Guild Wars 2

Why isn’t this a viable build? I’ve always liked the idea surrounding a Ranger type character, but have never liked having a pet. Here’s a suggestion:

As a Ranger, we have the Spirit of the Wild in us. We are strong with it in us, but we can also choose to release it by bringing out a pet to fight for us. We lose some Vitality and Power without the Spirit which gives power to the beast. If the beast dies, the Spirit of the Wild returns to us. For those who think of the pet as more of a companion, you can think of that bond being reinforced by the Spirit of the Wild that you share.

I would just like a way to build a strong bow Ranger without a pet that tags along, but I would also not like to be hindered by not using a pet. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Haha! This has been every ranger’s dream since the beta. It’s garbage that a % of our damage is tied to broken pet AI. In short Anet has no plans to remove the pet. ever. I’ve heard that a pet rework is being considered so look forward to that next year! Maybe. Probably not.

I say fix the pet AI and give the option to run a viable build without a pet. For balance issues, seeing as how pets bring extra utility along with the damage, use my suggestion above which will make up for the damage and survivability, but incorporate a new class specific ability when the pet is stowed to provide more utility.

Another suggestion: Staying with the whole “solo” hunter feel that a ranger with no pet would have, how about an ability that supports that notion when you don’t have a pet.

To me, this seems like it should work off of some type of camouflage (not stealth!).

(Passive) The Ranger’s armor could take on the image of it’s surroundings (think a snapshot of the ground replacing the color of the armor) when the Ranger has been out of combat for 10 seconds. This gives the Ranger +15% movement speed (since a Ranger in camo can more easily move through his/her surroundings), Retaliation, Regeneration, and the next shot will root the target for 2 seconds. Retaliation and Regeneration is lost when the Ranger enters combat, either through attacking an enemy or being attacked. Regeneration will have a 3 second duration, however, and therefor will continue to Regen for 3 seconds after entering combat.

(Active) In combat, the Ranger can choose to enter into Camouflage, gaining all the effects of Camouflage for 5 seconds. 30 sec cooldown (and while in cooldown, the Ranger cannot gain the passive benefits even if out of combat for more than 10 sec.)

Just my initial thoughts on it (it’s good to get ideas out even if they’re not the best ones, so anyone else have any suggestions?)

Which other classes get any benefit for refusing to use the class active abilities?

Warrior. Not using their adrenaline, or f1 burst ability due to the increased damage per adrenaline you have if traited.

Brown bear on passive is basically a 2 condition cleanse every 20 seconds. Helps me fill that gap a bit. It also body blocks if used that way.

Seth.1308:

Which other classes get any benefit for refusing to use the class active abilities?

Which other classes have a mandatory direct dmg loss because of their class specific ability?

That argument carries no weight because we’re asking for a different class specific mechanic, not none at all.

Although I’d arguably take none at all at this point.

No class has an option to not use their class mechanism. Even Warrior gain adrenaline whether they like it or not. How effectively you use that mechanism is upto you.

Warrior have the option not to active the class mechanism just as Rangers do. Switching pets regularly is Best. Their are time when not switching is more beneficial like when using masters bond.

Passive uses for some classes is more viable, The Ranger isn’t one of them.

A Ranger leaving their pet on passive is the same as an Elementalist staying in one attunement. It can be done and some do it but, it is not the best idea and should not be advocated.

The bad things about pets are:
- they can die and go on a 60 second cooldown
- they force the Ranger into combat mode if the pet is in combat

Unless these two issues are removed from the game, the pets will never amount to anything beyond 1v1 PvP.

Also they can’t hit a moving target without the target being immobilized/chilled/crippled/stunned. But that wouldn’t be so bad if the pets couldn’t die and wouldn’t force the Ranger into combat mode.

I quite like my pet honestly, at first I would have done anything to play a ranger w/o a pet – but my little puppy has saved my life & my teams life with it’s fear/immob/blind – now if there was a way to apply the conditions that your pets apply at the force they do without a ranger having to have a pet- then we’d be getting somewhere

The biggest problem I have other than pet ai & reaction times is aoe + pet = oh crap. Pets should be immune to aoe or all forms of criticals atleast. A pet should be able to survive but still killable if focused.
ai in gw2 is the worst I’ve seen in an mmo
I can command my pet with f2 but it takes 10 seconds to react, 10 seconds is a long time in a 1v1 fight.

It has been said by anet they will not remove the pet- they’ve thought about it but the ranger was designed with the pet & blah blah blah but they plan to rework your pet’s AI. Let’s hope.

Pets do not aggro Mobs only aggro off the player in rare situations when the player has already aggro the mob but the mob hasn’t hit the player (the player still is ooc) the mob can attack and hit the pet when targeting the player causing the player to go into combat.

This could have been prevented if the player simply stowed there pet.

While its true your pet can go on 60 second cd if they die. You have two pets only in the most extreme situations would a half decent ranger lose both pets for the full 60 seconds.

A lot of classes have a lot of aoe skill making pets invulnerable would be ridiculously OP.

As far a the pet AI it is very predictable. I could see how people who do really pay attention to pets would think they are un reliable (not know if you pet is dazed or chilled) then try to use f2 skill. Those who have bad internal clocks could also have problem when switching pet and not knowing that the pets big attack is still on cd.

But how would you display the status of the current pet and the cd of your current pet and that of the stowed pet with out making the interface to cluttered.

A lot of the problem with the class an two fold
1. not enough information being provided (pet cd and status)
2.poor performance of the player. (not switch pet when they are in danger or calling them back).

Can we just give Ranger pets a blanket 75% reduced damage from AE in WvW unless the pet was the actual target of the skill and call it a day? If the pet wasn’t killed in seconds we wouldn’t have a dozen of these threads every weak asking for ANet to remove the pet from the class.

The amount of utility the pets provide is quite considerable. If only they were alive long enough to actually provide it.

Obsidian.1328:

Seth.1308:

Which other classes get any benefit for refusing to use the class active abilities?

Which other classes have a mandatory direct dmg loss because of their class specific ability?

That argument carries no weight because we’re asking for a different class specific mechanic, not none at all.

Although I’d arguably take none at all at this point.

This is the most fair argument so far.
Besides the argument of it being a “class mechanic”, the AI does a % which isn’t the most appealing especially after numerous “fixes” have helped the problem. It remains unresolved.
This topic has been around since game drop and before when they previewed the classes. It would be nice if they added one of the april updates.. even a major trait for the option to play w/out the pet.
It’s just difficult for anyone to argue that a class must rely on an AI to a % of the players damage regardless of pet micro-managing.
If the argument is to play your pet better (with the lack of pet info provided) .. that’s not a fair argument either. Whether that may be true or not, that statement caters to a fraction of the community in a game meant to be for everyone so to say.

In all, the community could benefit by making a versatile option in giving a choice to a Ranger to use/not use a pet.