Another Update without Ranger Luv?

[NaturalHazard]

. Shade's completely right on this.

Blasphemy !!!!!!

[noinfo]

Blasphemy !!!!!!

Expect that to end up in someones signature

[Ausdoerrt]

I agree that rangers need some attencion, especially melee rangers could benefit from more serious temp III and capstone.

But do not forget about spell selection, which especially at higher tiers is poorly. So it will be good to see:
- Some buff to animal companion so it has more hp.
- Some minor spells like:
surefoot - add a balance +10 to ally target
minor vitality - healing over time (good for druid spell)
elemental weapons - add a chosen element to wielded weapon
mineral dust - add the chosen mineral to wielded weapon
bane weapon - if you have a FE you can make any wielded weapon bane against that kind.
Some debuff abilitty like mark target which will make easier to hit and dmg choosen opponent.

Rangers in DDO don't have animal companions. Buffing their summon spells to the point where they're comparable to arcane summons of the same level would be welcome, but is a separate issue from the availability of pets.

Rangers should get a good selection of new spells after druids get released. It'll be complete BS if they don't.

IMO, ranged combat issues require more thorough and more immediate attention than the state of melee combat for rangers.

[noinfo]

Rangers in DDO don't have animal companions. Buffing their summon spells to the point where they're comparable to arcane summons of the same level would be welcome, but is a separate issue from the availability of pets.

Rangers should get a good selection of new spells after druids get released. It'll be complete BS if they don't.

IMO, ranged combat issues require more thorough and more immediate attention than the state of melee combat for rangers.

Ranged combat issues are not limited to rangers though and require extensive changes.

[Ausdoerrt]

Ranged combat issues are not limited to rangers though and require extensive changes.

True, but considering that rangers have effectively the only ranged-based PrEs (arguably also Kensai but w/e), this hurts them the most.

[noinfo]

True, but considering that rangers have effectively the only ranged-based PrEs (arguably also Kensai but w/e), this hurts them the most.

Actually I seem to be seeing more kensai elf AA more. Though I would argue that the melee needs the attention first I certainly won't say the ranged part is far behind. My issue is that my suggestion would be a quick implementation as opposed to the more extensive rework of ranged that is also long overdue.

[Bacab]

You make yourself less credible when you say stuff like that...

I experienced the same thing Junk did with the huge lag. Like running up the stairs in Part one of the shroud and clicking on the chest...and then all of a sudden...I am at the bottom of the stairs.

But you are also right...it did "help the lag a bit". I guess "fix" was the wrong wording.

[Bacab]

Kinda a synopsis...

Turbine/the Devs need to figure out which way they want Ranger to go.

If they want it to be a really strong DPS class...they need to maybe give it some more double-strike or add more Favored Enemy damage or something.

If they want it to be more versatile (which is really cool too), maybe add more spells. One other thing I like and it is in "Pathfinder" RPG PNP. Allow rangers to "share their Favored Enemy". Maybe not give the whole bonus the ranger gets, but add an aura or a spell similar to "silver weapons or deadly weapons". Like that "FoeBane" spell that was listed earlier, but make it not just self only. If a Ranger could share its FE damage...they would be really attractive to raid parties for that buff. I can see it being game-breaking too though. So it would probably need to be re-worked.

[NaturalHazard]

True, but considering that rangers have effectively the only ranged-based PrEs (arguably also Kensai but w/e), this hurts them the most.

arti's and rogues? you know repeater rogues unite? Also the elf race which opens up AA to anyclass?

. Allow rangers to "share their Favored Enemy". Maybe not give the whole bonus the ranger gets, but add an aura or a spell similar to "silver weapons or deadly weapons". Like that "FoeBane" spell that was listed earlier, but make it not just self only. If a Ranger could share its FE damage...they would be really attractive to raid parties for that buff. I can see it being game-breaking too though. So it would probably need to be re-worked.

Shade would love this!!!

Bard/Arti/favoured soul/ Ranger the new axer package.

[licho]

Shade would love this!!!

Bard/Arti/favoured soul/ Ranger the new axer package.

Well this will actually made a point of inviting ranger to the party.
Also it will open great ranger pike opportunites.
Thumb up! :-)

But more seriously its not so bad idea.
Maybe give rangers some high level ability: "Show weakness" - which will mark enemy (must be FE) as more vulnerable for allies, and ggive him some -2 to hit/saves/dmg/ac so it will be easier to fight it. THat would make rangers more useful, and also more active (fun) to play.

[GoRinNoSho]

IMO one quick thing would be a reversal of the tempest attack speed up to doublestrike. My logic behind that is during the time of the debuff, the only way to get a similar effect melee speed bump was from Jorgundal's collar or docent of quickening.

Now there is jorg's, docent, fabricator's gauntlets and the 10% melee alacrity bump that can go on weapon and trinket. (the ability is fairly common now)

Additionally, they were kind enough to provide the doublespeed haste in challenges. With those bumps "forward" there hasn't been, at least based on my findings, a jump in "DPS lag".

[azrael4h]

Shade would love this!!!

Bard/Arti/favoured soul/ Ranger the new axer package.

1 Ranger only, must have XX Favored Enemy.

[Grailhawk]

The enhancement change in the summer is going to give us the hast boost line. They should just give us that now and to hold us over till then.

[Brennie]

I was reading this post and thought of a better thing about rangers. Why not expand the list of favored enemies and improve the damage against them? (which should be automatic and not enhancements) I think it's a way to improve the class in general. In D&D there are hundreds of races in the list of favored enemies ... has little in DDO.
Just an idea.

Personally, I am against Rangers getting buffed soley in the Favored Enemy department. Right now, a pure Ranger has 5 favored enemies and +14 damage against them. Right now, Rangers struggle to keep up with Fighters and Barbarians in fights against the Ranger's Favored Enemies. More FE damage would help them be as-good DPS against FEs, but then that becomes the balancing point of Rangers, and they are doomed to be -18, -20, or -25 damage *per hit* versus the large majority of enemies who are not on a Rangers FE list! It will pidgeonhole Rangers into only being useful in certain content, and a wet noodle who passes out FoM in anything else.

Additionally, if you were to add MORE Favored Enemy groups, then instead of having 5 of 20 enemies in the game on a Rangers FE list, you'd have 5 of 30, or 40, or 50! Rangers would be even more niche, and severely weakened in even MORE content.

As i said before in this thread, Favored Enemies are a mess. Moreso, Favored Enemies are a "feature" that makes balancing Rangers extraordinarily difficult. I feel that Rangers should be good all-round DPS who offer some common, if redundant (Since almost every Ranger spell is duplicated on another caster's list... as barkskin will be when Druids come out), party buffs. Their DPS should be slightly behind pure DPS characters such as fighters and Barbs, but should catch up when facing FEs (Especially FEs who are uncrittable or have high DR or whatnot).

However, Favored Enemies still remain broken. Here is my rough-draft proposal on regrouping FEs to balance them against each other, and to offer slightly more versilitilty to Rangers in general:

Abberation - As is, plus Ooze and Plant. Ooze and Plant help fill out the fodder role, as well as extending the level spread and increased rarity of Abberation.
Beast - Include Animals, Magical Beasts, and Vermin. Extremely common enemies found at all levels, but lacking many notable bosses or difficulty factor. This category still needs work to be a contender.
Construct - As is, constructs are not quite as common as other groups, but the extra toughness factor helps them stand out as a top pick.
Elemental - As is, plus Mephits. Found at all levels, Common and Tough, but lacking notable bosses (plenty of easy bosses).
Extraplanars - Tieflings, Mephits, Djinni, Tharaak Hounds, anything and everything not covered by either elemental or evil outsider. Good level spread, very common, but lacking in tougher enemies and bosses. (I realize this name is rather generic, and could be confusing if people thought it included Elementals and Evil Outsiders)
Giant - As is, Giants fulfill all criteria nicely, and are already a top pick. Only concern is rarity at higher levels.
Humanoid - Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, Gnomes. Very common enemies found at all levels, but not very tough, and very few notable bosses. Still a bit unbalanced, but inclusion of Drow and Duergar should help.
Humanoid, Monsterous - As is, but include Orcs, Goblinoids, and Gnolls. Mostly fodder, with a few tough enemies. Found at all levels, though it thins higher up. A few notable bosses (medusa, mostly) but light in that area.
Outsider, Evil - As is. Lacking in low level content, but more than made up for by being common, tough, and having a multitude of bosses and raid bosses. Possibly include Tieflings, unless this would make EO "too good".
Reptilian - Kobolds, Trogs, Medusa and Dragons. This category also needs some help, as it is still not a real contender. This category could perhaps be divided and merged with other groups (dragons into Beast, rest into Monsterous Humanoid?).
Undead - As is. As stated earlier, meets all criteria.

More explanation of that can be found HERE, with my old suggestion thread of otehr Ranger issues found HERE

[konexion]

Right now, Rangers struggle to keep up with Fighters and Barbarians in fights against the Ranger's Favored Enemies

speak for your own ranger. i have no issue keeping up with barbs and fighters and even surpassing them on my ranger

[NaturalHazard]

speak for your own ranger. i have no issue keeping up with barbs and fighters and even surpassing them on my ranger

wow you must run with some real gimp fighters and barbs.

Yeah on my ranger I keep up with and surpass a lot of fighters and barbs, but thats more often because hes way better geared than them or they made some build mistakes or are not playing their charactor closer to the best of its abilities.

[grodon9999]

speak for your own ranger. i have no issue keeping up with barbs and fighters and even surpassing them on my ranger

See below.

wow you must run with some real gimp fighters and barbs.

Yeah on my ranger I keep up with and surpass a lot of fighters and barbs, but thats more often because hes way better geared than them or they made some build mistakes or are not playing their charactor closer to the best of its abilities.

My ranger is "maxxed" gearwise and will out-DPS most of the barbs/fighters he encounters in his adventures in pugland.

Against another fighter or barb who is also maxed gearwise it's not a contest.

Gear > Class except when gear is equal.

[konexion]

My ranger is "maxxed" gearwise and will out-DPS most of the barbs/fighters he encounters in his adventures in pugland.

winner winner chicken dinner. i've stolen and kept agro on mine in hard and elite VOD's and several other epic runs along with non epic raids.

[grodon9999]

winner winner chicken dinner. i've stolen and kept agro on mine in hard and elite VOD's, epic chono, and several other epic runs along with no epic raids.

Over who?

Just because something has a Axe as their character symbol doesn't mean they do good DPS despite the nonsense perpetuated on the forums by certain fanboi posters.

As I said before . . . Gear > Class. If you were a fighter with your gear your DPS would be better. You would hit harder, have more swings with better boosts, have more boosts, actually have tactics, etc . . .

My ranger's tanked eChrono over 100 times (I'm not kidding), elite VOD, sulu in Elite TOD and Horoth in hard. Many others have done the same thing, as have monks, FVS, and even a few bards/rogues.

[konexion]

over who? over barbs and fighters swinging epic antiques, linking eclaws in party chat etc. if i proc my stuff often, it's not hard to do the same if not more. i have a very well geared barb and prefer my ranger over it in most runs cause it does about the same and is much more fun to play