if other people have managed to get successful groups of all one class through missions; I know I've done many missions with 3 or 4 rangers in the group no problem at all.

Mystical

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Mississauga, Ontario

Inyurface Gaming [IYF]

Lol, I see this in the PvP arenas. Had about 3 different teams of all Rangers, or all Rangers and one something else. One W/Mo right away gave up and said in team talk that he's just gunna die right away and preceded into the other team without attacking. Needless to say we lost due to eveyone thinking they had a tank to support.

Only once has a team of all Rangers won the arena and we went on ~5 game winning streak. Alot of times I just see the other Rangers giving up.

kaya

kaya

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

NBK

geez! this makes me want to build a ranger. if only i had another character spot for him.

Rellok

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2005

Madison, WI

W/Mo

I think I might just start grouping and then leaving saying "too many Wa/Mo's and no R! Good luck." It would be even funnier if I was using a Wa/Mo.

It's like playing the stock market

Matt

tool++

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Surrey, UK (*EU Server!*)

Legion of Anarchy

R/Mo

I'm pretty new here, but I was wondering - is it best to ask questions in a thread or to start a new thread?

Just my post got rather ignored :O

Lasher Dragon

Lasher Dragon

Draconic Rage Incarnate

Join Date: Apr 2005

Iowa

Alphahive

R/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by tool++
I'm pretty new here, but I was wondering - is it best to ask questions in a thread or to start a new thread?

Just my post got rather ignored :O
Sorry, missed your question - those trench coats some Rangers wear are only for the males as far as I can tell. I play a female Ranger, and I have never seen a trench for her... which I think kinda sucks.

isilwen

isilwen

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

with both my main a monk and my new ranger alt i find that each have to plan things thoroughly...this adds a strategical and tactical depth to ranger and monk classes both. most peeps dont think outside 2-d dimensions. A mark of good player is when they take a tough class as monk or ranger and make them seen godly. ranger is a class where skill truly matters how you play it ^^

tool++

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Surrey, UK (*EU Server!*)

Legion of Anarchy

R/Mo

Thanks <3

Ah, damn :/

Where's a good source of info about tactics etc - as I said, I'd probably class myself as sucky at present...but I'm open to any knowhow I can get my hands on.

I have soo many questions to ask...but I don't want to annoy you, so where's a good info source for things like where to get drop X, advice about damage/AP/elemental stuff, where to get elite skill X?

Lasher Dragon

Lasher Dragon

Draconic Rage Incarnate

Join Date: Apr 2005

Iowa

Alphahive

R/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by tool++
Thanks <3

Ah, damn :/

Where's a good source of info about tactics etc - as I said, I'd probably class myself as sucky at present...but I'm open to any knowhow I can get my hands on.

I have soo many questions to ask...but I don't want to annoy you, so where's a good info source for things like where to get drop X, advice about damage/AP/elemental stuff, where to get elite skill X?
It's alright, just send me a message via msn, and I'll answer what I can.

Serafita Kayin

Serafita Kayin

Exclusive Reclusive

Join Date: May 2005

Tuscaloosa, AL

Seraph's Pinion (wing)

R/Me

I play with friends with a group that consists of a R/ME (me), a straight warrior, and a Mo/R, and we decimate things. Three people can do the work of an entire party in PvE. I often do more damage than a straight warrior of my own level, cause of setup.

It's HOW YOU PLAY that makes a class good or bad. This isn't Magic the Gathering, where some cards were just dogs (Abbey Matron anyone?) but a game of skill and insight, and the person at the keyboard has to be able to control theperson on the screen or nothing will get done.

And if they cry about rangers, i join another team and pwn them. Just to prove who can do what.

Demetrious

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

I'm a mid level char only - lv 11 R/Mo - and I guess I am a bit boring in that he is a archer/healer but I am having lots of fun and don't feel at all like he is undermatched.

Ok, maybe in pure solo I can tell he doesn't deal a huge damage rate, but more often I am with a hench, or with a group, or in PvP and in those cases I definitely contribute.

Am I the star? Maybe not but in many ways, I enjoy playing the ranger because you have to "play the ranger" to be good. I have different skill and attribute setups for solo vs. PvP vs. hench vs. party.

Maybe that is part of my liking of the ranger - the player makes a big difference. I don't play that many hours but I do think I have practiced quite a bit for a level 11 ranger. I try and time my attacks to coincide with the group, certainly focus on terrain to gain damage and range and try to keep a view of the "battlefield" to quickly heal or change targets to apply my skills where they are needed.

All in all, it fits me pretty well I think and even if I give up a bit of horsepower, there's no doubt a skilled ranger brings assets to the table.

rei

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serafita Kayin
R/Me here, and people love partying with me cause I can stand there in elemental attacks and laugh for quite a while before needing healing, especially when all the others are dead, cause they can't hold up to elemental...

Not to mention 100+ an attack if I crit, and always 50+ or better, and that's not even max damage bow.
dont mind me asking, but what attribute is your marksmanship/dmg of bow/class of bow/blue/purple/yellow?
just wondering since ive got myself a nice 14-27 flat bow with neat stats yet still i dun seem to do anything over 40 to heavy armor'd monsters or warriors.

LoKi Foxfire

LoKi Foxfire

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

Florida

One Corgi Army {OCA}

R/Rt

Quote:
Originally Posted by HH-
Lol, I see this in the PvP arenas. Had about 3 different teams of all Rangers, or all Rangers and one something else. One W/Mo right away gave up and said in team talk that he's just gunna die right away and preceded into the other team without attacking. Needless to say we lost due to eveyone thinking they had a tank to support.

Only once has a team of all Rangers won the arena and we went on ~5 game winning streak. Alot of times I just see the other Rangers giving up.
I gone on a 20 win streak with no monk in arena before. Then again, a lot of the players in there are nubs.

Screencap of only 20 wins

Our whole team quit after that, it's boring to own people nonstop with no real challenge. Hell, we even beat a 2 monk team with no monk of our and did it flawlessly. :O (and now everyone knows my skill set up for anti-warrior ;D)

thegriffgeeks

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2005

in the wild with Lion

Knights of the Old Republic

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon
Currently I carry 4 different bows, however that will soon be 6: one of each element, a vampiric, and a sundering.
Two reasons why I don't have more, haven't crossed them yet and I have two smiting rods/staff that are amazing! But I will carry more bows if I find better ones.

I do agree different bows for different things. I have a bow that deals +11% dmg if I'm hexed. If I'm getting hexed you can guess what I'm pulling out. The funny part is when I start using it the majority of the enemies stop attacking me! hehe

Serafita Kayin

Serafita Kayin

Exclusive Reclusive

Join Date: May 2005

Tuscaloosa, AL

Seraph's Pinion (wing)

R/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by rei
dont mind me asking, but what attribute is your marksmanship/dmg of bow/class of bow/blue/purple/yellow?
just wondering since ive got myself a nice 14-27 flat bow with neat stats yet still i dun seem to do anything over 40 to heavy armor'd monsters or warriors.
I'm using penetrating shot for that so I can partially ignore AL. That's almost my default attack, but 12 marks, 13-24 bow, +4 to armor. Also have 5 or six in expertise...

Mystical

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Mississauga, Ontario

Inyurface Gaming [IYF]

Quote:
Originally Posted by LoKi Foxfire
I gone on a 20 win streak with no monk in arena before. Then again, a lot of the players in there are nubs.

Screencap of only 20 wins

Our whole team quit after that, it's boring to own people nonstop with no real challenge. Hell, we even beat a 2 monk team with no monk of our and did it flawlessly. :O (and now everyone knows my skill set up for anti-warrior ;D)
Nice!

I've been on a 15 game win streak in Shiverpeak (yeah, still working my way through the game the first time), the team was pretty balanced with no monk too. IIRC we had two Rangers, a Warrior and an E/N. The warrior would call the first target and just charge him will all of us in support. It was fun since I've never been on a win streak that long before. Ended up loosing do to (I think) being to kocky, including me. :P

During the all Ranger team experience, we where all amazed at how well a bunch of Rangers can complement eachother if we all lookout for one another. I went around one match running from the warriors (yeah, I know you all hate that ) casting Whirling Defence then Resurrect, then running to the next Ranger. We actually won that too. We ended up loosing to a all Warrior team however. And pretty fast at that.

Pevil Lihatuh

Pevil Lihatuh

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Yorkshire, UK

R/Me

the problem is people still seem to be having trouble understanding that its the skill of the player behind the guy that matters. And thats everyone in the team. If there is ONE bad player in the team, you're handicapped. Of course if the other team has one bad player, its all even again

To be honest in this game they could give us mice to play as a profession and as long as the player was good, a team of 8 mice could seriously own 8 warriors

sybban

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Beaufort Fun Park

I don't remember the guild name

Mo/W

It's because most rangers don't know how to play their job. The others are pretty simple to play. Hell my first charcter was a ranger and I knew I was useless due to lack of knowledge. Start teaching rangers and maybe they'll get a better rep

Cs Coldize

Cs Coldize

Guild Wars Guru

Join Date: May 2005

Georgia

BEER

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by avnos
neat heh, i have a ranger main myself, but u gotta think how 6 eles woulda done ;\.
I resent that. Eles arent affected by blindness when using spells so we woulda slaughtered them.

Think of how 6 E/mo's would do. Then we could heal ourselves and revive fallen allies. What now? (ya, im not a E/mo but its still interesting idea)

Besides, eles have some of the strongest attacks, AoE to the max. If you were in a good team of eles, you could each setup your skills to take out a specific class. Then it would be a breeze.

sybban

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Beaufort Fun Park

I don't remember the guild name

Mo/W

Regardless of what you any of you say, the fact remains that in a normal group of mediorce players-All you need is one ranger, plain and simple.

grimmolly

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2005

Xion Nights

N/Mo

No offense, but this thread is starting to read like a support group for rangers. I understand how skill can make a ranger good and agree that carefully made builds can be excellent, but using the random arenas to prove that is for fools. How can you tell when a win is your fault when you are only one part of the equation? Like healing W/Mos, much of the usual ranger tactics in arenas don't work the same in the tombs. Most random teams won't have ranged snares or interrupts to stop that trap and run strategy, so it's only self-gratifying to show off that winning streak. Good rangers in tombs often replace those flame traps with energy draining and interrupting skills. What do random arenas have to do with anything? I swear I see the most rangers there, because it seems to be where they're the most effective due to all the paladin builds that are easy to counter. If you want to impress me, tell me how your all ranger team beat the ring of fire.

Mystical

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Mississauga, Ontario

Inyurface Gaming [IYF]

Quote:
Originally Posted by grimmolly
How can you tell when a win is your fault when you are only one part of the equation?
There is no "I" in team. If you shot one arrow and hit, you've contributed. Rangers are good at distracting Monks; with Dodge and Lightning Reflexes getting close is easy, then Hunter's Shot/Pin Down/Apply Poison you've given the Monk too much to worry about to heal his team.

Rangers can and do help in the random arenas. If you don't notice it, they've done their job.

Beqxter

Beqxter

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Berkeley, CA

Quote:
Originally Posted by HH-
Rangers can and do help in the random arenas. If you don't notice it, they've done their job.
Of course, they could also suck and you wouldn't notice. Rangers, in general, are just not very noticable.

(I play a ranger and agree with you, so don't think that's a flame. Just poking fun.)

Zyndaar

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Rangers are a blast to play.

I alternate between R/E and R/Mo.

As an R/E I ALWAYS find the higher ground, it is imperative for a ranger.
I have freaked out quite a few parties when I go running thru a mob to gain higher ground.
I slap on Storm Chaser and Lightning Reflexes and run thru the mob, if I have a trap along I drop it when past in case anything decides to come after me.

Good example was on the Thirsty River mission, just before you get to the hero there is 2 Sand Giants and a bunch of Rockshot Devourers, party aggroed all of them, I ran thru them to the higher ground on the right they all focused on the party and now I am the only person who was able to cast Meteor Shower since the Devourers were using Distracting Shot on the others.
One of the Sand Giants decided he was gonna play "Stomp the Monk", so I nailed him with a Pin Down and the Monk got away.
From there I rained down arrows on the called target which due to being on higher ground did alot more damage then if I had just stayed below in the middle of the fight.

One of the best things about being a Ranger is the sense of being able to control the flow of battle like that, Rangers have great power to direct WHAT happens and HOW in a fight.

For EVERY mission I first take the henchies to see what I will be facing.
How else will I know what specific skills to take along?
For those trips I go as R/Mo, and I become the Ranger Medic, I sit back pelting everything with arrows and using Rebirth when a henchie drops.
Don't care if a henchie gets a -60% DP I just pop em back on their feet so they can do more damage or soak more damage up.

Being a Ranger is ALL about planning and strategy if you fail to do either you will most likely fail in whatever your attempting.