Ranger Archive
Thread: Would you trade tracking to scout?
BoberFett wrote:
That's right, one star me fool.
Why would you take one of the defining abilities of Ranger and give it to Scout just to appease the whining of a bunch of bounty hunters? Should scouts get access to LLC or launcher pistol?
I think a lot of very extreme examples are being thrown out here. The idea I proposed doesn't take tracking away from Rangers, since a Ranger is always a master Scout anyway.
It would take the uniqueness away, but how many of us have actually been sought out as Rangers? The occasional Krayt hunt and that's about it. Our trapping skill is crap with no significant improvement over master Scout and the fabled changes to it in the indefinite future category of fixes.
As for trapping being useless, I'm not sure I understand. Certainly the advanced traps that Rangers receive aren't worth a **edit**, but I am *always* stocked up on crates and crates of glow-wires, bone spurs, and phenc darts. Sometimes I add addhesive mesh to the mix, but they don't stick often enough for me to rely on them. If you're not using what good traps we already have, then how do you feel justified to argue about the value of future traps?
In all it looks like nobody really likes the idea, but you've got to agree that something's got to be done to distinguish us definitively from a "super scout". Camo kits are roughly equivalent to mask scent, it just works better and on other people. People who don't use mask scent themselves typically don't understand the value of being camo'd anyway. Our harvests make *us* happy by giving us saleable and useable materials but nobody looks for a Ranger because they have better harvesting ability. Practically nobody understands the value of traps, members of the Ranger and Scout communities included.
I proposed the change in hopes of increasing the usefulness and relevance of Scout alone and as a pre-requisite for BH and making a clear distinction between Ranger and Scout by giving them both unique skills in keeping with the announced "vision" of what Ranger should develop into.
Apparently I was unsuccessful but somebody please keep thinking on what we can do to make things better? These forums see altogether too few suggestions and too many complaints without resolve.
Matsubaa wrote:
I think a lot of very extreme examples are being thrown out here. The idea I proposed doesn't take tracking away from Rangers, since a Ranger is always a master Scout anyway.
It would take the uniqueness away, but how many of us have actually been sought out as Rangers? The occasional Krayt hunt and that's about it. Our trapping skill is crap with no significant improvement over master Scout and the fabled changes to it in the indefinite future category of fixes.
Giving LLCs or launcher pistols to marksman wouldn't take it away from BHs, because they're also Marksmen. That's not an extreme example, it's exactly what you're proposing.
So because Ranger isn't currently a highly sought after profession, take our only good skill away and give it to a beginning profession? That's just plain stupid. How about giving Ranger additional abilities rather than destroying it completely.
No, I would not like that idea. If the BH droids worked correctly, they wouldnt feel the need for tracking. Not to mention, they only want NPC and someday Player. The creature tracking is useless to the BH.
The Ranger does need better/more traps. But the tracking skills need to stay in the elite profession. Tracking is a difficult skill, and doing it for both animals and humanoids, is no easy matter. It would not make sence for a scout, starting profession, to have those skills.
Just get the BH droids working as they should. They are actually better at tracking, able to leave planet and go across an entire planet. Tracking only goes 500m.
I think these forums come up with a lot of very constructive suggestions for Rangers. I've seen three very good ideas for themes come and go here, along with ideas for new and better skills associated with those themes.
The problem is not a lack of ideas and solutions to our situation. The problem is getting the ideas we come up with implemented. I browse here almost every day, and every day I see a bunch of new ideas for re-defining the ranger, and how to change our skills and on andon, but nothing ever comes of it! Development picks what they pick for whatever reason, sends us a clipped little message about nerfing us, and we're back to re-inventing the wheel. Personally, I think we need to chill with ideas for new stuff until Development fixes the bugs that we've already named for them. If I could be assured that my camo kits would hide me from NPCs and that my camps would repel agressive creatures, I'd be happy for another 2-3 months.
Finally, on this Rangers-Are-Only-Super-Scouts meme flying around here, I really don't mind being a Super Scout. I liked all the things I did as a scout, and now I can do them way better than a scout. A few more traps, maybe a modular and/or semi-permanent camp, throw in a singular /track commmand and I'd be all set until starships are released. Maybe even longer!
No, I would not trade my AreaTrack down to Scout. Bounty Hunters have enough advantages. Let's see the Dev's take away Fire Knockdown from their Carbine line and give it to us as a Hunting IV ability. You'll be able to hear the howls all the way to Dagobah.
That's right, one star me fool.
Why would you take one of the defining abilities of Ranger and give it to Scout just to appease the whining of a bunch of bounty hunters? Should scouts get access to LLC or launcher pistol?