Guild Wars 2

Healing Skills:

Personal healing is a strength of roamer Ranger builds, as well as the potential for area healing through Healing Spring. The addition of a condition removal/heal hybrid option as is present in other classes though would be very much welcomed.

Utility Skills:
Outside of Spirits (addressed above), very few utility skills are a source of angst among rangers. Fundamentally, though, there is one large overarching issue: Spirit skills are the only ones that interact with other people. Signets, Shouts and Survival skills are all directed only at the Ranger and its companion. This is potentially one of the reasons that Rangers are passed up in favor of other options in groups, because everything they do is self-centric and does not play well into the group dynamic. By adopting this design direction with the class, purposefully or inadvertently the Ranger is actually being put on an island and angled towards solo play. Analyzing the more popular classes, many utility and elite options are available to them that interact with allies. Even thief – the ultimate solo roamer – has options that allow for area stealth and removal of conditions from allies.

Shouts in general could need some alternate functions if the Pet system is altered in any way to make pets optional or replace them with a different alternative. If pets are kept in the game with the current AI, consider changing Guard specifically. In any other game that includes a pet system, this is a skill that comes innately to the function of having a pet. It is mildly insulting that a beastmaster type class lacks the ability to command a pet to guard an area without specifically loading a skill to do so. Going back to my dog as an example, I taught her to stay within the first 2 weeks of bringing her home as a puppy. I’m not some amazing outdoorsman, but I would expect that any pet I had trained for battle would do this without any special skill being needed. Aside from being an insult, this shout doesn’t provide any real direct benefit – except for its 100% uptime access to swiftness and regen traited after the 6/25 update – and should be included in basic pet controls. The shout itself needs to be replaced by something more useful.

Traps cooldown times are inconsistent. It’s a minor point, but it’s not something that makes much sense.

Elite Skills:
Entangle is an extremely useful skill, but there are some odd limitations. In order to receive its full effects, the one entangled has to be oblivious enough not to target and attack the roots that are trapping it. The fact that this works well on NPC’s is more of a testament to poor AI design of the NPC’s than the effectiveness of the skill. In PvP formats, the skill can work as a very short term root, but really only traps inexperienced players for the full duration. The root component should continue to be escapable by appropriate skills from the one trapped, but the ability to destroy the roots should be removed. It is, again, an unnecessary limitation imposed on the class.

Spirit of Nature suffers from the same limitations as other Spirits, and changes to this Spirit should reflect any changes made overall to the Spirit mechanic.

Wilderness Survival
Selectable traits in this tree are fairly well balanced and offer good choice.

The minor grandmaster trait, however, is extremely situational. Keeping health above 90% is difficult and makes this trait apply for very little of the time that you are actually fighting. By comparison, 3 classes get 5% of toughness added to power, 1 gets 10% of healing added to power, 2 stack might for 15 seconds on commonly occurring actions (stealth and blocking), and the last one gets 10% extra damage when endurance is full – all are much less situational and much more controllable by the player.

Empathetic Bond is also underwhelming as a grandmaster option. 3 conditions removed every 10 seconds is very stingy for 30 points spent in a tree. By comparison, necros strip 3 conditions for killing a foe at adept level, thieves drop 1 condition every 3 seconds in stealth at adept level, Mesmer removes conditions with every torch skill use at master level. At grandmaster level, the elementalist removes a condition whenever applying regeneration – both to themselves and allies.

Suggestions:
*To make us different, swap minor grandmaster trait for a trait that applies fury on interrupt, or to fit us into the mold, give us 5% of toughness to power.

• Replace Empathetic Bond with something more group friendly… unfortunately removing a condition every time regeneration is applied is exactly the same as the elementalist, but that would play very well into Shout builds. Something with more group interaction and consistent application is warranted for something at the grandmaster level than 3 conditions every 10 seconds. As is, this belongs in a Master level at very highest.

Nature Magic:
The Spirit tree all needs to be re-thought and re-worked in conjunction to a new Spirit mechanic. Other than that, the changes included in the 6/25 patch were excellent.

Beastmastery:
I’m not going to tackle this tree at all because of my strong belief that pets are fundamentally a flawed system in their present state. If AI can be fixed and pets remain in their current form then this tree is probably close to perfect as it is. If they become something else or become optional then this tree requires re-work from the ground up centered around whatever the new direction is.

So that’s my take on what I’ve observed myself as well as what I’ve read from the feedback provided by many experienced rangers in the ranger forums here and on other sites.

I beg you to PLEASE listen to your community and do something to help us.

Awesome. Just Awesome.

Wow… I thought this was long and well thought out when I thought it was only one post long. I will come back to edit my post once I finish the other parts to comment comprehensively. I will, however, start with the first post here.

I’m not arguing against anything you have to say here, I’m simply throwing in an explaination. It is not intended to imply there isn’t a problem, but the reason for those first two problems with pets are both because pets use NPC AI. Your pet is no more or less capable of dealing with these issues than any mob in the game. Who hasn’t made use of strange pathing foibles of a Mob to kite it? Pets have the same flaw. It’s possible they could upgrade Pets, but it is likely that to do that would cause all NPCs to have more effective AI. Again this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there are major design decisions that would have to be heavily changed before the game itself could deal with that.

Well pets are useless now, cuz they die way too quick so you can’t make a build on them, Thats the main problem i think.

copy, paste like wished

how i whould love ranger class:

generally:
-ranger have only a pet when he use the beastmastery trait line, ranger should have other f1-f4 skills.
-this f1-f4 skills should depend on which weapon sets ranger use, this whould give the ranger more active skill use (most classes have more skills then a ranger can use)
-when ranger run beastmastery traits he should become a pet.
pets should reworked and give a beastmaster ranger full pet controll.
maybe he should have a trait in beastmastery 10 which give the signet of the wild (or maybe create a new signet) the effect that the ranger have a pet when he start to use this signet.
when the ranger activate signet of wild he become the pet controll on 1234 buttons, something like engi kit with no cooldown to swap fast between pet skills and weapon skills…

the f1-f4 skills should something like this

longbow:
f1: stealth for the ranger, the next arrow from behind make more dmg, depending on
range
f2: the next 5 seconds the ranger have multishoot (5 arrows) nice combo with bow 2 :P
f3: ranger block or dodge the next attack
f4: scout, the ranger can see where are the enemy players running around and see invis
players

and when anet whould remove spirits and give ranger firefield or icefield instead of spirits, then there whould be rly nice ice and fire arrow combos…

for other weapon sets i have no idea atm for f1-f4
but should be different skills depending on weapon sets

so back to traits, skills
-much useless traits need a improve or remove and add new traits.
-spirits need a full redesign
-also some shouts need a full resign
-longbow, longsword and secondhand axe need some skill reworks in my mind

to the traits:

at first all pet traits in the not beastmastery trait lines should go to beastmastery and become a improve, but much of them can just be removed there are the most realy useless of them
(beastmasters bond, malicious training, carnivorous appetite, agility training, companions might, pets prowess, expertise training, concentration training, enlargement)

traits in the beastmastery traitline need rework, depening on what kind of pets ranger whant to run (support, dmg, stun/knockdown)
also there are 3 traits just can be removed or need hard rework.
instinctual bond, stability training, masters bond

useless traits in my mind:

-marksmanship:
remorseless, beastmasters bond, predators instinct, malicious bond, steady focus
some of them totaly crap some need hard improve…

-skirmishing:
trap potency is totaly wrong in a crit trait!!!!
trappers expertise is also total wrong in a crit trait…

quick draw: is not rly strong trait because shortbow cooldowns 20% better is not
much enoug to make it interesting

honed axes: no ranger use axes for make crit dmg atm, its ok when you improve dps
of ranger and let him make much dmg with axe 4 and 5…

carnivorous appetite: just a beastmastery trait for my dreams

agility training: just a beastmaster trait

trappers defense: this skill put spike trap when i rez… not rly powerful and useless…

pets prowess: beastmaster trait

-wildness survival:
bark skin: never a ranger use it as grandmaster trait because there is the empathic
bond

expertise training: beastmaster trait

healers celerity: just bad joke why i need swiftness when i start to rez my mates?!

soften the fall: pls remove this trait, no ranger will use that

-naturemagic:
well all spirit traits should just reworked in my mind.
also the 4 spirit skills should be reworked full… just bad joke of skills

concentration training: beastmastery trait

cirlce of life: aha a healingspring when i die… ok, rly usefull

enlargement: beastmastery build

all the beastmastery traits in the non beastmaster traits just need hard improve and go to beastmastery trait line

-beastmastery:
well should have traits make the ranger able to choose he go
support, dmg or knock down/stun pet use

yes its much unrealistic wishes, but in my mind
ranger just need something like a full rework.
and with this, the old beastmaster whould work like always
and the bow rangers whould maybe have nice dps builds

at least, sry for bad english

edit:
i read your ideas Khayoss
rly great!

This is simply the best analyses that I’ve seen regarding the Ranger.
Amazing, simply amazing. Oh how I wish that the devs would read this and take this into consideration…
I just want to be able to run dungeons and to really be useful for my party with my main character, and you addressed to every problem that I have. Thanks for taking your time to write this wonderful post!

Also… a lot of npcs can dodge. Every single bandit in Queensdale can dodge. Why can’t our pets dodge?

Alright, I’ve finished and I reitterate, wow. This is probably the best thread I’ve seen yet on trying to help Rangers. As is certainly expected of me, I have to say, Pets are our mechanic and should be our mechanic. I have absolutely no interest in seeing pets removed for any reason. I certainly don’t want to see a new mechanic as some sort of clone of a different class. The thing I love about this game is that none of the classes have related unique mechanics because they are actually unique.

That said, if something could be done to fix some of the issue people are having with pets without removing them, then fine. My favorite recommendation so far has been the ability to apply custom scripts to our pets alla Dragon Age: Origin. This would allow them to have better AI than NPCs without impacting NPCs and also allow each Ranger to more effectively personalize their pets.

Weapons: I use Longbow and Greatsword and while I’m certainly not averse to changes to Longbow I have no interest in losing Barrage. I can definately understand the problems you’re having with it, and it is fairly situational. But no more than say Elementalist/Fire/Stakitten which works almost the same but without the added cripple. Not necessarily a great example, but there it is.

Skills and Traits: I totally support every thing you have to say here.

Great job OP, i hope somebody with some brains reads that.

Please ANet consider these ideas. The Rangers really need some love!

Can ANet please hire this guy? This is what the game needs – developers who understand a profession in multiple scenarios, rather than “fixing something that ain’t broke”.

Great analysis and suggestions.

Alternate Sword Skill 1 Ease of Use Suggestion

I think the way the sword locks you into combat makes it very user unfriendly in PVE dungeons so I want to offer a suggestion that I think will help fix that while still retaining the functionality.

1. Allow the user to move/dodge during kick. (Seems kind of pointless to lock character movement here)

2. If you are moving at the time pounce activates, you do the animation and hit but retain control of your character while still being able to move. (No leap forward). If you are not moving at the time pounce activates, you will do the pounce as normal. (Basically as it works now in the game).

This will allow us to retain the leap functionality of pounce while giving us much needed control and reducing user unfriendliness.

Good job, Khayoss. You analyzed the entire class and gave really good suggestions. This is definitely the kind of feedback that ANet needs!

I hope they find the time to read this, and hopefully act on it

Some thoughts:

1. Pets don’t jump down ledges because they literally can’t. If you ever transformed into an enemy using a tonic, you’ll notice most of them don’t have a jump animation. Also, if pets can jump down ledges, that would enable enemies to knock our pets off ledges.
2. I really like barrage the way it is, except for the root. Being allowed to move while channelling it would be enough for me.

just wohwhee! nice writing

my opinion: merge the longbow range trait with the recharge. new trait: ranger can shoot backward.
why: if we want to play ranged, we need to equick cc skills, because we need to stay ranged. but we dont have any working. run n shoot is an old archer tactic.

pet alternatives: minipet like pets: nobody can harm them, and they cant deal dmg. they provide stacking buffs for the ranger(+x% dmg whole time), or party buffs(x/y % dmg). spirits can be the same

pet alternative2: attument like modes. pet mode(good old style) or survive(speed, toughness, remove condi every x sec…), sniper mode (move slower, more dmg, crit, crit dmg) buff mode( buff depend on your weapon example)

after it, the devs just need to setup the right amount of % and finaly we can be an universal profession. not a thief, or a guardian, but we change roles faster and help where needed.

Little late for the party but here I am, delivering delicious copypasta from ranger forums!

After the latest patch it finally came to me; If they can’t do it, i must do it myself! After hours of hard work and wikisurfing it’s finally done. Ladies and gentlemen, may i present you, THE REAL RANGER TRAITS! Hope you enjoy (laughing)!

Few notes before we start:

Don’t pay too much attention on numbers given below. I’m no balance team. Most of the stuff is just plain OP or UP. This is just how I picture the ranger traits should look like. My DREAM TRAITS you could call them. Feel free to share your own dream traits or opinions or whatever below. Moving on…

Shortbow has 1200 range and Longbow 1500 range by default.

Why, you ask! Because it feels more like a RANGER that way. And also:

Signet passives affect ranger only. Signet actives affect both ranger and pet.

WHY!? Because i hate the current signets. Please continue!

Marksmanship:

Adept Minor Trait – Sundering Strike: Apply 5 stacks of vulnerability for 5 seconds when you strike a foe. This effect recharges every 60 seconds or when you reset combat.
Master Minor Trait – Alpha Training: Your pets have Sundering Strike.
Grandmaster Minor Trait – Precise Strike: You and your pet deal 5% more damage to vulnerable foes.

1. Steady Focus: Damage increased by 10% when endurance is full.
2. Keen Edge: Use Sharpening Stone when your foes health reaches 50%. (45 second cooldown)
3. Spotter: Increases precision of nearby allies by up to 150 points.
4. Beastmasters Bond: Gain fury and 3 stacks of might for 9 seconds when your pet’s health reaches 50%. Your pet gains retaliation for 5 seconds. (60 seconds cooldown or pet swap)
5. Predator’s instinct: Apply cripple and weakness to foes you hit when they are below 25% health (15 second cooldown).
6. Signet of the Beastmaster: Passive effects of signets also affect your pet.
7. Signet Mastery: Signets recharge 20% faster. Activating a signet grants 3 stacks of might for 15 seconds.
8. Piercing Arrows: All arrows pierce targets. Arrows cause 3 seconds of vulnerability.
9. Beastmasters Might: You and your pet have 50% chance to grant 5 seconds of might to each other when you attack.
10. Favourable Winds: Projectile speed increased by 15%. Damage increased by 10% when hitting foes further than 1200 units away, 5% damage increase otherwise.
11. Primal Echoes: Active effects of signets also affect nearby allies. This effect’s duration/intensity is halved on allies.
12. Remorseless: Regain Sundering Strikes when you kill a foe or every 20 seconds.

Skrimishing:

Adept Minor Trait – Tail Wind: Gain swiftness when swapping weapons in combat.
Master Minor Trait – Furious Grip: Gain fury when swapping weapons in combat.
Grandmaster Minor Trait – Hunter’s Tactics: Deal 10% more damage while flanking.

1. Sharpened Edges: 66% chance to cause 1s of bleeding on critical hits.
2. Trapper’s Defense: Create a spike trap when your health reaches 50%. (60 second cooldown)
3. Primal Reflexes: You gain 5s of vigor and swiftness when you are struck by a critical hit. (15 second cooldown)
4. Beastial Fury: You and your pet gain 2 seconds of fury and quickness when you take more than 20% damage in a single strike. (20 second cooldown)
5. Natural Stride: You and your pet move 10% faster when affected by swiftness.
6. Edge of Extinction: Increases damage by 33% while downed. Your pet gains quickness for 5 seconds.
7. Trapper’s Expertise: Trap skills are 50% larger and use ground targeting.
8. Honed Axes: Your axes do 15% more critical damage. (per axe, dual axes -> 30%)
9. Predatory Season: You and your pet apply 2 seconds of fury and swiftness to you and nearby allies on critical hits. (10 second cooldown)
10. Quick Draw: Shortbow and longbow skills recharge 20% faster.
11. Trap Potency: Conditions caused by traps last twice as long. Traps skills recharge 20% faster.
12. Moment of Clarity: Gain an attack of opportunity for you and your pet on interrupting a foe. Interrupted skill is disabled for +5 seconds. (5 seconds cooldown)

Wilderness Survival:

Adept Minor Trait – Natural Vigor: Increases endurance regeneration by 50%.
Master Minor Trait – Companion´s Defense: You and your pet gain 2 seconds of protection when you dodge roll.
Grandmaster Minor Trait – Peak Strength: Deal 10% extra damage when your health is above 90%.

1. Soften the Fall: Create Muddy Terrain when you take falling damage. You take 50% less damage from falling.
2. Symbiotic Bond: You and your pet convert a condition into a random boon when afftected by incoming disables (stun, daze, knockback, knockdown, sink, float, fear, launch). (30 second cooldown)
3. Toxicity: Apply 5 seconds of weakness when you apply poison. (15 second cooldown)
4. Vigorous Renewal: Gain vigor when using a heal skill.
5. Dust cloak: Blind nearby foes for 5 seconds at the end of a dodge roll. (15 second cooldown)
6. Wilderness Knowledge: Survival skills recharge 20% faster.
7. Off-Hand Training: Offhand skills have a longer range and 20% quicker recharge.
8. Oakheart Salve: Gain regeneration for 5s when you suffer from bleeding, poison, burning. (20 second cooldown)
9. Hide In Plain Sight: Applies camouflage to you and nearby allies when your health reaches 25%. (60 second cooldown)
10. Martial Mastery: Sword, greatsword, and spear skills recharge 20% faster.
11. Empathetic Bond: Remove 2 conditions from you and your pet every 10 seconds.
12. Bark Skin: You and your pet take 30% less damage when under 25% health.

Nature Magic:

Adept Minor Trait – Rejuvenation: Gain regeneration when your health reaches 75%.
Master Minor Trait – Fortifying Bond: Any boon you get is shared with your pet.
Grandmaster Minor Trait – Bountiful Hunter: You and your pet deal 5% more damage while you have a boon.

1. Circle of Life: Creates healing spring when you revive someone (30 second cooldown). Increases revive speed by 10%.
2. Otyugh’s Cry: Activated pet skills (F2) grant a random boon to you and allies near your pet.
3. Nature’s Bounty: Regeneration you apply lasts 33% longer.
4. Vigorous Spirits: Spirits have twice as much health. Spirit bonuses have a 35% better chance of providing their benefits.
5. Spirits Unbound: Spirits can move and follow you.
6. Nature’s Protection: Receive protection for 5 seconds when you take more than 10% damage in a single strike. (30 second cooldown)
7. Tranquillity: Activated skills of spirits apply 5 seconds of stability and regeneration to allies within spirit’s range.
8. Evasive Purity: Dodging removes blind, poison, weakness and chill from you (10 second cooldown).
9. Two-Handed Training: Greatsword and spear damage is increased by 5%. Blocking removes a condition from you and your allies. (15 second cooldown)
10. Frozen Soil: Freeze nearby foes for 5 seconds when you suffer from cripple, chill or immobilize. (20 second cooldown)
11. Symbiosis: Convert a condition into a random boon to you and your nearby allies. (5 second cooldown)
12. Nature’s Vengeance: Activated skills of spirits create a combo field (fire, ice, poison, lightning or water) in addition to spirit’s usual effect. Activated skills are larger and trigger when the spirit is killed.

Beastmastery:

Adept Minor Trait – Zephyr’s Speed: You and your pet gain 2 seconds of quickness when you swap pets.
Master Minor Trait – Loud Whistle: Pet swapping recharges 20% faster.
Grandmaster Minor Trait – Master’s Bond: Your pet has a bond with you that increases its attributes based of your trait lines.

1. Speed Training: Pets recharge their skills 20% faster. Pet skills (F2) recharge 20% faster.
2. Call of Haste: Pets move and attack 25% faster.
3. Call of Protection: Pets gain 3 stacks of defiant and have 20% damage reduction.
4. Commanding Voice: Shouts recharge 20% faster. Pets gain 5 seconds of swiftness when activating a shout.
5. Feral Aggression: Pets do 30% more damage on critical hits.
6. Mighty Swap: Pets gain fury and 3 stacks of might for 10 seconds when they are activated.
7. Compassion Training: Pets heal for more. Boons applied by your pets last longer.
8. Malicious Training: Increases duration for conditions applied by your pets. Pets deal extra condition damage.
9. Rending Attacks: Pets have 33% chance to strip boons on critical hits with their basic attacks.
10. Predatory Bond: Pets heal you on successful attacks.
11. Serpent’s Quickness: Quickness you apply lasts 50% longer.
12. Natural Healing: Your pets have natural health regeneration. Shouts heal nearby allies.

I could comment on some points but after writing all this i just can’t.
edit: few things commented here below

Discuss!

tl;dr: I didn’t like the current ranger traits so i remade them.

Now that I have some time, I’d like to bring up few points about the choices i made.

• On a high level I tried to both separate and still at the same time tie together the two pieces that are the ranger and the pet. What this means is that strictly pet related traits such as Pet’s Prowess (which translates to Feral Aggression because GW1 > anything else) is put in the Beastmastery tree. At the same time pet related traits still exist outside Beastmastery but which work in synergy with the ranger providing different kinds of effects. This connects us nicely to the next topic that is…

• …Master’s Bond which now acts as a Minor Grandmaster Trait. With Master’s bond I try to further strengthen the synergy between ranger and the pet by allowing the pet to gain stat points from rangers traitlines. For example with the traitcomp 30/10/0/0/30 pet would gain 300 healing power, 300 power, 30% condition duration, 100 precision and 10% critical damage from rangers stats as a bonus to already existing 300 base bonus from the beastmastery line. “OP!” I hear someone scream? Well as Anet seems to be so keen to nerf pet’s damage output I’ve been HEAVILY relying on that untraited pet is max 20% of the total ranger+pet damage output. This is why so many of the traits in Beastmastery have such extreme effects. In my perfect gameworld full gc beastmaster would have it’s damage split 50/50 with ranger and the pet. But moving on to last big change…

• …which is support. This game and especially ranger as a class is truly so very lacking on viable support builds. So I tried to shove it everywhere I could because I feel that this game needs a shift towards supporting traits. @starlessk This is why you see so much boons/heals/effects shared with nearby allies.

I hope this clarifies some parts which would otherwise seem INCREDIBLY OP. OP ranger? there’s no such thing… :P

Please ANet look into these suggestions and do something with them!

I agree with most of what you said, before the traits section since that’s when I started nodding off. However some of your suggestions seem to be off base.

As a ranger, I agree there needs to be some improvements. Spirits are useless in most circumstances, our class name is ranger, yet have some crazy range restrictions.

I love pets, but hate them because they don’t like to listen. Often I find my pet completely ignores my f2 press, even after it completes its current skill. In pve it is not such a big deal, but in PvP when it’s so hard to trap someone into their noticeable skill it makes all of the difference. Would also be nice to see a pet to induce the new condition Torment. Overall though, if you think about it, our pets are better than Necro minions and the recharge to switch them out is faster than their recharge to create a new minion after one dies. Granted, they can have more than one in their skill bar and active at a time. That would be a cool feature, give a skill to rangers to have two pets active for a set time. Not the crappy spirit wolf or hell hounds, but another actual pet.

However, some things I did not agree with like comparing one of our regular skills with a thief’s elite. Of course their elite is going to be better, it’s an elite.

I would also like to say I have never had an issue with finding a group. I have heard some random people talking about how the ranger class is useless, but it has never affected my gaming in any way (that I’ve noticed). I enjoy how it is set up to be self sufficient in most cases instead of having so many team targeted skills; the only team I need is my pet and myself. And I love it when my team is all down and I’m the last one standing to finish a fight. But that could be because I enjoy PvP as well as PvE and pvp habits follow me to PvE. However; like stated earlier there could be so many improvements to pets, range, and spirits since spirits are pointless and they could give us something we could actually use. Then I don’t think I would have anything major enough to take the time to go to a forum to complain.

I appreciate all the comments and further suggestions you guys are adding in here. Funny enough I actually most appreciate those that are disagreeing because they are doing it in a clear and logical way, while providing better and alternate suggestions.

I would love nothing more than to see the pet stay an integral part of the class, don’t get me wrong, but if its never going to be any better than it is now then I just feel that it would be better replaced with a different system that isn’t as hampered. I understand that it shares AI with mobs, and that’s part of the problem, but that’s what I just don’t get… Decade old games didn’t have the same issues that we have here. Its not a problem without obvious solutions. Even if they fudged it by increasing the attack box of melee attacks to like 300 range just to make up for the sloppy mechanic that would be a vast improvement! If they didn’t make pets stop moving to perform their attacks that again would solve a huge problem! What I don’t get is why they haven’t – unless they can’t. And if they can’t, then they have to be open to some,other solutions and so do we.

I also am a lone wolf by nature a PvP junkie – WvW actually – and I really get the people that want to be self sufficient. That is the common mentality of a pet class. But group dynamics are just so important in so many settings – you aren’t going to bust up a 50 man zerg solo – that not giving us at least some limited options in that respect is harsh. As I mentioned, thief is like the ultimate roamer, but they are also an integral part of a zerg buster because of their venomshare. Blast finishers, smoke combos and stealth options. They have that lone wolf edge without excluding them from being part of that skill amplification group dynamic. I just don’t see why Rangers can’t get similar treatment. Not similar skills, just have that type of option open.

Keep the comments and suggestions coming guys, hopefully if we do we can finally get some attention.

I definately agree on group dynamics. I’m a Signet Ranger with Troll Unguent and Rampage as One, pretty much the definition of solo play. I would totally support changes to the traits, though, that allowed for buffing the group. I loved the one idea for a Grandmaster Marksman trait that granted signet boons to nearby allies, even at half duration. Being able to make the whole party invulnerable for couple seconds every X would be invaluable.

the signet share is not a good idea. image 5 immortal rangers in a party… no way…

There are many changes here that are fantastic and some that are downright overpowered!

One of the major gripes with me is Pet AI and pathing – after almost a year they still can’t get it right it’s completely annoying. They need to fix this major piece of the class prior to anything else. If we’re forced to use a pet, then make that pet at least work properly!

On my wishlist of things I would love to have:

Bloodhound: Your pet gains the ability to track it’s targeted enemy through stealth and continue to follow and attack.

McWolfy.5924:

the signet share is not a good idea. image 5 immortal rangers in a party… no way…

So? They would be invulnerable for about 10 seconds every minute or so, that would take a massive amount of coordination to be able to avoid relevant damage consistently, and even then probably not possible. If they could do it, then I say go for it.

The more Rangers you add with that spec the harder it becomes to effectively coordinate it to gain a reasonable benefit.

6 secs/ ranger. 5 rangers= 30 secs… if they nerf the duration it become useless without other 4 rangers and team speak. except they make something like with the hide, if u was invu for x sec, u cant be for another x.

McWolfy.5924:

6 secs/ ranger. 5 rangers= 30 secs… if they nerf the duration it become useless without other 4 rangers and team speak. except they make something like with the hide, if u was invu for x sec, u cant be for another x.

That measn you did not read the description. Half duration to allies.

Lothair.8942:

On my wishlist of things I would love to have:

Bloodhound: Your pet gains the ability to track it’s targeted enemy through stealth and continue to follow and attack.

I’m pretty sure they would never do that because thieves would say it is too overpowered. I would love that, since last time I’ve been alone against a thief in WvW it took forever for the battle to end, since he kept disappearing all the time but he couldn’t do enough damage to me to come anywhere close of killing me. I eventually killed him, but it took way too long and it was really boring and frustrating.
What I’m saying is that the trait/skill you are suggesting would be great for PvP, but we are already good at PvP (that’s my opinion). What we need right now is to get better got PvE.
It’s like the opposite of warrior: Awesome for PvE, not so good for PvP (or maybe it is just me).

On the first pass of reading, the OP(s) seem to nicely address the issues that Rangers have. However, I’ll need some more time to think this through and maybe add to it.

In the meantime, as far as pets go, I think the BM traitline suggestions I read in Taushullu’s post make a whole lot of sense and with some tweaks to other traits, could provide what (some) rangers may need – the potential for less reliance on their pet and more on their weapons (on the other hand, also the potential to really specialize in the pet).

In the famous words … “I’ll be back” (to this thread with some more ideas/feedback).

Just fix the short bow range already…. there was no reason to nerf that.

Very good list! I just had a thought, what if we had a 6th trait line? With line 5 and 6 being an “Or”. As in you can only apply points into one or the other. Separating between Beast Mastery and a new trait line for those wanting to Run Pet-less? Maybe putting points into Beast Mastery could be the trigger to activate or disable Pet’s completely?

idk… random thought I just had.

I think if they did end up making pets optional that would be a really great way to approach it, thanks for taking the time to read.

Someone else I was talking to from my server board who does not play a ranger also suggested that pets should list their abilities when you target them the same as mobs do. I can’t see a downside to doing that, if you know a mob knocks down before you fight it you might as well know your opponents dog will do it too.

Thank you good sir!

These suggestions are amazing. I like the original ideas by Khayoss and Taushullu’s trait suggestions (some seem like they could be OP but like you said, numbers could be tweaked). I hope that they respond here and go for a big fix for the ranger class instead of little fixes that don’t do enough.

Once again, amazing ideas and I love how clearly they are presented. Thank you!

Great suggestions! This is the exact type of stuff Anet needs to be reading!

No LB? It’s not like last update made it fully working weapon in all aspects of game :o (actually, it’s still far from optimal everywhere, but WvW).

holy crap, this list has by far been the most well thought idea to fix rangers in awhile!

hopefully Anet sees this and takes these into consideration.

I believe skill balance feels ignored across many classes especially in PvE. They need a larger skill balance team or a second one that focuses PvE.

Khayoss.2019:

Shortbow: Thief pistol 1 has the same range, cast time and base damage, but applies bleed from any direction and for 1 second longer than ranger shortbow (4s thief vs 3s ranger).

I just want to point out that this is very, very inaccurate. Thief Pistol #1 has a much slower attack rate than Crossfire does and is one of the gimpiest autoattacks in the game. Crossfire is perhaps slightly weaker if you’re prevented from applying any bleeds, but significantly stronger if you can, even occasionally. Just to give you an idea of the difference in cast speed, Crossfire can maintain 8 stacks at baseline while Vital Shot can only hit 5. This also means it does considerably less direct damage.

Khayoss.2019:

-Long Ranged Shot (1 skill) is the only weapon skill that has minimum range restrictions. In PvE encounters where a mobs focus can be controlled either by proper use of a pet or by a partner, range restrictions can be accommodated. In PvP settings, this limitation pigeon holes the longbow into situational use.

Mesmer Greatsword has the same mechanic. It’s meant as an abstraction for how Longbows are meant for long distance and therefore awkward at close range, and I sort of like it.

I’m not raining on your parade, your post was well written and well thought out, just trying to be informative.

Einlanzer.1627:

Mesmer Greatsword has the same mechanic. It’s meant as an abstraction for how Longbows are meant for long distance and therefore awkward at close range, and I sort of like it.

I’m not raining on your parade, your post was well written and well thought out, just trying to be informative.

wouldnt a longbow do more damage at close range than at far range? i mean to me it seems that the wound would be more gruesome the closer the target is, plus you will be more accurate the closer a target is..therefore allowing easier targeting of weakpoints(the eyes,crotch,shoulders,knees etc)?

Pets are a traditional aspect of the hunter class, so removing them altogether is out.

I agree they are not OP or noob friendly in this game like they are in most other games, but that isn’t necessarily wrong.

I have a feeling that they will continue to balance out the classes, but IMO they should add more skills to EACH class first and then worry about balancing.

Dante.1763:

Einlanzer.1627:

Mesmer Greatsword has the same mechanic. It’s meant as an abstraction for how Longbows are meant for long distance and therefore awkward at close range, and I sort of like it.

I’m not raining on your parade, your post was well written and well thought out, just trying to be informative.

wouldnt a longbow do more damage at close range than at far range? i mean to me it seems that the wound would be more gruesome the closer the target is, plus you will be more accurate the closer a target is..therefore allowing easier targeting of weakpoints(the eyes,crotch,shoulders,knees etc)?

No. The arrow builds up momentum as it flies through the air, so a hit from 10 yards might penetrate the skin, whereas a hit from 30 yards is likely to pass through the body (assuming the arrow doesn’t hit a bone or become lodged in the chest cavity). It is really just simple physics.

GuyWithTroll.5197:

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No. The arrow builds up momentum as it flies through the air, so a hit from 10 yards might penetrate the skin, whereas a hit from 30 yards is likely to pass through the body (assuming the arrow doesn’t hit a bone or become lodged in the chest cavity). It is really just simple physics.

aw okay, thought it might work the opposite…given that projectiles slow down as they travel further. but eh, i really am not good with science…

either way i think it should be removed or at least lessened, in general PvE i have noticed that everything ignores my pet and comes right for my….basically making the longbow worthless, and the shortbow a darn good weapon

Great posts OP! I’d especially like to highlight the part on combo fields…

I still don’t know how they entirely work exactly. I mean I get the premise behind it, but during the battle (especially WvW) when the commander calls particular combo fields.. more often than not, i’m at a loss.

I’ve read up on it, but still it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me when looking at my main class.. the Ranger. I attribute this to.. well, we just don’t have access to anything useful in a group setting (aside from healing spring). Because of these physical projectile finishers and not knowing how they work.. all I do is pew pew pew.. and pew pew some more. Whether or not these projectile finishers are working is another story. Of course, in all the time i’ve spent in WvW, I have yet to ever see a commander mention anything about projectile finishers.

It would be nice if our class had access to different ones across the board, so at least we can feel we are contributing.

Signed, the fact that my ranger does about 30% of the damage my warrior in the same gear does is just absurd, considering they’re both damage classes. Not that Anet has any interest in fixing the ranger because all they’ve done is nerf the already UP class from the beginning. This makes my ranger neigh-unplayable because that’s always sitting in the back of my mind whenever i play and it’s becoming nearly impossible for me to even log in anymore.