Guild Wars 2

Hi!
So basically i am returning after a half year of pause, and want to start a whole new character, to look araund real good, but cant decide.
So i roamed forums, and thout things trough, but i only realized, i dont find a real ranged class.

Looking at forums, most of the “ranged” classes are actually usefull in melee or mid range builds. And classes that are actually “non range” have a really decent long range skillset, but are not detailed, and i dont think they should have anyway.
(here again i almost started to complain abaut, how unflexible classes are-viable i must add with viable builds)

So i came to a conclusion….is there an real ranged class in this game at all?
I mean, c mon, i would love engineers (disregarding hobo sack, and that i cant change the kits look, like others can change there weapon arsenal), but they are almsot fully medium and close range. Ofc they can go “long” range, but are almost totally …crap.
-Then there are elementalists, who are “supposed” to be the real deal "caster"s, but i am forced to contantly jump on foes, cripple them, “dagger” them, go melee and mid range, and if i go long range, i end up spamming 1 and 3 for almost no effect. In pvp ppl instantly run out (if you can cast it at all) from storms, that have an insane cd anyway. In pve mobs get to you almost instantly, then comes kiting (whitch i detest, since 3 years of wows hunter)
-Then there is necro …i dont even want to talk abaut it…are those staff 1 and marks supposed to hive me a decent contant dmg? Totally unviable at “long” range. Rest is full melee and medium range. Maybe in pve, where others “tank”, you can condition build, whitch is not what i want by “range”
-Comes down to ranger, and i see, that bows are actually one of the worst picks for ranger. Its almost all abaut pets (that are actually really weak), and microing them. Or running araund blowing horn and “supporting”. Or it realyl comes down to “ranged” combat, then all you do is “sit back and presss 1,2,3,4,5” while pet “tanks” or you kite. Feels terribly boring early game, in endgame terribly irritating actually.
-So what? I found thieves have quite a nice support and dmg from range. Even if they are supposed to be mostly melee. Besides, i really dont enjoy spamming a bouncing shortbow, or going Trinity. Atleast give them a rifle, so they can snipe and claim they are all araund class.
-Warriors? Yes they are actually good with longbow and rifle, i actually love it, but its a warrior, they are not supposed to be a main range class. BEsides, rifl is pure spam and ranged fight is not really detailed. Besides i hate heavy armor when going rifle or bow. (it actually looks the best in game, but not realyl fitting for range).

So i dont know….Mesmer? Maybe thats the only real good range option. Trough i hate the stupid and somethime useless illusion mechanic. Fully wasted when opponents are on some cliff.

I hope this didnt sound to QQ ish. It was not ment to be…i just wanted to know, who feels the same way, and feels, “true range” missing from the game?
(Oh and sorry for my terrible english in advance)

It is my understand that there are no professions in GWII that are made for a single combat type.

All professions can play both at melee range and far range. Sure there will always be a more viable option due to lack of proper balance. For example warriors do much more damage with a greatsword than any other weapon, as far as I’m concerned.

Personally I much prefer this system, because it makes combat interesting and it can lead to some truly epic fights if mechanics are implemented properly.

You say that warriors shouldn’t be good while using a bow or a gun, why is that?
A warrior fights with whatever weapon he/she pleases or have available at that time, why must it be a huge hammer for you to call it a warrior?

This may be a poor example but Gandalf from Lord of the Rings is always referred to as a wizard, but he has a sword as well as a staff. Does that sword automatically make it impossible for him to be a wizard?

Lord of the Rings is a bad example i think, personally, destroys the concept of fantasy in my book, when Legolas slides down on a plank of wood and shoots orks….
Not to mention Gandalf is not a tipical fantasy “wizard” or “mage”. Since the world of the “Lord of the rings” is special in the theme of magic, unlike other fantasy worlds.
But i get your point, and agree, thakittens not the hammer that makes the warrior, thats is what i am trying to say is actually…If anet makes a warrior that has a rifle…why cant it be more detailed?
It truly feels like “it can use it, thats all”.

Multi-classing

Ranger is good at long range fights, warrior is good at hitting hard from long range. I’d say pick between those 2 but they are vastly different in terms of use.

-won’t see ranger in dungeons, often. Most people hate them

-won’t see warrior in spvp often. They are slow and predictable.

A class designed in 24h.

Nekroseth.5186:

Lord of the Rings is a bad example i think, personally, destroys the concept of fantasy in my book, when Legolas slides down on a plank of wood and shoots orks….
Not to mention Gandalf is not a tipical fantasy “wizard” or “mage”. Since the world of the “Lord of the rings” is special in the theme of magic, unlike other fantasy worlds.
But i get your point, and agree, thakittens not the hammer that makes the warrior, thats is what i am trying to say is actually…If anet makes a warrior that has a rifle…why cant it be more detailed?
It truly feels like “it can use it, thats all”.

Tolkien basically made the fantasy genre. Gandalf is THE most typical wizard you can find, anywhere. And I don’t mean that he “made” the fantasy genre because LOTR films are popular… I mean that they were pretty much the first fantasy books out there.

As for your original problem, I find it hard to contribute much. You seem to want a range class (aka. something that doesn’t have to take damage from monsters) that is complicated to use, but doesn’t require too much micro-managing and you dislike some classes because they don’t look cool enough (like thieves and their bows) or are not possible to use all scenarios.
I’d suggest sticking with a warrior and trying to get over the fact they’re called warriors, while ignoring randoms requesting you to use 2h-sword.

“As for your original problem, I find it hard to contribute much. You seem to want a range class (aka. something that doesn’t have to take damage from monsters) that is complicated to use, but doesn’t require too much micro-managing and you dislike some classes because they don’t look cool enough (like thieves and their bows) or are not possible to use all scenarios.
I’d suggest sticking with a warrior and trying to get over the fact they’re called warriors, while ignoring randoms requesting you to use 2h-sword.”

That might be actually the best and most simple solution actually.

As for Tolkien…dont want to get to off topic, but you are mostly right if you take the general idea of “Tolkian setting the base of fantasy” but also have to admit Folk tales and folklore existed LOOONG before him, and in most common folk wizards and spell casters used tipically “ritualistic” magic, that is closer to d&d tipe of magic system then Tolkiens “defensive and light” magic. Most of Lotr magic works like “buffs” and heals and passive things.
Thats my opinion. But your point is more valid and thy for awnser.

Wesnoth.1705:

Multi-classing

That is one the the funniest things I have ever seen on these boards, lol. Thank You!

Not sure what you are looking for:
Rangers bows are fine, in fact they boosted the damage on the long bow with a faster #1 attack speed, and the short bow range was nerfed but I think they raised the actual damage. If you can’t do well with the Ranger in ranged combat, then you are doing something wrong. The single target ranged burst damage of the Ranger is excellent.

Lord of the Rings destroys the concept of Fantasy? I’m still trying to wrap my head around that, considering that The Hobbit come out in 1937, and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy between 1954 and 1955, just under 20 years before Dungeons and Dragons PnP.

I suppose I can see your point if you were introduced to the traditional ‘wizards’ who fling fire around before reading / watching LotR, but these sorts of things are actually described:

• Conjuring Fire and Light
• Disarming and destroying an arrow in mid-flight
• Mind reading
• Healing
• Illusions

‘Wizards’ in LotR aren’t actually of the race of Men, and they’re more often known as ‘The Wise Ones’, and they have both superior mental and physical ability in comparison to Men.

Finally, most fantasy worlds have their own ‘theme’ of magic:

• Guild Wars has the Bloodstones and schools of magic.
• The Dresden Files, where magic can be manipulated from the air, produced from emotions, or channeled through foci for a specific effect.
• Harry Potter where magic has to be focused and channeled through a wand.

Back on topic:

I’m not entirely sure what you mean when it comes to rifle warriors. What do you mean by ‘more detailed’? I personally think that the way they currently use a Rifle is how they would anyway: shooting and clubbing them with it if they get too close.

As for ‘Ranged’ combat in general, I think you’re thinking too much in archetypes. Why does a ‘caster’ have to be ranged? And why does a ‘warrior’ have to be melee?

Not to mention having a ‘true ranged’ class would mean making it less viable in melee.

You’re also complaining about both having to kite and just standing there spamming skills. Not sure what you want if these two options aren’t open to you. I mean, that’s what ranged is about; staying as far back as possible to do damage.

Two questions:

• What game mode do you play most?
• Have you though about a hybrid ranged / melee or long range / mid range build?

I think, general pve. Mostly events and dungeons. And not sure how you call it, random arena? Thats Spvp?
I am not sure, i did thout of an engineer , that can range and melee to, but they only have kits for viable range dd, and i wont compromise on kits, they are not weapons, and have no skins, and i prfer good looking obtainable weapon skins above that ( i think)
As for ranger, i dont feel quite confí going melee in medium armor, and low buff possibility.