Can a ranger twinked thusly tank for groups 1 - 50?

[webrunner5]

Hell a Bard is a worse Tank than a Ranger. Heck A Cleric is really not that bad as a Tank. They just can't kill anything lol. Play a top guild Cleric like I did in the day for 4 to 5 years, Raids and all, and tell me all about it.

I know on here you have to take what you can get. I have never turned someone down to Tank, even a Bard. But don't tell me a Bard or a Ranger is going to be your top pick if you had a choise as a Cleric healing them. Give me a big, ugly, fat Ogre Warrior.

But like I said a Ranger can kick some butt DPS wise. But you just have more down time. One problem, and it is not their fault, is you tend to use a Ranger as a Tank and a puller in a group. Even some CC. So they are getting hit form all sides.

Back in the early EQ days my main was a duel epic level 55 Ranger. 2000 to 2002. So I am not against them. Then I did the Cleric thing for 4 to 5 years after that. They just are not my favorite Tank to heal as a Cleric.

[madcowmisha]

Hey, been reading and thinking on this thread, and I wanted to get yalls opinion, both good and bad on my alt Ranger. Currently at lvl 20, he's wearing a mix of Mithril and such, wielding a Lammy/Wurmy with a FBSS. His stats unbuffed are: Str 181, Agi 115, Dex 103, AC 456. All skills maxed. Just wondering if this set up is 'ok' to tank? At lvl 37, I plan on picking up some Tolan's and what not for the ac, as I have 2 Yaks ready to go!? Like I said, looking for good and bad input, so I can plan accordingly.

Taulmaril

[webrunner5]

You need to get your Dex up. It is one of the more important stats on a Ranger solo. I am really not that much into Duel Weild weapons until like level 50ish on Rangers. The Woodsman Staff, and the Nature's Wrath, and the Swarmcaller would be my weapons to use in those levels. You have more time to cast spells between hits also with those weapons. Plus if you are in a group not the Tank, you will not draw as much agro. But as a Ranger you will still draw a ton of agro. Why they ever gave Rangers a Taunt ability I will never know.

Yeah Tolan's is the way to go. Expensive. The BP is pretty scary price wise. Treeweave had good AC on it and strength. You don't ever need a lot of mana on a Ranger even solo. So you could lean more to the Tank mentality.

I still believe to this day that Sony never intended Rangers to really get hit in this game much. Just be a Snare, shoot arrows sort of class, and be king of Tracking. Their epic should have been a Bow from hell. Not that their epics are bad. I think they are the best pair in the game. Imagine them on a Warrior. Even in the modern live EQ now Rangers still are not that great as a Tank class. Flameing Arrow and Heartshot is their claim to fame now. Both arrow spells. Along with Endless Quiver and Trueshot, all arrow thingys. I just don't think they have ever figued out what to make them in the long run. Beastlords come to mind also. Rangers are sort of the "Redheaded Stepchild" of EQ.

You have a tough life ahead of you in this game. But I have one on here myself. I guess we are both crazy.