Curse

Verse · Dec 05, 2005, 01:29 AM // 01:29

I have been playing as a W/N and W/Mo for awhile now and I want to kinda switch over to something new. I have been playing with the idea of a Mesmer, but I think Ranger is going to be my next character. Now, I like to PvE a majority of the time, so I will be working the character up, but I am having the hardest time on a seconday profession for the Ranger.
I would like to focus on Marksmanship, Expertise and Beast Mastery, but then again, I wouldn't want to miss out on Wilderness Survival for the DoTs and the Heals. I kinda want it all, but then I haven't even taken in consideration of what I can use on the seconday profession. Now, with any expert Rangers here, what has paid off the most, Wilderness Survival or Beast Master?
Also, on the secondary profession, it seems that pretty much all classes can offer something useful to the Ranger. I was think elementalist for the damage output, but then there is the issue of energy usage. Mesmer, Monk and Necro has their postives as well. I am guess Mo would be the route for the situation that I explained above, but I did the whole W/Mo thing so I want something different. So I am still kinda weighing options here and there of what will help me out.

Hokanu · Dec 05, 2005, 01:35 AM // 01:35

For PvE, my ranger hardly ever uses a secondary. I originally made it necro, because I think that has the most variety, since i know some ranger farming builds use mark of pain. Well, that and I needed to unlock my necro skills...
And remember, you can always just switch your secondary around, like when I need a rez, I switch to Monk secondary and bring rebirth, that kind of stuff.

Verse · Dec 05, 2005, 01:47 AM // 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokanu

For PvE, my ranger hardly ever uses a secondary. I originally made it necro, because I think that has the most variety, since i know some ranger farming builds use mark of pain. Well, that and I needed to unlock my necro skills...
And remember, you can always just switch your secondary around, like when I need a rez, I switch to Monk secondary and bring rebirth, that kind of stuff.

Yeah, I know I can switch out as such, and really if it's not gimping, I think I would go with just straight ranger skills. Now, the question remains, what has been more benefical in the past Beast Mastery or Wilderness Survival... because I know I can have Marksmanship and Expertise and BOTH BM and WS.

Brand Oathbow · Dec 06, 2005, 10:58 PM // 22:58

Wilerness Survival FTW! Seriously, I have never played the beastmaster skills, except for Tigers Fury, and someday I may play around with a pet. For me there are just too many fun toys in WS: Troll Ungent, Storm Chaser, all the preparations, Poison Arrow, all the traps...

My general PvE build
Hunter's Shot
Penetrating Shot
Distracting Shot
Poison Arrow {E}
Kindle Arrows/Ignite Arrows
Whirling Defense/Dryder's Defenses/Lightning Reflexes
Troll Ungent
Rez Sig/Barbed Trap/Healing Spring/Savage Shot

Early in the game
Read the Wind + Favorable Winds
Ignite Arrows + Dual Shot
Apply Poison + Hunters Shot

Former Ruling · Dec 06, 2005, 11:21 PM // 23:21

Beast master is really only worth it if you devote yourself to being a beastmaster. That means:
1)Top attribute pts in Beatsmastery
2) alot of skills taking room on your bar for the pet (atleast half).

So you see how being a good beastmaster means you have to sorta shun everything else in your build.

The most common droppage of pts is in Expertise (alot of people fear going below 13 expertise after hitting lvl20 and getting all attribute pts), Marksmanship (Bare minimum for most people is 12 to be effective with bow attacks), WS (this is usally alittle lower in none-WS specific builds [like if your just in it for the preps, troll, and poison arrow] it can be around 10), the rest can be dumped in something for startegy, Either Beast for Tiger's Fury, or secondary's class for some startegy there (like Ele's Conjure).

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The above person posted your run of the mill PvE Ranger for non-specific location.

If you are going heavy into "Interupter ranger" - You'll drop your prep and something else for Choking Gas/Practiced Stance.

In an area with not too many Fleshies (mobs that can be poisoned, bleed, etc) - You'd drop Poison as your elite for probably Quick Shot, and hunter's for Dual Shot (which some peopel use above hunters anyway).

In The last missions (Fire Island missions) - You'll probably drop Your prep 99% of the time to carry Sig of Cap anyway, but if you dont bring sig of cap - you'll drop the Fire preps anyway, and in last mission - for Winter.

other than that general build - It depends on the area.