Convince me to make a ranger?

[Psionide]

Yeah excellent input appreciated here and I was leaning towards a ranger anyway. The only thing I was on the offense about was I really wanted a class with utility and already have a necro so hence the bard/ranger dispute. I think a bard has more tricks in his bad given their reputation as jack of all trades, master of none but a bard is never going to tank and a bards dps is well almost non-existent. The only thing that really appeals to me about a bard is that they seem to be one of the few classes that actually requires "skill" to play. I guess though playing a great ranger requires skill in a different sense though.

[gotrocks]

dude...

you make this such a hard choice.

do we add another DT mule to the ranks of p99, or another swarm kiter.

both bad options imo.

oh, and my apologies (seriously) if you planned to actually learn to play your bard well in a group.

[Estu]

Originally Posted by Psionide [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

a bard is never going to tank

Bards can totally tank; what do you mean?

[Psionide]

Yeah Estu, you are right. I wasn't really thinking I guess when I wrote that because after thinking about it some of the fastest groups I was ever in had a bard tanking. BIG GULPS? WELL CYA LATER

[Psionide]

Oh and yes I actually mean to group with the bard, I have had enough of the solo caster life.

[Tecmos Deception]

They're both fine choices.

Ranger is respectable DPS (woodsman's staff practically makes you into a monk with nukes, dots, snare, root, harmony, DSs, buffs, a bow, tracking but sans feign and mend - everyone undervalues rangers' sustained damage because they don't see the spell damage and DS hits and shit that actually really add up), quite a bit of utility, potential for some solo or duo or group even if untwinked, and has a decent role in raids now (not JUST taking DTs, either) and later (disciplines and attack buffs ftw).

Bards, contrary to popular cliche, are a jack of all trades AND a master of some. They can CC and charm and slow and haste and do all kinds of other random shit decently (damage shields, ac buffs, pulls, dps, tank, and more). But their heal+mana songs, their resist songs, their speed, and their melee buffs? Bards are in a league of their own when those things are in demand. They're crucial for raids now and basically forever while also being solid additions to most smaller groups (though they aren't usually great duo-trio options really).

Rangers are a happy mix of playstyle between a pure melee and a pure caster, since you are primarily reliant on melee DPS to be useful but you have quite a few different spells to use and secondary roles you can potentially fill... from tanking to pulling to CC to soloing with bow kiting, whatever.

Bards are, again, in a league of their own when it comes to how they play. Casting while moving (and moving FAST) is pretty god damned awesome; they can even use cast-time clickies while moving. People aren't joking when they say a good bard is an amazing thing to behold but that most bards are shitty - super high skill cap on bards.

[Estu]

Originally Posted by Tecmos Deception [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

They're crucial for raids now and basically forever while also being solid additions to most smaller groups (though they aren't usually great duo-trio options really).

Bards are excellent duo with any class that has PBAEs.

[Samoht Farstrider]

I play both a ranger and a bard, albeit only to level 15 on both right now. I usually solo since my playtime is limited. So far I love soloing on my bard due to all the utilities compared to the ranger. I usually melee while playing the songs including the DoT song. Melee damage sucks with the buffs and heal songs, damage taken is not bad and recovery is pretty quick. My ranger only has 1st Level of spells so recovery sucks due to the damage taken. 10Hp heals anyone? LOL

.If my ranger gets some high level buffs, then it's a different story. I soloed whites and yellows non-stop last night in WC with SLD and chloro. Until that damn Dragoon Zytl took me out from nowhere. He'll pay for it one of these days I am sure of it!

[cs616]

Bards CAN tank, they just aren't great at it. Warriors, SKs, Paladins, Monks, and Rangers are all going to have more HP/AC and mitigate damage better than a similarly geared bard. Top end bards right now are going to be between 2200-2400 HP unbuffed, top end tank are going to have more than 1000 additional HP and far more effective AC. Bards are great and pulling and maintaining aggro though if they want.

[Ephirith]

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