Feat Comparison: Ranged v. Melee

[barecm]

I compliled a list of feats that are for ranged and those that are for melee. Let us see how Turbine treats ranged combat v. melee from a feat standpoint. There are a few that can be used for both so I included on both lists. This is simply feats that affect ranged or melee combat.

Ranged Feats (12 total, 4 shared)

Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Quick Draw
Rapid Reload
Manyshot
Precise Shot
Improved Precise Shot
Precision *
Improved Feint *
Sneak Attack *
Shot on the Run
Weapon Focus *

Melee (26 total, 4 shared)

Sunder
Improved Sunder
Trip
Improved Trip
Cleave
Hamstring
Improved Feint *
Sneak Attack *
Sap
Slicing Blow
Stunning Blow
Whirlwind Attack
Power Attack
Precision *
Spring Attack
Two-Handed fighting
Improved Two-Handed fighting
Greater Two-Handed fighting
Two-Weapon fighting
ITWF
GTWF
Oversized TWF
Two-Weapon Blocking
Two-Weapon Defense
Weapon finesse
Weapon Focus *


As you can see, there are many more melee only feats available in this game and none that on the ranged side that are as useful as trip/imp trip and stunning blow. Basically 22 to 8. There has long been an outcry of the damage and attack speed of melee vs ranged, but this is just another arguement of how gimped ranged combat is compared to melee. Why even bother having ranged combat if the focus of this game continues to be melee and casting? Ranged combat is not only under-developed, but plagued with bugginess and gimped in rate of attack /dps.

[Chaos000]

As you can see, there are many more melee only feats available in this game and none that on the ranged side that are as useful as trip/imp trip and stunning blow. Basically 22 to 8. There has long been an outcry of the damage and attack speed of melee vs ranged, but this is just another arguement of how gimped ranged combat is compared to melee. Why even bother having ranged combat if the focus of this game continues to be melee and casting? Ranged combat is not only under-developed, but plagued with bugginess and gimped in rate of attack /dps.

DDO is the only MMO that really makes it viable to kite while ranging. It's really half the fun.

there's a lot of benefits to sticking with ranged combat, as there are lots of ways to avoid ranged counter attacks if you have decent twitch/timing skills.

I'm just grateful we don't have to stand still to reload a bolt or arrow anymore. And the rate of attacks does increase based on your to-hit so I think while I wouldn't mind a faster rate of fire, it's a definite improvement from where it used to be.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

The biggest problem with ranged combatg is not the feats. its the fact that for someone without the feats ranged combat is almost usless.

They need to speed it up so that a melee fighter will actually use ranged combat when it makes sense to do so. And actually do some good. As is ranged combat is mediocre for ranged specialists and next to useless for no specialists.

A ranged speced char can certainly do quite alot with a ranged wep.
He might be behind melee in DPS....but he can certainly contribute.

it's the guys without the feats that are really (really, really) gimped in DDO.

[Missing_Minds]

You left out weapon specialization. That can be applied to both melee and range, with the caveat that you must have the appropriate number of fighter levels.

Next up, add in enhancements that can be used for both and individual for melee vs range.

[captain1z]

melee uberness = stunning blow + power attack (likely while weilding a puncturer)


ranged uberness = manyshot + improved precision (preferably with a wounding bow)

[barecm]

melee uberness = stunning blow + power attack (likely while weilding a puncturer)


ranged uberness = manyshot + improved precision (preferably with a wounding bow)

I agree sort of here. Many shot is the uber feat for rangers, however, the cooldown prevents it from being on par with the melee feats that have much shorter cooldowns. There is no equivalent feat that can trip or stun enemies while ranging.

[Raithe]

Why even bother having ranged combat if the focus of this game continues to be melee and casting?

Yes, the focus of DDO is supposed to be on melee and casting. D&D uses guerilla-style close quarters combat, and swinging swords and daggers while others cast spells is how that is done. People (in real life, even) don't go up to combatants and shoot them in the face with a bow.

I also disagree that featlessness in ranged means it is completely ineffective. My bard has no feats in ranged, but has a 30 dex and songs/spells/scrolls that amplify attack bonus and damage. He carries a cursespewing bow of puncturing (normally) and uses it to kill mobs paralyzed by hold monster and to reduce their saves, attack bonuses, and CON bonus. If they happen to save against hold monster before they die, they are usually debuffed and highly susceptible to a wounder.

Ranged is supposed to complement the melee and magic system of many fantasy games. It's not supposed to be a replacement for them.

[barecm]

Yes, the focus of DDO is supposed to be on melee and casting.

I stopped reading after this comment. Seriously? You really think that ranged combat should not be considered a viable style of combat? And exactly how do you know what the focus of this game is supposed to be? Are you on the team that developed this game?

[Angelus_dead]

You really think that ranged combat should not be considered a viable style of combat?

There's a difference between "not focused" and "not viable".

And exactly how do you know what the focus of this game is supposed to be?

Wild guess: because he's not blind.

[barecm]

There's a difference between "not focused" and "not viable".


Wild guess: because he's not blind.

I contend that Turbine wanted ranged combat. In Beta it was king, at release it was ridiculously gimped. Now it is only severely gimp. I think they want it to be as big a part of the game as the other two, but just cannot get it right. I also contend that by this time in the development of the game, it is probably too late to expect any major changes. The next sweeping change for this game will be when they pull the plug.

[Monkeytoe]

[QUOTE=barecm;2034709]Improved Feint *
QUOTE]

I dont think Improved Feint can be activated while a ranged weapon is equipped.

[joeuhuh]

one of the reasons mele damage so outstrips ranged is rapidshot in pnp gives and extra atack per round not a percent increas in rof which increaes as your bab increases

also in pnp melee doesnt get 2 atacks at bab1 they only get one duel weilding get three atacks at bab1 instead of 2

so a duel weilder gets one extra atack and ranged gets one less atack from the start

manyshot in pnp gives a penalty for aditional arrows but can be used allthe time if u want to not 20 sec out of 120

in pnp there is a ranged power atack to add aditional damage and i believe there is a mod on piercing and blunt weapons that acts like vorpal but i cant remember the name or if it is in the current version of pnp-- arrow through the eyeball and in ur brain is as good as no head

[Thoreg]

Please Fix Ranged Combat