Curse

Xiaquin · Apr 17, 2011, 03:39 PM // 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therios

So, is ranger dependant on secondary skills and PvE skills? Is he just that bad he has to have some good non-ranger skills to perform decently? That was my actual question, sorry if I didn't make it obvious.

Generally, yes. And a word on ranger "flexibility": while it is technically true that there are many "tools" at the disposal, it's like trying to tie balloons to the enemy to slow them down.

I don't believe ranged attacks are even liked by the devs (Marksmanship, Spear Mastery), unless you're a ritualist, then you're given fast, mobile, armor-ignoring siege tanks. That's called balance around here.

Chthon · Apr 17, 2011, 09:18 PM // 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urcscumug

Or any AI for that matter.

I'm dreaming of a "ultra hard mode" where the difference from normal mode was made with AI, not armor and damage buffs. The AI has instant access to all the team and enemy data and perfect reaction time. If the mobs knew how to avoid bodyblocks, coordinate spikes, flank etc. they'd change PvE massively. A group of lvl 3 devourers would hand your ass to you, nevermind Mursaat and whatnot.

...But I guess it would take too many server resources to buff AI that much?

While complex AI do gobble up clock cycles, the bigger problem is that they are just very hard to write. I don't think a-net has anyone on staff with a background in that kind of thing.

Kunder · Apr 18, 2011, 12:56 AM // 00:56

The hardest thing of all with the AI is trying to make it robust enough to actually work well with 1200+ different skills that can be in any combination on a skill bar, and then do that with anywhere from 2 to 20 allies in the group. 95% of guild wars players (according to my very precise estimates

) can't figure out how to run a build *well* and instead just spam skills whenever they can. Surprise surprise, thats about how the AI handles its own builds. You can't just write a detailed script for every enemy type in every area, you have to have something very basic with a few rules on how to use different categories of skills and a few simple parameters to influence general things like how aggressive the creature is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiaquin

Generally, yes. And a word on ranger "flexibility": while it is technically true that there are many "tools" at the disposal, it's like trying to tie balloons to the enemy to slow them down.

I don't believe ranged attacks are even liked by the devs (Marksmanship, Spear Mastery), unless you're a ritualist, then you're given fast, mobile, armor-ignoring siege tanks. That's called balance around here.

Essentially whenever a ranged class gets even a hint of high damage PvP turns into a 24/7 spikefest and about 1/3rd of the PvP population permanently leaves and/or slits their wrists. Its no surprise that all of the classes who can put out lots of ranged damage in PvE are the ones whose skills have PvE splits. Summoned siege tanks does sound like a great idea though

Xiaquin · Apr 18, 2011, 04:39 PM // 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kunder

Essentially whenever a ranged class gets even a hint of high damage PvP turns into a 24/7 spikefest and about 1/3rd of the PvP population permanently leaves and/or slits their wrists. Its no surprise that all of the classes who can put out lots of ranged damage in PvE are the ones whose skills have PvE splits. Summoned siege tanks does sound like a great idea though

I like how they balanced ranger for PvP. I do not like how using primary skills in PvE still feels like I'm PvPing.