Curse

Amy Awien · Jan 29, 2008, 08:04 AM // 08:04

Yes, Marksman's Wager would work even better, though it is elite, Expert Focus is not. Deduction after Expertise would make calculation easier, but the skill might become a bit overpowered, for a non-elite, resulting in high-damage, high speed attacks costing only 2e.

For energy management (to support these dps-attacks) we have:
Preparation: [wiki]Expert Focus[/wiki] and [wiki]Marksmanwager[/wiki]{E} as preparations
Stance: [wiki]Storm Chaser[/wiki] and [wiki]Melandru's Resilience[/wiki]{E}
Bow Attack: [wiki]Body Shot[/wiki] and [wiki]Prepared Shot[/wiki]{E}
Skill: [wiki]Archer's Signet[/wiki]{E}

Scourgey · Jan 29, 2008, 12:00 PM // 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grammar

Until they make it so that Expert's Focus calculates after Expertise (with a min. set at 1e), the skill will always be bad in my eyes.
If you really want an energy management prep, take Marksman's Wager instead.

I know that, -1 energy per skill when things cost 4 energy is a large reduction of 25%. For example -1 energy when being used with quickshot cuts from 2 energy to 1 energy. Which means you can keep using this with a zealous bow. The +damage is also a very nice part of the preparation, it deals as much damage as read the wind at 15 expertise. It is not solely a energy management prep.

As Amy has said, it frees an elite which is always good. Personnally I'd use quickshot in PvP, the energy management with experts focus/ sundering/ penetrating/ quick shot is sufficient for a long time with a zealous bow providing you don't keep missing. I posted that it gives a maintainable 67dps with just those 4 skills, if you want a comparsion, it's more than a shock-axe warrior which is around 48 dps.

Remember I am talking about PvP, most things work in PvE. In PvE I'd stick with Barrage/Pet anyway.

P.S. One of the best things about Natural stride is it's low recharge.

PrefonTaine · Jan 30, 2008, 01:08 AM // 01:08

Man this works great with some tweaks i made. Very good dps and a very good spike. went to RA and spiked a monk, killed in like 3 seconds

Grammar · Jan 30, 2008, 07:37 PM // 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy Awien

Deduction after Expertise would make calculation easier, but [Expert's Focus] might become a bit overpowered

Yeah, you're probably right about that. If they made Expert's Focus calculate after Expertise, they'd have to do something like drop the +damage to compensate.

Amy Awien · Jan 30, 2008, 11:06 PM // 23:06

Heh, I'd still love it and I suspect it would become glued to many skillbars.

At 14 expertise the 10E skills are 4E, 5E skills 2E. With the suggested buff to EF these become 2E and 1E. The dps combo PA/QS/SA/QS then eats 2+1+2+1 = 6E in 4 seconds, regeneration is 4E in this time, you eat 2E of your pool, every 4 seconds. Including EF itself, in 2+24 = 26 seconds you'd fire away 2 + 6*6 = 38 and reclaim 26, using 12E from your pool. You'd eat your pool in 3 cycles (78 sec).

With a zealous string you'd regenerate only 2.67E but gain 4E from hits (unless blocked), resulting in a net gain of .67. In 24 seconds you'd have recovered the cost of Expert Focus itself.

That would be awesome.

PS: With [wiki]Zealous Renewal[/wiki], a Zealous bowstring and Expert Focus you can already keep them going, a continuous, everlasting 60-70 HP/s.

Grammar · Feb 01, 2008, 01:24 AM // 01:24

The "PA -> QS -> SA -> QS -> repeat" combo under Expert's Focus works well in certain areas of PvP, but I've been trying it out in PvE and am not happy with it. And even in PvP it seems like you need 2 rangers running it to really be effective at it.

I'm much happier with the "PA -> SA -> Prepared" combo in PvE because Prepared Shot gives me the energy to use things like Concussion Shot and PvE skills, not the mention the ability to use whatever prep I want, even Apply Poison (although I usually use Read the Wind and a flatbow with it).