One of the major problems I’ve found with ranger in pve (their least attractive game type) is their lack of team play and their control over the pet which often will cause unnecessary aggro and disrupt the group’s progression.
So, post what you want to improve ranger or outline any issue they have in what part of the game, let it out. Ranger has most certainly improved over the course of 12 months but they have a long road ahead still. Some issues I see with them are:
-You cannot decide what the F2 skill will be. Its pre determined, so you can’t tell a bear pet when to activate defy pain, or a canine pet to pounce. It’s very restrictive. The pet will still be unique whether or not you can control it’s unique ability (fear, immobilize, etc).
-Shouts are lacking. They offer great mechanics but when theorycrafting, look at what they have to offer over other utility skills. Search and rescue is great assuming the enemy isn’t about to finish them off, guard is great assuming the ranger’s dps isn’t lowered for not having a pet on board, sick em is basically F1 but upgraded (barely), leaving protect me as the really only viable skill. These skills should have boons or conditions applied, like sick em applying vulnerability on pet hit while active, or search and rescue applying fear to nearby enemies when it starts raising as to actually help rally rather than waste a slot.
-Lack of main hand weapons. Axe is meh, its for condi builds really but overall its sluggish and difficult to work with (splitblade). The other option is sword which although can be useful, is rather disapointing to those who want strict power out of it. Either offer stronger utlity (stealth for X seconds on hornet sting perhaps) or add something like mace for an upfront controlled melee weapon for 1h. off-hand dagger and warhorn is just a ton of fun, but the mainhand options are sad imo.
-Pet group play. Although some pets can fit this, there are some missing skills involved. More pet skills via pet choices. A pet with a wall skill would do wonders in their role for dungeons, a pet skill to blast finish would be awesome if it can be timed, things like that.
-Pet skins. Its all about skins in guild wars, but only HoM get to see that tad bit from pets. Let guild wars 2 players do something to earn some unique skins. They don’t have to be any stat bonus, just something to further customize their look.
“I’m waiting for the staff to get off their lunch
break. I feel like they should be back by now..”