Curse

DFORCE · Sep 22, 2007, 04:27 PM // 16:27

I've become a little bored of the same old Barrage/Burning Arrow/BHA builds, so I've been designing a build to use my pet. I've tried pure-BM builds, but I don't really enjoy standing away from a mob and having a pet do all the attacking, I don't know, it makes me feel like I'm not in the action lol.
Anyway, here's my build:

R/Mo
8+1 Expertise
12+1 Beast Mastery
10+1+3 Marksmanship

Read the Wind
Savage Shot
Sloth Hunter's Shot
Point Blank Shot
Crossfire
Call of Haste
Heal as One [E]
Charm Animal

Any comments? I am using HaO as it saves a couple skill slots, coming a pet heal and a self heal in one.
I was also thinking of making a more offense orientated build, perhaps using Glass Arrows, and combining my pet into that, possibly with Companionship as a self/pet heal. What would a more offensive bow/pet build look like?

Thanks in advance for all the tips and builds!

DFORCE · Sep 24, 2007, 06:42 PM // 18:42

Doesn't ANYONE have any suggestions?

distilledwill · Sep 24, 2007, 07:38 PM // 19:38

I quite like it, although I'd use Run as One instead of call of haste and tiger's fury instead of crossfire. But thats just my taste.

Darkpower Alchemist · Sep 24, 2007, 07:54 PM // 19:54

[skill]Point Blank Shot[/skill] This I say no to. Go with Poison Tip Signet or Needling Shot to ramp up the damage output. As for more offensive builds using both the bow and the pet, that depends on who you talk to since the spear ranger is more offensive than the bow ranger currently. Yet, that isn't your question, so I'll stick to the topic.

To make a ranger more offensive, in general, and still use your pet- you will need the more offensive elites from the marksmanship line, such as Burning Arrow,Prepared Shot, Broad head Arrow(for Dazing),etc. When using a prep to do damage, nothing outshines Apply Poison and its heavy degen when put with BA.

However, if you weren't using your pet, you bow damage could be increased in many different ways. Conjures,preps, weapon spells, or a combination of 2 of these 3 could increase damage output considerably.

iridescentfyre · Sep 25, 2007, 01:43 AM // 01:43

In my opinion, I feel naked as a ranger without a stance of some sort. I guess its probably unnecessary being an "offensive" build, but that's just how I would feel.

Your build seems way better now that I'm really thinking about it, than it did at first glance—I was going to say I didn't think Crossfire was doing anything particularly good for the build, but then I realized the value of having your pet next to your target the whole time. I guess I'd drop Point Blank Shot for a utility skill of some sort. Perhaps a run skill if its for ABing, a blocking stance/throw dirt if its for PvE, or as Darkpower suggested, Poison Tip Signet.

The builds you listed as being boring are popular because there's little else that can really outdo them. If there were other builds that could compare to them, they'd be the Flavor of the Month instead. That's just the unfortunate nature of the game.

Epinephrine · Sep 25, 2007, 02:12 AM // 02:12

As a note, very little will compete with Feral Aggression for bumping DPS on a build with a pet in it. Trumps Call of Haste pretty solidly, but the energy is something to consider.

jesh · Sep 25, 2007, 03:54 AM // 03:54

What about..

Feral Aggression
Strike as One {E}
Never Rampage Alone
Brutal Weapon
Res
(Something..)
(Something else..)
(Out of ideas..)

Ok I give up.

squirrels_from_hell · Sep 28, 2007, 02:09 AM // 02:09

Meh. I haven't used both bow attacks and a pet since pre-level 20 lol. I tend to think that a beastmaster should be pure so that attribs can be higher etc, plus you can have a +20e staff to supply skills like Feral Aggression and Never Rampage Alone. Also, you can constantly kite because a bm bar has basically no cast times.

But, to address this thread... idk. Sorry, i cant really think of anything a bow can do that a pet can't, besides Burning or Daze (its nigh impossible to get Bestial Mauling off without a hammer or ele skill)
The big problem with a BM build really is lack of skill slots, due to Comfort/Charm which is all the more reason to focus solely on that attrib alone.

A. Noid · Oct 05, 2007, 06:30 PM // 18:30

Lately I've been using:
Apply Poison
Ferocious Strike (cheap/ hits hard /love the energy gain)
Feral Aggression
Brutal Strike
Feral Lunge
Bestial Pounce//Pred Pounce
Comfort
Charm

BP and PP are for flavor and could easily be swapped out for whatever, but this build keeps us both active.

-ANoid

glountz · Oct 05, 2007, 06:37 PM // 18:37

Take a spear. It's better. Then use the Feral aggression-Otyugh's Cry-Feral lunge-Enraged lunge ugly combo.
I have tried to mix bow and pets, but the sad truth is that hammers and spears always deal more DPS than bows.

drupal · Oct 06, 2007, 12:45 AM // 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by glountz

but the sad truth is that hammers and spears always deal more DPS than bows.

Because bows aren't really ment to do heavy DPS.