Curse

Eradras · May 31, 2009, 07:45 AM // 07:45

So this build is mostly just a backup SY! shouter to make sure everyone is under it's marvelous effects. Note that we do have Dark Fury on a necro so it builds up adrenaline fast.
The build:

12+1+2 Expertise
12+1 Marksmanship

For Great Justice!
Volley
"Save Yourselves!"
[E]Expert's Dexterity
"I Am The Strongest!"
Whirling Defense
Favorable Winds
Sunspear Rebirth Signet

Now I know most of this build can be changed, hell, most of it is optional and maybe not even generally viable for a Ranger since you lose most of the ranger's usual utility with it. But to be honest, it's a lot of fun and it works out pretty nicely, especially if you put Splinter Weapons on some of your heroes.

Most of you will probably not agree on the elite of choice here and some of you might even hate me for taking Volley over Barrage.. but recently I've found Barrage pretty lacking as an Elite. It does decent + damage, but it very rarely hits 7 targets at once, hence, Volley. Now, Expert's Dexterity might seem like a silly elite, since it basically only gives you an IAS and some small bonus dmg, but at 15 Expertise it's easily maintainable as it lasts as long as it takes for it to recharge, which is one thing about the standard Barrage builds I didn't really like... no maintainable IAS.

- IATS is added just do add a bit more damage, it could be dropped for something else, not sure what tho.
- Whirling Defense is more of a trust thing, since creatures very rarely go for the ranger at the back of the team, it can be dropped for something else if you feel comfortable with your party.
- Favorable Winds is there because I use a Flatbow for it's fast rate of fire tho I imagine it too can be dropped if you take a Recurve Bow and replaced with a kind of self-heal or condition removal.
- FGJ! is there just to pump up your adrenaline faster when needed (if your Dark Fury necro gets killed or shutdown somehow).

Please keep the comments constructive and helpful, thank you!

Coast · May 31, 2009, 09:16 AM // 09:16

I would add savage and d shot instead of fwinds and w defense
fwinds= basically wasting x seconds of time, w defense should be replaced with an interupt also

Eragon Zarroc · May 31, 2009, 09:37 AM // 09:37

consider being the primary SY caster using infuriating heat. as ranger, you are perfectly postioned amongst casters to keep it on em. one well placed volley and sy instant charge. just something else to replace dexerity as your attack speed buff

Eradras · May 31, 2009, 10:04 AM // 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eragon Zarroc

consider being the primary SY caster using infuriating heat. as ranger, you are perfectly postioned amongst casters to keep it on em. one well placed volley and sy instant charge. just something else to replace dexerity as your attack speed buff

I've actually considered that, and that was my original plan, but I've yet to capture that elite.
What IAS would you advise tho? I like Lightning Reflexes, but if I want it to pay off I have to take Dwarven Stability, and it will still end up with 8 or so seconds downtime. Frenzy or Flurry are kind of costly seeing how they're not affected by Expertise. Not really sure what other options there are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coast

I would add savage and d shot instead of fwinds and w defense
fwinds= basically wasting x seconds of time, w defense should be replaced with an interupt also

I was thinking of doing that right after we've vanquished an area but we decided to call it a night.
I agree that FW kinda takes long to set up and it doesn't really give me an edge seeing as my only role is to fuel SY!.. maybe if there were more rangers in the team. Whirling Defense was almost useless, only ended up using it once or twice in the whole area, so yeah, it was an obvious drop for something else, however in some areas it might still prove to be useful, Arachni's Haunt for example hehe.

Coast · May 31, 2009, 10:13 AM // 10:13

yes, but rly d shot and savage shot will help u alot more then just a skill to fill up a spot, u can use em both offensive /defensive

example

o meteorshower, lets savage it!
Aegis(pve), lets d shot it!
hehehe <3

[Morkai] · May 31, 2009, 10:21 AM // 10:21

I'd ditch I Am The Strongest! because you're trying to keep SY! up, not deal lolwtfdmg.

Also Favourable Winds is pretty bad, i'd remove that, whirling defense is such a stupid stance I'm not really sure why so many people like it.

You're a Ranger, you need Distracting Shot. Tbh. Also Savage Shot is a nice addition, so consider that also.

Eradras · May 31, 2009, 10:34 AM // 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Morkai]

I'd ditch I Am The Strongest! because you're trying to keep SY! up, not deal lolwtfdmg.

Hmm, that leaves me with another slot. What would you put instead of IATS?

Quote:

Also Favourable Winds is pretty bad, i'd remove that, whirling defense is such a stupid stance I'm not really sure why so many people like it.

FW is already on my 'to-drop' list. Tbh I just put whirling defense there cause I was thinking "Meh, might as well take a block stance.. hmm, I already have IAS, why not Whirling - bwohaha!"

So yeah, most of the build is pretty random stuff. But hey, it worked!

Zamochit · May 31, 2009, 10:48 AM // 10:48

I quite like air of superiority on save yourselves builds if you have a free slot. Its sweet when you get FGJ instant recharged.

Minime The Shadow · May 31, 2009, 11:14 AM // 11:14

hey there, just a quick question, which campaigns do u own? i might have missed it.
because when i feel like doing SY on ranger, i take barrage anyway and use [drunken master] as my easily maintainable IAS and IMS, helps if u want drunk title too, although it still helps without alcohol.
with barrages recharge and a recurve bow you can match the timing and fire everytime with barrage, or so i was told.
then i take FGJ, IATS and savage and dshot. then i pet just for randomness

but like u said, most the build is optional, but id take drunken master and barrage over experts dexterity imo.

Eradras · May 31, 2009, 11:28 AM // 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minime The Shadow

hey there, just a quick question, which campaigns do u own? i might have missed it.

I have all 3 campaings + EotN.

Hmm, I still have to gather the map pieces in order to do the quest and get the Drunken Master skill... thanks for the advice tho, I've totally forgotten about that skill. Might even take up Barrage once I unlock Drunken.. or maybe Infuriating+Volley+Drunken. Sounds nice!

[Morkai] · May 31, 2009, 11:36 AM // 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eradras

Hmm, that leaves me with another slot. What would you put instead of IATS?

As said, probably Savage Shot or something, chances are you'll only use it every other mob, but a well placed interupt can really make the skirmish, especially on HM.

elk · Jun 01, 2009, 05:30 PM // 17:30

[SY Ranger;OgESc5MTPGxgwgMGUg5iCbCAA]

This one is posted under the "Racway - paragon buddies" thread and works reasonably well. Since the code isn't working, it carries Infurating Heat/ Rapid Fire/ Dual Shot/ Triple Shot & Save Yourselves.

I've used modified versions of that build with Expert's Dexterity and swaped for RtW/ Seeking Arrows (have tossed in For Great Justice in cases too) and found good success. Now this has been based off of things like running the Racway group with a Dark Fury bot (which doesn't stack with Infuriating Heat) or areas like the EoTN/ Charr explorables with Rebel Yell up.

One thing it does over volley is strike the single target itself with multiple arrows (Dual shot / Triple shot) versus having to have clumped AI to get the benefits. I've used variations that have Incendairy Arrows as well that will allow for the prep and still provide multiple arrows but again need to be fighting decently clumped groups to power SY enough (miminal down time anyway)

Even though it's on your "to drop" list, my 2 cents comment about skills like Favorable Winds (or even Infuriating Heat) is that they become beneficial when a) It doesn't give the AI any/much of an advantage hence knowing the area/ foes in advance or b) it compliments your team build so well that it doesn't matter what the AI are running; you're just so much stronger/ output is greater. So the Racway w/ Save Yourselves spam is a good example that'll often allow you to make the (b) choice (it's just maintaining it as constantly as possible). Most cases though I find (a) the issue where it benefits the AI as much as it does you making it pointless (or helps them too much). That or in the case of (b) their skill set plays too much against your team set up to consider running it (so for example of the Racway, lots of melee hate/ blocking makes me consider running a discord build etc.)

ok..babbled enough... hope this is of some help/use.

elk