Guild Wars 2

Hi guys! I’m new to the game (two months now, and I do not play as much as I’d like), so I would aprecciate some help here.
My first pj is a ranger. I was naive enough to think that I would be able to play with a longbow. I had no problem in open world, but now I’m at 80, in a guild that does a lot of PvE events, and even worse, the WvW is approaching… really fast.
I’ve come to terms now that I won’t be able to use my dearest LB in fractals nor dungeons, and found that the max DPS build was full berserk+sword. I decided to go that way, but I now my squishy-ness is making me reconsider.
The max DPS is clearly an advantage to my party, +might +healing spring + frost spirit. But if I keep dying, then I won’t be of much use, right?
I need to add: I’m learning how to melee. I had never ever played melee before, in any game. Yeah, total noob here.
So, I should go to a more tank-y build? Do you recommend any in particular? Maybe a more balanced char, mixing armor and runes, knowing that that would affect overpowering and party utility?
I want to have fun, but also I do not want to be a burden to my party in dungeons.
Any advice would be really appreciated.

PS: also, if you have any hint on WvW, please, share it. It stresses me out to only think about a build for it… u.u

What is the build you are using currently, the trait spread and utilities? You could replace some gear for something with a bit more defensive stats like Knight etc but, Ranger has some of the highest access to survival built into their melee weapon sets. Sword has 2 evades, greatsword has evade, block, and stun, offhand axe can reflect projectiles (i prefer warhorn personally). Ranger is highly survivable really.

Hit me up ingame if you’d like.

Try using the GS until your comfortable enough to switch over to sword. It’s not that far behind sword.

Thanks for your quick responses, guys. I’m currently trying:
Traits:
4/5/0/5/0
Marksmanship: I VII
Skirmishing: I, V
Nature Magic: IV, V

Skills:
Healing spring
Lightning reflexes
Quickening Zephyr
Frost Spirit
Rampage as one

Have my zerker’s armor, still buying runes and accesories, although I’m some traits short, still unlocking them.

I also found a build that promised more survability, I believe it was 6/5/0/3/0, I can’t remember, and I don’t have it at hand. I’ll post it later. I didn’t try it, though

Nynphaiel.4530:

Thanks for your quick responses, guys. I’m currently trying:
Traits:
4/5/0/5/0
Marksmanship: I VII
Skirmishing: I, V
Nature Magic: IV, V

Skills:
Healing spring
Lightning reflexes
Quickening Zephyr
Frost Spirit
Rampage as one

Have my zerker’s armor, still buying runes and accesories, although I’m some traits short, still unlocking them.

I also found a build that promised more survability, I believe it was 6/5/0/3/0, I can’t remember, and I don’t have it at hand. I’ll post it later. I didn’t try it, though

The 65030 build is better for shorter boss fights and clearing trash mobs but 45050 has better survivability because you are investing in vitality line.

65030 build is one of the best builds for FGS rushing bosses when used with signet of the beastmaster trait and signet of the wild active.

In addition to learning on the greatsword, check out gw2dungeons.net, and watch your combat log when you die. For example in quite a few of the dungeons you can get wrecked by conditions, which has nothing to do with your glassy armor. I would forever drop LR from your dungeon-bar and take Signet of Renewal, which also double and triples as a stun breaker and complete group condi removal.

I run “Sic Em!”, FS and then in the wild card slot I usually have SoR. QZ if SoR is definitely not needed. (And swap things around for special occasions, like if you solo run the scepter pieces in AC or something.)

Fluffball.8307:

I would forever drop LR from your dungeon-bar and take Signet of Renewal, which also double and triples as a stun breaker and complete group condi removal.

That’s EXACTLY what I just did, lol, , since I also came to the conclusion that condis were killing me. QZ is also a stun breaker and sword has 2 evade attacks (plus the one included in the AA), so I felt that both skills were redundant.

Fluffball.8307:

I run “Sic Em!”, FS and then in the wild card slot I usually have SoR. QZ if SoR is definitely not needed.

I do not quite understand this part, sorry, English ain’t my mother tongue. You run Healing Spring, Sic’em, Frost Spirit, Signet of Renewal and Rampage as one?

Again, thank you all for your answers, you’re really kind =)

Yes, you got the utilities I run correct. Some dungeons don’t need condi removal so I would go back to Quickening Zephyr.

I’m gonna try that combination. I believe Signet of Renewal will mark a difference, and now I’m a bit more confident about the build, since went to the wurm with my sword and it didn’t take even half of my life (and that’s without jewelry and some traits missing).
I guess the failed Tequ yesterday was bumping me down, lol.

I died at Ascalon last night u.u The ogre and the Commander were fighting, and the AOEs one-shot brought me down. A partner got me up, and I didn’t even have enough time to run.
I’m positively sure it has a lot to do with me not knowing the dungeon and my lack of skill at melee, but still it’s so frustrating I’m seriously thinking about ascended jewelry with vitality and/or toughness.

Ogre and commander?? Do you mean your group leader was fighting the cave troll? That thing will wreck anyone; PUGs usually just run past it.

At any rate, the jewelry won’t ruin your build, but that sounds like an awful lot of effort just for something you’re not going to want once you learn the paths. Laurels translate in to a lot of T6 materials if you ever want a/nother legendary.

Edit: You did mention WvW in your original post, so maybe defensive and offensive sets of jewelry isn’t a waste.