To Barrage or not to? And Energy

Barrage is of course a sought after elite skill and is very useful in many situations. I always use it. But are there times when it's not so useful? Like in the Dragon's Lair mission, Barrage helps with enemies. But I'm sure I can get by them without Barrage. Especially if we have another ranger using that skill. And in the end it's just one boss per section. I would think I'd rather use some other elite skill that's useful against a single boss. Are there times when Barrage isn't always the best choice? Or is it true that the trend is to just bring Barrage no matter what?

Also, I sometimes see someone say "My Energy is 37 of 87!" or something. How do they get energy that high? Is it some temporary enchantment that gives them that much? I think I've seen Elementalists and Monks say that. I changed my 2nd profession to Monk and really enjoy it.

Different classes get different energy levels, both Monks and Elementalists have higher energy than Rangers. To manage your energy more effectivly you need to make sure you have sufficient points in expertise, this will reduce the energy costs of your skills, I like to keep my expertise on at least 10. Also getting a set of druids armour will give you an energy boost too, I use druids with leather studded leggings (2 less energy than full druids but an extra pip of energy recovery).
You might want to look at interrupt and degen skills as an alternative to barrage when facing bosses, I seldom use barrage unless I'm in a barrage team. The 2 elites I use the most would probably be poison arrow and oath shot.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ranger Rog

Quote: Originally Posted by NJudson

I notice how Expertise does that and I keep some att points in that. And some of my armor, including my vest, is Druids.

I went in the Underworld for the first time and learned how the trapper team works. Huddle together in a ball and keep laying traps. It's like laying roadside bombs when enemies get lured in there. I went and picked up Spiked Trap for it. Easier to obtain in Cantha in the valley area. So there's one situation where I wouldn't use Barrage.

Okay, first off, you don't get barrage until you hit Iron Mines. Which means you don't get there until you beat Ice Caves. To do that you must get to Droks. Unless you ran from Becons or had someone run you there, you can only get there by beating the Dragon's Lair.

If you went by the way you should go, then you wouldn't have Barrage when facing that mission. So if you ask can you get away from beating Dragon's Lair without barrage (no one should have it), the answer is yes. And doing so is easy.

As to your second question (probably your main question), Barrage I find is useless when facing less than 2 monsters that are close together. Another good reason not to bring Barrage is when you are against creatures suceptable to fire, where it is better to bring greater conflageration than barrage (as you can only have 1 elite). Or if you are against a lot of creatures suceptable to cold or a lot of spell casters, then you can bring greater conflageration + winter, and hope you have at least 1 necro with spinal shivers.

Other good elites vs boss = incindiary arrow or melandru's arrow (only if they bleed), Punishing Shot (if vs spell caster)

Quote: Originally Posted by Iskrah

I take Barrage everywhere. Even against a single foe, you get extra damage with less energy vs. some other skills.

Quote: Originally Posted by WoodyDotNet

The thing I like most about barrage (although I've avoided using it in the intrest of playing with different styles) is that it works great by itself. You are free to take whatever else your heart desires to fill in the rest of your skill bar, because barrage functions beautifully by itself.

As I said before, I've left it off my skill bar, because I'm intrested in playing a well rounded and versitile character, so I've been trying many different builds out.... but you can never go wrong by using Barrage in PvE.

What is the point of using oath shot if you have a high expertise and druids? I never run out of mana with my ranger unless im trapping and then rarely. As for the elite I use, it completely depends on what i am doing(trapping, solo farming, questing, pvping) and my mood. I have a perfect zealous short bow taht i use whenever i use barrage. Poisoning/bleeding/crippling for everything else. I try to avoid using vampiric and sundering as i beleive they are both somewhat overrated. What makes rangers an "elite" class is their versatility. Rangers are very adaptable to different play styles due to cheap runes, availabilty of cheap perfect items from collectors(true about every class i guess), and a large variety of skills. Also taht new elite "Glass Arrows" is a great elite. it adds a large amount of damage and does bleeding if blocked. With other damage modifiers i do over 130 damage against monks. Redefines spiking.

Quote: Originally Posted by God's Will

Full druids armor + high points in expertiese + barage + multipal targets + zealous bow = very little energy problem

Full druids armor + high points in expertiese + barage + multipal targets + zealous bow = B/P Rangers = Rangers that are unskilled and virutally useless in any other situation.

I always hated bringing Barrage with me as every new Ranger under the sun likes to get it and just go around thinking they are an extreme damage dealer. I like to go away from the main builds and just try what I think works fine though that doesn't get you into PUG's all that often.

My love for elites sits in Oath shot and how wonderful it can be when using traps, stances or condition spreads. What the other guy was talking about was "Marksman Wager" which is a skill that gives energy back per hit but you lose 10 if you miss. The Forgotten bowusers in the desert use it and I'm thinking you cap it from a Ranger boss around there as well.

I've had BP Rangers asking me for a BR when I play as a neco and I scratch my head. With 10 in expertise and even without the Zealous string I don't see why you'd be running into energy problems with a max 5 energy cost skill.

I'd suggest playing around with the other elites as there are many fun Ranger elites to play with. Mind you it may be harder to get into a PUG but it is a lot more rewarding.

Quote: Originally Posted by Reikai

all ranger leggins have an extra +1 pip is energy.... druids, drakescale, studded... u name it, it has it!

and i dont ALWAYS have barrage stapled on me. alot of times i take poison arrow, oath shot (for interrupting spamming), even melandrus arrows... but not as much

got to admit.... evry time i join a PUG they insist on me having barrage...

ok, when theres 5 of us shooting it +having a FW+orders, yes its a major spike to multiple targets, but CMON!!! im the only ranger in the group!!!! you realy think me barraging will change anything? CMON! almost any PUG has a nuker, they normally take care of the mass damage.

but being a single ranger... i much rather interrupt, trap and degenerate then just stand and press space+barrage, and honesly its MUCH more useful

I've been changing things around for the fun of it. I like to trap a lot. Sometimes when an enemy is fighting others, I'll run up and set a trap or two right by it. I think I set Shiro on fire once, I couldn't quite tell. I also like setting chained souls on fire doing that for a laugh. I may equip all traps and run around setting traps in early quests and missions while healing new gamers.

I may access the Warrior 2nd profession and play around with an eternal shield and really cool axe or sword.

I'm really liking the Drago's Flatbow(the green vampiric one) a lot less since it doesn't give the +30hp that the Elswyth Recurve gives and it's +15% in a stance instead of above 50% health. BUT, I got a green Ironwing Longbow(green one, vamp with the stats I want) when I was in a team and we beat Shiro. I switch that with the Elswyth Recurve and a dummy Stormbow. Sometimes I use Mending, sometimes I don't.

I'm a fan of Barrage and traps (Dust and Healing) at the moment. It's very nice to have the dual role of attacking with Barrage and Distracting Shot for ranged work, with the more defensive role of support defence with Dust Trap, Healing Spring and Throw Dirt (Whirling and Troll being for personal use) and a Rez for 'just in case'.

I am a bit bored of that setup though, I fancy the idea of giving Trapper's Focus a go when I get around to capping it. Maybe I'll try a traps + spirits R/Rt or something weird like that, I'm sure there's a use for those 25 energy Rt spirits that Expertise can help with.