Curse

Young_Ranger · Sep 22, 2009, 06:21 PM // 18:21

I completed Nightfall campaign last week with a general build and less than 3 purchased skills. I just never bought skill from skill trainers. I have captured about 60% of the elite skills for both myself and heroes.

The few times I wanted or needed a skill after failing a mission or quest, it was a nuisance to track down the skill trainer.

When I was trying to do the Gate of Madness mission, the leader was telling/helping people upgrade their builds. My problem was that I didn't have the skills he told me to include.

I plan to spend the next week or two investing in non-elite Ranger skills. After I collect them I want to learn how to use them effectively in a build.

What are your top 4 to 8 purchased Ranger Skills that you find most helpful?

Thanks in advance for your help.

tuna-fish_sushi · Sep 22, 2009, 06:51 PM // 18:51

Skill Cap Sig x4-8

But Seriously:

Distracting Shot
Savage shot
Apply Poison
Natural Stride (or some other Stance block)
Antidote Signet
Volley
Throw Dirt
Most PVE skills

Chthon · Sep 22, 2009, 07:12 PM // 19:12

Eh, full-on beastmaster skills left out, I'm hard pressed to imagine every using a non-elite ranger skill in normal PvE that wasn't one fo the following:

Charm Animal
Comfort Animal
Scavenger Strike
Distracting Shot
Lightning Reflexes
Body Shot
Concussion Shot
Favorable Winds
Needling Shot
Pin Down
Savage Shot
Sloth Hunter's Shot
Volley
Frozen Soil
Ignite Arrows
Winter
Antidote Signet
Dual Shot
Triple Shot
Never Rampage Alone

prey monkie · Sep 22, 2009, 07:38 PM // 19:38

dont buy the skilss. buy a run for 8k,

subarucar · Sep 22, 2009, 07:48 PM // 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

Eh, full-on beastmaster skills left out, I'm hard pressed to imagine every using a non-elite ranger skill in normal PvE that wasn't one fo the following:

Charm Animal
Comfort Animal
Scavenger Strike
Distracting Shot
Lightning Reflexes
Body Shot
Concussion Shot
Favorable Winds
Needling Shot
Pin Down
Savage Shot
Sloth Hunter's Shot
Volley
Frozen Soil
Ignite Arrows
Winter
Antidote Signet
Dual Shot
Triple Shot
Never Rampage Alone

What?
.
.
.

turbo234 · Sep 22, 2009, 07:58 PM // 19:58

well, i wouldn't say most bought because i've only bought each skill once on my ranger but most used is
distracting shot/savage shot/apply poison/natural stride/lightning reflexes. this is mostly just for pvp though when i do play. pve bores me.

Fay Vert · Sep 22, 2009, 09:43 PM // 21:43

Splinter
Barrage
Rez

Life Bringing · Sep 22, 2009, 11:35 PM // 23:35

Wounding Strike
Mystic Sweep
Eremite's Attack
Aura of Holy Might
Asuran Scan
Jagged Strike
Fox Fangs
Death Blossom
Wild Strike
Lightning Reflexes
Dwarven Stability

OoO Rift OoO · Sep 23, 2009, 01:15 AM // 01:15

Escape.

123456

Young_Ranger · Sep 24, 2009, 11:32 AM // 11:32

Thanks for the many replies. I learned a great deal.

In game I asked if I could use a Tome to learn a skill for my main that was known by a hero and was told yes. I was also given 3 Ranger Tomes for free.
Several hours later, I found my first warrior tome as loot.

I used tomes for 3 ranger skills and got 2 of them to "work".

Since I started this thread, I feel it is ok to hijack it myself.

Will someone please tell me what Throw Dirt is good for and when you are suppose to use it?

Thanks

Kumu Honua · Sep 24, 2009, 03:15 PM // 15:15

Throw dirt is a touch skill that blinds your target (And those adjacent to him).

Thus it's main use is defensive when you get locked on by a melee. It can be used offensively if you are willing to run up into the frackus.

Sir Mad · Sep 24, 2009, 03:20 PM // 15:20

Quote:

It can be used offensively if you are willing to run up into the frackus.

... which is generally a bad idea (unless you don't use a bow of course). Yeah basically it's ok when a melee characters goes through the tank/minions wall et hassle the backliners. Its duration is generally long enough to kill the dude before it wears off.

WhiteAsIce · Sep 24, 2009, 04:50 PM // 16:50

Throw Dirt is mainly defensive because it is touch range and has long recharge, meaning you can't keep foes blinded forever.
A gimmick build that I once ran included Throw Dirt, Whirling Defense, and Assassin's Promise. Of course, I ran this with Discord heroes, so I had AP thrown out left to right for massive recharging.

You need skills to buy in Nightfall? (HST = hero skill trainer)
* Distracting Shot
* Lightning Reflexes
* Favorable Winds (HST)
* Keen Arrow (HST)
* Savage Shot (HST)
* Natural Stride

Chthon · Sep 24, 2009, 05:02 PM // 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young_Ranger

Will someone please tell me what Throw Dirt is good for and when you are suppose to use it?

It's good for briefly stopping a dangerous melee that finds its way into your backline to buy time to kill it or run from it.

Way, way back in the day, it was used on UW trap teams to neutralize an Aatxes that managed to miss the traps. Pretty far back in the day it was used in Tombs B/P teams to deal with Grasps that got past the minions and pets and back to the party.

These days, it's not a terribly useful skill. Power creep has given midliners lots of better options for suppressing melee monsters.

Sir Mad · Sep 24, 2009, 06:45 PM // 18:45

Quote:

Pretty far back in the day it was used in Tombs B/P teams to deal with Grasps that got past the minions and pets and back to the party.

These days, it's not a terribly useful skill. Power creep has given midliners lots of better options for suppressing melee monsters.

I 100% agree. I used to have it in Tombs back in the days too. But builds changed, barragers no longer exist there or turned into Splinter barragers, which let little room for such an optional skill. And in other skillbars, the game changed so much I don't see Throw Dirt very usefull anymore. I mean... back in the days you had plenty of space for optional skills but now with all these fancy PvE skills there are probaby better choices than Throw Dirt.

rfxcasey · Sep 25, 2009, 09:30 PM // 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Mad

I 100% agree. I used to have it in Tombs back in the days too. But builds changed, barragers no longer exist there or turned into Splinter barragers, which let little room for such an optional skill. And in other skillbars, the game changed so much I don't see Throw Dirt very usefull anymore. I mean... back in the days you had plenty of space for optional skills but now with all these fancy PvE skills there are probaby better choices than Throw Dirt.

Can you think of any to use instead or throw dirt? Are you saying that barrage is no longer valid?

talisk3 · Sep 26, 2009, 04:09 AM // 04:09

Why did someone post Charm Animal....

Distracting Shot
Savage Shot
Crossfire (some disaggree, quick recharge, decent damage)
Penetrating Attack
Keen Arrow
Lightning Reflexes
Antidote Signet

Sir Mad · Sep 26, 2009, 05:26 PM // 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfxcasey

Can you think of any to use instead or throw dirt? Are you saying that barrage is no longer valid?

Not at all, but a barrager build now looks like:

1) Barrage
2) Splinter Weapon
3) Interrupt
4) Fancy PvE skill 1 (I am the Strongest!, or even Dodge This! which is energy-free)
5) Fancy PvE skill 2 (summon, standard, etc)
6) Fancy PvE skill 3 or Optional (stance, interrupt, spirit, etc)
7) Optional (idem)
8) Rez (despite the fact no one takes a rez anymore because they *could* carry scrolls, which they don't have /rant off)

... with eventually a pet in the optional slot or instead of the 3rd PvE skill. Quite frankly, considering the lack of space in such a bar, I'd rather go with a defensive stance for example, since it's gonna work against both ranged and melee foes (except Grasps :x), which is not the case of Throw Dirt (unless you rush in the melee...).

Back in the days, the B/P bar was:

1) Barrage
2) Interrupt
3) Optional or Spirit
4) Defensive Stance
5) Optional (often Troll Unguent)
6) Rez
7) Charm Animal
8) Comfort Animal

Since there were 5 B/P in the team, and only 2 of them had a spirit, one of the 3 remaining rangers could bring Throw Dirt for extra defense. But now 2 things have changed: the damage output is MUCH higher so foes die faster and therefore have fewer chances to pass the minions/tank wall and attack the backline, and you also have a bunch of great PvE skills at your disposal. That's doesn't make Throw Dirt a bad skill, but there are probably better alternatives around now.

Amy Awien · Sep 28, 2009, 09:11 AM // 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Mad

... a defensive stance for example, since it's gonna work against both ranged and melee foes ...

Throw Dirt on the other hand can be used to protect other team members from melee. Whatever you prefer, or need more.

AngeliqueSynner · Sep 28, 2009, 02:38 PM // 14:38

Dual shot
Triple Shot
Ignight Arrows
Splinter Weapon
Crowd supression in a can. :]