Ranger Archive

I just got a scout pistol, which with a slice and a powerup does 367 max damage every 1.4 seconds. I carry a DX2 with almost identical stats, and a slightly lower powered FWG5. Then I use examine to tell me which one the creature is most vulnerable to, and use that. It sounds complex, but I just keep them all in my shortcut bar and pick the one I need. Two of them also perform very well at a distance of 25-30m, which means I can drop things before they get near me.

The rifle or carbine may have a higher max damage, but speed works out to give you more damage per second with a goodpistol. Also unlike carbine or rifle the pistol has relatively lowHAM cost, can be fired on the move, and doesn't give the creature a huge to-hit bonus against you.

One last point for pistol, the scout blaster is (IMO) the best pistol available, the only reason I don't use it all the time is some things have protection against it's attack type. If that doesn't bother you too much, you can weild a scout blaster with only two boxes of the marksman tree - leaving you skill points for other things. It doesn't give you the cool stopping shot, or health shot 2 attacks, but it might be a good backup for another attack style.

TKA is awesome, and I can't argue against it - especially if you're part wayup the tree, the only thing I would say is I like to stand out from the crowd. I never took CH at the start of the game, for the same reason I wouldn't take TKA now - despite it being cool, it just makes you one of the crowd.

I've heard swordsman is also good, but not knowing enough about it, I can't comment.