Curse

woofyhugger · Apr 29, 2009, 09:26 AM // 09:26

I've just returned to GW after a long time away and it's so different now. All these new things, and terms like sabway/discordway, zaishen quests and the likes.. Anyway I am starting a new with a Ranger.

I have Proph, Factions, NF, and EotN. I have been looking at builds and frankly there are so many I don't know where to start.

I also do not know which expansion pack to start in for a ranger. I know F is shorter and faster leveling and NF is about middle of the road.. but which is best for a Ranger to start in?

Thanks for any help or advice.
Cheers
Woofy

Massive Impulsa · Apr 29, 2009, 10:04 AM // 10:04

Id say keep away from Factions... I personally think it S U C Ks (altough they have nice ranger skins there

Propechies is quite nice to gather new skills, and the storyline is really good

Nigthfall is a little faster. When u reach lvl 10, u can enter EoTN - which from NF is the fastest way to get there.

Btw, id say start in NF

Rick Thene · Apr 29, 2009, 10:18 AM // 10:18

Start in NF.
Earliest access to Heroes, decently fast leveling, and some nice Ranger faces and armour.

lewis91 · Apr 29, 2009, 10:18 AM // 10:18

IMO Core proffessions should start in Proph, i like to take in the sites of pre, and you would be there ages if you tried to do all the quests, and most quest award skills which is also cool.

BTW incase you didn't know:

Sabsway = 3 necros, one = /rt healer, another minion bomber, and another barbs spikers (minion support)

Discordway = 3 necros again, one = /rt healer with discord, another minion bomber discord, and another hex/condition/support heal discord.

Turns HM into easy mode

Cebe · Apr 29, 2009, 10:35 AM // 10:35

I'm not a fan of Nightfall generally, but I actually found starting a Ranger in Nightfall very fun. Since you're new, it will also ease you into using Heroes as well.

For a list of specimen builds, please remember to see the Stickied Ranger Guide at the top of this forum, or visit PvXWiki.

Orange Milk · Apr 29, 2009, 01:20 PM // 13:20

I do not like NF, however it does give you easy access to Heros aswell as some powerful Elites rather early in the game, as well as faster leveling than in Prophicies.

You also get access to your storage ASAP unlike in Pre and Kamadan is the sales HUB of GWs now. Picking up some Tomes there would be easy to do to make a stronger build earlier in the game.

I loved Factions but I find NF has more to offer in terms of building a character quicker.

Get to EotN as fast as you can to begin developing PvE only Skills.

[Dwarven Stability] Is AWSOME on a Ranger bar and is typically a stapel on everything I do these days.

Cebe · Apr 29, 2009, 03:32 PM // 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange Milk

as well as faster leveling than in Prophicies.

On this point, Prophecies Levelling is the slowest, Cantha is quickest, and Nightfall is somewhere in between. I always thought of it as a happy medium between the two. I was hit by the stark contrast of Prophecies and Cantha very recently. It took me 2.5 hours to get to Level 7 in Prophecies, and about 30 mins in Cantha. Cantha is very fast levelling, and you'll have less time to mess about in the lowbie lands, practising and honing your skills before you hit the mainland where it suddenly becomes "serious business".

upier · Apr 29, 2009, 03:48 PM // 15:48

1. Go with looks.
2. If looks don't matter - Factions.
Starting in C1 means needing to (almost) play though the whole game to get your attribute points. And you level up insanely slow.
Starting in C3 means you get low level heroes which you need to level up (if you start in Factions or C1 - your heroes will be lvl 15ish when you get them). It also means you need to grind your way to rank 6 or 7 in the Sunspear title to be able to advance the story.

If you start in Factions - you can take it as fast or as slow as you want.

Captain Bulldozer · Apr 29, 2009, 04:20 PM // 16:20

If you're already familiar with the game, but just want to learn some new tricks, I'd say go with Factions. You'll level up quickly and not have to spend hours grinding away for the next few attribute points. You can also reach the port city (Kaineng Center) quite quickly, meaning you can easily go get heroes by porting to Kamadan and doing a few short quests. Additionally, those heroes will be level 15, meaning you won't have to spend lots of time leveling them up.

Specifically, as a ranger, you'll be more interested in getting your extra attribute points as soon as possible (as rangers generally need a split between 3 attributes rather than 2 like some other professions) and in which place has the elites you'll want to cap. Factions offers Barrage and Broad Head Arrow, which are essential for any ranger, and are easily obtainable about halfway through the (short) campaign. Nightfall has some good options too, like Burning arrow.

Overall, I'd say go with Factions, but Nightfall is a decent second option. Remember, once you get to the port, you can always switch over to the other campaigns in order to access the nice early features, like heroes, armor, etc. that they have to offer. Good hunting.

haggus71 · May 01, 2009, 12:17 AM // 00:17

Since you aren't new, go with Factions. I get as fast to Kaineng in Factions as getting to level 10 in Nightfall. Then, go get your heroes, and level them up in EotN killing big stuff for big HP. You can even follow the Jora quests and get Barrage in Blood Washes Blood, or go back and get Broad Head Arrow in the Vizunah Square mish for caster hate. Burning Arrow is right after the Consulate Docks Mish in Marga Coast.

The point is, since you(hopefully) already know how to play, go through Shing Jea, level up fast, then get your heroes at level 15(NF) and 20(EotN) instead of leveling them up in NF or not having them at all till you get to LA in Prophecies(and having to deal with Alesia healing you. God.). It will make doing the rest of the game much more fun.

woofyhugger · May 04, 2009, 12:43 PM // 12:43

I tried taking a Ranger through Factions.. well I didnt get far in to the monastery before I decided I didn't like his look. I went with NF first, purely because the rangers look better.. is that shallow? If it's any consolation I do have a factions Rit and also a new Monk in factions.

coydeleon · May 05, 2009, 06:54 AM // 06:54

My memory is a bit hazy, but I find that most of the Nightfall quests are very frustrating in a sense that the NPCs are always hard to get to quickly compared to Factions. Also, whoever decided to have the Command Post as an explorable area separate from the Sunspear Sanctuary should get a lot of hate. As the central area for most of Kourna (short but still, with the Sunspear points you need, you'll be there a lot) makes managing loot and buying armor a chore.

**Marty Silverblade** · May 05, 2009, 09:12 AM // 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by woofyhugger

I went with NF first, purely because the rangers look better.. is that shallow?

Not at all. After completing the tutorial stuff (Pre-Searing/Shing Jea Island/Istan) the only thing that differs between you and characters from other campaigns is looks - starter areas matter at the start but char looks will be there forever. Besides, it's your character; you can make and play whatever it is you want.