Ranger Builds, Guides, and Tips

^^^

What the hell?

Azog, if you really despise this guide SO much and despise the creator SO much, then don't read it. It'll solve all your problems for you.
No, I won't let someone get away with plagiarizing (i.e. taking information from other places and taking credit for it).

It's just not in my nature.

Azog

My god i wish i'd continued to avoid this thread. Ditto.

I didn't invent the skills, that's just how I use them. If you want I'll change the f'in names, that's just how I do it. I thought people would look beyond the NAMES OF THE BUILDS and look at what they actually do. I swear to God I'm about to just delete this, I'm so tired of the flames. Perhaps you should start with the words 'Sha' before each and every build you quite obviously stole?

... says the guy who uses Apply then spreads it with Savage spam. Not that I really want to step on too many PvE toes; but spreading poison with Apply and Savage inbetween normal attacks is BY FAR the most efficient way to spread it, bar using Quick Shot. Watch the Crip-Shot rangers used by decent guilds on observer mode, and you should see them doing this whenever they are in the main battle to pressure the other team.

It is SO much faster and more efficient. The garbage theory you came up disproving that is... well garbage. Poison Arrow is one of the worst ranger Elites going, learn to love Apply. Don't get me wrong, 10 months ago when I was a bit of a nub I used Apply Poison and Kindle on my ranger, and thought it was the bomb. I soon got over that. Poison becomes more and more effective as the mob size increases, so if you aren't running a build with optimal ability to spread it then why use Poison at all?

And Trappers Focus *IS* another waste of an Elite; Distortion trapping is the way forward, either that or Oath Shot and Whirling Defense.

Regards,
-JR

Jus because you disagree doesn't make Sha's opinions worthless. Opinions are as always still only opinions. For starting players it is generally a good idea to learn the facts and pick up on opinions from several experienced players. While many of those opinions may contradict, the realization of such contradictions will allow that player to look at those arguments in a new light. I don't see anything wrong with Sha posting his opinions in a guide because it is a guide, not a statistical reference. As long as the reader knows that he is only looking at the opinion of one person, they will be able to benefit from looking at aspects of rangers in a new light. No, opinions can't necessarily be thrown out entirely, but not all opinions are equal, especially when they relate to quantifiables. Opinions can in fact be wrong; if my opinion is that longbows do better damage than shortbows for example that's simply wrong. It's an opinion about something based on misinformation or misconceptions, perhaps borrowing from real life, where the power of the longbow indeed was greater than most standard shortbows (we won't get into composites etc...). Some things stated by Sha may well be his opinions, but they ARE wrong (example - zealous bow not being worth using because of the low rate of fire; proof of usefulness, crunch numbers, you come out ahead in energy while firing. Carry a bow switch if needed). Others opinions of his are based perhaps in a misunderstanding of the role (for example, talking about Vampiric weapons - the point isn't whether the health gain counters the health loss, it's a bonus 5 armour ignoring damage on every shot - that's worth using in builds even if you are losing health) and still others are legitimate opinions, in which alternate viewpoints might be supported.

Sometimes things could be fixed simply by changing the emphasis - I agree that one should always think about the area in question, the party composition and the skills being used by and against you before bringing a spirit along, but his phrasing is negative in the extreme, when spirits are in fact handy in many instances/areas.

Other things would be improved by explaining reasoning; still others are odd and inexplicable (Like advising against Edge of Exticntion in PvE ... obviously bringing it along to face the white mantle is a bad idea, but if your party is dying often enough for EoE to be a nuisance it's not the EoE that's a problem.). These come across as irrational judgements, probably based on party wipes due to bad playing and inappropriate laying of blame on the spirit rather than the party failure that lead to deaths in the first place. The failure to properly explain his opinions and the extreme nature of many of his biases leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and as it currently stands I would recommend against using this as a source.

I don't think that either elite is a waste. There are benefits and shortcomings of both stragedies. How is there? 75% to avoid an attack and not wasting your elite slot or 100% to not be interrupted by a normal attack, still take damage, still end up needing an Evasive stance to stop actual interrupts and wasting your elite slot. It says not easily interruptable, if it said 'not interruptable' then we'd be on to something.

How is there? 75% to avoid an attack and not wasting your elite slot or 100% to not be interrupted by a normal attack, still take damage, still end up needing an Evasive stance to stop actual interrupts and wasting your elite slot. It says not easily interruptable, if it said 'not interruptable' then we'd be on to something. You are still forced to "waste your elite" on Oath Shot then.

Finally, saying that Barrage is better than, say, Punishing Shot, is like saying that Whirling Axe is better than, say, Eviscerate. AoE isn't the "omgwtfpwn" only way to play. Learn what direct damage is and then learn how valuable it can be.

Call me a nub all you want, I'm sure it makes you feel better about yourselves. I'm not going to post xp number or hours played because numbers mean very little, but I know what I'm talking about, much better than some of you obviously. I'd appreciate it if we just discussed these topics rather than just talking shit about me.

You are still forced to "waste your elite" on Oath Shot then. I was talking about Distortion. Even then you can recharge your traps and any spirits you might have instantly too. Which is alot better than the shitty 'no longer easily interruptable'.

Hang on numbers mean very little? Wasn't that the whole basis of your arguement with Snipeous over how to spread Poison.

Condition Removal in PvP... whoop de doo. Now meet this thing called Energy. The more conditions you apply, the more pressure the opponents get.

Condition Removal in PvP... whoop de doo. Now meet this thing called Energy. The more conditions you apply, the more pressure the opponents get. Ok wait that time you just misunderstood me. I was saying that in PvP, Apply Poison is better because of condition removal, making reapplication much easier and more of a burdon.

That's it buddy, Admin time. Nothing here is plagerized, and I'm tired of being accused as such. I really wish that you would quit threatening me with admin sanction. I haven't done anything here that you haven't done.

Azog

I didn't invent the skills, that's just how I use them. If you want I'll change the f'in names, that's just how I do it. I thought people would look beyond the NAMES OF THE BUILDS and look at what they actually do. I swear to God I'm about to just delete this, I'm so tired of the flames.

As far as the R/E builds I SAID it wasn't the best way, but it's fun. Sorry for... having fun?



Ditto. It's not just the name of the builds, it's the fact that you blatantly take credit for the builds.

Azog

That was a bad example. If your trapping, wheres your staff? With the exception of Oath Shot trapping possibly. Guilty as charged - I often use Oath Shot trapping.