Why Are Ranger/Archer-esque Classes Always Paired Up With Nature Themes? - Guild Wars Forums

Kagome · Aug 20, 2009, 03:59 AM // 03:59

I mean, can't there be an archer who DOESN'T involve themselves with the environment? I see this in a lot of RPGS that don't have a separation between archers and druids or shamans. It would be nice in GW2 if we see a ranged class completely different from an environmental based class.

Shayne Hawke · Aug 20, 2009, 04:09 AM // 04:09

The simplest explanation I can conjure is this: Bows are hunting weapons, and good hunters should know their prey and their territory.

Dakka Dakka · Aug 20, 2009, 04:15 AM // 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

The simplest explanation I can conjure is this: Bows are hunting weapons, and good hunters should know their prey and their territory.

Shayne nailed it right there

/thread

Kagome · Aug 20, 2009, 04:18 AM // 04:18

I guess so but Hunters also used spears (Para) and Swords (Warrior) to hunt with. And its kind of boring to have nature-y armor all the time for my ranger. :/ It should be more like Diablo and the Amazon.

Dakka Dakka · Aug 20, 2009, 04:21 AM // 04:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagome

I guess so but Hunters also used spears (Para) and Swords (Warrior) to hunt with. And its kind of boring to have nature-y armor all the time for my ranger. :/ It should be more like Diablo and the Amazon.

Those would work......though they would still have a Nature theme, Amazons were jungle hunters :/

But fear not! I heard that ANET was considering not making armor class specific in GW2!! Wish I knew where

Thrain Galdwin · Aug 20, 2009, 04:23 AM // 04:23

In my opinion, The class name "Ranger" itself implies a relation to nature.

Magic Wut Huh Asdf · Aug 20, 2009, 04:24 AM // 04:24

You see bows a lot in nomad-type people too, mounted archers, but even that still has some aspect of wilderness with the whole taming animals type thing.

Kagome · Aug 20, 2009, 04:31 AM // 04:31

I guess so but why bows? Nomads use swords, axes, and spears... and traps could easily be put with any other class.

I want a fancy, clean archer for once. Not a dirty, messy one. D:

Aeon221 · Aug 20, 2009, 04:31 AM // 04:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagome

I guess so but Hunters also used spears (Para) and Swords (Warrior) to hunt with. And its kind of boring to have nature-y armor all the time for my ranger. :/ It should be more like Diablo and the Amazon.

No one but Rambo has ever hunted with a sword. You'd have a hell of a time getting that close to an animal.

Swords are for killing people.

Dorny · Aug 20, 2009, 04:33 AM // 04:33

A ranger also has to be able to observe the wind movement when preparing to hit a target with a bow (deviation, varying distance of shot, etc.)

And it takes skillful planning to hide traps well enough to not make them visible.

Kagome · Aug 20, 2009, 04:34 AM // 04:34

I GUESS so but I'm still hoping for a more fancy archer. People also hunted with spears, throwing axes, etc. =/

FoxBat · Aug 20, 2009, 04:38 AM // 04:38

Diablo 1 actually featured "rogues" as their bow class, which had zero connection to nature.

Anyway I think the problem is that there aren't any iconic pure archer heroes. Everyone's always impressed by the knights in shining armor or the great strength of barbarians, while archers are reduced to either thieves, nature guys (legolas), or both (robin hood).

Kagome · Aug 20, 2009, 04:44 AM // 04:44

Actually there were a lot of famous archers like Genghis Khan and English longbowmen and many samurai and none of them had to do with nature. :/ Knights = defense, barbarians = strength, archers = dexterity, mage = intelligence, cleric/mesmer = mind/knowledge/wisdom, etc.

Evasion Twenty · Aug 20, 2009, 04:51 AM // 04:51

How about a bomber? I mean, special-ops can work.

moriz · Aug 20, 2009, 04:51 AM // 04:51

genghis khan was a warrior first and foremost. it was just so happens that mogolian warriors were required to be expert marksmen also.

a bow is first and foremost a hunting weapon. even for the types of people whom you've just rattled off, the bow was primarily used for hunting. it wasn't afterwards that the military use was utilized.

after all, hunting people is about the same as hunting animals. easier, from what i've gathered.

Nerel · Aug 20, 2009, 05:00 AM // 05:00

Hunting with swords... wow, bunnybashing

A lot of Bow = Wilderness conceptions could also be blamed on cinematic representations of bow users... ie Blame Hollywood (Robinhood and his ilk).

Also, if the Ranger type classes didn't have pet/nature skill lines, they'd be a pretty empty profession aimed at only one thing ranged damage... kinda boring.

I suppose the bow wielder archetype could be linked to attributes based on mobility/speed and stealth... the Ranger in Guild Wars DID have a stealth attribute after all.

Masseur · Aug 20, 2009, 05:14 AM // 05:14

Robin Hood was in Sherwood Forest, forest is nature, etc...

Kagome · Aug 20, 2009, 05:31 AM // 05:31

Its just SO ugly... I really hope they change it in GW2 and make a druid or shaman class.

SpyderArachnid · Aug 20, 2009, 05:44 AM // 05:44

Well don't forget about Vampire Hunters as well.

Instead of the woodsy look, they sported the gothic dark style. Weilding crossbows and such. Don't see why all Hunters/Rangers have to be associated with nature. They weren't.

But yeah it is basically a stereotype. Anything that has a bow, is always associated with nature. Elves were always the number one when it came to Hunters/Rangers just cause of their love for animals and nature. Just the way life has made them out to be.

But I would like to see a Vampire Hunter style Ranger. Long dark Trenchcoat with a wide brim hat. Either using a crossbow or a modified longbow.

KZaske · Aug 20, 2009, 05:46 AM // 05:46

I think the ranger profession is fine the way it is. As for Druids, they were first and foremost law givers (judges) and magi, which does not fit in the mytos of Guild Wars.

Aug 20, 2009, 03:59 AM // 03:59	#1
Kagome Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Profession: R/A	Why Are Ranger/Archer-esque Classes Always Paired Up With Nature Themes? I mean, can't there be an archer who DOESN'T involve themselves with the environment? I see this in a lot of RPGS that don't have a separation between archers and druids or shamans. It would be nice in GW2 if we see a ranged class completely different from an environmental based class.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:09 AM // 04:09	#2
Shayne Hawke Departed from Tyria Join Date: May 2007 Guild: Clan Dethryche [dth] Profession: R/	The simplest explanation I can conjure is this: Bows are hunting weapons, and good hunters should know their prey and their territory.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:18 AM // 04:18	#4
Kagome Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Profession: R/A	I guess so but Hunters also used spears (Para) and Swords (Warrior) to hunt with. And its kind of boring to have nature-y armor all the time for my ranger. :/ It should be more like Diablo and the Amazon.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:23 AM // 04:23	#6
Thrain Galdwin Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2009	In my opinion, The class name "Ranger" itself implies a relation to nature.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:24 AM // 04:24	#7
Magic Wut Huh Asdf Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Oct 2006 Guild: Our Peaceful Aria [Live] Profession: R/Me	You see bows a lot in nomad-type people too, mounted archers, but even that still has some aspect of wilderness with the whole taming animals type thing.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:31 AM // 04:31	#8
Kagome Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Profession: R/A	I guess so but why bows? Nomads use swords, axes, and spears... and traps could easily be put with any other class. I want a fancy, clean archer for once. Not a dirty, messy one. D:

Aug 20, 2009, 04:33 AM // 04:33	#10
Dorny Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Switzerland Guild: Dragons of Shadows [DOS] Profession: N/E	A ranger also has to be able to observe the wind movement when preparing to hit a target with a bow (deviation, varying distance of shot, etc.) And it takes skillful planning to hide traps well enough to not make them visible.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:34 AM // 04:34	#11
Kagome Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Profession: R/A	I GUESS so but I'm still hoping for a more fancy archer. People also hunted with spears, throwing axes, etc. =/

Aug 20, 2009, 04:38 AM // 04:38	#12
FoxBat Furnace Stoker Join Date: Apr 2006 Guild: Amazon Basin [AB] Profession: Mo/Me	Diablo 1 actually featured "rogues" as their bow class, which had zero connection to nature. Anyway I think the problem is that there aren't any iconic pure archer heroes. Everyone's always impressed by the knights in shining armor or the great strength of barbarians, while archers are reduced to either thieves, nature guys (legolas), or both (robin hood).

Aug 20, 2009, 04:44 AM // 04:44	#13
Kagome Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Profession: R/A	Actually there were a lot of famous archers like Genghis Khan and English longbowmen and many samurai and none of them had to do with nature. :/ Knights = defense, barbarians = strength, archers = dexterity, mage = intelligence, cleric/mesmer = mind/knowledge/wisdom, etc.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:51 AM // 04:51	#14
Evasion Twenty Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Outside Guild: Balthazars Chosen [BC] Profession: R/P	How about a bomber? I mean, special-ops can work.

Aug 20, 2009, 04:51 AM // 04:51	#15
moriz ??ber t??k-n??sh'??n Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Canada Profession: R/	genghis khan was a warrior first and foremost. it was just so happens that mogolian warriors were required to be expert marksmen also. a bow is first and foremost a hunting weapon. even for the types of people whom you've just rattled off, the bow was primarily used for hunting. it wasn't afterwards that the military use was utilized. after all, hunting people is about the same as hunting animals. easier, from what i've gathered.

Aug 20, 2009, 05:00 AM // 05:00	#16
Nerel Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Australia, what you want my home address? Guild: [CAT] Profession: Mo/	Hunting with swords... wow, bunnybashing A lot of Bow = Wilderness conceptions could also be blamed on cinematic representations of bow users... ie Blame Hollywood (Robinhood and his ilk). Also, if the Ranger type classes didn't have pet/nature skill lines, they'd be a pretty empty profession aimed at only one thing ranged damage... kinda boring. I suppose the bow wielder archetype could be linked to attributes based on mobility/speed and stealth... the Ranger in Guild Wars DID have a stealth attribute after all.

Aug 20, 2009, 05:14 AM // 05:14	#17
Masseur Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern California Profession: R/Mo	Robin Hood was in Sherwood Forest, forest is nature, etc...

Aug 20, 2009, 05:31 AM // 05:31	#18
Kagome Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Profession: R/A	Its just SO ugly... I really hope they change it in GW2 and make a druid or shaman class.

Aug 20, 2009, 05:44 AM // 05:44	#19
SpyderArachnid Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: United States Guild: Lords Of Noh [LoN] Profession: Me/	Well don't forget about Vampire Hunters as well. Instead of the woodsy look, they sported the gothic dark style. Weilding crossbows and such. Don't see why all Hunters/Rangers have to be associated with nature. They weren't. But yeah it is basically a stereotype. Anything that has a bow, is always associated with nature. Elves were always the number one when it came to Hunters/Rangers just cause of their love for animals and nature. Just the way life has made them out to be. But I would like to see a Vampire Hunter style Ranger. Long dark Trenchcoat with a wide brim hat. Either using a crossbow or a modified longbow.

Aug 20, 2009, 05:46 AM // 05:46	#20
KZaske Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boise Idaho Guild: Druids Of Old (DOO) Profession: R/Mo	I think the ranger profession is fine the way it is. As for Druids, they were first and foremost law givers (judges) and magi, which does not fit in the mytos of Guild Wars.