Best solo melee class?

[kjs86z2]

cecily posted all night and is still categorically wrong

its amazing people don't understand that a large mana pool does not equate to more mobs per hour

[Goregasmic]

Originally Posted by kjs86z2 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

cecily posted all night and is still categorically wrong

its amazing people don't understand that a large mana pool does not equate to more mobs per hour

Regen is regen but you can go longer before hitting a wall and you have more margin for dealing with problems. Depending on the context it may or may not be useful.

[Snaggles]

I feel what people sometimes forget is how slow this game is. Actual fights take a long time relative to any other video game. Running around while regening hps/mana, taking a quick AFK to grab a sandwich, etc.

Flame Lick is 10 mana. With a GCD you can fire off one every 2.5 seconds best case (quicker gets hit with the cooldown error message). So basically 20 mana every 5 seconds. With POTG or C2 it isn’t an issue. With both you get roughly 22mana standing mana regen without any FT item.

Aggro is never an issue with a ranger. Flame Lick is similar on cooldown to flash of light. SK’s disease cloud is as cheap but has a slower recycle rate, and disease counters are broken right now. That requires they use spells like Shadow Vortex for big chunks of aggro, and 60 mana isn’t “cheap”. Their equivalent to the rangers 15mana snare is engulfing darkness at 60 mana…the argument for the BE gaunts is at times justified.

Outside buffing, my ranger only goes oom from heavy buffing or casting mana-dumps like greater healing or Calefaction. A HUGE mana reserve would let a ranger recover a bit more hps when tucked behind a wall (but they normally would just expect heals or burn Worts). Calefaction typically only lands on blues and with a 2h can really boost dps (around 120 on short fights) it’s not memmed or used unless you are bored in the early stages of a ring war or plane of sky.

Jolting is 60 mana. With avatar and trueshot BFGing I jolt 10 times just to survive if it’s a raid mob. Without this, using normal weapons I might jolt once in the beginning and once or twice just to be sure I won’t die. If your ranger does 40-50dps on Vindi just wait a few seconds to start attacking. You shouldn’t get aggro ever.

[Snaggles]

BTW, I’m not nipping at anyone. Just putting extra perspective out there.

[Ripqozko]

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

I feel what people sometimes forget is how slow this game is. Actual fights take a long time relative to any other video game. Running around while regening hps/mana, taking a quick AFK to grab a sandwich, etc.

Flame Lick is 10 mana. With a GCD you can fire off one every 2.5 seconds best case (quicker gets hit with the cooldown error message). So basically 20 mana every 5 seconds. With POTG or C2 it isn’t an issue. With both you get roughly 22mana standing mana regen without any FT item.

Aggro is never an issue with a ranger. Flame Lick is similar on cooldown to flash of light. SK’s disease cloud is as cheap but has a slower recycle rate, and disease counters are broken right now. That requires they use spells like Shadow Vortex for big chunks of aggro, and 60 mana isn’t “cheap”. Their equivalent to the rangers 15mana snare is engulfing darkness at 60 mana…the argument for the BE gaunts is at times justified.

Outside buffing, my ranger only goes oom from heavy buffing or casting mana-dumps like greater healing or Calefaction. A HUGE mana reserve would let a ranger recover a bit more hps when tucked behind a wall (but they normally would just expect heals or burn Worts). Calefaction typically only lands on blues and with a 2h can really boost dps (around 120 on short fights) it’s not memmed or used unless you are bored in the early stages of a ring war or plane of sky.

Jolting is 60 mana. With avatar and trueshot BFGing I jolt 10 times just to survive if it’s a raid mob. Without this, using normal weapons I might jolt once in the beginning and once or twice just to be sure I won’t die. If your ranger does 40-50dps on Vindi just wait a few seconds to start attacking. You shouldn’t get aggro ever.

that first part is why i just dps and not rely on procs, generally when ya do something on ranger its not mobs per minute its a camp where you have time to regen. just killing the mobs and sitting works out better for timers and starts the sit to regen phase. I just believe half people here talking never actually played a ranger.

[Naethyn]

If you look cool enough you don't need regen and that other crap.

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[TytosOfEight]

I can give examples of how reducing downtime benefits my ranger. In TT, the hunter/forager cycle is much smoother when I don’t have to stop and regenerate hp/mana. Using EC/Whip to slow enemies and rune during combat saves a ton of time compared to medding. A Ring of Stealthy Travel is also incredibly useful, as it reduces mana costs. In Kael, I frequently do 4way on my ranger. With EC/Whip, I can take down all seven giants before needing to med, something I couldn’t do with just my Cek sword.

I’m sure there are likely many other scenarios where reducing med time would be a major advantage for rangers.

[Ripqozko]

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

I can give examples of how reducing downtime benefits my ranger. In TT, the hunter/forager cycle is much smoother when I don’t have to stop and regenerate hp/mana. Using EC/Whip to slow enemies and rune during combat saves a ton of time compared to medding. A Ring of Stealthy Travel is also incredibly useful, as it reduces mana costs. In Kael, I frequently do 4way on my ranger. With EC/Whip, I can take down all seven giants before needing to med, something I couldn’t do with just my Cek sword.

I’m sure there are likely many other scenarios where reducing med time would be a major advantage for rangers.

And there's 2-3 spawn camps like nobles, Brownie guards , etc that better break between us optimal. Who would of thought eq had multiple exp styles and ways the play . People should roll ranger and try for themselves

[bcbrown]

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

Unlike the BE gloves/boots which I have found rather useful on my SK, I never found Tolan's gloves to get amazing use on my ranger... honestly I'd rather have the extra slot to loot another fine steel sword [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]. Even when mucking about in KC they'd barely get any use when looted as primarily a cash item.

Anyways, considering the context of the thread is best solo power, free snare isn't terribly useful, especially as if you are soloing it is pretty easy to quickly catch a med tick and recoup mana spent on casting a snare properly.

Definitely agree. I've never considered using Tolan's gloves, they're just not worth it. Anyone advocating for them isn't worth listening to.

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

Bcbrown ranger's magelo is more or less EC BIS, leaning on the sturdier side. Yeah it is hard to get more mana on a EC beat but if you want more there are options. Melees get the 12mana/wis treatment too and you'll pretty much always be under the 200wis softcap so it is good returns. Yeah, you'll have to sacrifice some stats but depending on the task at hand it might not matter much. If you have the "luxury" of raiding gear it is even easier.

I was actually planning on getting a Di'Zok Signet of Service for a while, figuring more mana=better. I farmed all the skins and everything but never pulled the trigger. My mana pool has just never felt like a constraint, unlike hp, dex, strength, ac, resists.

That said, I definitely agree with Cecily and Tytos about the benefits to reducing downtime of having a bigger mana pool. You can go longer between breaks, and you can better choose the timing of when you take a break. You don't need to start every fight at max hp/mana to still reap the benefits of increased hp/mana.

[Jimjam]

Really interesting discussion going on with losds of great points bouncing off each other.

I’ve found mana use is not very consistent on ranger. You’ll go plenty of fights basically spending none, but occasionally use spikes where you need to spend a bunch, and in these instances having enough remaining can be crucial. For example, messing about in Velks or KC you can churn, but a frenzied spider or knight of sathir can be a stretch.

In these instances you can’t just med up then engage - you don’t want to lose a runed blade or scwb that way so having a big reservoir you’ve not dipped much into helps - you'll regain it passively against the trash stuff.

This applies to TT too where you may end up eating a bunch of IC then go back to stuff
You can attrition at smooth pace.