Ranger Archive

The statement in the subject might confuse some people. But yes, ranger is actually one of the most important PvP classes, especially in groups, but also when soloing. As I reached Master Rifleman a few days ago it’s first recently I’ve been able to solo-PvP successfully. But I found ranger to not only make the PvP-events easier for me, but also much more fun.

Most people would think of Ranger as one of the most worthless PvP classes as we get no direct combat bonuses against players, and not even against player pets. But it’s not at the direct fighting rangers excel, but rather when you intend on using tactics. Most classes that have PvP bonuses get these in form of stronger weapons, attacks, pets, heals or other things directly affecting the fighting. What rangers get are the tactical abilities… conceal/maskscent and areatrack, where the later is the most important one.

The Urban Hunter

Areatrack is one of the most tactical and most usefull skills in PvP according to me, especially since the ability got a 3 second delay. I started using it in cities when I knew there was an overt rebel around. Usually it’s pretty easy locating them in the small cities, and in the large ones you could find them easily by just moving around. If you know the city layout you quickly learn what they are up to. Are they healing up in the med center, taking a shuttle or are they outside the city limits planning an attack or picking of stragglers? If you would see several other people at the same distance and direction as the guy you were tracking that would be a warning that he was probably grouped and nothing you want to attack solo.

The man-hunter

I know BH’s will scream that this is their ability and not one a ranger should have.. but screw them. They can always put their extra skillpoints into ranger tracking if they want to. Areatrack gives you the ability to be a real man hunter. I tried this a few days ago for the first time as I didn’t find any rebels to kill for a long time. I located an overt rebel somewhere on in Kadaraa with the search function, while I was in Keren.. I quickly took the shuttle there just to see that he had moved out of Kadaraa into the eastern grass plains (which surround Kadarra). Most people would have given up the hunt now, but rangers doesn’t have to. As I had been hunting in the area a lot I knew where most shops and houses were and quickly burstrun in that direction. A bit outside Kadaraa I started tracking and picked him up 450 meters away. It didn’t take long for me to locate him and I made short work of him with my rifle.

So I decided to try this out a bit more. Next rebel I located was in lianorm swamp, of which I also know where it’s boundaries go as I’m pretty knowledgeable in the northern parts of Naboo. Going back to Keren I just head straight into Lianormswamp for about 500 meters and repeatedly started tracking. In just a few minutes I picked up the guy, and soon managed to track him down and dispose of him.

Somewhat later I saw an overt rebel in keren just shuttling in and burst running straight into Lianormswamp. Most people would have given up the hunt here as my own burstrun wasn’t ready.. but as said before.. rangers doesn’t have to. I started running in the direction I had seen him going, and after 500 meters I started tracking him. Even though I moved a bit faster than him, the tracking slowed me done forcing me to stay at about 300 meters while hunting him. I followed him for 3000 meters and found that he had finally stopped to tend to some harvesters. I gave him a chance to surrender, but as most rebels they don’t listen and he was killed just as he was trying to get away.

The Stalker and Scout

So areatrack so far is mostly used to locate the enemy and then engage them. But the scouting and tactical possibilities with the skill are huge. A few days ago a rebel PA decided to wreck some havoc in our PA city (well, actually after me and 2 friends happened to stumble straight into their city party). We knew they were many, but not how many. We organized the small defenses we had while other Imperial PAs were coming to our aid. By repeatedly using search I could say the second they came within 500 meters and from what direction. I could see how many they were and if they went in one large group or several small. I managed to see that they had sent half their force in one group first, which we engaged and killed. We then moved back as I tracked the larger group approaching, just in time for our reinforcements hitting them in the back while they started their assault.

Stalking and scouting is even more potent while attacking. As there is a rebel PA faction base close to our city I usually engage any rebels doing missions in the area to disrupt their work. With areatrack I’m able to keep out of sight as I know where any possible threats or enemy scouts are and what direction they are moving. Last night I stumbled onto a group of 4 rebels doing missions. I tracked them for probably 20 minutes until I saw 2 of them staying behind and 2 moving on. I could then easily move in, kill two of them.. and then I moved back and tracked the other 2 coming back to help their friends.. but too late.

Turning dangers into your advantage.

Every once and a while you’re forced to escape from your enemies. Even if you run a bit faster as a scout.. a lot of other people (and all BHs) got the same speed bonuses. Now, and especially when conceal is more potent, this is a great way of escaping from pursuing enemies. Just run through a nest of aggroes and see how your followers either have to go around or get attacked. It’s great fun running straight through a group of maulers just to see your brave enemies follow you in your tracks.. and dying from the NPCs.

Yes, Rangers still have no bonuses when it comes to the actual fighting, and it would be great if traps could affect player pets. But for those that want a tactical PvP-experience and something more than the “ooo, a red dot on radar, let’s fight it”-type of fights ranger is a great choice.

Im trying to grind up to novice ranger because i like the area track feature, will this help me even at novice level?

You need either level 3 or 4 in tracking to be able to track people.. and you'll be able to track them further at the higher levels.. which is really important.

Trapping skills do help in pvp situations. if there are minefields nearby you disarm them. it usually fails with only novice ranger butI usually get the message something like you activated a mine, but your traping skills help you avoid it. Feels good to to have wasted someone's fps on landmines.

I agree that areatrack is a powerful tool that enables us to hunt at will and serve as sentries for parties and bases.

Maybe I'm the only one who has realized this, but the proposed change to terrain negotiation (check the latest State of the Profession) would make wayfarers unequal in PvP kiting on uneven terrain, as most don't bother to get past explorer and master scout (mainly bh due to their requisites). That alone would make us more than PvP able.

Make that the previous State of the Profession (Sep 18).

/amen

I have given up all combat skills to pursue a life as a bard, but I still lend my services whenever there is a raid. As the saying goes, 'I can track a bird on a cloudy day' I just wish more people would stop saying that ranger is gimp and actually try using some strategy.

Three cheers and a large TY TY TY for Quas, even tho he is an Imp.

My point exactly, we can kick major butt in PvP, as long as we use what he have, add decent combat skills with the remaining Skill Points, and use our heads for more than to grow hair.

Skill and cunning will overcome enthusiasm and quickness any day of the week. Sneak and peek, snoop and poop, and intel will keep you alive.

Noob - Hey, lets charge into that large group of red creatures down there...

Ranger (after using examine and remembering past experiences- No, that's dumb, they are social and will swarm us. or Go ahead, after you.

Personally, as death is not permanent, choice 2 gives me the giggles, but alas, I usually tell the noob the deal.

PvP - we are beating this into the ground. No one "owns" me in PvP. There are classes that rock, but hey, they suck in the woods, gotta use droids to track, and that armor is plain old ugly, not to mention cumbersome. Once things are fixed, we will not rule, but be competetive in the PvP arena. Think group win, not you DBing some guy. Duels are fun, but as the man said "You gotta know your limitations".

JB

oh hey Quas, quit camping the starport, bad form old sport

rancercorbantis said:

"Trapping skills do help in pvp situations. if there are minefields nearby you disarm them. it usually fails with only novice ranger butI usually get the message something like you activated a mine, but your traping skills help you avoid it. Feels good to to have wasted someone's fps on landmines. "

I haven't participated in PVP yet, but that seems like a small consolation for 28 skill points invested in trapping...how often does that actually come up? I'm hoping that we can use our traps on creature pets soon...I don't think I'll participate in PVPuntil then.

Jamga Gibbrad

Master Ranger
Novice Medic
Novice Pistoleer

Amen, Quas

I love doing this, standing at the mission terms in kaadraa you can track known Overt Rebs, A few little tells from dancers and medics and you have the rest of your bases covered as well.

"Make that the previous State of the Profession (Sep 18)."

Odd... It's in the new State of the Profession as well.

Nice work...you have found a way to make a true sniper class.

/salute

wow since I do not have man tracking yet only NPC you mean to tell me I could be at Keren and it will show me someone in Kaadra?? It will also tell you overt rebs somehow??? This sounds pretty powerful for any of us Overt players in tracking down other overts.