Curse

mayand · Jun 15, 2008, 07:55 PM // 19:55

This is a basic general pve build with BHA as the elite for casters shutdown and some high dmg shots that goes along with it.
the current prototype is:
1. Broad Head Arrow {Elite}
2. Sloth Hunter's Shot
3. Determined Shot
4. Serpent's Quickness
5. Read the Wind / Rapid Fire (for longbows)
6. Troll Unguent
7. Lightning Reflexes
8. Resurrection Signet

Kyomi Tachibana · Jun 15, 2008, 07:58 PM // 19:58

Needs more [Distracting Shot], [Epidemic] and [Volley].

Kerwyn Nasilan · Jun 15, 2008, 08:12 PM // 20:12

^^ He basicaly said it.

Pesi · Jun 15, 2008, 08:25 PM // 20:25

ya Kyoma said it,
Myself dislike volley alot tho.

The Meth · Jun 15, 2008, 09:32 PM // 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyomi Tachibana

Needs more [Distracting Shot], [Epidemic] and [Volley].

[Epidemic] is kinda meh. The AoE is useless most of the time and you shouldn't take an undependable shutdown. If epidemic works 1/3rd of the time then either 2/3rds of the time you will die because epidemic didn't work or 1/3rd of the time epidemic wasn't useful because you would have lived without it. Can't have it both ways.

I would get rid of [Troll Unguent], a long casting regeneration skill isn't worth WS alone, and the time spent using it and the time taken for it to have an effect isn't that great anyway vs what you could have done in the meantime and how slow regen is going to be in hard areas. EDIT: Forgot you were using [Serpent's Quickness], so WS isn't totally wasted. I think SQ is a waste too though, Sloth Hunters Shot is too expensive to use that often anyway, and BHA lasts long enough with a +daze mod so you shouldn't need to reuse it again.

Consider [Dwarven Stability] which makes [Lightning Reflexes] last much longer.

[Splinter Weapon] = imba damage along with volley, and it still works just fine even without volley, you just don't get to see the same explosions since the damage is released over a few shots.

Also, I don't see any real need for [Determined Shot] in there. If your attacks are missing why are you in a hurry to use them again? There are better pure damage skills if thats what you want.

Marverick · Jun 15, 2008, 09:54 PM // 21:54

[Determined Shot] is to recharge Broad Head Arrow. Walk behind a rock and shoot something on the other side with it.

[Splinter Weapon] is better off on a Rit or N/Rt, not on an R/Rt...

[Epidemic] is sort of dependent on the area - it can be very useful or very useless. If you're in a Charr-heavy area then go ahead and take it since Charr casters tend to clump. On the other hand if you're facing a bunch of Mursaat then leave it at home.

As said [Distracting Shot] is sort of mandatory on every ranger bar except maybe trappers. Also I would take a second interrupt too, [Savage Shot] or ["You Move Like a Dwarf!"].

The Meth · Jun 15, 2008, 10:21 PM // 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marverick

[Determined Shot] is to recharge Broad Head Arrow. Walk behind a rock and shoot something on the other side with it.

[Splinter Weapon] is better off on a Rit or N/Rt, not on an R/Rt...

[Epidemic] is sort of dependent on the area - it can be very useful or very useless. If you're in a Charr-heavy area then go ahead and take it since Charr casters tend to clump. On the other hand if you're facing a bunch of Mursaat then leave it at home.

As said [Distracting Shot] is sort of mandatory on every ranger bar except maybe trappers. Also I would take a second interrupt too, [Savage Shot] or ["You Move Like a Dwarf!"].

Why do you need to recharge [Broad Head Arrow]? It should be lasting almost 30 seconds with a quick +33% daze switch. Thats enough to cover 2 enemies at once with it. By 30 seconds into a battle most of your enemies should be dead anyway, so using it more after that is useless. Using [Determined Shot] is risky anyway, there are a great many areas in which you won't have any obstructions nearby and your are out of luck. Besides, using SQ (even though I argue against that) reduces your recharge to 10 seconds, so unless the obstruction is right next to you you are better off attacking for a few seconds.

[Splinter Weapon] is the best damage skill in the game at nearly any relevant attribute level, at 10 spec works plenty fine. Unless every physical on your team is being covered by a rit its still a good idea to bring it. N/Rt's can't cast it any better then your ranger can, not with a three way attribute distribution and no runes on channeling.

I still disagree on [Epidemic] I have never seen an enemy that 'tends to clump' (disregarding splitting ooze). If you are relying on epidemic to beat mobs you are going to lose the first time it doesn't work (ie soon) and if you don't need it to beat mobs then why were you bringing it in the first place?

Rhamia Darigaz · Jun 15, 2008, 11:37 PM // 23:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meth

and if you don't need it to beat mobs then why were you bringing it in the first place?

if people only brought the skills they needed to win in pve theyd be bringing a lot fewer skills

Marverick · Jun 15, 2008, 11:41 PM // 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meth

Why do you need to recharge [Broad Head Arrow]? It should be lasting almost 30 seconds with a quick +33% daze switch. Thats enough to cover 2 enemies at once with it. By 30 seconds into a battle most of your enemies should be dead anyway, so using it more after that is useless. Using [Determined Shot] is risky anyway, there are a great many areas in which you won't have any obstructions nearby and your are out of luck. Besides, using SQ (even though I argue against that) reduces your recharge to 10 seconds, so unless the obstruction is right next to you you are better off attacking for a few seconds.

[Splinter Weapon] is the best damage skill in the game at nearly any relevant attribute level, at 10 spec works plenty fine. Unless every physical on your team is being covered by a rit its still a good idea to bring it. N/Rt's can't cast it any better then your ranger can, not with a three way attribute distribution and no runes on channeling.

I still disagree on [Epidemic] I have never seen an enemy that 'tends to clump' (disregarding splitting ooze). If you are relying on epidemic to beat mobs you are going to lose the first time it doesn't work (ie soon) and if you don't need it to beat mobs then why were you bringing it in the first place?

So you have to wait 15 seconds between dazing one target and the next? nty

I agree, sometimes there aren't obstructions. That's why builds aren't static. But in areas where there are, even if it's only like 50% of the time, determined shot is well worth it.

SQ doesn't last forever, I never use it. But I suppose it does work. Still, 10 seconds is a long time for a Ruby Djinn to be spamming Searing Flames on your party.

An N/Rt will have the energy to keep Splinter up on several physicals. A Ranger can only do himself. Also why would you not split 3 ways? 12 Restoration, 10 Channeling, 8+1+1 Soul Reaping works like a charm. You don't need 14 soul reaping.

And have you never seen the Charr mobs in EotN? All of the casters (Dominators, Flameshielders, Avengers, the monks whatever they're called) patrol together in a large clump.

The Meth · Jun 16, 2008, 12:58 AM // 00:58

I've vanquished Charr areas in HM with my ranger. I have never needed more then 1 target dazed, most fights are practically over in about 15 seconds so by the time I would run around and find an obstruction I might as well have just stayed and fought. If you seriously need multiple targets dazed for normal mobs you should rethink your team build a bit. I don't remember the charr being in any clumps, but then it was quite a while since I have been there.

In the case of bad AoE like ruby djinn, you daze one, use distracting shot/savage shot on the other, and your party spreads out so that the third does laughable damage. Easy. If you seriously have a problem with the flame djinn then its your party being stupid and having all 8 players getting hit, not your fault you can only lockdown 2 with a normal ranger build.

My point about the N/Rt was that the N/Rt isn't able to cast a stronger splinter weapon then you are. As a ranger I am usually already casting splinter on recharge if enemies are clumped, so a N/Rt also wouldn't be able to keep it up on more people at once.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhamia Darigaz

if people only brought the skills they needed to win in pve theyd be bringing a lot fewer skills

The point is there is no reason to bring defence above and beyond what you need, of course extra offense is always good. The fact is more defense doesn't help you get through an area, if you live you live, thats it.

poasiods · Jun 16, 2008, 07:34 AM // 07:34

I'm not sure if you'll need two survival skills as a ranger. If you're having trouble surviving with ranger armor, the rest of your team's pretty much F-ed anyways. The only utility skills I see in your bar are BHA and Sloth Hunter's Shot while rest of your skills appear to have been placed to more or less support these two.

While rangers can go well with both AoE ([barrage]+[splinter weapon]) and spiking ([glass arrows][conjure frost]), it can be outdone by other classes in these aspects. They really shine with conditional shutdown.

Although many people are fond of [broad head arrow] + [epidemic] + [volley], I wouldn't want to be sitting there spamming volley for every battle. It's especially frustrating with spread out mobs or mobs with only one or two casters.

Give this a try:
[broad head arrow][pin Down][distracting shot][epidemic][throw dirt][apply poison][troll unguent][resurrection signet]

This works really well to shutdown both melee and caster classes. Use BHA and Epidemic and leave interruption to your teammates (melee, arrows, and wanding) or minions. Pin Down + Epidemic to slow down melee fighters chasing your casters around or use it on a clumped mob to make it difficult for them to escape AoE spells and attacks. Throw Dirt for clumped melee/rangers and Distracting Shot for anything important. Apply Poison to cover each of those conditions. Use Troll Unguent before battle and maybe in small breaks to relieve some pressure off of the monks.

SNIEVES · Jun 16, 2008, 12:57 PM // 12:57

like it was mentioned before add distracting shot, any ranger worth his name should have distracting shot and even savage shot, i was using broadhead arrow build but lately i have been using the following build;
expertise (13) minor rune
markmanship(13) minor rune
widerness survival( 3-4)

skills

1. I am the strongest(norm skill)
2. Barrage(elite)
3. Distacting shot
4. pain inverter(asuran skill)
5. Finish him(norm skill)
6. lighting reflexes
7. Troll ungent
8. Rebirth

i have used this build lately every were from shards or, ozze pits, viox escavaation, to FOW clearing and underworld clearing to DOA,l been working like a charm.

Rift · Jun 16, 2008, 05:52 PM // 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marverick

[Splinter Weapon] is better off on a Rit or N/Rt, not on an R/Rt...

What's better than Splinter Weapon? MOAR Splinter Weapon!

I have it on my Ranger bar and on my N/Rt hero. There's no reason not to have it on your bar as a Ranger in PvE, especially playing with h/h.

Taisayacho · Jun 16, 2008, 09:43 PM // 21:43

ranger without [distracting shot] = fail. Pretty much the best ranger skill out there.

offtopic, post 500 yays, Wilds Pathfinder ^^

Luminarus · Jun 17, 2008, 12:10 AM // 00:10

Yes [Distracting Shot] is good, but iirc it isnt as brilliant with BHA, because the arrow hits before the 20 sec recharge sets in, meaning you cant get the 20 recharge off a dazed target.

Still bring it, just know its not worth using on a dazed target, because it has no bonus. Save it for something that needs it.

The Meth · Jun 17, 2008, 12:57 AM // 00:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luminarus

Yes [Distracting Shot] is good, but iirc it isnt as brilliant with BHA, because the arrow hits before the 20 sec recharge sets in, meaning you cant get the 20 recharge off a dazed target.

Still bring it, just know its not worth using on a dazed target, because it has no bonus. Save it for something that needs it.

Well, the whole point of BHA is that you fire it on one target, then the warriors train that target while you use your other interrupts on another caster. Distracting shot is still just as awesome. Of course its useless using it on an already dazed target, who would do that?

Grammar · Jun 17, 2008, 02:30 AM // 02:30

I used to run [epidemic], but found that it was a wasted slot about 80% of the time. I can only recall a handful of times where [epidemic] + [broad head arrow] actually made a big difference in a battle.

[splinter weapon] + [volley], on the other hand, almost always makes a big difference in a battle. And you still get your elite slot for [broad head arrow].

This is what I run now:
[splinter weapon][volley][sloth hunters shot][poison tip signet][distracting shot][savage shot][broad head arrow][favorable winds]
No need for a rez in PvE anymore, thanks to heroes and rez scrolls.

Tyla · Jun 17, 2008, 06:21 AM // 06:21

You shouldn't be camping one enemy, Luminarus.

I've basically started using something different from the original variation:

[broad head arrow][volley][sloth hunter's shot][throw dirt][lightning reflexes][savage shot][distracting shot][death pact signet]
(Changed my setup, 6 and 7 on the additional mouse buttons! \o/)

I myself generally run Splinter Weapon on an off character.