Curse

Zinger314 · May 28, 2006, 06:21 AM // 06:21

So, I recently made my Canthan born Ranger lv. 20. I have found for her a very nice bow.

However...Rangers, like Mesmers and Assassians, lack a nieche. Hence, it's difficult to get groups.

What's the best way to get groups as a Ranger. Just simply Barrage?

KazeMitsui · May 28, 2006, 06:29 AM // 06:29

i dunno i jus go henchway
but if you do hells precipice in tyria side jus say youre bringing winter
and you most def get a place

Maria The Princess · May 28, 2006, 07:44 AM // 07:44

i never have problem findig a PUG... all u need is to be a barrage/interruper

Jack Valmont · May 28, 2006, 04:53 PM // 16:53

Rangers can fill pretty much any spot on a team. They can heal (Infuse Health/Barrage/Vigorous Spirit/Live Vicariously), Interrupt (Savage, Distracting, Punishing, Incendiary Arrows), Spike (Dual + Punishing Shot, etc), Minion Master (if needed, it's possible), Buff (BiPer, Judge's Insight, etc) and do pretty much anything else you want them too. Sure it may take two skills instead of one and so on and so forth...but it's possible.

Other classes are just a little more closeminded than we are.

Zinger314 · May 28, 2006, 05:14 PM // 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Valmont

Rangers can fill pretty much any spot on a team. They can heal (Infuse Health/Barrage/Vigorous Spirit/Live Vicariously), Interrupt (Savage, Distracting, Punishing, Incendiary Arrows), Spike (Dual + Punishing Shot, etc), Minion Master (if needed, it's possible), Buff (BiPer, Judge's Insight, etc) and do pretty much anything else you want them too. Sure it may take two skills instead of one and so on and so forth...but it's possible.

Other classes are just a little more closeminded than we are.

5/6 of those things could apply to ANY profession.

Jack Valmont · May 28, 2006, 08:38 PM // 20:38

Rangers look sexier doing it. Nothing like using a bow to get things done.

Wyld Kard · May 28, 2006, 10:33 PM // 22:33

Yeah being a ranger and trying to get into any random PUG is hard, because everyone is stuck on the Tank/Healer/MM/Nuker setup for most things best thing is eaither gain some friends, join a guild, or hench it.

Maria The Princess · May 28, 2006, 10:54 PM // 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyld Kard

Yeah being a ranger and trying to get into any random PUG is hard, because everyone is stuck on the Tank/Healer/MM/Nuker setup for most things best thing is eaither gain some friends, join a guild, or hench it.

or just cap barrage, the most wanted skill in PUGs

Wolydarg · May 29, 2006, 01:59 AM // 01:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maria The Princess

or just cap barrage, the most wanted skill in PUGs

What?? Go into THK and try to get in a pug being a Barrage/Interrupt...

B/P groups are the only groups which want rangers, and 95% of BP groups are farming tombs day and night...

You really just gotta hench the missions as a ranger unless you got guildies/friends willing to help you out, they're not that hard if you got a flat/longbow and can work with the dumb AI...

Rebirthing is a need for me because I can't get Devona/Thom to pull back until we're a good half a radar away...

Jack Valmont · May 29, 2006, 02:29 AM // 02:29

To be honest, I've never had a problem getting into a group as a Ranger. Maybe it's because I play at a different time than most people, and there are usually just enough people online to make a group.

I find it hard to believe that there are people who can't see the use for a Ranger to be in a group. If it is true what was said before about the "Tank, Healer, Minion Master, and Nuker," then I guess most people stupidly believe the concept: "Stand and fight and throw everything you have at them." Hell, I'd like to interrupt that Giant Stomp that's going to affect the whole team. Hell, I'd like to spike that armor-heavy monster whose giving the Warrior a hard time (via armor penetrating attacks/spiking).

I'm not just talking about rangers anymore. Mesmer and Rangers both have their place on a team and I don't think it's fair that some people feel there is only one way to play the game.

- Jack

Maria The Princess · May 29, 2006, 04:57 AM // 04:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolydarg

What?? Go into THK and try to get in a pug being a Barrage/Interrupt...

B/P groups are the only groups which want rangers, and 95% of BP groups are farming tombs day and night...

You really just gotta hench the missions as a ranger unless you got guildies/friends willing to help you out, they're not that hard if you got a flat/longbow and can work with the dumb AI...

Rebirthing is a need for me because I can't get Devona/Thom to pull back until we're a good half a radar away...

in THK..... trappers are the WANTED kind. all u need is 3 traps+manta of resolve or trapers focus. i did that thing with a few PUGs as a trapper, and when i go there i always see spams "GLF Trapper".

u just need to understand that Rangers, unlike many other classes, can adapt themseelves to the "environment" much more then al other classes, thats why the dramatic build changes evry mission.

and by the way, barrage groups are EVERYWHERE now...

Nivryx · May 29, 2006, 04:32 PM // 16:32

IMO, the best way to get a good group, for any class, is to make your own. Sure, Tanks and Monks can join groups easily as they are generally wanted, but those groups may not be good. If you know what the mission or quest calls for then its easy to be able to note that you need a MM or some other specific build, and then just wait and watch the chat for anyone looking for a group as a MM or whatever class your searching for. I generally don't say anything in local chat about looking for anyone until I have everyone but the 1-2 spots that are for healers, and then if I didn't pick any healers up I'll simply saying 'GLF 2 healers' or if you have one already, 'GLF 2nd healer.' This still may not be a good group, but it certainly has better chances to be better if you know what your going to be against. Unless I see someone specifically looking for a ranger build, like in THK somone looking for a trapper, i make my own group. Even assassins can easily compile a group for a mission or quest this way when some groups specifically call out - no assassins, which i haven't seen much of for any class.

Evilsod · May 29, 2006, 05:20 PM // 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

5/6 of those things could apply to ANY profession.

And more to the point, the other professions do them miles better. Ranger vs Mesmer interrupts is debatable. Personally i'd take the mesmer henchman for it anyday.

The thing is with Assassins there armour sucks, but the difference between them and a ranger is entirely in the positioning. Assassins are more suicidal or just plain useless from what i've heard. Specially in PvE where enemies hit for a hell of a lot and come in a variety of groups.

Personally i dislike Barrage for anything other than a B/P team. Your there for support, don't forget that. The warriors take the hits, the necros/eles deal the big damage (to the many targets that is). If your team is relying on you to kill things, your leader must have a screw loose. Barrage is for damage dealing only, interrupts are much more useful, and while your spamming barrage, you can't interrupt. Of course if your sensible enough you'll know that when theres a Shadow Beast around (for example) to wait for its SS, not just spam Barrage merrily then realise you need to actually think.

Maria The Princess · May 29, 2006, 06:42 PM // 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

And more to the point, the other professions do them miles better. Ranger vs Mesmer interrupts is debatable. Personally i'd take the mesmer henchman for it anyday.

The thing is with Assassins there armour sucks, but the difference between them and a ranger is entirely in the positioning. Assassins are more suicidal or just plain useless from what i've heard. Specially in PvE where enemies hit for a hell of a lot and come in a variety of groups.

Personally i dislike Barrage for anything other than a B/P team. Your there for support, don't forget that. The warriors take the hits, the necros/eles deal the big damage (to the many targets that is). If your team is relying on you to kill things, your leader must have a screw loose. Barrage is for damage dealing only, interrupts are much more useful, and while your spamming barrage, you can't interrupt. Of course if your sensible enough you'll know that when theres a Shadow Beast around (for example) to wait for its SS, not just spam Barrage merrily then realise you need to actually think.

yet 99% of PUGs i join asks me to take barrage....

but as a support figure, the best is trapping, and you easily fing a PUG while being a trapper. as support figure, throw dirt is a "staple on" skill, if some anoing mob runs in and attaks the monk or the ele

wilebill · May 30, 2006, 06:40 AM // 06:40

I see a lot of "R/X20 lfg" on the command line. This hook is bare! No fish will bite!

Put some attractive bait on it, like "R/X20 barrage interrupt dust trap" and no problem in getting a group for me so far.

Master Ketsu · May 30, 2006, 07:08 AM // 07:08

Just remember to advertise what you do when you say Lfg. Rangers cant just say "Lfg" like warriors and monks can.

You have to say "Trap ranger Lfg" or "Barrage ranger Lfg" ect. ect. and then you will start to get invites.

morimoto · May 30, 2006, 02:45 PM // 14:45

i find that a lot of ppl playing the game have a preconcieved notion on what classes are need to make up a party.

if i am getting passed up in favor for other classes, i start up my own group. i am not picky about the members that join. i feel all classes have their strengths. also, all classes have some form of self heal. going w/o a monk is tough, but not impossible.

i have also been know to bring in my monk, join the party that didnt pick me up as a ranger, and let some key members die a few times. childish? yes. do i feel better? ya.

Azmodan · May 30, 2006, 04:14 PM // 16:14

I've had no problem finding good groups to join. If the group wants a trapper, I change to a trapper. If they need interrupts, I switch. If they don't care, I am a BeastMaster.

The problem with most people is that they don't want to change what they do based on the needs of the group.

In one group, we picked up a smite monk. We ran the mission once and the smite monk kept getting killed. After we failed the mission, the group leader asked if the monk could switch to a healer. The monk left the group.

In this case, we let him go as a smite monk. But when he kept dying in the first 10 seconds of every fight, he was asked to switch. Instead of switching, he decided leave. Good luck finding a PUG that wants a smiting monk.

Flexibility! That's what it's all about.

Evilsod · May 30, 2006, 04:56 PM // 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maria The Princess

yet 99% of PUGs i join asks me to take barrage....

but as a support figure, the best is trapping, and you easily fing a PUG while being a trapper. as support figure, throw dirt is a "staple on" skill, if some anoing mob runs in and attaks the monk or the ele

No-one cares how useful the skill is, they just assume that because you can clear out FoW as Barrage/Pet quicker than anyone else, that the skill is godly. That skill requires as much brains to use as a Fire ele. The number of times i've missed spells in B/P trips because im already using Barrage isn't much help. If you join as an interrupter, Barrage has no place, ever. Your either there for damage, or there to interrupt, you can't do both effectively. Even if the interrupts you throw out can dish out a decent amount of damage. The only time i might consider bringing along Barrage in a normal group is FoW for Judges Insight massacring of Skeletons (or low level missions).

Not many people i've seen want traps outside of UW and THK. The amount of time you spend waiting for trappers is a bit dull, you can just as easily bring Pin Down and not slow everyone down.

Edit: Azmodan. Smiters can out damage eles quite easily, in the later missions anyway. The ridiculously high armour Jade/Mursaat bosses (180 base AL i think) get completely annihilated by smiters. Its not often you drop Cairn the Destroyer using henchman while Willia the Unpleasant is still alive.

ChaoticCoyote · May 30, 2006, 05:14 PM // 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

So, I recently made my Canthan born Ranger lv. 20. I have found for her a very nice bow.

However...Rangers, like Mesmers and Assassians, lack a nieche. Hence, it's difficult to get groups.

What's the best way to get groups as a Ranger. Just simply Barrage?

Rangers serve many roles:

Interrupter: Using Savage Shot or a pet with Disrupting Lunge, you can do a nice job of taking enemy spell casters out of the fight.

Trapper: If your focus is on Wilderness Survival, you have a wide selection of traps -- assuming, of course, that your group has the brains and patience to set-up a killing zone. I use Viper's Nest, since it's a trap based on my Beast Mastery.

Elemental Damage: In areas where creatures are vulverable to cold damage, a Ranger can cast Winter to turn all of the party's elemental damage to cold damage. Very effective.

In my experience, the ranger is the most versatile class. Your mileage may vary.