Making plat as a 53 ranger

[koros]

Thanks for the tips guys,

Sitting in EC is not my thing, I'm a trader in real life, and while I love it - I'm not going to sit around trying to make markets in EQ after working all day.

Life as a Ranger is definitely rough, I had a 50 shaman pre-kunark, but sold him for plat and retired for a year when it hit. That was definitely 10x easier, but I enjoy rangers so I'm gonna trudge through it.

I think you'd be surprised what Rangers can tank. I have ac/hp gear in all my slots in favor of extra str gear, I've tanked in 90% of my groups, without issue, leveling up - although it's definitely going to get worse as our defense cap doesn't raise past 200. However, i can tank for nonstop pulls in any camp in KC with a helm paladin healing me, or hell last group I had was a bard slowing/regenning, and a druid tossing me regrowth - I didn't need a heal for 20 minutes.

Problem is groups are under the impression that we're too squishy to tank, so just getting into one is a hassle. I want something to do when I can't find a group (which is a LOT). It's no fun to sit LFG, or get invited into a group, and then told NM, group mate has a guildy coming (which i'm sure is an excuse to not invite a ranger).

I can already solo in solb or KC, but having to heal 2k hp with a dinky 90 hp heal, and then med on top of that is just a pain in the ass. If I can solo something, afk 5 minutes, and come back and do it again - that would be fucking perfect.

Maybe I will try the peggy cloak thing, doing that 10x would probably be my best bet.