Which equipment to take for GvG?

Hello,

I couldn't find a thread to discuss what equipment for Rangers is optimal for current most common builds in GvG. If PvP experts can share a few bits of insight I would be grateful.

I was thinking:
#1 Crippling/Poisonous Recurve Bow 15^50 of Fortitude for general purpose interrupting.

#2 Vampiric Flatbow 15^50 of Marksmanship +1 (20%) for best DPS against Archers on ganks.

#3 Vampiric Recurve Bow 15^50 of Fortitude for assisting in spikes?

Survivor armor? Or would Radiant or +armor insignias be more feasible given that most Ranger builds have Natural Stride and self-healing capability with Troll Unguent.

What about runes? Wilderness Survival, Expertise, Marksmanship and Vigor leaves choice for either Vitae or Attunement rune, as Mending Touch takes care of conditions. Does midline position and increased defense over caster professions relax the "no superior runes" rule? How much health Rangers are expected to have?

I don't consider myself an expert, but here's what I think anyways:
#1 good, I'd go with poisonous personally for any pvp (except cripshot, yeah then crip)
#2 ew: marksmanship is the worst mod you could ever use imo, I'd just use defense or fortitude. You'll get possibly 1 damage more on one hit while ganking one archer, +defense is better overall I'd say.
#3 swapping weapons for a spike is a tell, personally I just leave my poisonous on.
I personally really like a poisonous shortbow for spreading also.

I'd go with scout' or sentry's insignia personally, if you need radiant you're just spamming too much (in pvp). Runes? just need minors, but the standard wilderness based builds are *very* durable and you may be able to get by with a sup, but...not really necessary if you play smart as the only one I'd ever consider is expertise and the only real reason you might want it is if you are over using savage shot.

Hmm, as this is a PvE forum, it'd have probably been an idea to post this under GvG in the PvP forum, as you'd find more aid there. I'm certainly not an expert, but I have GvG'd as a BA ranger. This is the equipment I used.
1.15^50 Poisonous Recurve of Fortitude as your standard
2.15^50 Vampiric Short of Fortitude to assist in spiking, though, I was flagging and eliminating NPCs more often than not.
Survivor Insignias are a good choice here, though the runes I used probably aren't GvG standard. I ran a Superior Marks, Minor Wilderness, Minor Expertise, Superior Vigor, & Minor Beast which would be swapped out for vitae had I not been using my PvE ranger.

As I stated, you'd probably find better luck getting a PvP players advice in the GvG sub-forum, though I assume a 15^50 Poisonous Recurve of Fort would be the standard, atleast for a Burning Arrow Ranger. Best of luck in your GvGs

I usually use a recurbe +5 energy poison bow string as my main bow

hornbow vamp 15^50 for assist in spike

flatbow vamp 15-5en for gank


I try to keep my expertise at 14 and mark at 10

I won't claim to be any type of GvG expert, but here's my 2 cents:

Stick with a +15%^50 poisonous or crippling recurve for your main bow. Take a backup +5 energy version possibly for backup when energy runs low.

A vamp +15%^50 flatbow should work well for ganking since the arc won't matter on a stationary target and a vamp flat will maximize dps.

If you want a bow to assist in spikes with, a vamp 15%^50 hornbow is really the best choice. For most uses, hornbows are weak, but they excel in spikes, which is why they used to be used in Ranger Spike back in the day when it ruled Halls. As Lennymon said, switching bow can be a tell that you are about to spike, but only very experienced guilds will notice such a subtle change.

As for armor, I believe that Radiant armor with minor runes and an expertise headpiece is the way to go. Most crip shots or BA rangers will want this so they can get 14 expertise.

I would aim for 14 expertise on a crip shot. If anything can get away with a major rune it's a ranger, they're about as tough as it gets these days. 12+1+1, 10+2, 8 with full survivor is my preference, for cripshot at least (in every other form of pvp I'd go 2 majors with 11+2+1-10+2-10). Major and being able to hit the next important expertise bp+survivor vs minor+radiant is no competition and the former actually has 5 more health. I don't play as ranger in GvG though, I play warrior or monk and sometimes mes. BA I really can't comment on but the question is basically whether you are going for the 14 marks breakpoint (in which case 11+2+1 marks, 11+1 expertise, 8+1 ws is standard) or not. On a BHA, 12+1+1 expertise 9+1 marks 9+1 ws.