Ranger solo gameplay style

[Selene]

Hi, I am looking to figure out how rangers play in a solo situation, as I've finally narrowed down my favorite kind of classes to the hybrids. I play casually for the most part and grouping has never interested me much in this game (not fun for me when you and 5 others just grind through a chain of mobs with hardly any thought or resourcefulness required).

I like hybrids because I think they require the most resourceful and thoughtful approach to gaining xp since soloing does not come so easy for them, and I prefer challenges and using all my abilities to their limits. My question is, how do rangers solo for the most part? Can they face tank as they solo? I don't like the idea of rooting a mob and then just shooting endless arrows at them that barely do any damage, so if that's the route then I probably won't go for it.

Also, how do they solo at the high end/end game? Can they take down nameds in dungeons? Can they dungeon crawl? Thanks!

[Zipity]

Rangers can face tank with solid gear to about 50 and then recover with healing spells etc. Don’t expect non stop killing though at Higher levels.
Fortunately at 50(until epics) the swarm caller exists which will allow you to slow enemies and this coupled with a full bar of mana will let you kill some named!
Any dungeon flagged outdoors like KC you can harmony and pull anything single super easily and also rangers have the best track in the game for doing those pesky outdoor named farms! Ranger is a very diverse class that gets a bad rep but they are pretty solid and will be able to solo all the way to 60 if you are patient.
But no you aren’t going to be killing 53+ caster named solo.
This is my general understanding of the class I’m sure someone much more versed in the intricacies of the ranger class will pipe in eventually [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Jimjam]

They can facetank solo most of the way up - that is just a case if finding the correct mobs.

Get a Dark Cloak of the Skies (50% haste click), twin epics (slow proc, decent ratio, worn haste and attack) and 55+ they are very decent. They can solo most of the KC named and move about the zone in relative comfort. They can also do the forager cycle in Trakanons Teeth, some Velks named and even slowly solo level 61+ Ice Burrowers in Western Wastes for silk with a decent bow. Not enc/nec/shaman tier, but respectable.

[Crede]

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

They can facetank solo most of the way up - that is just a case if finding the correct mobs.

Get a Dark Cloak of the Skies (50% haste click), twin epics (slow proc, decent ratio, worn haste and attack) and 55+ they are very decent. They can solo most of the KC named and move about the zone in relative comfort. They can also do the forager cycle in Trakanons Teeth, some Velks named and even slowly solo level 61+ Ice Burrowers in Western Wastes for silk with a decent bow. Not enc/nec/shaman tier, but respectable.

Keep in mind OP this isn’t casual gear unless you want to start raiding pretty decently to acquire this stuff or you casually are making a ton of pp on an alt to buy it.

[jolanar]

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

They can facetank solo most of the way up - that is just a case if finding the correct mobs.

Get a Dark Cloak of the Skies (50% haste click), twin epics (slow proc, decent ratio, worn haste and attack) and 55+ they are very decent. They can solo most of the KC named and move about the zone in relative comfort. They can also do the forager cycle in Trakanons Teeth, some Velks named and even slowly solo level 61+ Ice Burrowers in Western Wastes for silk with a decent bow. Not enc/nec/shaman tier, but respectable.

I mean no offense to Jimjam, his posts are invaluable to the forums, but he does trivialize the effort here. And as someone who doesn't raid this is a problem with lots of posts on the forums. You'll see stuff like "at 46 you'll get your epic and it's easy from there." It's just not realistic advice to most of the people who play P99.

For strategy, what I usually do is start with a root. Start softening the target with arrows. While rooted, cast snare and a dot (tolans arms are good for this). When the root wears off, facetank the mob with a Swarmcaller. Hopefully you get a quick proc, and you can switch to a higher dps weapon if you have one (hopefully a Woodsman's staff). Thankfully the Swarmcaller itself is a pretty solid dps weapon, since there will be times you don't get a proc until the mob is almost dead.

If you get low hp, root and back off. You can reapply a DoT. You can also time your arrow shots so that you can sit down and hit the meditate tick inbetween.

You are going to want to fight the lowest level dark blue mobs you can find. With snare and root you should never really die unless you get trained. To solo 55+ you are really going to want a fungi, so either prioritize leveling where you can also get decent plat or stop leveling and farm until you get one. It's doable without one, but it will just make life a million times easier.

Indoor dungeons will be difficult for a ranger. Harmony is stupid overpowered for pulling, but it only works in outdoor zones. (Unrest > Mistmoore > City of Misty > Karnors Castle you will be a single pulling god.) Any other indoor dungeon you will need to rely on root to handle adds and it's pretty much never going to be worth the effort from an exp perspective.

[Crede]

I generally agree with you on full groups being terrible but don’t pass up a good duo or trio which imo is the sweet spot in this game. But I think what you’re looking for here is a pally. They’ll be way more self sufficient than a ranger and are excellent at killing nameds later on. They just have that perfect dungeon crawl solo spell set whereas a ranger just gets spanked really hard. Ranger will be more fun to raid but that didn’t sound like your thing.

[Jibartik]

Pulling for your group in mm as a ranger is literally the most fun I’ve had in Eq so maybe that will change your mind.

[Philistine]

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

Pulling for your group in mm as a ranger is literally the most fun I’ve had in Eq so maybe that will change your mind.

I 100% agree that pulling well in MM as a ranger is awesome. Watch the monks and other classes struggle to bring back less than a handful at places like CE or tower then you run in as a ranger and pull singles all day, if the right tricks are pulled out of your hat [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

My ranger is my main (low 50's, currently) and play a few times per week for 2-3 hours/night in the evening. My fear is mediocre, so I personally have found it most fun to group - face tanking i can only do 1-2 mobs before having to take a break, and I just get bored/frustrated with the tedium of fear kiting.

So far being casual and with soso gear hasn't been too bad, though the amount of progress I'm now able to me in a night is getting to be painfully little.

Overall, I think the class is a ton of fun and under-rated. I wouldn't play one if I really wanted to solo a ton though.

Just my 2cp, of course!

[Tethler]

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

Pulling for your group in mm as a ranger is literally the most fun I’ve had in Eq so maybe that will change your mind.

I feel that. Ranger pulling archon temple in CT was so much fun.

[greenspectre]

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

I feel that. Ranger pulling archon temple in CT was so much fun.

I happened to be grouped with LevelUpLarry's ranger once in CT Archon when he was streaming, so I got to watch him pull (as well as moon the camera when he went afk, lol). It looked fun as hell, floating around the pyramid just dropping reavers (err arrows) on lizards. He abused the FUCK out of harmony to get to the group safely from zoneline, too. So many tricks!