Curse

akhil · May 19, 2010, 06:58 PM // 18:58

Hi,

I really like rangers as a class. My ranger is my main (although I am a bit of a newbie). I love their versatility and survivability and the way they can pretty much do anything due to expertise, although not as good as the primary profession, but it is nice to fill a role that a party doesn't have. I've had my ranger wield scythes, hammers, spears, and staffs.

However, when wielding a bow I just feel.......what's the point? Bows are not meant to be top notch damage dealers and I have accepted that. What they are meant to do (from my experience) is to interrupt and spread conditions. Sure that works OK in NM, but in HM it's useless.

I used to love interrupting back when I started my ranger. Interrupting is fairly difficult due to decreased activation time and now even I do interrupt that one skill it just feels......meh the targets dead. Also why waste skill slots and attack skills when you can always just cast techno babble.

Spreading conditions with a bow seems a bit pointless as well. Sure you can cripple everyone, or spread fire and poison one at a time. But it's nothing different to what that ele in front of you is doing (and doing it better), and for a few pips of degen from poison is nothing special.

Yes you can run the famous splinter barrage build. Yes, it does immense amount of damage. But it only works when all the mobs are balled up in one nice neat ball. This probably only happens a handful of times on a mission. It just seems a shame wasting a whole team member just for those few seconds that help only slightly. Also in my experience I do not enjoy playing splinter barrage because I have to wait until that moment does come, apart from that I'm back to interrupting.

What I am trying to say, is that when I play in a party I would like to think that I am actually making a difference, not just be extra baggage. That is what I consider fun to play. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that a build has to optimal / best of the best. I run a spear/pet build and gawd knows that's not the best build out there but it's fun to play because I know I'm making a difference. While when wielding a bow I feel just......useless.

I was just wondering if this might be the view of most players you play rangers or whether I am completely wrong and whether anyone could enlighten me. I love rangers as a class, just seems a shame that what they are supposed to do is pointless.

Essence Snow · May 19, 2010, 07:06 PM // 19:06

Asura Scan says hello.

Amy Awien · May 19, 2010, 07:10 PM // 19:10

With a bow you don't need to run to your target to kill it like you would with a scythe or daggers.

Sankt Hallvard · May 19, 2010, 07:12 PM // 19:12

tl:dr, but you should post your QQ in riverside under the topic "Ranger in PVE need a buff. A petition to demand a skill update from Anet". That way you get max exposure and rangers will enter the skill update queue, currently they're working on mesmers. After that I hear dervishes and paragons are up for a buff. But after that they're taking suggestions. Good luck! And I agree with you, compared to other options in pve the ranger doesn't come out on top.

Rhamia Darigaz · May 19, 2010, 08:21 PM // 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Essence Snow

Asura Scan says hello.

What is this supposed to mean?

Any profession can use Asuran Scan; most can do so better than the ranger. Accounting for it when comparing DPS across professions could only further the argument that rangers suck at damage.

Lore · May 19, 2010, 08:28 PM // 20:28

I am the strongest!
Splinter weapon
Barrage!

U can base up +50 using these skills ... and if u have a vampiric weapon ... voila ... massive dmg!

FoxBat · May 19, 2010, 08:32 PM // 20:32

Asuran Scan
Read the Wind
Point Blank Shot
Zojun's Shot
Random Elite
Lightning Reflexes
Dwarven Stability

Asuran Scan
Read the Wind/Expert's Focus
Sundering Attack
Penetrating Shot
Prepared Shot
Savage Shot

less QQ moar pewpew. Might not be OMGWTF Assassin under SoH, but it's still good damage.

Uriel_Wolfblood · May 19, 2010, 08:42 PM // 20:42

Speaking of pewpew. I love needling shot for both pvp and pve. Being able to spam damage (even if it is low) constantly at a target wears the down like crazy. Nothing I find more satisfying than watching a boss fall to 12x needling shot while I lol at my computer.

Fay Vert · May 19, 2010, 09:26 PM // 21:26

I agree with OP. Bows are pretty useless these days, especially in HM. But at least it's better than using a pet!

Been a ranger on my main for 5 years and haven't used a bow for the last two except on Urgoz runs for Splinger Barrage. Pretty sad state of the game when a professions primary weapon and skills are useless. A big problem though is there are a lot of poor rangers that actually think they are contributing to the party, they're not, but are too poor to realise this.

doomfodder · May 19, 2010, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Ranger doesn't need buffs...

The highest SINGLE FOE SPIKE damage in the game for any PvE player is available to the ranger. U can kill almost ANY single foe in HM (except those with 1000+ HP) that doesn't block or heal in 3 bow attacks or less!

triple shot / dual shot / slot hunter / glass arrows / asuran scan / IamtheStrongest

If you have any other buff put on you by a support character (GDW, Sunder Wep, Judge's insight = sniper kill against undead btw), ur damage is in the 450+ range for trip shot & 300+ for the other two

Use a zealous horn bow or with Too Much Information Inscrip to "pour salt in the wound" or maintain E

go test it on Master of Damage...

Cuilan · May 19, 2010, 10:07 PM // 22:07

Barrage spam with someone spamming Great Dwarf Weapon will prevent bows from being useless.

Sure there could be some changes to rangers (spirits), but the main problem are the players who use bows.

ac1inferno · May 19, 2010, 11:52 PM // 23:52

Bows in PvE are for [[Barrage]. Single target damage isn't that good in PvE. AoE is better.

FoxBat · May 20, 2010, 12:10 AM // 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac1inferno

Bows in PvE are for [[Barrage]. Single target damage isn't that good in PvE. AoE is better.

This really isn't that true of Adjacent in most zones, unless you're willing to spend time balling critters. People don't say "boo dslash DPS sucks" because it doesn't.

madriel222 · May 20, 2010, 12:12 AM // 00:12

In a strong, balanced team set up, while AoE is certainly king, there's definitely places where high single target damage really shines. Prepared Shot/Glass Arrow rangers are perfect for those groups with a small number of enemies or that pesky healer. A monk or rit dead almost immediately can make the difference between a a short fight and a long one.

Amy Awien · May 20, 2010, 07:21 AM // 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhamia Darigaz

Any profession can use Asuran Scan; most can do so better than the ranger.

You can add substantial amounts of armor ignoring damage to your arrows, multiplied by Asuran Scan, and deliver them at long range, without having to run (around obstacles) to reach your target.

Fay Vert · May 20, 2010, 10:07 PM // 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomfodder

Ranger doesn't need buffs...

The highest SINGLE FOE SPIKE damage in the game for any PvE player is available to the ranger. U can kill almost ANY single foe in HM (except those with 1000+ HP) that doesn't block or heal in 3 bow attacks or less!

triple shot / dual shot / slot hunter / glass arrows / asuran scan / IamtheStrongest

...

go test it on Master of Damage...

Actually NO

This build is truely great against the master of damage, you can get a kill in 2 seconds averaging 350 DPS.

BUT, and it's a big but, it simply doesn't work against bosses in normal mode, let alone hard mode, best you can do is get some of them down to half health. Master of damage is not a good indicator of PvE effectiveness. Try it on the master of healing near him and you will see how sucky it is in reality. Try to solo farm any boss with it and you will see how sucky it is.

Doing high numbers on master of damage and hanging around while your party kills something quick does not mean bows are any good, but put the two together and you can delude yourself that they are.

Tenebrae · May 21, 2010, 10:15 AM // 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac1inferno

Bows in PvE are for [[Barrage]. Single target damage isn't that good in PvE. AoE is better.

Dont listen to this guy or anyone that says barrage is awesomebananas.

Bows and Pets have an awful attack rate and thats it but for god sake , learn the difference between useless and not being omfgpwnage with ease ..... some ppl here only see things black or white lol .

ac1inferno · May 21, 2010, 03:39 PM // 15:39

I never said [[Barrage] was awesome and I agree that bows are bad in PvE, but I believe its the best of what you got if you decide to stick with a bow.

Fay Vert · May 21, 2010, 07:23 PM // 19:23

Splinter Barrage before the splinter nerf was omfgpwnage, after the splinter nerf it is pretty good, good enough even to justify the presence of a ranger in a party, though probably not as good as a Rt/R splinter barrager. Can't really think of any other bow build that would justify a ranger's presence in a team.

G4ymBoy · May 23, 2010, 08:58 AM // 08:58

expertise 14
marks 14

Marksmans Wager
Sloth
Penetrating
Sundering
Needling
I Am The Strongest
Asuran Scan
EBSoH

This works quite well in any team. all pve skills can be swapped(you lose a bit of damage of course) in favor of more party helping skills of your choice (GDW spam anything really). Its a pretty good toolbox, not the most effective ever but the bow damage is very solid and consistent.

I have always been a fan of Wager, called shot is good if you wanna make sure of your energy(swap needling). Opinions are welcome.