Ranger Archive

I personally am really looking forward to becoming a Ranger (I would have made it this weekend if not for the Starsider issues). I am loving being a scout. I like the fact that we are really one of the few professions that has a nice blend of everything.

However it would be nice for Rangers to have something unique to themselves other then just and Advanced set of Scout skills. As such I brain stormed a bit andcame up with the following.

trail

Err... dang.. not sure what happened but up there is the into here is what I was thinking ... *looks for an edit button*

Ok,

Trail Blazing.

This would be apart of an existing skill tree, probably exploration (or the Ranger version). It would start at either Novice Ranger or Ranger Exploration 1 and would basically allow a group that a Ranger is in to travel at the same speed as the Ranger.

It would be a skill that had to be activated and while active slowly drained the Action pool. Also would grant small amounts of Scouting XP. Would have to actually be in a group to use it. Also if multiple Rangers are in the same group then they can all use the ability which would cut down on the drain to each Rangers action pool (and also reduce the xp gain to individual Rangers)

This would give Rangers something unique. True to the concept of Rangers. And also relieve some of the tedium of gaining Scouting XP. Because its a drain on Action its more as a Aid for covering long distances to and from a local and not really an escape option.

Any thoughts?

it might just be me but i believe the squad leader already has this ability

he has +group terrain negotiation and +group burst speed

Correct.

yes... i knew i wasnt stupid

Well... I didn't say that.

let me enjoy my new found intelligence for while

Doh.... Didn't notice that in Squad leader.. and I looked cause I figured they might have it. Well it was a good idea...

I can't wait to set up some of the Ranger versions of camps. I love camping in this game. When I first got my multiperson camp I was so excited. More than one person could sit down, and I had 2 whole tents. I guess I'm kind of a geek but getting new camps and traps too... that's just all the rage for me.

Well, it certainly does seem to me that Ranger is the one who should get the group speed and terrain negotiation. Ah well, guess group leader needs something more for groups. With so many scouts, I spose every one will fight over who gets to set up the next camp. It's the only thing we have to contribute. So I hope all the scouts enjoy soloing.

The problem is that soloing is not good xp for Scouts/Rangers. We are a support profession without an easy way of working together within groups. Rangers need things to offer a group that can stack with the abilities of other Rangers.

Either that or get rid of the 3 different types of XP so duties can be delegated with taking away an XP pool. I.E. Ranger 1 sets up camps, Ranger 2 Harvests creatures, Ranger 3 uses traps to debuff during battle. Right now all three of those things usedifferent XP pools so everyone wants to do all three in order togain the most XP. If all three shared the same XP pool like many of the advanced classes then it wouldn't matter.

But thats not really relevant, I am still brain storming on Unique things to add to the Ranger profession to make it more then just an advanced scout.

I think there should be more then just Camps available to Rangers. Why not other temporary structures? Battle usable ones, things like temporary walls, bridges, turrets, ladders, etc. Things that take natural resources to construct and can aid in battle and out of battle. Bridges to aid crossing water, Ladders to aid climbing steep hills. Walls to stop critters from approaching groups (both in and out of combat) Turrets to shoot out fuzzy bunnies to distract Ravenous Tortons...... You know, that type of thing.

I still don't see why trail blazing couldn't work either.... It could work with the Squad Leader ability. The Trail blazing one wouldn't actually buff the grou speed it would simply remove the terrain penalties just like the Exploration skills do for the Scouts. They could then have the Squad Leaders abilities actually Buff the group speed so that it can actually be faster then normal. So basically a Ranger ora Squad Leader in the group without the other would affectively grant to same speed increase. However when you get a Ranger and a Squad Leader in the same group the effects stack and the Ranger removes the Terrain Debuffs while the Squad Leader actually Buffs the base speed so that they can run faster without slowing down going up hills or across rivers.

It would require a change to the way squad leaders work but one for the better and it would give a more Ranger like ability to Rangers.

I think it would be great if they added a tracking skill. Say for example a crafter need a particular type of hide the Ranger could track the relevant creature, and kill it for the resource.

Groups could benefit from this if they want to go hunting big game as the Ranger could lead them directly to whatever they had in mind, for example Rancors.

I don't think it should apply to people, that's better for BH, but corpses might not be a bad idea.

Hmmm, regarding tracking as a skill, could have it setup so that you have some sort of device, and it works just as the survey tools do for an artisan. You could "survey" the area for evidence of your particular quarry, and if it's found, then it'd give you a waypoint in the general direction(wouldn't be accurate, like maybe north north-east, west south west...etc.) Might also have something for like game trails, finding particular hunting grounds that creatures might be likely to group around, figuring out what types of animals would be around due to the local flora, or in the case of carnivores, the local meat buffet selection.