Ranger Archive

I have been deliberating over and over again about what skills I would like to end up with. What with my limited learning capacity I have to make some choices. Fortunately enough I am not the only one making these choices.

Saying this I release that there is no ideal anwser to this question.

But saying that I have come up with 3 possible solutions. (Master Ranger being a requirement) I am currently heading towards option 1. But I was wondering if anyone else was heading similar directions.

--------------------Option 1------------------

BH Pistol 4+ BH Carbine 3

--------------------Option 2------------------

Master Pistoleer/Rifleman/Carbineer + Ranged support (marksman)

--------------------Option 3------------------

Novice Pistoleer/Rifleman/Carbineer + 3 tiers of Medic + Ranged support (marksman)

Fenrix

I'm going for:

Pistoleer 0-3-4-4, First Aid II, Ranged Weapon Support IV.

I thought about giving up medic abilities for Master Pistoleer but I find it way too useful to give up especially with StimB's doing up to 500+ heals.

I am heading for master rifleman (currently 4 4 2 3) to go along with master ranger. My leftover points will be staying in ranged support and some token, essentially useless, pistol levels. I would say that I am 100% happy with this blend at this point, but rifleman isn't for everybody. A wise post on the rifleman boards has compared our profession to the wizards of D&D -- we start out pretty weak both offensively and defensively, and by the end we have some extreme offensive skills but are still pretty weak defensively. Being a solo rifleman requires a lot more planning and work than a solo pistoleer or carbineer, but can be rewarding IMHO. A lot of people feel that riflemen are not a good part of groups as our special ability is to target the mind pool. This is somewhat true, but riflemen can use random pool shots like strafe (gained at novice rifleman), flurry, and flushing 1 to deal more group-friendly damage. And once you get an Area Effect shot like flurry 2, flushing 2, or strafe shot 2 at master rifleman, you'll be a deadly addition to any group.

All of your outlined options look like great combos ( well, maybe not #3 with novice rifleman only ), so I guess I would suggest following whichever one seems to sound like the most fun for you. If you really enjoy being able to heal yourself to turn the table on a tough opponent, go for option 3. If you like one sort of ranged weapon in particular, go for 2, and if you would like to be deadly with two weapon types, go for 1. However, I just thought I would chime in as a supporter of the rifleman class, as you have more than likely also heard from some of its detractors.

Good luck and happy hunting!

I went with Master Marksman, Novice Rifleman (1st box only no tree work), and Creature Handler 2/3/0/0 (tame level 35 call level 40 with 4 pets in data pad).

I just made Master Ranger, and now I plan on mastering Creature Handler (I'm currently 2/2/2/4). With my points now, I'm 0/0/1/1 in Pistoleer, and a Novice Medic. I'll eventually have to unlearn Pistoleer down to just a bit of Pistol once I'm a MCH, but that's fine. I love having the pet companions in the wild with me.

Gaaryca

I'm doing the first option. Master Ranger with BH carbine 4 and pistol 3. No room for medic though, but I like the offensive versatility that comes from mastering marksman.

Originally my plan was to go Master Ranger/Pistoleer. However, after going up the Stances and Grips line of pistoleer, I was generally uninspired by the line. So I went and took up Bounty Hunter to use that pistol line. I've finally had to give up novice medic, which I was loathe to do, but I wanted to see how the combination of mindshot and eyeshot works against NPCs. I have been stricly critters for the scout exp, but I finished that today, woo.

Any other dabblers out there? with the BH pistol line and Master Ranger, I have enough for a novice combat profession with one box. Right now I'm keeping it with novice pistoleer w/ pistol whip. If the mind/eyeshot thing works, might take novice rifleman and mindshot 2.

Either way, since I'm near maxxed, it's fun to give stuff up and try other things. Only took a day and a half to get the carbine and rifle for master marksman. I'm rambling...

Leelak - since after being a master ranger with the BH pistol line, you'll only have 13 points left. I'd suggest going Creature Handler with the first box of Creature Taming so you have a pet.

Well I won't be a Master Ranger ever, But I am taking: Ranger 0/4/4/2 or 2/4/4/0 haven't decided yet, Master Pistoleer, Creature Handler 2/2/0/0, and of course Master Scout and Marksmen 0/4/0/4.

master ranger, pistol tree in bounty hunter, and the rest possibly in pistoleer somewhere...

not master ranger yet but, someday=)

going for master ranger master carbineer, and if i have enough points, maybe novice squad leader or soemthing

When I'm finished it'll be: Master Ranger/Master Pistoleer and with the 4 extra points I'll put 2 in Intermediate Carbine and 2 in Intermediate Rifle. That'll be250 points.

Master Ranger

Master Scout

Artisan 2-0-0-0 ( I can make my own weapon power ups this way)

Medic 2-0-2-0 (FirstAid to stop bleeding and I can use stimpack Cs)

Rifleman 0-0-0-0 (T21 rifle qual mainly, I don't use rifles much)

Pistoleer 0-1-0-1 (pistol bennies and melee defense1... ever drop a hamababa with ahit to the noggin?)

0 skill pts left. I am playing around with the medic and artisan levels, to see what I like best. Survey may come back to make the camo suits, depends on my results when the patch comes in.

Carbines and ranged support - I find these useless skills for the most part. The carbine is underpowered as a rifle and has too many minuses at close range (gee, just like real life, imagine that ! and yes, 20 yrs in the Army, I speak from experience) Never did find a use for ranged support quite honestly, and the skills never made a hotkey. I did like the name tho, guardsman. FYI, I was a master marksman, for about 3 days, til I gave up the skills to be a Ranger.

JB

Waiting for conceal and camo, never to be seen again