Experienced Melee Rangers?

I understand the "melee class" of the game is the Warrior. However, after some searching around on random forums, I come to find some templates on a melee-oriented Ranger (Ranger/Warrior).

At first, I thought perhaps I could attempt to recreate one of my beloved old D&D toons, a Ranger who was focused on Melee (Dual Wield). He worked amazingly well. However, after I completed making a Ranger and following the "Aragorn is teh s3xeh" template located in the Ranger Basics sticky thread up to level 8, I found out that DW is not allowed in game currently. That was a bit depressing, but I gave it some more thought, and feel a two hand Ranger (heck, even S/S) would still be appealing.

What i'm not aware of is just what i'm really undergoing. A Ranger is "suppose" to be a jack of all trades Archer, in most of the games i'v played. This already has me worried, since there is no other class which is lightly armored but can resort to melee. After 8 levels of playing, i'v found things to be alright. Struggling a bit at times, but i'm still new to the game so I don't expect to do real well. Thing is, i'm playing this game for the first time with a class combo that might be.. Well, weak if I am to follow my past experiences. I'v been told no class combo is gimp, which my MMO ridden mind is having a hard time believeing.

I really want to know; Is there any Rangers out there who have tried being pure, or at least as close as you can get, to melee oriented? I'd really appreciate some information on how this combo performs, what I should be looking to do, get, anything at all that can help me along. As I said befor, I am so far following the template givin' in the Rangers Basics sticky thread "Aragorn is teh s3xah." I'd like to know how that performs in any givin' PvE or PvP situation.

I apologize if this looks to belong somewhere else, but I had a hard time finding an appropriate thread to throw this in. I searched the forums for what information I could regarding this, but I have not found a sufficiant amount.

Thanks in advance for your replys.

Well, I'm a W/R, which is close, but I can give you some of my experience.

The first thing that totally rocks is pulling with the bow, using ignite arrows (or whatever it is) and frenzy together does an insane amount of damage extremely quickly, usually getting mobs down to 1/2 health before they even get to me. (I'm level 8 btw). Then I just swap to my sword/shield combo and gut them.

I think W/R is a bit better simply because the W primary gets better armour, more HP and the strength bonus, but my girlfriend is a R/W and she rocks. She has almost all of her points in Ranger based skills.

The other thing to remember is, even though your armour is a little less than a warriors, you have (or should have!) a pet that is a constant, energy free DOT that is augmenting the damage you can do as well.

I think W/R R/W is a very viable combo IF you design your character to your strengths, which is to do a LOT of damage before they get to you and then do as much melee damage as quickly as you can when they close in (or you close in to them.)

I was also surprised that Rangers had no Blade oriented skills. Anyway, any profession combo can be weak, unless you know how to work it and want you want to build. You want an offensive ranger, but do you really just want the Ranger tag and be able to use a sword, or the jack of all trades type character, becuase I think it would be hard to do both.

I've played a ranger up to level 8 (Nec/Ran) and I've gimped that char out nasty by trying to build it the way I "thought" the Ranger class was going to be like (for PvP anyway). If you looking for in-your-face blade damage, then follow that build that was in the sticky. Now if your looking for the jack of all trades character, you better start experimenting.

I think this is what you really want, though:

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