Any insight from you vets greatly appreciated

[FlipisWin]

Hi guys, was really hoping to gain some education from you vets. I have played eq on and off for years but never could really settle on a class and make it to the raid scene. That said I have knowledge of EQ, just not nearly as much as most of you guys.

That said, I logged in last night and piddled around for a bit being indecisive as ever. I always avoided ranger because everyone says they are dumpster tier/ lawn ornaments. The class seems pretty cool, chain wearing, I love the concept of DW and 2h dps. Spell kit to keep things from getting to boring. etc.

I like monks, but I hate weight restriction. And kind of sad that some of their disc are broke.
I like all plate classes cause I like how plate looks, and melee in general. Just wish I could dps, I consider a tank to be a very responsible roll. And I have ALOT to learn.
Rogues, seem like it would be boring quick with just backstab. and god forbid I cant find a group.

So long, drawn out story short, I guess what I am trying to ask is are rangers really as bad as ppl make them out to be? Am I misjudging other classes?
Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated. I love the game and want to enjoy it, just cant seem to find where i fit in.

[Greengrocer]

Have you considered a career with Nomsanto Industries?

Pixels are pixels. Some of them you can eat. Some of them are useless, inedible paperweights.

Don't waste your time with swords and shields and spells!

Johnny Cochran put it best when he said...

http://i.imgur.com/2tZdpAg.jpg

[Pipip]

I only started up about 4 months ago. I rolled a ranger as my first character. They're not as bad as people say they are. They even get some additional tools with Velious.

[Sorn]

Sounds like you want to go ranger and never look back. Do it! Play whatever the hell you want to play!

[fzzzt]

My 2cp:

I've never played a Ranger to raid levels but I have thoroughly enjoyed playing mine for almost 30 levels, which IMO is more important. I suspect, at raids, you would attempt to fill a squishy DPS role (relatively badly), like a Rogue without the damage, or like a nuker without the damage, but that's just a guess. The more "jack of all trades" you are, the less effective at any one thing you are--it's the hybrid curse; there is always a give-and-take with being useful in one particular situation versus any situation. The spectrum is grey and Rangers are smack in the middle.

That said, I suggest you try SK. I also haven't leveled an SK to raid levels (only ever a Wiz, really) but I enjoy my SK, Wimpus, probably as much or more than my Ranger. I can DPS and tank in groups just fine and I know that in the past SKs off-tanked a lot on raids, just not main tank, IIRC. They have some versatility, more than a Paladin and less than a Ranger, IMHO, but are still aimed more at tanking than being all-purpose like a Ranger so they are more effective at it, I think.

Or, just do both.

[FlipisWin]

lol greengrocer, this is very true!! And thanks for the heads up on your experience pipip. I have a friend that just talks about how bad rangers are, just kinda threw me off. Couldn't hurt to try. But when I play something, I invest heavily. Was having a hard time convincing myself to try something when I keep hearing don't waste my time ya know.
Last time I played p99 it was so overcamped it made me quit, was impossible to get a group. So the thought of playing something often shunned by groups scared me also.

[B4EQWASCOOL]

Try red for groups and not being overcamped.

[FlipisWin]

Sorn I totally agree with that bud. If I did that though I would end up trying to play a dps SK and be the laughing stock of p99 =*(

Thanks fzzzt, I really appreciate the feedback man. Helped me look at them both better from an overall perspective.

[Sorn]

Hah!

Well, for what it's worth, I know ranger track is invaluable during something like the Coldain 10th Ring War. Wandering mobs are the real ranger specialty. They also see when stuff is up since their track can cover most of a zone.

[Crushzilla]

As 1 of the greatest minds of our time once said .... Just Do It!!

[milsorgen]

Don't stress, I was a poorly geared half elf war on live and made it to my share of Vox and Naggy raids, even running a pick up raid comple with notebook paper group assignments. Lots of fun and really has little to do with what class you ultimately choose.

Just go for it.

[Gain]

Ultimately play the class that you enjoy because you do have to like the class in order to get to 60. As far as raiding is concerned dps is dps. You need all classes in order for a raid to be successful and in Velious rangers get true shot which is a huge dps upgrade for them.

[FlipisWin]

Nice!, thanks for all the input guys. Motivated me to quit spending so much time talking about it and just go try it lol. Will keep you guys posted on my progress and hopefully meet some of you in game =)