Sell me on ranger

[pickled_heretic]

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

In the dps slot, well they're not terrible at dps but it's just bringing the group a hybrid penalty...and in exchange the group gets someone not quite as good at dps as the standard dps classes.

standard dps classes? there are only two, three really if you count warriors. wizards, mages, druids etc are all subpar pure dps when compared to rangers. is everyone eating a 6-7% added penalty spread out to everyone worth it? i don't know, probably not, but to say they are supar dps is pretty lame considering only two classes really beat them.

[Vondra]

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

standard dps classes? there are only two, three really if you count warriors. wizards, mages, druids etc are all subpar pure dps when compared to rangers. is everyone eating a 6-7% added penalty spread out to everyone worth it? i don't know, probably not, but to say they are supar dps is pretty lame considering only two classes really beat them.

This is true, however there's enough rogues and monks floating around (esp monks) that the fact it's only 2 classes doesn't really hinder things much.

[pickled_heretic]

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

This is true, however there's enough rogues and monks floating around (esp monks) that the fact it's only 2 classes doesn't really hinder things much.

have you tried to lvl a new character at all recently? in most groups 1-50 you take what you can get. if i could run every exp group with 3 rogues and a sk i would. but that never happens.

[Vondra]

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

have you tried to lvl a new character at all recently? in most groups 1-50 you take what you can get. if i could run every exp group with 3 rogues and a sk i would. but that never happens.

Yep, a ranger can always be a warm body. Of course that doesn't really speak well for the class though. Their LFG tag basically reads "Are you desperate enough for me yet?"

At any rate, feel free to put them in the dps slot if no monks or rogues are around. My intent was just to illustrate that I think they are a better fit in the tank slot than the dps slot.

[Lucidus]

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

have you tried to lvl a new character at all recently? in most groups 1-50 you take what you can get.

This is exactly what I thought every time I've invited a ranger to join a pickup group.

Snark-free advice: before leveling a Ranger past 20, try out Shaman and on of the tanking hybrids (SK/Pal). Shaman has as much utility as a ranger, can solo successfully, and is highly desirable for leveling. The hybrid tanks lose some utility compared to the ranger, but are much more successful in the tank role.

If you decide that Ranger is your thing, get to it. But prepare to be underwhelmed at the end game.

[Diggles]

Rangers aren't worth it until AAs. but OH MY GOD HEADSHOT AND ENDLESS QUIVER

[Xanthias]

Originally Posted by knottyb0y [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Ranger is not a bad class, the problem is they do not specialize in much of anything. Play a Ranger if you want to play EQ on hard mode and have a sense of accomplishment when you kick ass and break the preconceptions that make rangers less desirable.

Very true.

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

- ranger tracking is amazing. best to pull roaming dragons in large outdoor zones imho.

- rangers are great outdoor pullers with harmony

- ranger dps is comparable to that of a warrior, but well behind rogues and monks. (talking melee DPS)

- ranger tanking is Ok in group situation usually if you can have a shaman or an enchanter slowing.

- ranger get very good DPS for a short amount of time in velious when they get the discipline trueshot (long refresh on this discipline, so saved for boss fight)

- If the server never incorporates Luclin aspects, you will never get Endless quiver, which made rangers pretty awesome at that point, often topping melee DPS charts or if not right behind rogues.

Accurate...

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

In the dps slot, well they're not terrible at dps but it's just bringing the group a hybrid penalty...and in exchange the group gets someone not quite as good at dps as the standard dps classes.

In the tank slot though, they have the means to keep agro with various spells, but are dealing a bit more damage than the other tanks with snap agro spells. Long as your group has competent CC and your targets are slowed, the survivability is fine.

Isn't optimum, but I think the ranger brings the group down less by subbing as the tank than subbing as dps.


In reality though, end result is you have a melee class that has problems finding groups...but without the means to solo well while LFG which is no good. Rangers CAN solo xp, but it isn't something you'll want to rely on, to be sure.

Here is the issue... the omg 40% xp penalty... if you have a group that is constantly killing and xp is rolling it doesn't matter. Get a solid group of people and you are golden... the other thing is, if you are in a group and having fun, because I know this is scary what I'm bout to say... EQ is a GAME, and games are supposed to be fun, does that penalty matter?

Now negative, does sitting for an hour or more, with LFG on suck, yes it does. The preconception that rangers are worthless until SoL etc bites, will I play another class. Nope. Simply because for all its faults, rangers for me are the most fun to play.

[Vondra]

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

Very true.



Accurate...



Here is the issue... the omg 40% xp penalty... if you have a group that is constantly killing and xp is rolling it doesn't matter. Get a solid group of people and you are golden... the other thing is, if you are in a group and having fun, because I know this is scary what I'm bout to say... EQ is a GAME, and games are supposed to be fun, does that penalty matter?

Now negative, does sitting for an hour or more, with LFG on suck, yes it does. The preconception that rangers are worthless until SoL etc bites, will I play another class. Nope. Simply because for all its faults, rangers for me are the most fun to play.

Might be fun for the ranger, isn't fun for the rest of the group.

Here's something to consider: If it was fun for the group to have a ranger and not perform as well, people would invite them often.

[Diggles]

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

Might be fun for the ranger, isn't fun for the rest of the group.

Here's something to consider: If it was fun for the group to have a ranger and not perform as well, people would invite them often.

Here's something else to consider: People who don't have fun on their character probably aren't going to be very efficient or caring. I'll take a ranger that has fun over an enchanter who wants to commit suicide and does nothing

[Vondra]

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

Here's something else to consider: People who don't have fun on their character probably aren't going to be very efficient or caring. I'll take a ranger that has fun over an enchanter who wants to commit suicide and does nothing

So would I. I'd take anyone over someone that's not at least reasonably efficient. That's outside the scope of rangers though and isn't really a defense of the class.

On a neutral level, there isn't extra fun added to the group by putting a ranger in. Can you play and have fun with a ranger in the group? Naturally. If your buddy is a ranger and you like grouping with him, by all means bring him along.

Presumably though, you can have fun playing with all sorts of different people, such as all your non ranger friends as well. Thus when there's a few people around that a person is neutral on (the players themselves, not the class), there's no real incentive to take a ranger.

It isn't as though all rangers instantly make great social groupmates you love having around, while all the people that get invited instead are the scum of the earth that you can't stand but are grouping with to get slightly more exp.

It's a design flaw by the creators, they should have given rangers more. But they didn't.