Ranger Archive
Thread: I am thinking of turning to the darkside....haul me back!
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
I think i will have to play around with Master Rifleman (if I ever get there) for a bit before i do anyhting rash...if I can kill things quickly enough (that they don't get me first), then I may be able to live without the TKA...but more adivce is appreciated.
As a Master Rifleman/Master Ranger/Marksman 4/0/0/4, I was able to kill anything under CL 100 before it could reach me. For anything over CL 100, I used /concealshot. Tactics were:
/maskscent
Just start autoattacking the mob
When it starts to come at you, use suppression fire until it stops
Get back out to 64m while still autoattacking
As the creature comes forward again, decide whether or not you will kill it before it reaches you
If you won't kill it by the time it reaches you, use /warningshot;/peace until it runs away (then repeat the above). This can take a while on mobs with high ferocity
Notes:
/warningshot will usually make them stop coming forward a bit even if it doesn't scare them off fully
/warningshot can used to add a small delay to when the creature will end up reaching you
Rifle specials can be used for a bit of extra damage if the creature just won't die
Autoattack will usually be enough to do the necessary damage for most creatures
Don't let a creature get closer than 25-30m unless you are fairly sure it will be dead before it reaches you. The accuracy mods past here will make it hard to get /warningshot or /suppressionfire to stick.
Traps might be useful but they will almost certainly let the creature get within 25-30m of you so I rarely used them
Fast creatures (like gurrecks) are not your friend. Use high damage attacks to drop them before they can reach you.
This method is designed for fighting unbuffed and unarmored. If you buff and armor, a creature can get close without too many worries. Just remember to shoot from outside of 40m so that you single pull (and only shoot the closest creature). Buffs will also let you use specials a lot more freely than my version does.
If you do pick up any other combat profession, do not unequip your rifle until the creature is out of BAF range. You will pull agro otherwise, even if you don't actually hit the creature again.
I think that is most of it. Been a while since I used it so I might be forgetting something. But you don't actually need to use /concealshot to be effective as a Rifleman.
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
How about Fencer 4-0-3-0 in lieu of TKA? Keep in mind that I am trying to become a stacker (why else wouldI want a ranged and a melee combat profession?), and that stacking is not a dirty thing. I am only PvE, so I think stacking is an acceptable tactic (give it to me JB). Fencer would get me more Melee defense, but I sure did love the TKA meditate...So many templates, so little time
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Calculus_Entropy wrote:
How about Fencer 4-0-3-0 in lieu of TKA? Keep in mind that I am trying to become a stacker (why else wouldI want a ranged and a melee combat profession?), and that stacking is not a dirty thing. I am only PvE, so I think stacking is an acceptable tactic (give it to me JB
What is the main goal of your stacking? Rifleman is enough to kill anything before it reaches you as long as you know what you are doing. TKA meditate seems like the best reason for stacking (as it would let you avoid cloning and just meditate the wounds when you screw up). TKA also gives you a knockdown move for when they get close if you want (I think this is a different timer to the posture down one). The extra defenses are for when the creature does get close. You switch to fist fighting for the express purpose of getting away again while still alive. Then you get out of range and go back to shooting. Without going for a Master melee profession, you don't want to be hanging around in melee range for too long.
Kiryoku wrote:
as far as rifleman tactics (or lack there of), i usually /powerboost before a fight... this gives you 50% more mind to work with when doing specials... i also am usually unarmored and unbuffed (with the exception of the occasional use of vasarian brandy -my girlfriend is a chef/BE, i know not everyone has access to endless supplies of the stuff)... and i've found that you can /maskscent, /prone, andspam /headshot3 with a gun (dxr6, laser, or t21) on almost any creature under CL 60 and it will be dead before it or its friends notice you...
just got done training on dathomir, and this worked on everything i tried it on... spammed /headshot3 on each member of a lair individually, /harvested them all, tapped the lair, and repeat... not much of a tactic, and probably a good case for why we need a combat revamp (disregarding all the other reasons: buffs and armor)
This works well but gets boring quite quickly. That's why I developed my hunting method. It's not nearly as safe but it's a lot more fun and interesting. You will end up dying on occassion with my method, especially when starting to use it. By the end, I would die maybe once or twice a week when hunting something like rancors. But it was a lot more exciting then killing them before they noticed you.
Calculus_Entropy wrote:
My goal is to be able to withstand some damage when I get aggroed. Since I am low in Rifleman,I can't kill things quickly enough andI don't always have a tank. I just wanted a melee prof so I could defend myself when times got rough. I suppose that if everthing will change for me at Master Rifle (I hear that the Master box 'makes' the profession), I will definitely wait it out and see how things go...BTW, I get very flakey when it comes to my combat professions, andI get antsy when I am in the transition period. I am, obviously, antsy right now.
Then you won't have these conundrums.
). My new template would be Master Rifle, Ranger 0-0-4-0 and the rest of my points in TKA. I hate the thought of even dropping any of my Ranger skills, but let's face it, I don't use any skills other than the harvesting bonus. Odds are, I won't be able to bring myself to do it (I have tried in the past, but I can't hit that surrender button), but I am certainly thinking of it. So tell me, what do y'all think?the only reason i can think of that you should not try this combination:
i'm doing it... just finished it up today... kept meditation (i can't live without it anymore!) and some of the combat branch... was thinking about going up in frontiering for those "oh so pretty" camps, but i'd have to lose /forceofwill and i'm not sure i can take that...
at least you're not a wookiee... there wouldn't be room on wanderhome for two of us...