Ranger Archive
Thread: Talk of merging Ranger & SL
Apparently this got touched on breifley as a possibility of what to do with the Ranger and Squad Leader professions at Fan Fest.
The idea was floated out as a possibility to compensate for the huge SP cost of Ranger. (kind of like making Ranger/SL into some kind of 'Pathfinder' profession.
Taken from the SL forums by the SL Correspondent
Not that I am completely for the idea, but it might be the "path" we are forced to take.
I play Ranger for the roleplay and the fun of the proff. And even though there may seem to be similarities, they truly are two "different" proffesions. SL to me brings up thoughts of Galactic combat, I cant ( in my mind ) see a SL roughing it out in the wilds of Lok, hunting wild creatures. Just like I cant see a Ranger leading a group of combatants into a vicious gun fight against some NPCs to take down a base...It really ruins the RP for me......but I love the ranger proff. and will continue to play it through all the bumps or at least till I cant take the stupidity anymore.
Maleki > GHOST
Master Ranger > Radiant
Mixed feelings here.
From the roleplay point of view I think it's a nice idea. When I play as a ranger, I either actively go off into the wild on my own, but the combat fubar has seriously reduced my ability and motivation to do so. Alternatively when I'm in a group, I feel that as a ranger I am responsible for looking after everyone, and as such I will naturally lead the group.
Kinshi wrote:
I figure the 'merger' idea actually has a chance of happening before we grow old. Yes, Id like Ranger to have the uniqueness too but we really gotta look hard at what we want to get and what SOE will deliver to us.
We may not get the full revamp but a merger would give us significant improvements and make both SL/Ranger not so uneeded as they are now. Worst case, its the lesser of evils, best case, the fit isnt superficial, and it works well. Either way, it doesnt really hurt either profession in terms of ability
Either way it advances both professions ahead of where they are now. Id rather get some of what I want, rather than get none of it (you know the old saying "A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush". Well our Ranger Revamp is quite clearly 'in the bush'.
Not sure how I feel about this. I can see some good things (we'd be needed to take down bases, we'd finally get the npc/player affecting equivalent of our current abilities), but... a lot of questions come to mind. What would the pre-reqs be for such a profession? Would they end up screwing over the Rangers who prefer melee combat and find themselves needing the ranged support line? What place would our traps have in this profession? And doesn't PIN sound like a dumb name for a chat channel?
I must admit, though-- I am a little intrigued.
al-djinn'i
Master Ranger/Master Rifleman
I know that, in terms of the game, this doesn't really matter (to the devs), but that is my first hang up.
But, as the title says, it's just talk.
Message Edited by Calculus_Entropy on 06-07-2005 02:32 PM
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
I just want to know how, running around in the wilderness, smearing mud all over my (sometimes naked) body and killing and skinning animals makes me well suited for leading a group of soldiers? Conversly, I would like to know how leading a group of soldiers makes me well suited to running around in the wilderness, smearing mud all over my (sometimes naked) body and killing and skinning animals.
I know that, in terms of the game, this doesn't really matter (to the devs), but that is my first hang up.
There is some continuity between the roles, depending on what you think a ranger is.
Ranger; you're a master of the wilderness and how to fight creatures. So in a group, by virtue of your knowledge you are the best man for the job to tell people what to do, when either just surviving, or fighting a creature. (I.e. you can tell them what/what-not to eat, the weak spots of fierce creatures, etc).
Squad-Leader, you're in charge of a long range, deep patrol squad. You and your subordinates are away from any civilisation or support for long durations, you need to know how to survive in the wild.
But, this is all roleplay.
Message Edited by DaveG on 06-07-2005 09:31 PM
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
I just want to know how, running around in the wilderness, smearing mud all over my (sometimes naked) body and killing and skinning animals makes me well suited for leading a group of soldiers? Conversly, I would like to know how leading a group of soldiers makes me well suited to running around in the wilderness, smearing mud all over my (sometimes naked) body and killing and skinning animals.
I know the descriptions in our skill boxes are generally bald-faced lies with no bearing on reality, but don't they say something about military/paramilitary training? Also, between the harvest bonus we bring to a group and /rescue (even though that doesn't work), we've always sort of been the hunt leaders.It doesn't seem like that big a step togo from hunt leader to squad leader. As for smearing mud all over your (sometimes naked) body, well... a leader's got to win the respect of his troops somehow.
al-djinn'i
Master Ranger/Master Rifleman
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
I just want to know how, running around in the wilderness, smearing mud all over my (sometimes naked) body and killing and skinning animals makes me well suited for leading a group of soldiers? Conversly, I would like to know how leading a group of soldiers makes me well suited to running around in the wilderness, smearing mud all over my (sometimes naked) body and killing and skinning animals.
I know that, in terms of the game, this doesn't really matter (to the devs), but that is my first hang up.
Well when Special forces soldiers go into combat, all caked with mud and camo smeared all over, they are lead by somebody.
When troops go into unfamiliar areas, they bring local guides who can lead them through the back country.
Davy Crockett didnt do all his adventures by himself, in fact he was leading quite a few people in the defense of the Alamo.
Another example is the Ghurkas of Nepal (Britain'e elite special forces group). They are VERY Rangery. Thos guys could live in the wild and dish out damage. (just look at what they did in the Falkland Islands War)
Or during the Civil War, groups like Moesby's Raiders, Confederate calavary raiders, living off the land, doing guerilla warfare.
The history of warfar is filled with examples of just how 'Ranger' and 'Squad Leader' fit together, and how both are advanced skill require innate knowledge of the environment, leadership skills, and cunning.
Running around naked in the mud skinning animals isn't Rangerdom by itself than makes you simply one of many types of native villagers across the world. Hell every member of the Pygmy tribes in South America runs around naked, rolling in the mud, skinning animals.
I think 'Ranger; and I think "Davy Crockett", "Samuel Boone", "Lewis and Clark", "Army Rangers", 'Texas Rangers" etc, etc, etc, Guys well versed in the outdoors, leadership, and combat.
Message Edited by Kinshi on 06-07-2005 01:42 PM
As I posted in SL forums:
Message Edited by Kinshi on 06-07-2005 01:50 PM
As far as the in game skills the two professions have, we are not a very good fit.
I am still unsure of my feelings on this. My initial reaction is to NOT give this much creedance. The devs, at Fan Fest, are going to try to nicely address everything that is said to them. They aren't going to tell someone that their idea is bad, they are going to "take it under advisement." In other words, I think with the little information that was given at FF (also remember that people post thier own versions of what was said), the devs were trying to nicely blow the questioner off.
My kneejerk reaction is to say, no way, but it would really depend on how they did it, IF they did it.