New to Project 99 Ranger question.

[LeorickEci]

Hello fellow EQers, Let me start off by saying I played EQ from '99 to '07 and I've pretty much forgotten everything about the game. I logged into my old account since EQ is F2P, and didn't know what to do, because I've gotten used to other MMOs and different play mechanics.

Now I've been missing EQ for a long time, but I hated EQ pretty much since PoP and onwards, game got lazy and stupid. I remember the glory says of camping in BB, for me it was Black Burrow, because I started in Qeynos, I know every other person refers to it as Butcher Block. I loved the days in HHP/HHK, and the most fun was in LG.

All that being said, I remember how Rangers at the time kinda really sucked, we couldn't tank well, most people referred to us as paper tanks, we had good melee, but the bow was practically worthless, though I loved to fletch and was happy when I made my... I think it was the Rain Caller bow... been too long. Flash forward to Velious and the game change, AAs. Rangers started to become a real DPS class with Endless Quiver (Though I had a Tolan's Bracer already, loved it) AM2, and I can't seem to remember the other bow specific AAs. That's when people wanted to have Rangers in the group, so here's my question.

How are Rangers in this game, I hear that P99 is going to unlock Velious sometime in the near future. Are Rangers still only good with melee in the current incarnation? Or are Bows actually worth something? I loved my Bard, which was my Primary, but I had more fun as a Ranger especially with the AAs, I was able to solo kite with ease.

Are Rangers sought after for groups and raids? I don't know how much time I'm going to commit to P99, but I definitely don't have the time to play like I used to, no more 200 people groups breaking Time staying up for 50 hours, those days are long gone.

Thanks for any input.

[Ziggy]

you are correct, rangers are as you described them.. they are additionally unwanted in groups because of their high exp penalty (which is removed in velious). that being said they are pretty good in pvp, the best outdoor pullers, and decent soloers if correctly geared. AA's don't come into the game untill Luclin, so... if you are looking to roll up a solo class that can sometimes group i would look elsewhere, try something you haven't played before.

[Ziggy]

oh and welcome to the server! [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Lune]

Ranger guide for P99

As stated above, rangers here will never see the nice archery AA's unless the year is 2063, we're in our 5th year of Velious, and Rogean's cyborg grandson decides it's time for custom content.

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

Are Rangers still only good with melee in the current incarnation?

Yes, bow dps is miserable under current mechanics. If you're extremely patient you can take forever and kill things with arrows, but it's inferior to melee.

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

Are Rangers sought after for groups and raids?

They are not sought after. Nobody will say, 'Damn, we need a ranger', ever, unless they want a seb key or something. Many people are indifferent. Some people actively hate rangers and go out of their way to bar them from groups. Some people like rangers and will group with you enthusiastically. If you play your character well, and are a likable person, the people you group with will usually always want to group with you again in spite of your class.

On raids you are just a body. You might be called on to kite, track, or pull. Rangers have tanked dragons and VS. I believe only poor raid leaders will prioritize you for death touch over something that does less dps or lacks some other critical role. You get weaponshield + trueshot discs, and some unique buff in velious.

[sox7d]

51 ranger here. Never had any issues being excluded from a group that would have taken anything short of an epic'd rogue.

Please don't listen to the min-maxers. You may hit some difficulty in finding a group for seb, but other than that you'll be absolutely fine.

At 51 with modest gear, I tank and pull KC with no issues whatsoever. Ranger damage is actually quite good once you grab a woodsman's staff (definitely obtainable by your mid 30s).

And for the record, the "HUGE EXP PENALTY" just treats your experience take as that of someone 2 levels higher, idiots often interpret it as everyone in the group only gets half exp. Rangers sucking is just an archaic joke at this point.


Btw, learn to use camo/harmony/bind sight + know mob pathing and you will be a GOD in mistmoore.

[maskedmelon]

Sox sums it up prey well. Rangers are not awful at all and I the contrary a valuable contributor to groups. As stated though, there are retards who remain rabidly devoted to unfounded hybrid hate and promote misunderstanding of XP penalty mechanics.

On the topic of AA, those were not released with velious and as a result will never be released here. AA we're added with SoL.

Take the plunge, roll ranger! ^^

[fadetree]

plus the gear is cheap! Any fool can roll a rogue or a monk, and often do! (zing!) Go for the gusto, play a hard class in a hard game. When you hit 60, people will be impressed...when people see a 60 rogue or monk they just yawn. Same goes for Knights, when I see a 60 Sk or Palllie I know I'm looking at a dedicated, skilled masochist.

[Swish]

Just to add regarding the XP penalty... it doesn't disappear on launch night, it's patched in later in the timeline.

I think everyone's braced to play their hybrids from day one at the moment [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Bodybagger]

The most fun you can honestly have playing a ranger on project 99 is probably playing red99, lvl 9-30 or so is a LOT of fun as ranger... thoroughly enjoy them in PVP which surprised me... and with 500p or so invested you're very viable against even the twinks, from there you just become stronger.

Tracking is priceless there, ranged dps is awesome at low level for pvp... all around fun stuff

But if you don't like fighting other players, ranger is basically a shitty bard afaik. Even if you like killing other players, ranger might be a shitty bard... but 2handers to joust and ranged dps...

[Swish]

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

ranger is basically a shitty bard

I've never seen that analogy but I like it [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]