Dear the Goddess’ Melandru and Dwayna,
I write to you as a humble Norn Ranger. My name is Susie Gormenghast. Since birth I have had a respect and wonder for the power of nature and beasts of all kind. I enjoy the companionship and symbiotic power of all my animal companions, even the ones I seldom take to battle. Together we have traversed Tyria and overcome many challenges!
However the recent rise of the so called Dragonhunter has filled me with feelings of spite, jealousy or even hatred. Gods, why have you blessed the Guardians with such powerful traps, while my own condition-based traps rarely see any current play?
The DH is even blessed with the ability to take up a Longbow, a weapon that gives me much pride as a Ranger.
And now I am left to wonder… why bother pursuing my profession as a Ranger further, when I feel so clearly outclassed by these new Dragonhunters. I have always been a humble ranger with respect to my hunts. But the Dragonhunters? Tell me of the dragons you have slain with only your senses, longbow, knowledge of the wild and your most trusted companion by your side. How many?
I have slain none under such conditions because hunting a dragon is no small feat for a single mortal to take on alone. It took the combined forces of Tyria, all races included in the Vigil, the Order of Whispers and the Durmand Priory to take down a SINGLE dragon. Yet Dwayna, you saw it fit to give the Guardians such a title and the power to claim such a lofty, undeserving name.
Goddess Dwayna, if you have truly given Guardians the power to hunt dragons, I ask you: What has Goddess Melandru given me as a Ranger?
The ability to heal via nature! Alas WHY would there be a need for a dedicated healer when every class can basically already heal self-sufficiently, and there already exists enough group support to negate the need for a dedicated healer entirely!?
Apparently one of my ancestors, who sends his blessings through the Hall of Monuments, was a Monk, devotee of Dwayna, a man of faith and good health. His name was Jitson O. I respect the profession of Monk and its way of life.
But times have changed. Our professions, abilities and the rules of battle have changed completely. What we are capable of with these god-given abilities has changed.
Why thought you, Melandru, to copy the teachings of the Monk and imbue them into us Rangers, when there is no need for it. No originality.
Gods, I do not know what changes you have in store for the future, but please heed my words. The dragonhunters do not deserve the power they have been given. Guardians, already strong heavy supportive tanks, but are now given powerful traps, complimented my a long-range weapon to pester enemies who try to avoid those traps. Dare I say, they have corrupted the meaning and spirit of trapping and hunting.
And the patience and precision that comes with trap and bow mastery. Too too often have I seen DHs barge into an enemy, lay their traps with no fear and win. By the six, dragonhunter is currently the only class that has none of my respect.
Finally with respect to the Druids new powers of healing: Perhaps you take all Rangers to be treehugging hippies. But that is a wrongful stereotype of our profession. An understanding of the wilderness comes with an understanding of the power and ferocity behind it, not just the symbiotic relationship between nature and life. This power and ferocity I find completely absent from the Druid profession, which gives Rangers a needless dedicated healer role in this day and age.
Ultimately I respect the power of the Gods and the decisions that you all have made and will continue to make together. Perhaps I am currently blinded by emotions, inexperience or lack of knowledge or perspective. I thank the Gods for watching over Tyria, I thank the Gods for such a beautiful world to explore and do battle in. But as it stands I am thankless for the Druid and Dragonhunter professions.
Sincerely, your humble servant,
Susie Gormenghast