I’m known to be quite pessimistic about this class, but I’ll give my opinion…
A lot of the problems this class had at launch still remain. The class’s value in a group is quite low. A lot of the utility the class does have is tied up in pets that simply don’t work because of poor survivability in groups, poor AI, and limited control. The stronger specs for the class are all bunker or condi related.
Today’s patch will improve signets, will make axe more valuable because it will proc might on hit (though I think condi builds will get more out of it), and rapid fire will have its channel duration reduced while the damage remains the same. Those are the really big changes we know about. Some of the lesser ones are a new melee oriented trait in the marks line that allows us to do 10% more damage (and 5% more for our pet) to crippled foes (and the addition of a cripple sigil which may have further reaching implications). Read the Wind will also reduce activation time by 10%, but we don’t know for certain if this will yield a straight 10% damage boost to longbow yet (we’re hoping). Barrage had its activation time reduced so it may be more valuable as a kiting tool in addition to the AE role it has now. I think that’s about everything we know about so far?
If I were in your shoes, I think I’d wait until I saw the real patch notes and give the class a shot in PvP first. Personally, I don’t find the class that fun to play when using the bows (and the only reason I made Ranger was for the bows) because so much time is spent auto attacking and it can be quite ineffective plinking away at a single target for 1.5-3k for 75% of a fight. Hopefully RF makes the class a bit more engaging.
If you enjoy the playstyle of the class you’ll likely enjoy it. Just don’t go into the class expecting changes to be right around the corner. We get no real developer attention and things haven’t changed much in 2 years.
soooo.. How is it to play a ranger in PvP, WvW, sPvE, and Dungeons ??(and maybe some more things).