Curse

Lothire The Third · May 07, 2005, 03:32 AM // 03:32

I understand the "melee class" of the game is the Warrior. However, after some searching around on random forums, I come to find some templates on a melee-oriented Ranger (Ranger/Warrior).

At first, I thought perhaps I could attempt to recreate one of my beloved old D&D toons, a Ranger who was focused on Melee (Dual Wield). He worked amazingly well. However, after I completed making a Ranger and following the "Aragorn is teh s3xeh" template located in the Ranger Basics sticky thread up to level 8, I found out that DW is not allowed in game currently.

That was a bit depressing, but I gave it some more thought, and feel a two hand Ranger (heck, even S/S) would still be appealing.

What i'm not aware of is just what i'm really undergoing. A Ranger is "suppose" to be a jack of all trades Archer, in most of the games i'v played. This already has me worried, since there is no other class which is lightly armored but can resort to melee. After 8 levels of playing, i'v found things to be alright. Struggling a bit at times, but i'm still new to the game so I don't expect to do real well. Thing is, i'm playing this game for the first time with a class combo that might be.. Well, weak if I am to follow my past experiences. I'v been told no class combo is gimp, which my MMO ridden mind is having a hard time believeing.

I really want to know; Is there any Rangers out there who have tried being pure, or at least as close as you can get, to melee oriented? I'd really appreciate some information on how this combo performs, what I should be looking to do, get, anything at all that can help me along. As I said befor, I am so far following the template givin' in the Rangers Basics sticky thread "Aragorn is teh s3xah." I'd like to know how that performs in any givin' PvE or PvP situation.

I apologize if this looks to belong somewhere else, but I had a hard time finding an appropriate thread to throw this in. I searched the forums for what information I could regarding this, but I have not found a sufficiant amount.

Thanks in advance for your replys.

Undertakr · May 07, 2005, 04:14 AM // 04:14

Well, I'm a W/R, which is close, but I can give you some of my experience.

The first thing that totally rocks is pulling with the bow, using ignite arrows (or whatever it is) and frenzy together does an insane amount of damage extremely quickly, usually getting mobs down to 1/2 health before they even get to me. (I'm level 8 btw). Then I just swap to my sword/shield combo and gut them.

I think W/R is a bit better simply because the W primary gets better armour, more HP and the strength bonus, but my girlfriend is a R/W and she rocks. She has almost all of her points in Ranger based skills.

The other thing to remember is, even though your armour is a little less than a warriors, you have (or should have!) a pet that is a constant, energy free DOT that is augmenting the damage you can do as well.

I think W/R R/W is a very viable combo IF you design your character to your strengths, which is to do a LOT of damage before they get to you and then do as much melee damage as quickly as you can when they close in (or you close in to them.)

Roken · May 07, 2005, 04:15 AM // 04:15

I was also surprised that Rangers had no Blade oriented skills. Anyway, any profession combo can be weak, unless you know how to work it and want you want to build. You want an offensive ranger, but do you really just want the Ranger tag and be able to use a sword, or the jack of all trades type character, becuase I think it would be hard to do both.

I've played a ranger up to level 8 (Nec/Ran) and I've gimped that char out nasty by trying to build it the way I "thought" the Ranger class was going to be like (for PvP anyway). If you looking for in-your-face blade damage, then follow that build that was in the sticky. Now if your looking for the jack of all trades character, you better start experimenting.

I think this is what you really want, though:

Quote:

Ranger/Warrior melee fighter

Expertise: 11+1+hat
Beastmastery: 3+1
Swordsmanship: 11
Tactics: 8

Skills:
Pure Strike
Savage Slash
Hamstring
Final Thrust
Hundred Blades {E}
Throw Dirt
Tiger's Fury
Bonetti's Defense

Just a duelist. It's your chance to look like Aragorn from LOTR™! You too can wear disheveled clothes with leaves in your hair, call yourself a ranger, yet use a sword!

Lothire The Third · May 07, 2005, 04:31 AM // 04:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roken

I was also surprised that Rangers had no Blade oriented skills. Anyway, any profession combo can be weak, unless you know how to work it and want you want to build. You want an offensive ranger, but do you really just want the Ranger tag and be able to use a sword, or the jack of all trades type character, becuase I think it would be hard to do both.

I've played a ranger up to level 8 (Nec/Ran) and I've gimped that char out nasty by trying to build it the way I "thought" the Ranger class was going to be like (for PvP anyway). If you looking for in-your-face blade damage, then follow that build that was in the sticky. Now if your looking for the jack of all trades character, you better start experimenting.

I think this is what you really want, though:

I wasn't sure which of those two melee ranger templates I really wanted to follow. I voted for the Aragorn because of the lowered Expertise and higher Swordsman. I figure I can interchange the skills as I see fit after I get them.

I'm really into the idea of in-your-face blade damage, and it sounds like the templates posted will not stear me wrong. The reason i'm doing R/W and not W/R is because I perfer the lighter armor (also he will have more elemental damage reduction). Though, what i'm generally doing is taking a class that is supposidly a range specialist and turning him into a melee specialist through the use of a secondary. Will that be ineffective in PvP/PvE?

Thanks again for the posts - if all else fails, I can either reroll W/R or go more of a marksman "traditional" Ranger.

Adambomb · Nov 01, 2005, 07:39 PM // 19:39

I've just spent about 10-15 getting all the skills needed and a decent enough sword - my R/W is now ready for action. I'm gonna go test him in a variety of places and see how he fares. Oh, by the way this is for the Aragon template. It looks really promising!

I'll post shortly about the good and [dare I say,] bad points of having your own 'Aragorn'.

-Adam

Manfred · Nov 01, 2005, 09:42 PM // 21:42

my pvp R/W is a hammer warrior, with beastmastery and TF to increase damage all around. Expertise pays for the spammable mana skills I use (only adrenal is devastating hammer)

entropy · Nov 01, 2005, 11:04 PM // 23:04

This is just for fun right? no pvp...

S H I N O B I · Nov 02, 2005, 12:05 AM // 00:05

Here's the build I use for my PVE R/W. Hope this helps...

Expertise - 9 (+1+1)
Swdsmnshp - 12
Wilderness - 9 (+1)
Beast Mastery - 3 (+1)

Tigers Fury
Hundred Blades (or another energy based atk if u dont have it yet)
Seeking Blade/Savage Slash/Pure Strike/Apply Poison
Final Thrust
Lightning Reflex or Res Signet
Whirling Defense
Throw Dirt
Troll Ungent

No need to use Tactics for a shield since you'll just be evading attks... (i use a "ninja" scroll instead to raise up my energy spamming ^.^) Just keep spamming the first 4 attacks (Final Thrust will be available pretty quickly due to the spd and Hundred Blades combined)... when at 75%-50% health, use one of the evade stances and then use the Troll juice (keep in mind not to use Tiger's Fury or your evade stance will cancel - wait for your stance to end before using Tiger's Fury again)... watch your health regenerate while you evade/block attacks and hurt the enemy at the same time ^.^... Use another stance and use the troll juice yet again if you're feelin' foggy... I find that I can solo pretty decently with this build... Make sure to have 2 swds that you can switch to (a physical dmg swd and an elemental dmg swd - both using the +15% bonus when using a stance). For Random Arena PVP, just switch one of the stances w/ a Res sig ^.^

carnivore · Nov 02, 2005, 02:55 AM // 02:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by S H I N O B I

(i use a "ninja" scroll instead to raise up my energy spamming ^.^)

you should look into that necro offhand, grim cesta or something, looks like a claw