Guild Wars 2

So I soloed a champion abomination today (level 80) and just wanted to give some feedback on the fight with my Ranger, but first the video.

Now as it turns out dodging and slows were the most important part of this battle. I used shortbow #4 and the ice trap as often as possible to keep the monster away from me, kiting as usual.

However what was annoying during this whole battle was my pet. First off because it’s an abomination both of my pets utility skills were useless and so were their knockdowns. In the end the pets became nothing more than a pinata for the abomination to charge his fury off of. This is prime evidence of a need for a permanent stow option for pets, as in this case the pet is more of a liability than a help. Yes, I could have used some other pets, but generally people don’t always spend 10 minutes preparing before rushing into a battle. They take what they have and run with it, ala me in this video. However the pets would again have been relegated to the role of passive buffers for me during the fight and all the pet DPS would still have been lost.

There needs to be a permanent stow option that gives you a +25% power buff (plus additional effect for the pet stowed) for situations when using a pet is unadvisable or down right stupid, and there aren’t just a few of these situations, it happens all the time in dungeons or other team/group events. Pet/Minions may be fine right now for single play, but as a group item, they are not worth it and in general make a bad showing of the ranger class in total.

Zen.2450:

So I soloed a champion abomination today (level 80) and just wanted to give some feedback on the fight with my Ranger, but first the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP_vmjdrrLo

Now as it turns out dodging and slows were the most important part of this battle. I used shortbow #4 and the ice trap as often as possible to keep the monster away from me, kiting as usual.

However what was annoying during this whole battle was my pet. First off because it’s an abomination both of my pets utility skills were useless and so were their knockdowns. In the end the pets became nothing more than a pinata for the abomination to charge his fury off of. This is prime evidence of a need for a permanent stow option for pets, as in this case the pet is more of a liability than a help. Yes, I could have used some other pets, but generally people don’t always spend 10 minutes preparing before rushing into a battle. They take what they have and run with it, ala me in this video. However the pets would again have been relegated to the role of passive buffers for me during the fight and all the pet DPS would still have been lost.

There needs to be a permanent stow option that gives you a +25% power buff (plus additional effect for the pet stowed) for situations when using a pet is unadvisable or down right stupid, and there aren’t just a few of these situations, it happens all the time in dungeons or other team/group events. Pet/Minions may be fine right now for single play, but as a group item, they are not worth it and in general make a bad showing of the ranger class in total.

Well, let’s see if we can address those issues. Did you send the pet in for a few hits then call it back to safety on about a 10s cycle? Try sending/calling your pet and practice doing that a few times before coming back to the forums. Also, in my opinion, you should have equipped pets like raven (blind) or owl (chill). Birds are great for landing a quick utility on a boss and then flying back. If I can keep duel birds alive during boss fights (I do this every day) then I know you can keep your pets alive.

Also, trait into beastmastery.

No, I will not trait into beastmastery. I don’t want to be micro-managing an AI all day, I want fun.

Second, the part of the video you don’t see (where I shaved off his first 1/3 HP) I did try using my pet, but he can A. One hit KO the pets. and B. Build fury off the pets so after that I found it to be better to just let my pet languor in death or he’d become to fast to kite. This issue would crop up no matter what pet I used, so a pet choice doesn’t help.

Chopps

“Well, let’s see if we can address those issues. Did you send the pet in for a few hits then call it back to safety on about a 10s cycle? Try sending/calling your pet and practice doing that a few times before coming back to the forums. Also, in my opinion, you should have equipped pets like raven (blind) or owl (chill). Birds are great for landing a quick utility on a boss and then flying back. If I can keep duel birds alive during boss fights (I do this every day) then I know you can keep your pets alive.

Also, trait into beastmastery.”

Yeah wonderful, lets see, the pets dead as a doorstop before it gets there, limps back, wait for pet swap cooldown, because even if the pet recovers to 85% health it still ain’t gonna do anything.

No it’s just wrong, we have enough to do without trying to micro manage a dead pet, and we’ve had all the send the pet in call it back rubbish before, it just don’t work, the pet is trash.

I think your comments and suggestions are kind of reasonable insomuch that I agree pet survivability outside of BM specs needs to be looked at. But they’re also kind of unreasonable because I get the impression you’d only be satisfied with our profession mechanic becoming or being replaced with Fire and Forget mechanics.

There’s a difference between micromanagement and just plain ole management.

Worse still, I can’t really follow along with your pet stance either.
If I didn’t swap out utilities for a boss fight, I wouldn’t turn around and complain about the utilities I brought, I’d blame myself for bringing the wrong ones. I understand the desire to roam freely in the open world without constantly switching pets around, but it’s not like you just accidentally trip over Champions on your way to the trading post, you know? If there was ever a time in the open world to get picky about what you’re bringing into battle, that would be it.

Solid Gold.9310:

Chopps

“Well, let’s see if we can address those issues. Did you send the pet in for a few hits then call it back to safety on about a 10s cycle? Try sending/calling your pet and practice doing that a few times before coming back to the forums. Also, in my opinion, you should have equipped pets like raven (blind) or owl (chill). Birds are great for landing a quick utility on a boss and then flying back. If I can keep duel birds alive during boss fights (I do this every day) then I know you can keep your pets alive.

Also, trait into beastmastery.”

Yeah wonderful, lets see, the pets dead as a doorstop before it gets there, limps back, wait for pet swap cooldown, because even if the pet recovers to 85% health it still ain’t gonna do anything.

No it’s just wrong, we have enough to do without trying to micro manage a dead pet, and we’ve had all the send the pet in call it back rubbish before, it just don’t work, the pet is trash.

I’m going to do a ranger training session next weekend. Keep your eye’s peeled for the post; I’ll teach you the techniques I use to make effective use of my pets. Remember, as another person wrote, you can’t just “fire and forget” the pet. In case you don’t have time to train with me I’ll leave you with this: if you’re not calling/sending your pet on roughly a 5 or 10s loop, then you’re going to lose your pet on a boss battle. If no profession can perpetually tank a boss, then why should you expect your pet to? You have to always be aware of your pets location and health. If you don’t know where your pet is or if your pet died, 9 times out of 10, it’s because you made a mistake.

The thing you’re forgetting about this is in this particular instance the whole fight relies on you never being hit.

Sending in your pet for 5-10s, yes I do that during any normal battle. But in this case if you send the pet in even once and it gets hit, it could spell doom for your whole event because of fury stacking.

@Chopps

Please label it correctly. I don’t want to forget how to play the Ranger because I read a training session written by you.

If you didn’t feel like gambling with a melee pet on one of the last guys in Orr you’d want to be meleeing; Devourer and Spider were also options. Devourer even makes a deliberate effort to Retreat away from mobs, god bless it’s cowardly little heart.

jkctmc.8754:

@Chopps

Please label it correctly. I don’t want to forget how to play the Ranger because I read a training session written by you.

It’s not meant for people better than me at this game, if, indeed, you are. I just play for fun, tough guy. Please, go back to insulting other guilds in WvW. We’re trying to build positive energy here.

Zen.2450:

The thing you’re forgetting about this is in this particular instance the whole fight relies on you never being hit.

Sending in your pet for 5-10s, yes I do that during any normal battle. But in this case if you send the pet in even once and it gets hit, it could spell doom for your whole event because of fury stacking.

Not really. If you insist on a 30/30/XX/XX/XX type build, then make sure you slot pets heal on crit. Also, if you’re worried about the abomination stacking frenzy (had to correct you there…it’s not called “fury”; fury is what gives the player 20% extra crit. chance) and you don’t think you have the ability to keep your pet alive (even when on avoid combat and kept next to you), then don’t swap after it goes down. Rather, in the event someone falls, use your pet swap then for the swiftness (traited 5 in BM) for a quick heal.

Seriously though, in dungeons where you have to fight abominations, you might not want to trait full glass cannon berserker.

Chopps.5047:

Zen.2450:

The thing you’re forgetting about this is in this particular instance the whole fight relies on you never being hit.

Sending in your pet for 5-10s, yes I do that during any normal battle. But in this case if you send the pet in even once and it gets hit, it could spell doom for your whole event because of fury stacking.

Not really. If you insist on a 30/30/XX/XX/XX type build, then make sure you slot pets heal on crit. Also, if you’re worried about the abomination stacking frenzy (had to correct you there…it’s not called “fury”; fury is what gives the player 20% extra crit. chance) and you don’t think you have the ability to keep your pet alive (even when on avoid combat and kept next to you), then don’t swap after it goes down. Rather, in the event someone falls, use your pet swap then for the swiftness (traited 5 in BM) for a quick heal.

Seriously though, in dungeons where you have to fight abominations, you might not want to trait full glass cannon berserker.

Chopps, get a room for your ego. I’m not 30/30 berserker. I do have 5 traited for the quickness in BM. I did leave my pet dead during the fight due to its liability. I know how to play a ranger. What I’m saying is that pets are not always good and can many times be a liability, especially since you can’t change pet types in combat (beyond your 2 swaps) to account for sudden encounters.

Great job man. You should us how to beat this Champion as a range class (Really any not specific profession) not as a ranger. You really show playing a ranger is a L2P issue.

1. You should have used a jaguar its stealth abities would have helped.
2. You have swap your pet more often for the quickness but a the very least to keep him alive.

3. Your choice of heal skill require you to stay in one area agaisnt a target that you need to remain moble against. Not to mention that this was one of the cause of your pets deaths.

One never needs to spec into beast Mastery. You also dont need to micro-manage your pet.

However the refusal to use a class mechanism is nto a shining example that it should be changed. If you were an Ele an refused to swap attunment an said “why should I swap out of water I dont want to. I should be able to kill with what ever element I want. all attunement should be viable”

Fighting without your pet reduce your damge by like 40%. Picking the proper pet for the battle is just as important as picking the right weopan and tactic.

It would have been so easy for you too keep your pet alive in this battle you chose not to. Or not to even attemp too. This is why I believe this is a shining example of a L2P issue in regards to the ranger class.

It wasn’t a planned battle.

I’ve solod those before using a devourer, it never gets hit, just plugs along wailing him with damage from a distance while I run around in circles trying not to get hit and plinking away with the bow, or a rapid shot if I open up enough space between us. Thats with 30 in BM. So it can be done other ways, you can’t complain about the pet when you refuse to put any points into it, and refuse to micro manage it. Thats like saying traps are awful because you don’t want to pick the right trap or put it in the right spot. Or have all your traits in bow abilities then complain about GS or something.

Chopps.5047:

Solid Gold.9310:

Chopps

“Well, let’s see if we can address those issues. Did you send the pet in for a few hits then call it back to safety on about a 10s cycle? Try sending/calling your pet and practice doing that a few times before coming back to the forums. Also, in my opinion, you should have equipped pets like raven (blind) or owl (chill). Birds are great for landing a quick utility on a boss and then flying back. If I can keep duel birds alive during boss fights (I do this every day) then I know you can keep your pets alive.

Also, trait into beastmastery.”

Yeah wonderful, lets see, the pets dead as a doorstop before it gets there, limps back, wait for pet swap cooldown, because even if the pet recovers to 85% health it still ain’t gonna do anything.

No it’s just wrong, we have enough to do without trying to micro manage a dead pet, and we’ve had all the send the pet in call it back rubbish before, it just don’t work, the pet is trash.

I’m going to do a ranger training session next weekend. Keep your eye’s peeled for the post; I’ll teach you the techniques I use to make effective use of my pets. Remember, as another person wrote, you can’t just “fire and forget” the pet. In case you don’t have time to train with me I’ll leave you with this: if you’re not calling/sending your pet on roughly a 5 or 10s loop, then you’re going to lose your pet on a boss battle. If no profession can perpetually tank a boss, then why should you expect your pet to? You have to always be aware of your pets location and health. If you don’t know where your pet is or if your pet died, 9 times out of 10, it’s because you made a mistake.

No thanks, I don’t want you telling me “how” to play.

I have played a Ranger since the 3 day head start, I have played a Ranger in many other games, I played a Ranger for 6 years in GW1, I think it’s a bit late for you to show me HTP.

You can see from my other posts, I don’t like the pet, I don’t want the pet, and I don’t want to have to micro-manage the pet.

I want to play a Ranger how I see the Ranger, not be forced to play how Anet want me to play.

This is not a Ranger it’s a beastmaster.

Solid Gold.9310:

Chopps.5047:

Solid Gold.9310:

Chopps

“Well, let’s see if we can address those issues. Did you send the pet in for a few hits then call it back to safety on about a 10s cycle? Try sending/calling your pet and practice doing that a few times before coming back to the forums. Also, in my opinion, you should have equipped pets like raven (blind) or owl (chill). Birds are great for landing a quick utility on a boss and then flying back. If I can keep duel birds alive during boss fights (I do this every day) then I know you can keep your pets alive.

Also, trait into beastmastery.”

Yeah wonderful, lets see, the pets dead as a doorstop before it gets there, limps back, wait for pet swap cooldown, because even if the pet recovers to 85% health it still ain’t gonna do anything.

No it’s just wrong, we have enough to do without trying to micro manage a dead pet, and we’ve had all the send the pet in call it back rubbish before, it just don’t work, the pet is trash.

I’m going to do a ranger training session next weekend. Keep your eye’s peeled for the post; I’ll teach you the techniques I use to make effective use of my pets. Remember, as another person wrote, you can’t just “fire and forget” the pet. In case you don’t have time to train with me I’ll leave you with this: if you’re not calling/sending your pet on roughly a 5 or 10s loop, then you’re going to lose your pet on a boss battle. If no profession can perpetually tank a boss, then why should you expect your pet to? You have to always be aware of your pets location and health. If you don’t know where your pet is or if your pet died, 9 times out of 10, it’s because you made a mistake.

No thanks, I don’t want you telling me “how” to play.

I have played a Ranger since the 3 day head start, I have played a Ranger in many other games, I played a Ranger for 6 years in GW1, I think it’s a bit late for you to show me HTP.

You can see from my other posts, I don’t like the pet, I don’t want the pet, and I don’t want to have to micro-manage the pet.

I want to play a Ranger how I see the Ranger, not be forced to play how Anet want me to play.

This is not a Ranger it’s a beastmaster.

If you just wanted to be an archer why didnt you pick warrior or thief? Since you’ve played ranger since head start surely you realized the entire class revolves around the pet? Why put yourself through the annoyance of playing something you dont enjoy?

Relair.1843:

Solid Gold.9310:

Chopps.5047:

Solid Gold.9310:

Chopps

“Well, let’s see if we can address those issues. Did you send the pet in for a few hits then call it back to safety on about a 10s cycle? Try sending/calling your pet and practice doing that a few times before coming back to the forums. Also, in my opinion, you should have equipped pets like raven (blind) or owl (chill). Birds are great for landing a quick utility on a boss and then flying back. If I can keep duel birds alive during boss fights (I do this every day) then I know you can keep your pets alive.

Also, trait into beastmastery.”

Yeah wonderful, lets see, the pets dead as a doorstop before it gets there, limps back, wait for pet swap cooldown, because even if the pet recovers to 85% health it still ain’t gonna do anything.

No it’s just wrong, we have enough to do without trying to micro manage a dead pet, and we’ve had all the send the pet in call it back rubbish before, it just don’t work, the pet is trash.

I’m going to do a ranger training session next weekend. Keep your eye’s peeled for the post; I’ll teach you the techniques I use to make effective use of my pets. Remember, as another person wrote, you can’t just “fire and forget” the pet. In case you don’t have time to train with me I’ll leave you with this: if you’re not calling/sending your pet on roughly a 5 or 10s loop, then you’re going to lose your pet on a boss battle. If no profession can perpetually tank a boss, then why should you expect your pet to? You have to always be aware of your pets location and health. If you don’t know where your pet is or if your pet died, 9 times out of 10, it’s because you made a mistake.

No thanks, I don’t want you telling me “how” to play.

I have played a Ranger since the 3 day head start, I have played a Ranger in many other games, I played a Ranger for 6 years in GW1, I think it’s a bit late for you to show me HTP.

You can see from my other posts, I don’t like the pet, I don’t want the pet, and I don’t want to have to micro-manage the pet.

I want to play a Ranger how I see the Ranger, not be forced to play how Anet want me to play.

This is not a Ranger it’s a beastmaster.

If you just wanted to be an archer why didnt you pick warrior or thief? Since you’ve played ranger since head start surely you realized the entire class revolves around the pet? Why put yourself through the annoyance of playing something you dont enjoy?

Yeah thought about that, even started a Warrior (Ranger), blah can’t use shortbow, and the longbow is so pedestrian, and got a bit bored after a few levels, really wanted a short bow for PVE. (Warrior can use a longbow but not a shortbow, dur) Although as a Beastmaster cough I do use a longbow for WvW.

Thief, well I’m guessing a thief can’t use a longbow (Correct me if I’m wrong).

So if you want to be a Ranger (Archer) you have to be a Ranger, there are no alternatives.

And I get bored with levelling, I can’t face all those hearts, vista’s and poi’s again.

Having levelled my Ranger, I guess I was hoping they might patch the pet and make it work, but it’s still well borked and likely to take years to get anywhere near right, IF they ever do.

All the Ranger seems to get are nerfs and a buff, to what was it, spear gun, really, speargun !

Sam here. I always played hunter/archer/ranger guys. I was used to GW1, where focusing on bow was fully viable and hearing I HAVE to spec into BM to do NORMAL dmg is just annoying.
Don’t tell me to go warr or theif coz I like rangers weapon skills, utilities, traits. I even like pets and I don’t have anything against micromanaging them. What I don’t like, is being forced into going deeper that I want – I have 5 points in BM and I don’t want more. I want pet to be class mechanic that helps me when I need help, not that requires more attention than bow – thing I’m specced into.

Relair.1843:

I’ve solod those before using a devourer, it never gets hit, just plugs along wailing him with damage from a distance while I run around in circles trying not to get hit and plinking away with the bow, or a rapid shot if I open up enough space between us.

You can channel rapid fire while moving. It’s barrage which forces you to stand still. (Also I don’t think the target can avoid it by moving like you can the autoattack – it has to be dodged or evaded.)

Solid Gold.9310:

Yeah thought about that, even started a Warrior (Ranger), blah can’t use shortbow, and the longbow is so pedestrian, and got a bit bored after a few levels, really wanted a short bow for PVE. (Warrior can use a longbow but not a shortbow, dur) Although as a Beastmaster cough I do use a longbow for WvW.

Thief, well I’m guessing a thief can’t use a longbow (Correct me if I’m wrong).

So if you want to be a Ranger (Archer) you have to be a Ranger, there are no alternatives.

At this point I fear part of the problem is that the concept of a ranger is just popular – most people who know nothing about the game and just bought it want to make a ranger. And so to prevent the class from outnumbering the others, they have to deliberately make it weaker to discourage some of those people. i.e. Achieving numerical balance requires a mechanical imbalance.

Solandri
“And so to prevent the class from outnumbering the others, they have to deliberately make it weaker to discourage some of those people. i.e. Achieving numerical balance requires a mechanical imbalance.”

That has to be total drivel !

Yeah lets imagine how it went, ArenaNet staff, bloke “A” The Rangers going to be popular you know" Bloke “B” Yeah l know, tell you what make it weak and feeble, that will put people off choosing a Ranger" <<<< That I would hope just didn’t happen.

What are you smoking, because I’ll have some of that.

I think the problem, or part of the peoblem is the pet mechanics are too complicated, they say this and that, we have been promised stuff, and let down badly several times, it could take years or never before they get it anywhere near right.

Solandri.9640:

Relair.1843:

I’ve solod those before using a devourer, it never gets hit, just plugs along wailing him with damage from a distance while I run around in circles trying not to get hit and plinking away with the bow, or a rapid shot if I open up enough space between us.

You can channel rapid fire while moving. It’s barrage which forces you to stand still. (Also I don’t think the target can avoid it by moving like you can the autoattack – it has to be dodged or evaded.)

Solid Gold.9310:

Yeah thought about that, even started a Warrior (Ranger), blah can’t use shortbow, and the longbow is so pedestrian, and got a bit bored after a few levels, really wanted a short bow for PVE. (Warrior can use a longbow but not a shortbow, dur) Although as a Beastmaster cough I do use a longbow for WvW.

Thief, well I’m guessing a thief can’t use a longbow (Correct me if I’m wrong).

So if you want to be a Ranger (Archer) you have to be a Ranger, there are no alternatives.

At this point I fear part of the problem is that the concept of a ranger is just popular – most people who know nothing about the game and just bought it want to make a ranger. And so to prevent the class from outnumbering the others, they have to deliberately make it weaker to discourage some of those people. i.e. Achieving numerical balance requires a mechanical imbalance.

Oh I realize that, I just meant I can’t rapid fire with my back to the thing running away, so I’d wait til I opened up a good bit of space between us to channel it before I got hit and built up the frenzy. And maybe you’re right, the ranger archetype is always one of, if not the highest played classes in most mmos, maybe they are going with the ‘start small then work them up to par’ method so the huge influx at launch all didnt go ranger, who knows =/