From Ranger to Guardian...

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Annonrae.3681

Annonrae.3681

…and I’d like some input. I’ve mainly played Ranger so far, dabbing a toe into other classes and really kinda…not liking any of them. What is it with this game’s infernal focus on melee? Anyway -

I prefer ranged classes. I suck at close combat unless it’s “Press 3 buttons and the mob is dead”. Elementalist wasn’t really my thing, since I don’t have piano fingers. I’ve tried Mesmer and Necromancer, didn’t like them. I’ve done Ranger and am currently beating my head against the Druid wall.

My question is, can the Guardian elite spec be played like Ranger 2.0 sans pet, once the elite specialisation is unlocked? Obviously I’d equip a close combat weapon for when mobs get in my face, but I’d really rather stay with a ranged weapon 95-100% of the time. Did any Rangers make the switch from Ranger to Guardian ( DH )? What’s your experience?

( I don’t know if it matters, but I don’t PVP at all. I’m mainly interested in doing map completions, a few events, and HoT/LS. I play solo, too. )

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Jarvis.9540

Jarvis.9540

I have both classes fully unlocked at 80. The short answer to your question is yes. Dragon Hunter can be a ranged powerhouse. We even have a trait in the DH line that gives you more damage the further you are from your target. Give it a try.

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Annonrae.3681

Annonrae.3681

Thank you!

/15chars

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Asmodal.6489

Asmodal.6489

Well I think it would be hard for a ranger to give up some LB skills. DH has a good set imo as well but the feel to each is quite different. DH puts everything in single punches where Ranger has more defensive options.

In PVE DH is by no means the higehs DPS choice but a fun one that still can bring some hurt.

I moved to DnT condi guardian build yesterday, tweaked it a bit to my likeing and its pretty sick.

so if you want to shine in pve he longbow is not that of a good choice if you plan on camping it.

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Jarvis.9540

Jarvis.9540

Well I think it would be hard for a ranger to give up some LB skills. DH has a good set imo as well but the feel to each is quite different. DH puts everything in single punches where Ranger has more defensive options.

In PVE DH is by no means the higehs DPS choice but a fun one that still can bring some hurt.

I moved to DnT condi guardian build yesterday, tweaked it a bit to my likeing and its pretty sick.

so if you want to shine in pve he longbow is not that of a good choice if you plan on camping it.

I respectfully disqgree. If built right, DH has excellent LB dps. Also, the burst that traps offer is pretty incredible.

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Indure.5410

Indure.5410

Well I think it would be hard for a ranger to give up some LB skills. DH has a good set imo as well but the feel to each is quite different. DH puts everything in single punches where Ranger has more defensive options.

In PVE DH is by no means the higehs DPS choice but a fun one that still can bring some hurt.

I moved to DnT condi guardian build yesterday, tweaked it a bit to my likeing and its pretty sick.

so if you want to shine in pve he longbow is not that of a good choice if you plan on camping it.

Granted longbow camping isn’t optimal, but from my experience the longbow feels like the second strongest weapon to camp outside of the GS.

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Annonrae.3681

Annonrae.3681

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I honestly don’t care much about optimal at this point, as I play this game 100% to relax and have fun, not to win any contest or be that one toon that stands out. I do try to play to the best of my ability, but a typical game session for me translates to “wander the map for x hours and do hearts/vistas/POI, maybe an event if I happen to be in the vicinity”.

Yes, I am that boring. My job is stressful and I need a counter for that. I’m also getting to the point where I can consider myself one of the older crowd and my twitch skills are beginning to deteriorate, so high-maintenance classes are more of a chore to me than actual fun.

Note: I don’t expect to be able to faceroll anything.

I’m more looking for ease of play.

I’m going to give the Guardian/DH a try, thanks again for the answers!

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Jarvis.9540

Jarvis.9540

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I honestly don’t care much about optimal at this point, as I play this game 100% to relax and have fun, not to win any contest or be that one toon that stands out. I do try to play to the best of my ability, but a typical game session for me translates to “wander the map for x hours and do hearts/vistas/POI, maybe an event if I happen to be in the vicinity”.

Yes, I am that boring. My job is stressful and I need a counter for that. I’m also getting to the point where I can consider myself one of the older crowd and my twitch skills are beginning to deteriorate, so high-maintenance classes are more of a chore to me than actual fun.

Note: I don’t expect to be able to faceroll anything.

I’m more looking for ease of play.

I’m going to give the Guardian/DH a try, thanks again for the answers!

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Happy hunting!

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Aggrostemma.1703

Aggrostemma.1703

Hi there!

Yes LB guardian plays pretty similar to the ol’ranger (the time your pet was dead 95% of the time).

If you can match your LB with a strong melee weapon like GS or Mace+x, but…

…and here is the good thing: you can use scepter+focus and being basically full ranged and have a strong self-defence ability. If the sc+f IS your melee set it can do surprisingly great damage at close range and also offers an immob (to keep up the range damage bonus) and that sweet AoE explosion or block from Focus#5 to help with condi-cleanse for example.

P.S.: The DH is now a kind of ranger whose pet damage has been integrated into the weapons….

#I no words have"

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Crapgame.6519

Crapgame.6519

Good time to try the DH if you have a Guardian anyway due to all the nerfs Rangers/Druids are getting. They can’t go a day without a hot fix….almost feel sorry for them.

Wait, I am playing Ranger/Druid….yes, grass is greener with the DH at the moment.

Main – Laaz Rocket – Guardian (Ehmry Bay)
Johnny Johnny – Ranger (Ehmry Bay)
Hárvey Wallbanger – Alt Warrior (Ehmry Bay)

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Eirdyne.9843

Eirdyne.9843

Rangers have pretty much been the Harry Potter of Guild Wars 2 with Anet being the Dursleys.

If you’re using the Druid in your build you can at least move while attacking to some effectiveness. It’s far better now than it is if you only have Central Tyria and don’t have Heart of Thorns.

Druid is mostly what the Ranger has going for it. Ranger is a convoluted maze to play because it’s abilities are either blocking you from their use, or blocking you from the use of your other abilities leaving you in a permanent situation of “if then, else if,” but no reliable way out of that. Projectiles also are confronted with block, reflect, dodge, and now transmutation into healing bolts (druid staff) so the Ranger really has no reliable source of damage. Same issue exists with Warrior Rifle and anything else using projectiles.

For now, yeah, Dragonhunter is more a Ranger than the Ranger.

From Ranger to Guardian...

in Guardian

Posted by: Obtena.7952

Obtena.7952

I find it very hard to not camp LB. Unless something is directly in my face and I can’t shake it or don’t think I can survive it, I won’t use a melee. That’s a rare occasion. That being said, you really have to know your enemy to know if melee or ranged will work for you in any particular situation.