Ranger Archive

I have played the game for a month.... I usually do that with the free account time before I decide on a profession when playing online. I must admit I have gotten very fond of the game. However, I thought of a character based on what I would like to roleplay. I want a master Ranger/ Master Rifleman character. But in reading the two forums, it sounds like a really bad idea. Between this forum complaining about Rangers being broken, and the rifleman forum complainig that its a broken profession I dont see how I could be sucessfull.

I picture a snipper character able to devistate the enemy from range without being seen. It doesnt look possible. As soon as my "snipper" shoots all heck breaks loose and runs full tilt at him. And the combo would have no close range combat ability. so in a profession combo where I should rarely be seen and difficult to find and when found hard to hit.... It appears I am one ofthe most vurnerable characters. The ultimate survivalist always running for his life.

So why should I even try to become a Master Ranger / Master Rifleman? Because quite frankly, I really want too..... But I cannot justify it logically. Please help.

Try to keep in mind that alot of people just like to bitch, and that the "grass is always greener".

If you read the Pistoleer forums, they complain about how overpowered the riflemen are.

As for being a master ranger, it depends on what you want from the game. Personally, I love the profession. It is lacking in some areas, but it will only get better. In the mean time, I can go anywhere in the wild, find specific mobs (thanks to areatrack), lead my CH buddies on "baby hunts", provide my guild with a "camp to end all camps", etc, etc.

If yor main thrust is to be a PvP killer, then I wouldn't spend any points on Ranger. If you like to solo or just get lost in the world(s), then Ranger may be a match for you.

The beauty of this game is, if you don't like it, just surrender the points and try something else. No need for a complete reroll.

I play a Ranger - Rifleman and have had quite a bit of success with it. Mind you I don't solo on Endor or anything, and I have seen more powerful characters running around (Bounty Hunters, Master Creature Handlers) but I seem to get along ok.

I can kill creatures that con yellow or even sometimes red to me in 3 shots (and that's with a laser rifle, no T21s yet on Ahazi server). I can track (which is pretty powerful). My traps are pretty mean (though most of that is from the scout line). My camps are very pretty (which doesn't make them effective, but makes me happy). I do have some creature handling (1 1 1 0) for when I have to solo but not too much. I just need something to distract the big critters for a short time when my traps miss.

If you want to be a PvP death god then this is NOT the class for you. I could actually argue that if you want to be the best hunter then this class may not be the best. Bounty Hunter-CH still seem to dish out more damage than I do and are probably more effective than I am at killing big critters. Of course they have also had to get more combat experience than I have (Master Marksman).

If you want to just play and have a good time, Rifleman/Ranger is a fine way to go. I have been having a blast. I play with a group often and we hunt a variety of things depending on our size and I have had some good times soloing as well.

I am closing in on Master Ranger (2 3 3 3) and I am into Rifleman (2 0 0 1) in about 5 weeks game time, about 3 hours a night, 6-9 hours total on the weekends. It is a less powerful class combo I think, than other classes, but still fun to play and pretty easy to level up in.

I am hopeful for balance improvements in the future, but until then I'll be killing Banthas, Rontos and the occasional pack of dewbaks in the outback of Tattooine.

If you are thinking about the class I would suggest you try it. You need Master Scout which is useful for a lot of other classes if you find you don't enjoy Ranger and you can always drop the Ranger stuff without losing too much time.

Passure don't get bumbed about the Ranger/Rifleman. I am a Ranger/CH, but the weapon I use most is a rifle. I do carry a good Scout blaster a FWG5 (or at least I think that is its designation). They serve me well in close entcounters of the deadly kind, but the rifle is my weapon of choice. I know there are bugs and needs to be fixed even after this patch and probably after the next couple or so, but the devs are striving to achieve a better balance and to fix all the major problems and drawback. Maskscent/Conceal after this current patch I do have some issues with, but I think they will listen and try to correct them. With the latest patch as soon as you shoot at the animal your maskscent breaks and every critter around comes at you, which means you had better not try soloing very much unless your very very good. In fact I had maskscent break somewhere near 10x in a few minutes, where my partner who just took scout so she could become a BE maskscent never broke once until she shot first. Mine broke repeatedly just trying to get close, so I figured there wasn't any reason to waste all those resources you use in a camo kit to have it gone it seconds. Yet I have seen the Devs repeatedly try to address various issues like this and get them right. So don't give up, if this is the type of character you want to play in SWG then go for it. Be sure to constructively post things that you find not working right or not working well. Also be sure to send in bug reports when you see problems that need to be addressed. It is often good to send them in right after it happens so that you can communicate to them the problem with everything fresh in your mind.

Anyway, don't get discouraged. Gofor it!

Jolandir

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Passure wrote:

I have played the game for a month.... I usually do that with the free account time before I decide on a profession when playing online. I must admit I have gotten very fond of the game. However, I thought of a character based on what I would like to roleplay. I want a master Ranger/ Master Rifleman character. But in reading the two forums, it sounds like a really bad idea. Between this forum complaining about Rangers being broken, and the rifleman forum complainig that its a broken profession I dont see how I could be sucessfull.

I picture a snipper character able to devistate the enemy from range without being seen. It doesnt look possible. As soon as my "snipper" shoots all heck breaks loose and runs full tilt at him. And the combo would have no close range combat ability. so in a profession combo where I should rarely be seen and difficult to find and when found hard to hit.... It appears I am one ofthe most vurnerable characters. The ultimate survivalist always running for his life.

So why should I even try to become a Master Ranger / Master Rifleman? Because quite frankly, I really want too..... But I cannot justify it logically. Please help.

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As for the "sniper shots", I believe cover and sniper shot for rifleman was supposed to be fixed in yesterday's patch, so you should be able to attack without having the mob immediately start attacking you (I think, I'm actually a pistoleer, so I don't know if its really been fixed). As far as having no close range combat ability, ranger/scout traps are fairly close-range weapons, and there are some short-range rifles that are better at close range than at a distance (like the spraystick), so you could get one long distance rifle and one short range one, and switch as needed.

Anyway, what you make your character is ultimately up to you of course, and the main thing is finding a skill set you enjoy playing. I'm glad your experience so far has been positive, and I hope it continues to be so. Happy hunting!

Passure,

I am in the same position as you, and I've been some research. Yes, mobs are going to close in on you with evil intent. I am leaning towards some 2-handed sword use for those up close and personal encounters. That will compliment your rifle skills by also attacking the mind pool (as do some of the traps). I don't have Ranger experience yet, but it sounds like we will be able to sneak up (concealed) and wreak some serious havoc before they get close, then finish them off. Or use and adhesive mesh to slow them down while you kite them.

All that being said, see ya at the cloning facility

I agree, Xaan. Passure, you have to seek out and play something that fits your style of play and don't take everything on these boards as gospel. A very tiny minority of players actually read or post here. If you read every board for every profession, then you would think that every aspect of the game is broken. I found that for myself, carbineer and ranger appeal to me most. I also got sick of sitting in camp or running back to a city to heal my wounds, so I have basic medic skills too. I'm a very solo type of a player and I've customized my character the way I want to play. I also role-play him that way. In most other RPGs, you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to professions or classes. Here, you can pick and choose what you want to do.

Don't forget where you've come from. You want to be able to pick off things with one shot? Well, you can. All those now low-level light blue and blue critters you started out on. If you expect to pick off things that con white and yellow, now you're just asking for too much. There are a number of tactics to use while gunfighting in this game. Maybe some of the other posts you are reading are authored by people who don't know or understand the game. Just because the game doesn't work the way THEY want it to, doesn't mean it is broken.

I am gonna take a different track... If you are not happy with Ranger or Scout, yeah, you posted on both boards, go ahead and find something that does make you happy.

You are not going to be "Uber" in this game. At least not with the characters you can make now (Jedi may be the exception, and that remains to be seen). Playing within limits is hard, but it is rewarding. If you can't walk up and kill 5 stormies all at one time you have to think about a tactic that will allow you to win the mission... sniping, run and gun, whatever. This is one of the first games that stops "uberness" in multiple areas, I like it. You can be the man in PvP, but can't heal for squat. You can kill big animals, but can't find the steel you need to make a camp.

I am not gonna talk you out of leaving, in fact, I am going to encourage it. Find another profession that will let you have a good time. And if you can't... SOE doesn't sign my paycheck, they got their cut of your $40... I would again encourage you to find a game that fits you.

You don't have to pay to be miserable... join the military, they pay you to be wet, cold, tired, hungry and lost in the woods (hooahhh).

JB