Debating making a Ranger

[Halius]

So I have a dilemma that I am hoping anyone with some experience on the class can help me out with. I am seriously debating starting a Ranger despite all the hate for them and the exp penalty. I have always been intrigued by the class and thought it would be fun to play. My Magician will remain my main but I want a class to play when I get bored on the mage and although my enchanter is fun with charm, I just want to shift from the caster classes. So anyways I have a couple of questions.

1. After selling gear and such from my chanter I should have close to 4-5k to spend gearing up a Ranger, will that be sufficient to be self-sustaining should I need it? I tend to solo a lot because I am usually quite busy and rarely have time to sit in a group.

2. How good is bow-kiting? Will it be torture with how slow the exp will come or is it actually pretty decent?

3. What is your favorite part about the ranger class?

4. Goes along with question 1, but any gear suggestions?

I really think the class looks fun I just want to make sure I can enjoy it, even solo if I have to. Well any advice on the class is appreciated, thanks in advance!

[Kender]

Originally Posted by Halius [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

So I have a dilemma that I am hoping anyone with some experience on the class can help me out with. I am seriously debating starting a Ranger despite all the hate for them and the exp penalty. I have always been intrigued by the class and thought it would be fun to play. My Magician will remain my main but I want a class to play when I get bored on the mage and although my enchanter is fun with charm, I just want to shift from the caster classes. So anyways I have a couple of questions.

1. After selling gear and such from my chanter I should have close to 4-5k to spend gearing up a Ranger, will that be sufficient to be self-sustaining should I need it? I tend to solo a lot because I am usually quite busy and rarely have time to sit in a group.

2. How good is bow-kiting? Will it be torture with how slow the exp will come or is it actually pretty decent?

3. What is your favorite part about the ranger class?

4. Goes along with question 1, but any gear suggestions?

I really think the class looks fun I just want to make sure I can enjoy it, even solo if I have to. Well any advice on the class is appreciated, thanks in advance!

1. silver swiftblade is your starter weapon. it will see you through to level 20 with ease. at that point, unless you have a big wad of coin to spend you will probably want to look at something like a jade mace and css, or a lammy or a combnation. if you got the coin by then, Woodsman's Staff is your best bet.
ac/hp rings always help to keep you alive, sarnak-hide mask is a cheap str booster. tree weave for chest at 700ish pp is good, as is hero bracer. Runed oak bow or trueshot longbow are reasonably priced. there is alot of cheapish str gear you can look at

2. get runed oak bow or trueshot and it'll help alot. when you can snare (level 9) you can bow kite reasonably ok but it wont be fast. You can strafe run for distance and bow kite too if you really have to. with a good bow at low levels, you might be able to solo for more xp than in a group or at least be comparable

3. versatility. you can surprise groups if you play well. they make a pretty decent CC option with no chanter. you can save the healer from having to root. can tank if necessary with reasonable gear. harmony when you get it is fantastic

4. mentioned some in 1.

[Potus]

Make your ranger on Red. He'll steamroll people and get groups because of low pop.

[Rangerdown]

Bow anything is horrible. Dont do it. If your gonna solo, you gotta toe to toe like a pro whenever you can. Use a 2 handed weapon. Springwood staff is way cheaper than woodsmans. Banded armor is fine to start or if you really want to twink him use your mage to kill the mobs and quest yourself some ivy etched.

[Kender]

Originally Posted by Rangerdown [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Bow anything is horrible. Dont do it. If your gonna solo, you gotta toe to toe like a pro whenever you can. Use a 2 handed weapon. Springwood staff is way cheaper than woodsmans. Banded armor is fine to start or if you really want to twink him use your mage to kill the mobs and quest yourself some ivy etched.

1-20 you can totally bow kite since with a runed oak bow (or trueshot is ok) and damage 1 arrows you do up to 22 damage. beyond that and the mobs start having too many hp. after 10 it will slow down alot though

you could do 1-20 with just a bow and a bag of arrows and no other gear too if you really had to. your melee skills will suck at the end of it, and you'd have to shoot off quite a few arrows.

[Rangerdown]

Originally Posted by Kender [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

1-20 you can totally bow kite since with a runed oak bow (or trueshot is ok) and damage 1 arrows you do up to 22 damage. beyond that and the mobs start having too many hp. after 10 it will slow down alot though

you could do 1-20 with just a bow and a bag of arrows and no other gear too if you really had to. your melee skills will suck at the end of it, and you'd have to shoot off quite a few arrows.

Absolutely you can. You can do a root canal at home with a power drill and some super glue too. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

In either case, if you can get to 22 you can solo to 60 once velious gets here fear kiting.

[Malone88]

Originally Posted by Potus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Make your ranger on Red. He'll steamroll people and get groups because of low pop.

I couldn't agree with this statement more, since it seems you play on both servers.
You will find a lot of ranger hate on blue from the min-maxers. You will be welcomed
into groups on red.

Some gear suggestions (some already mentioned):
+55hp rings
Hero Bracer
Sword of Skyfire
Green Jade Broadsword (i prefer a DW-ing ranger myself)
Hooded Black Cloak

Rangers are great pullers, can tank in a pinch, and do some solid
crowd control with root/snare/flamelick.

Good luck!

[Halius]

Thank you everyone for all the info and tips, I really appreciate it!

Originally Posted by Malone88 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I couldn't agree with this statement more, since it seems you play on both servers.
You will find a lot of ranger hate on blue from the min-maxers. You will be welcomed
into groups on red.

Some gear suggestions (some already mentioned):
+55hp rings
Hero Bracer
Sword of Skyfire
Green Jade Broadsword (i prefer a DW-ing ranger myself)
Hooded Black Cloak

Rangers are great pullers, can tank in a pinch, and do some solid
crowd control with root/snare/flamelick.

Good luck!

I actually did make a ranger on red last night, my only problem is I don't have any wealth built up yet on Red, but I guess that is a good part of the fun. Maybe I'll just keep him there [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Originally Posted by Kender [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

you can twink a monk better with 4k than an sk.

here's a good start. (not all slots listed cause i couldnt be bothered)
about 2k worth gve or take

wu's quivering staff 150-200
2x 5ac/55hp rings 500
sarnak-hide mask 100-150
Foreman's Tunic 150
Azure Sleeves 50-100
Sapphire Electrum Earring 160-200
Griffon Talon Gloves 60
Executioner's Hood 400
Gatorscale Leggings (campable on your mage and great xp for them)
Sapphire Platinum Necklace 350

Thanks for the tips! I actually already have a monk that I have tried out, I just wasn't sure of their solo capability at later levels, is it pretty good? He already has the rings and a couple Trance Sticks, and some raw silk stuff. Think monk would be better for solo play?

[Kender]

Originally Posted by Halius [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Thank you everyone for all the info and tips, I really appreciate it!



I actually did make a ranger on red last night, my only problem is I don't have any wealth built up yet on Red, but I guess that is a good part of the fun. Maybe I'll just keep him there [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]



Thanks for the tips! I actually already have a monk that I have tried out, I just wasn't sure of their solo capability at later levels, is it pretty good? He already has the rings and a couple Trance Sticks, and some raw silk stuff. Think monk would be better for solo play?

monks pre 50 can kill stuff that's blue to them easy enough on 50% health with the right weapons. theya re also bind wound capped at 200 instead of the 100 that warriors and rogues are. that + mend means they have smaller amounts of downtime than other melees. and FD is an XP saver if it looks like death is looming

[Potus]

Originally Posted by Halius [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I actually did make a ranger on red last night, my only problem is I don't have any wealth built up yet on Red, but I guess that is a good part of the fun. Maybe I'll just keep him there [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Have fun killing people.