Guild Wars 2

why cant a ranger use a pistol it is a range weapon after all. Devs get um…………….lazy?

Who goes hunting with a pistol?

Ranger has a huge multitude of weapons already. Pistol is also already used by both other medium armour classes. I think Arena-Net were trying to go for a traditional warden-type of Ranger rather than a gun-shooting “modernised” ranger and didn’t want to blur the boundaries of ranger and thief.

same reason warriors can use rifles but not pistols

The name ranger actually has nothing to do with fighting at range. It means someone who ranges across the wilderness and makes use of what’s around them. Think along the lines of army rangers, park rangers, and Aragorn from Lord of the Rings (which is where the fantasy archetype originated).

Guns don’t really fit into that, especially older designs like the ones in GW2 are based on. They require a lot of maintenance (relative to a bow or sword), some of it quite technical and a regular supply of ammo which was relatively heavy and couldn’t be made at a campsite in the middle of no where.

Obviously modern guns can be used for hunting, long range reconnaissance missions etc. but it took a relatively long time for them to be a viable option and the technology of GW2 isn’t quite there yet.

Their pet’s wouldn’t agree much with the exploding gunpowder from guns, if anything

The ranger is the guy you can drop into any enviroment and he will survive.
The ranger is the guy who lives with and from the nature.
The ranger is the guy who describes his combat style as dancing.
The ranger is the guy who builds his weapons from what he finds in the nature.

These are the reasons rangers don’t use hammers, pistols or rifles.

Ehecatl.9172:

Who goes hunting with a pistol?

When I hunt bear with my bow, you better believe I pack a sidearm

Ehecatl.9172:

Who goes hunting with a pistol?

Its not as uncommon as you might think.

Ashen.2907:

Ehecatl.9172:

Who goes hunting with a pistol?

Its not as uncommon as you might think.

Chuck Norris does, even though he’s throwing the pistol at his prey to kill it.

They are most likely saving the option for a ranger to use a pistol (among other weapons) for a later date (expansion or living story).

Propably one of the many reason is:

Pistols and Rifles utilize spherical rounds, and common rifles are flintlockes.
Even though gameplay vise you can shoot pistols and rifles quite fast and deal quite damage.

But in comparison to arrows, spherical rounds would have issues with armor and lack of aerodynamics.

Also that the explosion sounds would terrify their pets and are too loud…

Exeon.4358:

Their pet’s wouldn’t agree much with the exploding gunpowder from guns, if anything

If our pets had a problem with exploding loud noises from our pistols and rifles, then they’d be whimpering and scurrying away every time one of our comrades or enemies fires a gun too.

….

….(Wait, do we now have the real reason why pets are so ineffective in combat?)

You could always ask why a Guardian cannot use longbow, shortbow, pistol or rifle for a ranged attack but he can use a scepter! So please, no complaining from Rangers!

the real question is why is there rifles and pistols in a medieval fantasy game at all?

where are the: spears, halberds, pikes, crossbows, morning stars, etc?

I love being a Ranger – in fact have three of them, but that’s immaterial. I’ve often wondered why the Ranger class does not have access to a pistol and frankly I think it would be fun (and that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?). Just walking backwards and shooting at a foe to draw them or running head on at them, full pelt unloading into them. Yes, ArenaNET, why can’t we have pistol capabilities for Rangers?

scerevisiae.1972:

the real question is why is there rifles and pistols in a medieval fantasy game at all?

where are the: spears, halberds, pikes, crossbows, morning stars, etc?

This is a medieval fantasy game?

scerevisiae.1972:

the real question is why is there rifles and pistols in a medieval fantasy game at all?

where are the: spears, halberds, pikes, crossbows, morning stars, etc?

No, the real question is why are there swords, axes, maces, bows, etc in a game with tanks, helicopters, automatic pistols, assault rifles, flamethrowers, grenades, and so on?

Chrispy.5641:

Exeon.4358:

Their pet’s wouldn’t agree much with the exploding gunpowder from guns, if anything

If our pets had a problem with exploding loud noises from our pistols and rifles, then they’d be whimpering and scurrying away every time one of our comrades or enemies fires a gun too.

….

….(Wait, do we now have the real reason why pets are so ineffective in combat?)

Pets are ‘ineffective’ b/c bad rangers.

@OP: What skills would you propose Ranger firearms would have that aren’t already covered by SB/LB (themeatically )? Also, all three medium professions running around irn the same armor with the same dual-wielded pistols would be uninspired, no matter how ‘cool’ it might be.

If you want a cool dual pistol build where you can…um..‘Unload’ into charging enemies, perhaps roll a thief.

Tman.6349:

Also, all three medium professions running around irn the same armor with the same dual-wielded pistols would be uninspired, no matter how ‘cool’ it might be.

Medium armor is already ludicrously bland and similar across the board. It’s like Halloween, except the only costumes left were Pirate, Cowboy, or Outlaw.