Ranger BFG Observations

[Snaggles]

A nerd grail of mine was the BFG (https://wiki.project1999.com/Breezeboot%27s_Frigid_Gnasher). Mostly for toying around. Overall it's been exactly that, fun dps for little spurts on mundane targets (Vindi, Fay etc) and confusing people in EC. Ive burned a couple thousand plat on Fletching so yea, nice to have a new hobby :).

My other weapon is a Crafted Velium Warsword (10/18). It's not great but seems a bit better than the Earthcaller and sometimes you just dont want the heat off that proc. I used to have a SBoZ but sold it prior to learning how to parse and I've been too distracted buying silly things than another one.

Last night I did a very informal parse on HoT TOV trash with the velium sword and the BFG in non-Trueshot mode using Tolan bracer arrows. Not enough mobs to really gain a perfect view of the weapon but:

10/18 & Swiftwind ranger buffs, VOG, Focus:
26 mobs @ 1247 seconds.
Peak dps mob: 65
Low dps mob: 32
Average of 26 = 48.5dps

BFG & Swiftwind ranger buffs, VOG, Dex capped, Focus:
16 mobs @ 628 seconds.
Peak dps mob: 76
Low dps mob: 43
Average of 16 = 60dps

Summary:

* 42 quickly killed mobs is not enough to get a concrete average of dps, levels varied and my own ability to get and stay on target. In this example while limited the parse was at least fairly accurate to the player, buffs, and types of mobs.

* Summoning arrows in a grind group like this would be horrible. I could usually click 4-5 stacks between pulls and would use less than 2. Due to bag space issues I just keep dropping them on my paperdoll to refill the ammo slot and quiver stacks (I was pooing spare arrows all over the place...). You can keep 8 stacks on the cursor if you keep the Tolan's Bracer equipped and dont plan to change spells so plan ahead.

* No Trueshot, no 8dmg arrows used in the parse, no Avatar. The BFG obviously has potential. I was just curious how it would fare as a normal weapon while keeping Weaponshield saved away. I attacked through an enrage and lived though...so that's a nice perk.

* In normal situations with less than capped haste this gives you an extra 20% from the quiver. I dont think you can break the cap but that's a nice thing as well.

* Aggro was fairly low. Would have been better on DS mobs too just for survivability.

* Dps did vary wildly with the BFG but 10-20% over the 10/18 is pretty decent if this holds up. No...it's not a Baton of Flame or whatever. It will work for a while though. I heard from a lot of people it's pretty much junk without 8dmg fletched arrows and Trueshot but that may not be true (to be determined). At least I had fun and kept weaponshield though the entire time.

* Killed 2 glimmers with an Exquisite Velium Bow and the same arrows simply to save my buffs. low to mid 30 dps with the same buffs. About 3x more than I expected but again, RNG can be like that sometimes.

[feniin]

BFG as a normal weapon is, as you parsed, not great. Gotta be against a non-rooted, stationary mob while you Trueshot. Summoned arrows are enough at that point. I typically just summon ~9-12 stacks of arrows. 1 in ammo, 6 in quiver, rest in whatever open slots I have left in my inventory.

[Snaggles]

Yea not great. Certainly sporadic even if peaking in the 70’s. It seems far better than the 10/18 but that’s a fairly low bar.

I already knew it works well with TS so this was just a curiosity run.

[Harvest]

I like using it outside Trueshot but you touched on the real pita -the constant summoning after every fight. Because I'm lazy I'll use Earthcaller until a slowable mob is slowed (sometimes get a lucky land in before shammy and every little bit of slow helps!) and switch to another 1hander (Fayguard, Infestation or similar).

Will hit trueshot on stable non rooted targets (Vindi perfect example) and otherwise save disc for oh shit weaponshield.

BFG was super useful for levelling though, i was destroying named in KC 57-59 with trueshot

[Naethyn]

BFG generates almost no aggro due to it being archery.

[feniin]

BFG generates almost no aggro due to it being archery.

I've managed to pull agro on every single Vindi I've ever used my BFG on, even when instant click mallets were a thing.

[Snaggles]

I've managed to pull agro on every single Vindi I've ever used my BFG on, even when instant click mallets were a thing.

How many jolts did you do? I only have tried it once starting in at like 90%. A lot of jolts with fletched arrows. Prob just got lucky though. I think I only parsed 90dps though due to all the jolting.

[Selene]

is the BFG + trueshot + good arrows a game-changing deal for the ranger? I can see how it can be quite useful for dps during raids, but how about for soloing nameds? will it make it difference between not being able to kill some tough named and being able to do so? i'd imagine that rangers would prefer to fight nameds that you can root and that don't cast spells on you, in which case a good, traditional bow would be better so as to not take damage at all, but was just wondering. maybe i should make a ranger on green to try to get this mythical bow if it does make a big difference in soloing tough nameds

[feniin]

How many jolts did you do? I only have tried it once starting in at like 90%. A lot of jolts with fletched arrows. Prob just got lucky though. I think I only parsed 90dps though due to all the jolting.

Yeah, that's the thing. If you're jolting you're losing DPS. Which would basically go against the "archery doesn't generate agro" comment. Archery definitely generates white damage agro, at least in melee range.

[feniin]

is the BFG + trueshot + good arrows a game-changing deal for the ranger? I can see how it can be quite useful for dps during raids, but how about for soloing nameds? will it make it difference between not being able to kill some tough named and being able to do so? i'd imagine that rangers would prefer to fight nameds that you can root and that don't cast spells on you, in which case a good, traditional bow would be better so as to not take damage at all, but was just wondering. maybe i should make a ranger on green to try to get this mythical bow if it does make a big difference in soloing tough nameds

I've never attempted it but I would think you could burst down something (figure it's about a 50-75% dps increase depending on your weapons/buffs). It's also going to miss a lot more than when you're attacking a Vinditator from behind vs a named mob who will be able to mitigate.

[Snaggles]

is the BFG + trueshot + good arrows a game-changing deal for the ranger? I can see how it can be quite useful for dps during raids, but how about for soloing nameds? will it make it difference between not being able to kill some tough named and being able to do so? i'd imagine that rangers would prefer to fight nameds that you can root and that don't cast spells on you, in which case a good, traditional bow would be better so as to not take damage at all, but was just wondering. maybe i should make a ranger on green to try to get this mythical bow if it does make a big difference in soloing tough nameds

On raids often you will be keeping weaponshield in reserve for those times you need to pick up a NPC and save the raid for 15 seconds. It’s really only helpful for those times you won’t or possibly in my testing if you don’t have a terrific MH weapon.

In solo situations likely you will be bow rooting or snaring. Trueshot won’t give as much benefit but it will help and you won’t be getting hit. There are scenarios though that this could be better than even the best bow and trueshot. Killing Faydedar, Lucan, mini-epic fights, or a group where things are going south and 2 mins of more dps are more important than 15 seconds of parrying. Or something you can’t root and is going to snack on you if you can’t outrun it’s hp bar with yours.

Like all things it’s situational and just one more trick. But rangers are all about situational tricks so I’d try to grab that seaworthy planking when Velious opens up :).

[Yinein]

Some my old BFG parses, works well for dps assuming right circumstances, I hear tov rooting fubared it but I don't play anymore much.


/GU Nexona in 19s, 23k @1214dps --- Vertiigo 3k @199dps --- Hiddenn 2k @135dps --- Cheddleton 2k @128dps --- Ripqozko 2k @111dps --- Drakewu 2k @142dps --- Stabithaa 2k @99dps --- Cartel 1k @88dps --- Gatitos 1k @92dps --- Blee 1k @85dps --- Droar 1k @92dps

/GU Hoshkar in 77s, 30k @385dps --- Ripqozko 6k @106dps --- Skew 5k @96dps --- Servicon 5k @84dps --- Knapsack 3k @59dps --- Trazzle 3k @58dps --- Orna 3k @45dps --- Naxi 2k @33dps --- Rikyr 1k @26dps --- Papaj 1k @21dps --- Nexii 0k @28dps

/GU Velketor the Sorcerer in 210s, 189k @899dps --- Dalvens 19k @104dps --- Judass 18k @100dps --- Ripqozko 18k @97dps --- Noctessa 16k @89dps --- Enessae 13k @69dps --- Bageljuice 12k @64dps --- Kozuro 11k @61dps --- Arvan 10k @52dps --- Xyram 8k @47dps --- Niht 8k @40dps

/GU Derakor the Vindicator in 132s, 175k @1326dps --- A Drakkel Dire Wolf 20k @161dps --- Knapsack 16k @121dps --- Ripqozko 15k @118dps --- Idrinkk 13k @109dps --- Rikyr 12k @92dps --- Trazzle 12k @89dps --- Gatitos 11k @87dps --- Logaluger 11k @85dps --- Jenssen 10k @78dps --- Torstein 10k @75dps

/GU Jorlleag in 249s, 302k @1214dps --- Cecily 19k @78dps --- Maggott 19k @78dps --- Ripqozko 19k @76dps --- Pryckd 17k @70dps --- Secher 16k @69dps --- Coppernin 16k @66dps --- Briefs 16k @66dps --- Knapsack 15k @59dps --- Edashi 13k @58dps

[Snaggles]

Some my old BFG parses, works well for dps assuming right circumstances, I hear tov rooting fubared it but I don't play anymore much.


Who are you?

[Yinein]

Ripqozko, ramen , etc.

Edit: lot of times would out parse rogues, bfg dps isn't bad when used correctly.

[Solist]

if you're using trueshot, you dont have WS.

WS is all you bring to a raid after SoN/CotP the rogues.

[Yinein]

if you're using trueshot, you dont have WS.

WS is all you bring to a raid after SoN/CotP the rogues.

You bring rogue dps

[Snaggles]

if you're using trueshot, you dont have WS.

WS is all you bring to a raid after SoN/CotP the rogues.

Did you read the post?

I'm saying with scrubby Tolan bracer 3dmg arrows I was peaking at over 70dps not using any disc at all. Which isn't "great" but it's about 25% higher than my 10/18.

[Yinein]

Did you read the post?

I'm saying with scrubby Tolan bracer 3dmg arrows I was peaking at over 70dps not using any disc at all. Which isn't "great" but it's about 25% higher than my 10/18.

He just wanted to knock on my post, all good.

[Snaggles]

He just wanted to knock on my post, all good.

Ah yes.

One could argue use TS, blame the tanks and CH chain for not being perfect :rolleyes:. WS is a nice ace in the hand up the sleeve tho.

[Yinein]

Iirc you are in kittens from when I was in there , grab you a cek 2h sometime, it out dps my kriezen flame usually.

[Naethyn]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Meljeldin,_Bane_of_Giants

Agree with cek 2h. It is my ranger weapon of choice.

[Snaggles]

Yep definitely looking for a 2h as the next upgrade :)

[Solist]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Axe_of_Resistance
https://wiki.project1999.com/Shield_of_Rainbow_Hues

Is all that you need reallyt

[Cecily]

With AoW bow, I was getting solid hits that were honestly probably worse than BFG but way way more fun to use. Sniping Wuoshi out of AE range and putting 10k+ into him still was great. Did not use my BFG much. Never liked it.

[Snaggles]

With AoW bow, I was getting solid hits that were honestly probably worse than BFG but way way more fun to use. Sniping Wuoshi out of AE range and putting 10k+ into him still was great. Did not use my BFG much. Never liked it.

How’s aggro on the AoW proc? I figure manageable but just theorycrafting here.

I haven’t used my Exquisite with trueshot on raid bosses but was fairly impressed with good arrows on HoT trash. I can definitely see that being an option. My last Zlexlak fight I think I averaged like 14dps running in and out of the AOE...

[feniin]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Axe_of_Resistance
https://wiki.project1999.com/Shield_of_Rainbow_Hues

Is all that you need reallyt

Found Motec

[feniin]

How’s aggro on the AoW proc? I figure manageable but just theorycrafting here.

I haven’t used my Exquisite with trueshot on raid bosses but was fairly impressed with good arrows on HoT trash. I can definitely see that being an option. My last Zlexlak fight I think I averaged like 14dps running in and out of the AOE...

If you do Zlexak near the ramp, you can stand there without dodging the AE and keep shooting the whole fight.

[Yinein]

How’s aggro on the AoW proc? I figure manageable but just theorycrafting here.

I haven’t used my Exquisite with trueshot on raid bosses but was fairly impressed with good arrows on HoT trash. I can definitely see that being an option. My last Zlexlak fight I think I averaged like 14dps running in and out of the AOE...

Iirc she got like 85dps with aow bow and trueshot on vindi, it's not bad at all, procs was easier to manage cause of insta click aggro but can jolt if ya proc too. More fun to TS with bow for sure.

Edit: he's right lot of fights you can, gore you can range the aoe with 150 arrows too

[Cecily]

https://i.imgur.com/EnAlgdW.png

https://i.imgur.com/oUgTqC0.png

https://i.imgur.com/DxhFiik.png

[GinnasP99]

Another interesting thing about the BFG is you can click yourself with it, It always knocks you directly south. While this isn't hugely useful most of the time, you can use this to get back to ToV entrance from past the aaryonar drop off. (If the mobs are down)

At 60 you probably need remove most/all of your MR gear for it to land.

[Imago]

How have you not farmed Priceless bows for all your rangers yet? Or have they fixed that camp?

[Snaggles]

How have you not farmed Priceless bows for all your rangers yet? Or have they fixed that camp?

My main bottleneck is not having a ST key. I’m a scrub :)

[Cecily]

I quit years ago. ST was never on my list of things I wanted to do.