Ranger Archive
Thread: M Ranger/MDE!!!
Good question - I've been trying to decide this too. I started with carbine, and while crippling shot is really nice, carbine alone just isn't 'enough'. For one thing, it seems to depend on the critter but dang near everything just gets right back up again and I found even with traps it didn't give me enough opportunity to kite.
Pistols is also very nice for the stopping shot as Oreet mentioned - trap 'em, stop 'em, trap 'em, trap 'em, stop 'em... well you get the picture. Much better opportunity to kite imo - but the 'power' is lacking a bit, certainly compared to Rifle.
Rifle now... woah I tried Rifle again (had it like a year ago or more) and wow I like it! yes sir I do! Lots of power, like you indicated, and yeah... it's good till creatures get to you. That's when you trap and run /me really wish adhesive mesh worked again! Beyond that well I haven't much mastered more
Carbineer gives you a +60 melee defense & Battle armor mitigations. Ranged Def +75
Pistoleer gives youa 80+ melee defense & your reconnaissance armor mitigations. Ranged def +85
Rifle gives you a 35+ melee defense & recon armor mitigations. Ranged def +100
I'm getting that off the skill calc, something I use to compare skills - I bring up the armor thing because with Ranger giving a bonus to Battle armor, I had originally leaned more towards Carbine, myself.
So, what I know, Carbine hits harder than pistol some and is faster, pistol is best for overall defenses and rifle excels at range (kinda like it was supposed to originally).
Some other choices you didn't bring up - TKA and Swordsman. I tried both and while I retained Swordsman on my non-ranger, I just couldn't get the hang of a melee Ranger. Mind you TKA is wonderful for the innate armor and does decent damage, but I personally had trouble with finishing stuff off and separating mobs so's to not be overwhelmed. (I didn't try Fencer for much the same reason I gave up on Carbine and Pistol - too much emphasis on AoEs.)
Swordsman is excellent but again while you don't have trouble finishing anything you can be overwhelmed and if you don't hunt with a partner, medic is (imo) a needed backup skill. Which you don't really have room for on Ranger templates.
I can't speak to the CH and BH templates as I haven't done either myself, but I'd personally lean more towards CH because it seems to fit in nicely with Ranger a lot more. It also, like BH I think? would leave you some room for Marksman or Medic or whatever you wanted to use to back up your pets.
I went hunting with a friend working on CH last night and I can say it was really fun to watch her knock stuff down with her Cu Pa (which'd learned the KD command).
Anyway just some thoughts =)
Master Ranger/TKM, I don't have to run (or kite to stay alive)from critters as I want them to get close. At 45meters I throw a glow wire trap, hit Center of Being for my tank defences, then throw a sonic pulse just for good measure. I can solo any 2 critters up to and includeing lvl 82, but normally don't have to since my traps pull one at a time. TKM has a power boost for an extra 1500 or so health points. I use the Kartan Knucklers, got a bugged slice but they still work great.
The best part is I don't have to bother with armor, and I can dress all in Ranger Camo ftw.
Most will say you need Swordman or Pikeman for TK to be worth while, but I find this not to be true. I think TK is the lowest damage dealing profession out now, which means it just takes me a little longer to kill things...but hey I am a Ranger I never get in a hurry 
Rhyeal wrote:
Ok, so, being the bane of all nunas isnt enough for me anymore. What profession goes well with M Ranger that can deal lots of damage AND kill most creatures? Ive tried M Rifles...works well until the creature gets close. M Carbineer...ive been told this is good. MCH...ok, really, I've heard this CAN be good, but vs what? MBH is another one ive heard is good vs creatures, but I dont know if i really want to grind that investigation tree.
So, fellow Rangers, what should I chose for my template? Oh, and Ive got a sweet 12 cpu contract for hides that I want to get going on.
Master Droid Engineer isn't like Master Creature Handler. My friend Bolero here on Wanderhome told me he cant use most of the Droids he can build because the skills to use them go with other professions.