Best tank class (group edition)

[Cecily]

Rangers start with a handicap. They’re “dps” with snap agro. If you get enough gear, you’re a pretty good dps medium/light tank with snap agro. Getting to that second point takes a long time and I doubt many have ever played with that type of ranger. Rangers get pretty good.

[Crede]

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

Rangers start with a handicap. They’re “dps” with snap agro. If you get enough gear, you’re a pretty good dps medium/light tank with snap agro. Getting to that second point takes a long time and I doubt many have ever played with that type of ranger. Rangers get pretty good.

I posted a thread a few months ago: Best class at 60 in all aspects of the game. Ranger won by a long shot.

This is true. Most people aren’t willing to put in the time and effort to get a ranger to where they’re really really good. Getting all the toys like 2 lightning swords isn’t easy unless you’re rich or raid a lot. Same goes for sky cloak and big ac items.

Curious how much better rangers will be with new defense skills next patch.

[Vyrik]

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

Curious how much better rangers will be with new defense skills next patch.

Probably not much better. Patch notes say defense skill cap is raised by only 20 points or so. So rangers are still pretty far behind the 252+ cap other classes have.

[Jimjam]

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

Probably not much better. Patch notes say defense skill cap is raised by only 20 points or so. So rangers are still pretty far behind the 252+ cap other classes have.

At the very least it will lower the damage they do through their damage shield, as their avoidance should improve slightly...

That's right! Defence buff is a ranger DPS nerf!! [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Cecily]

Yeah but have you considered:


Class Titles

Level 1-50 Level 51-54 Level 55-59 Level 60 Ranger Pathfinder Outrider Warder Creation Guide

Picking the Right Race

The first thing you have to pick then is your race. Which race you pick will determine the foundation of you character for the rest of your life in Norrath so it is kind of important you pick one you like.
Wood Elves are quite a good race for rangers. They have naturally high agility, and can wear both small and medium armour. They also start with the ability to forage, which can help save a lot of funds at low levels, although all rangers get this skill later in life. Wood Elves also have natural infravision, and start in the tree city of Kelethin.
Half-Elves are limited to medium sized armour. They are very well balanced, and have slightly better starting stats than the wood elf, though they lack some of the natural abilities. They have the highest natural dexterity of any ranger race, and also have infravision. However, the druid part of a ranger is let down with a low natural wisdom. Half Elves start in Surefall Glade near Qeynos.
Human rangers have very balanced stats, across the board. They have the highest natural strength of any ranger race, and all other stats are certainly in an acceptable range. However their natural agility is quite low compared to the other classes. Humans have no night vision, which is perhaps the largest reason that many people decide against playing a Human Ranger. Rangers do however receive an infravision spell at level 30, and an ultravision spell at level 56. Human rangers start in Qeynos.
All of the ranger races level at the same rate, and faction wise are all well received in any town with a neutral or good alignment.
[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
Spending Your Bonus Points

Rangers have to keep in mind that even though Stamina gives more hit points it is not a huge amount. It is certainly not going to be enough to make any significant difference between life and death; even at higher levels 10 extra points in Stamina only give 20-30 extra hit points. Also, while Agility increases armour class, the amount is very minimal (for reference - at level 38 with 190 points in the Defense skill, a +18 Agility buff raises AC by four points). Rangers are very different to the Shadowknight and Paladin hybrids. Like a Rogue, they are a lightly armoured offensive class, and may wish to focus on this offensive side rather than attempting to buffer a defensive ability they will never match the other hybrids in. With this in mind here are some suggested starting statistics:

• Half Elf: Add 20 Strength.
• Human: Add 15 Strength, 5 Dexterity
• Wood Elf: Add 20 Strength.

Keep in mind that there is not a total consensus on these numbers. If in doubt, find other rangers and ask them what their suggestions are.
(This section needs a realistic/modern update for p1999.)
Experience Statistics

Class experience penalties are no longer in effect on P99 as of 9/21/15. And since none of the races with an experience penalty can play a Ranger, no matter what race you pick, your ranger will not have an experience penalty no matter what.
Religion

Religion does not have a large impact upon the Ranger class. The two choices are Karana or Tunare (except for Wood Elves who must choose Tunare). Picking one will not alienate you from another, although only followers of Tunare can equip the Helm of the Tracker. Choose whichever appeals to you more.
Spells

Alternative Spell List
Level 9

Spell Name Spell Description Era Class Location Mana Endure Fire Fire Resist Buff Abj. Vendor. 20 Flame Lick Fire Based DoT Spell with AC Debuff Evo. Vendor. 10 Glimpse Zoom Vision Div. Vendor. 5 Lull Animal Aggression Range Debuff vs Animals Alt. Vendor. 10 Minor Healing Healing Spell Alt. Vendor. 10 Skin Like Wood AC and Max HP Buff Abj. Vendor. 10 Snare Movement Speed Debuff Alt. Vendor. 15 Level 15

Spell Name Spell Description Era Class Location Mana Burst of Fire Single Target Fire Damage (Max: 15) Evo. Vendor. 15 Camouflage Invisibility Buff (works outdoor only) Div. Vendor. 15 Cure Poison Cures Poison Alt. Vendor. 20 Dance of the Fireflies Summon Temporary Item "Firefly Globe" Con. Vendor. 10 Feet like Cat Agility Buff Alt. Vendor. 40 Grasping Roots Root with Magic Based DD Spell Alt. Vendor. 35 Invoke Lightning AOE Magic Damage (Max: 25) Evo. Vendor. 32 Thistlecoat AC and Damage Shield Buff (self only) Abj. Vendor. 25 Level 22



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Bind Sight Bind Vision with Target Div. Vendor. 15 Endure Cold Cold Resist Buff Vel. Abj. Vendor. 20 Enduring Breath Underwater Breathing Buff Alt. Vendor. 35 Firefist ATK Buff (self only) Vel. Evo. Vendor. 30 Harmony AoE Aggression Debuff Alt. Vendor. 25 Ignite Single Target Fire Damage (Max: 37) Evo. Vendor. 30 Light Healing Healing Spell (Max: 33) Alt. Vendor. 25 Panic Animal Fear Debuff vs Animals Vel. Alt. Vendor. 10 Skin Like Rock AC and Max HP Buff with Healing Spell Abj. Vendor. 60 Ward Summoned Single Target Magic Damage vs Summoned (Max: 41) Evo. Vendor. 30 Level 30



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Barbcoat AC and Damage Shield Buff (self only) Abj. Vendor. 50 Cancel Magic Buff Removal Spell Abj. Vendor. 30 Eyes of the Cat Infravision Buff (self only) Div. Vendor. 35 Invigor Short Duration Endurance Regen Buff Alt. Vendor. 20 Shield of Thistles Damage Shield Buff Abj. Vendor. 40 Stinging Swarm Magic Based DoT Spell Con. Vendor. 65 Strength of Earth Strength Buff Alt. Vendor. 40 Spirit of Wolf Movement Speed Buff Alt. Vendor. 40 Level 39



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Bramblecoat AC and Damage Shield Buff (self only) Abj. Vendor. 75 Call of Sky Enchant Weapon with Stun and Damage proc (self only) Vel. Alt. Vendor. 50 Calm Animal Aggression Range Debuff vs Animals Alt. Vendor. 45 Careless Lightning Magic Based DD Spell Evo. Vendor. 70 Dismiss Summoned Magic Based DD Spell vs Summoned Evo. Vendor. 90 Healing Healing Spell Alt. Vendor. 60 Levitate Levitate Buff Alt. Vendor. 30 See Invisible See invisible players/creatures Alt. Vendor. ? Skin Like Steel AC and Max HP Buff with Healing Spell Abj. Vendor. 100 Level 49



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Call of Flame Fire Based DD Spell Evo. Quest. 125 Ensnaring Roots Root with Magic Based DD Spell Alt. Vendor. 60 Immolate Fire Based DoT Spell with AC Debuff Evo. Vendor. 120 Resist Fire Fire Resist Buff Abj. Vendor. 50 Shield of Brambles Damage Shield Buff Abj. Vendor. 80 Spikecoat Self Only AC and Damage shield Abj. Butcher. 110 Superior Camouflage Invisibility Buff (works both outdoor and indoor) Div. Vendor. 40 Wolf Form Turn into a wolf with Movement Speed and ATK Buff (self only) Alt. Vendor. 60 Level 50



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Call of Earth Long Duration AC and Damage Shield Buff Vel. Alt. NPC Drop. 50 Level 51



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Ensnare Movement Speed Debuff Kun. Alt. Vendor. 35 Jolt Magic Based Hate Reducer Kun. Alt. Firiona Vie. 60 Strength of Nature ATK and Max HP Buff Vel. Abj. Kelethin. 125 Level 52



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Extinguish Fatigue Restore Endurance Kun. Alt. Vendor. 35 Firestrike Fire Based DD Spell Kun. Evo. Vendor. 155 Level 53



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Storm Strength STR Buff Kun. Alt. Vendor. 85 Level 54



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Drones of Doom Magic Based DoT Spell Kun. Con. Vendor. 141 Skin Like Diamond AC and Max HP Buff with Healing Spell Kun. Abj. Vendor. 200 Level 55



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Call of Fire Enchant Weapon with Damage proc (self only) Vel. Alt. NPC Drop. 50 Chloroplast HP Regen Buff Kun. Alt. Vendor. 200 Cinder Jolt Fire Based Hate Reducer Vel. Alt. E. Com. 60 Resist Cold Cold Resist Buff Vel. Abj. Vendor. 50 Level 56



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Chill Sight Ultravision Buff (self only) Kun. Div. Vendor. 75 Greater Wolf Form Turn into a wolf With Movement Speed and ATK Buff (self only) Kun. Alt. Vendor. 90 Level 57



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Greater Healing Healing Spell Kun. Alt. Vendor. 150 Level 58



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Nullify Magic Buff Removal Spell Kun. Abj. Vendor. 50 Shield of Spikes Damage Shield Buff Kun. Abj. Vendor. 100 Level 59



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Calefaction Fire Based DD Spell Kun. Evo. Firiona Vie. 250 Skin Like Nature AC and Max HP and HP Regen Buff with Healing Spell Kun. Evo. Lavastorm. 300 Level 60



Spell NameSpell DescriptionEraClassLocationMana Call of the Predator Group ATK Buff Vel. Alt. NPC Drop. 200 Enveloping Roots Root with Magic Based DD Spell Kun. Alt. Vendor. 80 Thorncoat AC and Damage Shield Buff (self only) Kun. Abj. Vendor. 175 Skills

Combat Skills

Level Trained Skill Cap Until 50 Cap Above 50 1 No 1 Hand Blunt 200 250 1 No 1 Hand Slashing 200 250 1 No 2 Hand Blunt 200 245 1 No 2 Hand Slashing 200 240 1 No Archery 210 240 1 No Bind Wound 100

[Legidias]

Dat BW 100 tho

[Legidias]

Ranger raid DPS is entirely based on getting a BFG and using disc to get on dat leaderboard

[YendorLootmonkey]

Just get a group together, and define typical equipment for a level 60 ranger and warrior. Epics? Full HoT armor? No ST/NTOV gear? I don't know... figure the "typical equipment" out for someone you'd find doing standard group content.

Then put the ranger in a balanced group that can heal, slow, DPS, and provide crowd control. Pull mobs and parse, stop when the ranger dies due to lack of healer mana. Measure how much total damage the mobs did to the ranger, how much total damage the mobs did to the rest of the group, and how many mobs they were able to kill.

Swap out with the warrior and run the experiment again. Do again for bard and paladin.

Post results. I'd be interested to see without subjective speculation who the most ideal group tank is. Based on aggro and healing ability I think the paladin wins in this scenario, actually.

[Xaeophi]

Glad you understood. Not sure how/why this other guy doesnt.
it kind of reminds me of someone who tried to make a ranger in the past. Threw on a bunch of str/dex gear and had a miserable experience.

For someone to say rangers are just okay dps is proof enough that
1- This guy obviously doesn't parse in groups.
2 - This guy obviously doesn't parse in raids.

Oh.. Why do i make this claim? when my parse is next to rogues, or sometimes exceeding that of a rogue in a group.. I consider that decent dps for also having the capabilities listed in previous posts.

Okay well what about raids.. Well... Rogues should be #1 and they usually are. Rangers for the most part will be above every other melee class. If you think monks beat rangers then im sorry to break the news to you and reveal that they dont... unless santa gave all the p99 monks Gharns last Christmas monk dps is mediocre as shit.

[Xaeophi]

Paladins are kinda cool for charm breaks in plane of growth. Pair a paladin up with every ench with a pet. GG.