Curse

ares416 · Jun 07, 2005, 03:50 PM // 15:50

I'm just wondering which ranger armor you all prefer and why? With all the choices given and the various collectors I end up just sticking with the armor I got way back in Lion's Arch or somewhere near there. Plus right after I upgraded I got to the next town and they had better armor - I could have kicked myself! (Or shot myself in the foot as the case may be....)

Anyway, I'll probably hold out til the Forge place where they say the best armor is (AL = 70??). But they'll still have the various choices for elemental protection. Being expensive and even worse - not having much space in my inventory I feel a little limited so I wanted some advice on which to go for first.

Also, I know it all depends on the situation, so please don't start with that. I just want to know what you use and why you think it's the best.

Thanks!

Lasher Dragon · Jun 07, 2005, 03:52 PM // 15:52

I wear the desert collector armor - it's free, and it has skulls.

ares416 · Jun 07, 2005, 04:02 PM // 16:02

Cool! I'd like to see that!

IIRC that armor is equivalent to simple leather armor which doesn't give bonus to certain element or energy, correct? It's a little higher AL than you can get in Anmoon but eventually you can get this same AL with extras. Please correct me if I'm wrong... If I collect enough shells or whatever I'll probably get those too but if the above is true I'm not going out of my way for it.

Thanks for responding, btw

Ensign · Jun 07, 2005, 04:05 PM // 16:05

Just use Druid's. It's the easiest non-choice in armor in the game. You're an incredibly energy hungry class, the effectiveness of +energy is multiplied by Expertise, stacking +vs a specific element onto already outstanding elemental protection is just overkill...just use Druid's.

Peace,
-CxE

Lasher Dragon · Jun 07, 2005, 04:12 PM // 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ares416

Cool! I'd like to see that!

IIRC that armor is equivalent to simple leather armor which doesn't give bonus to certain element or energy, correct? It's a little higher AL than you can get in Anmoon but eventually you can get this same AL with extras. Please correct me if I'm wrong... If I collect enough shells or whatever I'll probably get those too but if the above is true I'm not going out of my way for it.

Thanks for responding, btw

Yes, it is basically the same as the final leather armor, except I didn't have to pay an arm & a leg for it, I got it in the desert (before you can get that final leather), and it looks like this:

ares416 · Jun 07, 2005, 07:10 PM // 19:10

Whoa! I see what you mean.

Although I don't think it would have that same effect on my male Ranger!

I was thinking Druid's too - maybe then I could use some of my secondary class - Elementalist - skills which have been too energy inefficient so far to use.

Comments much appreciated.

Off topic: Rangers seem to be the most RP centered class. Meaning that people play it for style and coolness factor rather than Scrunching As Much Damage As Possible Into As Little Time As Possible. Although if played well they can still kick ---!

Lasher Dragon · Jun 07, 2005, 07:15 PM // 19:15

Well, with Elementalist secondary I am going to have to agree with Ensign - you are going to want as much energy as possible.

Ensign · Jun 07, 2005, 08:17 PM // 20:17

Doesn't matter what secondary you want to use. Which is better - +7 energy, or +15 AL vs. a specific elemental type? Answer that and you've solved your little false dilemma.

Peace,
-CxE

Lasher Dragon · Jun 07, 2005, 08:45 PM // 20:45

There is no dilemma, false or otherwise. I have neither + energy armor nor +15 vs a specific element. I have the armor I have for 2 reasons - I like the look and I didn't have to pay out the rear to get it. I very rarely run out of energy. When they finally get around to updating the 15k Druid armor, I will see if it looks cool IMO. If it does, I will probably buy it. If it looks like it does now (a bunch of twigs tied to my extremeties) I will pass.

Ensign · Jun 07, 2005, 08:58 PM // 20:58

So basically there are two answers:

The competitive answer: Druid's
The casual answer: whatever you think looks best

If you're going the second route, collector armor and 15k Drakescale are both pretty sexy.

Peace,
-CxE

Falconer · Jun 07, 2005, 10:48 PM // 22:48

Actually ensign... I can see a use for the fur-lined or drakescale. But only if you're not playing an energy hog (EG: a high expertise Ra/W for example). And then only if conflagration and/or winter was a part of your gameplan.

It's not something I'd waste inventory slots on a PvE char crafting either. Just simply make up the PvP char on the fly for that specific build.

Serafita Kayin · Jun 07, 2005, 10:50 PM // 22:50

I'm using druid's to get me through Ascension, then I'll see if they update the druid skin by the time I want to make better armor. Since I don't get to play much, it's a good bet, otherwise it's Drakescale...

Kishin · Jun 07, 2005, 10:59 PM // 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ensign

Doesn't matter what secondary you want to use. Which is better - +7 energy, or +15 AL vs. a specific elemental type? Answer that and you've solved your little false dilemma.

Peace,
-CxE

What Ensign said, exactly. For Rangers, in terms of sheer competitiveness/playability, armor is not balance at all. the +7 Energy on Druid's is leaps and bounds better than any sort of added defensive armor, given the fact that Rangers are based around heavy usage of skills and thereby, heavy usage of energy. There almost isn't a choice.

Unless of course, you want to go for the pure style route. (I personally think Druid's is sexy, in itself, of course, but 15K Drakescale is hard to top). In terms of efficiency though, Druid's is the way to go. Its not even close to a balanced, situational armor choice.

Lasher Dragon · Jun 08, 2005, 12:26 AM // 00:26

As a pure ranger with 12 in Expertise, I really have to try to run out of energy. I agree that the Druid armor is statistically better than the other armors in nearly every circumstance... I suppose if I had problems with running out of energy I would wear the Druid armor regardless. Since I don't, I haven't felt the need to upgrade. I hope they have updated it by the time I start PvP'ing.

Tellani Artini · Jun 08, 2005, 05:07 AM // 05:07

Druid's is the only armor for me. +15 armor against a single element is nothing to write home about when you already have 100.

CtrlAltDel · Jun 08, 2005, 05:15 AM // 05:15

R/E here w/final druids
waiting to see how that new 15k armor looks

Aranador · Jun 08, 2005, 07:55 AM // 07:55

Bah - if you have the elite that converts all physical damage in the area into fire damage - then +15 extra fire AC is worth thinking about - it is very easy for a ranger to have more effective AC than any warrior could dream of, while at the same time making 20 points of the warriors AC useless.

Ripper · Jun 08, 2005, 01:46 PM // 13:46

This is slightly off topic, but no one has mentioned using a shortbow with a zealous string and barrage to aid in keeping energy recharged. As another alternative you can equip a wand, stave or staff, artifact, idol, or cestus, Whatever in one of your weapon slots with a +to energy and switch over to that set in an emergency.

Energy is a real pain in the a$$ no matter how you slice it.

just a suggestion.

Lasher Dragon · Jun 08, 2005, 01:50 PM // 13:50

I must be missing something... energy has never been a problem for me. How are you running out of energy?

Weezer_Blue · Jun 08, 2005, 02:33 PM // 14:33

I wear Druid's Armour cause it's got the cloak and gives me energy bonus.

However, all of them are pretty cool. I don't like the Hunter's Armour (the one with the cloak and skulls) very much though. The cloak looks stupid when you run, and the rest of it just looks like a bad version of the other armours, which are all fairly awesome. Other than druid's, I'd rank them: Studded, Rawhide, Drakescale, Fur Lined, and finally, Hunters.

There is only one instance in which Fur Lined is any good: the Winter + Great Conflagration Combo.