Curse

Kaane · Nov 27, 2006, 05:53 PM // 17:53

One of the prebuilts in the Nightfall PvP preview weekend was a R/P that a lot of people (including myself) seemed to really enjoy. Thus I was shocked when I looked here and nobody is talking about R/P builds!

Here's one I've been using in PvE with one of my characters:

Spear of Lightning [SM]
Slayer's Spear [SM]
Blazing Spear [SM]
Wild Throw [SM]
Feral Lunge [BM]
Rampage as One {E} [BM]
Comfort Animal [BM]
Charm Animal [BM]

12 Spear Mastery
at least 11 Beast Mastery
everything else in Expertise

The spike damage is great, and the sustained damage is also really good. With Rampage as One and high expertise, you're able to continuously spam all your spear skills--the 33% faster attack speed really helps with building adrenaline for Blazing Spear and Wild Throw.

Anyone else been playing with R/P builds?

anshin · Nov 27, 2006, 06:27 PM // 18:27

i tried but my main character is a R/Mo and so i didn't have any paragon skills...

i think a mix of both profs has to be good because both are ranged attackers and shouts like Stand Your Ground really can make a ranger even better...

i would like to see more R/P builds

thanks for starting this

XvArchonvX · Nov 27, 2006, 06:37 PM // 18:37

I used a R/P build during the preview event and had a lot of success with it. Back then I used TF with some spear attack skills along with Escape Whirling Defenses/Throw Dirt to achieve a rapid fire build with a strong defense. I haven't gone back to use much R/P stuff since, but R/P Rampaging builds are very good at dealing lots of damage. So far I've stuck with a hammer when using Rampage as One since I still like to have the ability to KD.

SnipiousMax · Nov 27, 2006, 07:01 PM // 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by XvArchonvX

So far I've stuck with a hammer when using Rampage as One since I still like to have the ability to KD.

Agreed.

I did use a R/P for awhile with Rampage as One, and while the damage output was nice and sustainable, I still felt I was dealing more overall with a Hammer. The spike damage was very good. Chaining two of three spear attacks in a row pumps out quite a bit of damage in a few seconds. Yet, I still find myself wandering back to use a hammer. While I'm not a big fan of KD's in PvE, a hammer still lets you use distracting blow... which I think works wonders with a thumper.

I'm still a bit curious about a R/D RaO ranger with a scythe...

anshin · Nov 27, 2006, 07:04 PM // 19:04

is there anywhere where it explains why are people so enthusiastic about a melee ranger?

i really don't get that idea...sorry...

Kaane · Nov 27, 2006, 07:21 PM // 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by anshin

is there anywhere where it explains why are people so enthusiastic about a melee ranger?

i really don't get that idea...sorry...

That's why I like the spear-throwing.

Besides, if you need an interrupt, you can swap out Wild Throw or Spear of Lightning for Disrupting Throw, and swap out your pet's attack for, what's it called, Disrupting Lunge? The pet interruption skill.

Wrath Of Dragons · Nov 27, 2006, 07:25 PM // 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by anshin

is there anywhere where it explains why are people so enthusiastic about a melee ranger?

i really don't get that idea...sorry...

they get great attack speed buffs, plus because of expertiese their hammer skills cost very little energy

anshin · Nov 27, 2006, 07:35 PM // 19:35

i prefer long range attacks...

im suck a coward

fallot · Nov 27, 2006, 08:07 PM // 20:07

Spear of Lightning was nerfed, maybe that's why you don't see them around so much.

XvArchonvX · Nov 27, 2006, 08:23 PM // 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaane

That's why I like the spear-throwing.

Besides, if you need an interrupt, you can swap out Wild Throw or Spear of Lightning for Disrupting Throw, and swap out your pet's attack for, what's it called, Disrupting Lunge? The pet interruption skill.

I still tend to run with Disrupting Lunge even when I use my hammer. I find that it works well for a spike after you gain some adrenal to KD. Most casters try to pull off a spell as soon as they get up from being KD (because they pretty much have to in order to heal themselves), so a disrupting lunge works well to catch that spell as well as deal additional damage to the spike. If nothing else, it's a good spammable skill that adds to your damage output even if you don't interupt anything.

SnipiousMax · Nov 27, 2006, 08:41 PM // 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by anshin

is there anywhere where it explains why are people so enthusiastic about a melee ranger?

i really don't get that idea...sorry...

Between cheap energy +damage attacks, the damage your pet deals, a constant IAS, and a constant speed buff, Melee rangers (specificly Hammer Rangers) can pump out an insane amount of damage in addition to building adrenaline very quickly for frequent KD's. An absolutely devestating combo is to use Hammer Bash + Crushing Blow + Beastial Mauling which lands deep wound and Dazed on your KD foe with another KD soon to come. RaO Hammer Rangers are downright scary, but somewhat frontloaded... so it's kind of a gamble to run them, but it generally pays off.

Kaane · Nov 27, 2006, 08:54 PM // 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by fallot

Spear of Lightning was nerfed, maybe that's why you don't see them around so much.

It still does solid, reliable damage though.

anshin · Nov 27, 2006, 09:26 PM // 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnipiousMax

a constant IAS,

you might already noticed....im a noob >.<

what is IAS?

SnipiousMax · Nov 27, 2006, 09:28 PM // 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by anshin

you might already noticed....im a noob >.<

what is IAS?

Increased Attack Speed.

Examples would be something like: Flurry, Frenzy, Tiger's Fury and Rampage as one.

anshin · Nov 27, 2006, 09:33 PM // 21:33

understood...

flurry is nice....better than frenzy...

XvArchonvX · Nov 27, 2006, 11:06 PM // 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by anshin

understood...

flurry is nice....better than frenzy...

Actually, Frenzy is really not so bad if used correctly. The best way to use Frenzy is to cancel it by activating another stance when you begin to be the target of damage. Many shock tanks that used frenzy would do this by activating Sprint to cancel it out.

Many people see Flurry as more of a method to gain adrenaline since it reduces damage dealt, but it still works well in a damage build since it only reduces the base damage from attacks while damage bonuses and buffs from attack skills and preps/enchants still do the same amount of damage.

My favorite IAS at the moment (well, besides RaO) is Flail in conjunction with Barrage.

Cathode_Reborn · Nov 28, 2006, 12:48 AM // 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by XvArchonvX

Actually, Frenzy is really not so bad if used correctly. The best way to use Frenzy is to cancel it by activating another stance when you begin to be the target of damage. Many shock tanks that used frenzy would do this by activating Sprint to cancel it out.

Many people see Flurry as more of a method to gain adrenaline since it reduces damage dealt, but it still works well in a damage build since it only reduces the base damage from attacks while damage bonuses and buffs from attack skills and preps/enchants still do the same amount of damage.

My favorite IAS at the moment (well, besides RaO) is Flail in conjunction with Barrage.

Flail Barrager? I never thought about it but i really might try it out

XvArchonvX · Nov 28, 2006, 01:23 AM // 01:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathode_Reborn

Flail Barrager? I never thought about it but i really might try it out

Yea, I heard a bit of stir about it before NF was released (I think Sir Mad was the first I saw to mention it) and after I tried it, I found it worked well. Flail is a strength attributed skill, so it only lasts 5 seconds, but as long as you hit multiple targets, flail is easy to upkeep due to the large amount of adrenaline gained.

ume kurosaki · Nov 28, 2006, 01:38 AM // 01:38

this is the R/P skillset that i've been using lately

Barrage (E)
Savage Shot
Go for the eyes
Stand your ground
Aim for the weaknesses (sp?)
Troll Unugent
def stance
and rez

I don't remember what exact numbers I ran with but it had at least 6 command and 16 marks, and a good amount of expertise. I can't get on GW to check right nwo though. This build is really fun to play with, especially with 2 other R/P hero henchies with similar builds.

Ronin Rangerin · Nov 28, 2006, 02:07 AM // 02:07

hmm.. yes quite shocking indeed