Curse

Kilguri · May 18, 2005, 12:38 PM // 12:38

I went back to the desert today to try and capture Marskman's Wager from Thirsty River mission, and got myself into a little crazy group.

We did not finish the mission, but we got pretty damn close to doing, right down to the last group which refused to die after numerous attempts. We cleared the first two groups in about 6 minutes, and then kept retrying the last one over and over again for approximately 20 minutes before giving up and dying. We found out Ranger interrupts are easily countered by enemies using Throw Dirt, and we lacked some burst damage in general to take out the priest between interrupts. Does it mean what we attempted is impossible? Hardly, with a little more coordination and teamwork it would've been a breeze.

And why do I bother making a post about *almost* succeeding in doing Thirsty River mission? Simple enough, because this is the group setup we had.

I'm so tired of people complaining about Rangers being useless in groups, and how they'd rather have another Wamo instead, hell, I've had people leave groups because someone let me in when they already had a Ranger. Rangers may not the end of all class, but they are far from the useless weak class most of the idiots around make of them.

avnos · May 18, 2005, 01:50 PM // 13:50

neat heh, i have a ranger main myself, but u gotta think how 6 eles woulda done ;\.

bstripp · May 18, 2005, 02:00 PM // 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by avnos

neat heh, i have a ranger main myself, but u gotta think how 6 eles woulda done ;\.

Did the mission with 5 el/xx and 1 mo/xx who dropped before the first match. We made it to the last group and died on the healing boss. It was bad timing on our part and got caught by a rez which did us in.

Six competant players will do well no matter the classes.

Straegen · May 18, 2005, 02:39 PM // 14:39

6 Ele knowing they are on their own would likely fair better. They would just need a ward and aura of rest going and probably wouldn't have any real trouble. If they had their timing down, each player dropping a set of AoEs down would be scary damage.

I generally don't run with those on my bar since a monk or two keeps me alive and I stay focused on damage, but knowing going in that I don't have a monk backup would definately allow me to slot some effective healing being an Ele/Mo especially.

LoKi Foxfire · May 18, 2005, 04:07 PM // 16:07

The problem with rangers is that most people who play them (PvE and PvP) don't know what the hell they are doing. I got a very nice PvE build using anti-caster/DpS skills and it works good. My PvP build is a nice anti-warrior build, then again, a lot of warriors are dumb too and will continue chasing you even though you have PD, HS, PA on them...

Awol Duteq · May 18, 2005, 04:22 PM // 16:22

Heh funny story to add to yours, I myself am a Rgr/Mo, the group starting up was me, another Rgr/Mo, and a Rgr/War or something of the like. We then invited a War/Mo who accepted then stated too many Rgrs and left the group. So we picked up a Nec/Ele an Ele/Mes and grabbed another War/Rgr. Funny part is, we smoked the river mission first try, even though as a group we said aw well, this wont work but might as well give it a go.

Dwiggit · May 18, 2005, 04:38 PM // 16:38

Loki, I agree with your comment about people not knowing how to use Rangers. I think they take additional skill to use because not all their advantages are in their skills.

The damage increase you get from being higher in elevation than your enemy is very significant. I don't know what the actual modifier is, but it seems like I get 2X or better hits from above.

Whereas other characters don't rely on terrain very much, the archer should always seek higher ground, even when it means running right through a mob to get the "upper" hand!

Combine the Ranger with a Monk secondary, and you've got yourself a very durable character. By placing the "Mending" spell on myself, I've often been the only one alive after a major battle. Add the "ressurect" skill, and your party will love you!

Enjoy!
Dwig

Serafita Kayin · May 18, 2005, 04:46 PM // 16:46

R/Me here, and people love partying with me cause I can stand there in elemental attacks and laugh for quite a while before needing healing, especially when all the others are dead, cause they can't hold up to elemental...

Not to mention 100+ an attack if I crit, and always 50+ or better, and that's not even max damage bow.

Soul Monarch · May 18, 2005, 05:06 PM // 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilguri

I'm so tired of people complaining about Rangers being useless in groups, and how they'd rather have another Wamo instead, hell, I've had people leave groups because someone let me in when they already had a Ranger. Rangers may not the end of all class, but they are far from the useless weak class most of the idiots around make of them.

Kilguri -

I they plan to turn down a R/x for a W/Mo, you don't want to be partied with them anyhow. The good players recognize the value of a Ranger.

Rangers have better defensive skills than the warrior, and with better elemental defense they make great tanks if play right. They've got damage about as good as an elementalist, they have some sweet utility with rituals and traps... oh, plus they have some snares and interrupts just to make sure that they can do part of the Mesmer's work too.

The only issue is that they can't do it all at one time. If someone spreads themselves out too much, naturally their character won't be much good. It's no surprise that Ranger's have a bad rep. So many options, that a lot of people probably try to do everything at once.

Lasher Dragon · May 18, 2005, 05:15 PM // 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul Monarch

The only issue is that they can't do it all at one time. If someone spreads themselves out too much, naturally their character won't be much good. It's no surprise that Ranger's have a bad rep. So many options, that a lot of people probably try to do everything at once.

My Pyromancer buddy whines all the time because before we go on missions, I spend a few minutes in town rearranging my skills to suit the task at hand. He's got it easy - stand back and blow shit up. I've got to: call targets, spread the poison, interrupt, keep an eye on Alesia the Suicidal, watch my stances/preps and how much time I have left, switch bows for maximum effect vs different enemies, etcetera. All he has to do is throw points in Fire and Energy Storage and he's good to go.

Fye Duron · May 18, 2005, 05:17 PM // 17:17

I personally think that too many people do not know how to use the ranger skills well. And that is why people look down on them. I see too many rangers wanting to play tank, and that is always a joke.

tool++ · May 18, 2005, 05:23 PM // 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwiggit

Loki, I agree with your comment about people not knowing how to use Rangers. I think they take additional skill to use because not all their advantages are in their skills.

The damage increase you get from being higher in elevation than your enemy is very significant. I don't know what the actual modifier is, but it seems like I get 2X or better hits from above.

Whereas other characters don't rely on terrain very much, the archer should always seek higher ground, even when it means running right through a mob to get the "upper" hand!

Combine the Ranger with a Monk secondary, and you've got yourself a very durable character. By placing the "Mending" spell on myself, I've often been the only one alive after a major battle. Add the "ressurect" skill, and your party will love you!

Enjoy!
Dwig

Heh, after getting annoyed with my N/W, I tried a R/Mo and I love it - I've only died on a mission once (which is probably nothing special, but my old char would die like hell), plus when used properly the char is really really tactical - I'm usually the contingency guy that everyone thanks because they all died and I managed to get away, heal, and res 'em

On another note, I've seen rangers wearing big heavy cloaks - where on earth do I get them? Do they work for female rangers?

Cheers all

Edit: Currently I'm focussing on Marks. Expertise, and Healing - is that a good combination? (I'd probably class myself as a noob, as the furthest I got with my other character was Thunderhead D: )

Also I do useless damage against armoured targets and have no idea where I'm going to get Escape{elite}

thegriffgeeks · May 18, 2005, 05:42 PM // 17:42

Three different groups of 4 rangers made it to the last boss set in Thirsty rivers. I was one of those rangers. The last group and final group I was on that made it had 2 Rangers. One of the groups that had 4 rangers had person leave because they said got too many rangers. No we did not.

Lasher Dragon is right. I spend a bit of time resetting before each mission. arranging skills and attributes and such. I'm often the person saying "wait not ready yet," and the mission button gets pushed anyway. So I end up in mission with a not so good set of skills. When I can do what I need to do before the mission, the results show for themselves.

In game, change is the key and I keep 2 different bows on hand to deal different types of damage. And I tank when needed cause that armor holds up. Now a days I'll be the last one standing (and rez-ing), unless everyone pulls back so the mob attacks me. Then I'm one of the 1st to go.

Playing the ranger seems easy at 1st, but if you want to be good the learning curve is much steeper. My monk skills focus on smiting prayers. Major dmg from a distance. I love it.

Soul Monarch · May 18, 2005, 05:46 PM // 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon

My Pyromancer buddy whines all the time because before we go on missions, I spend a few minutes in town rearranging my skills to suit the task at hand. He's got it easy - stand back and blow shit up. I've got to: call targets, spread the poison, interrupt, keep an eye on Alesia the Suicidal, watch my stances/preps and how much time I have left, switch bows for maximum effect vs different enemies, etcetera. All he has to do is throw points in Fire and Energy Storage and he's good to go.

IMHO, Lasher, the only class requiring more work to play is the Mesmer. And even that isn't true depending on your set up.

Your buddy can complain all he wants, but I'll take you over him in my party any day. I don't need someone that blows stuff up, I need someone who can help watch my back in a fight.

Lasher Dragon · May 18, 2005, 05:48 PM // 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegriffgeeks

In game, change is the key and I keep 2 different bows on hand to deal different types of damage.

Currently I carry 4 different bows, however that will soon be 6: one of each element, a vampiric, and a sundering.

Lasher Dragon · May 18, 2005, 05:56 PM // 17:56

Oooooh this discussion reminds me of a good idea one of my guildmates had.. gotta go post it in Sardelac.

Pevil Lihatuh · May 18, 2005, 06:17 PM // 18:17

lol i like this post. i'm fed up with people turning you away due to your primary mission (we already have 3 rangers, i dont care if your secondary is x profession that we dont have *rolls eyes*). The point in this game is that you can have 6 rangers and they can all have different secondaries (well ok 2 would be the same :P) but as long as they are skilled it doesn't matter. Like how a primary monk is automatically accepted into the group on the basis that they are 'guaranteed' to be a dedicated healer, whereas a secondary monk is usually rejected.

I'd be very interested to hear if other people have managed to get successful groups of all one class through missions; I know I've done many missions with 3 or 4 rangers in the group no problem at all.

Mystical · May 18, 2005, 06:33 PM // 18:33

Lol, I see this in the PvP arenas. Had about 3 different teams of all Rangers, or all Rangers and one something else. One W/Mo right away gave up and said in team talk that he's just gunna die right away and preceded into the other team without attacking. Needless to say we lost due to eveyone thinking they had a tank to support.

Only once has a team of all Rangers won the arena and we went on ~5 game winning streak. Alot of times I just see the other Rangers giving up.

kaya · May 18, 2005, 06:36 PM // 18:36

geez! this makes me want to build a ranger.

if only i had another character spot for him.

Rellok · May 18, 2005, 06:41 PM // 18:41

I think I might just start grouping and then leaving saying "too many Wa/Mo's and no R! Good luck." It would be even funnier if I was using a Wa/Mo.

It's like playing the stock market

Matt