I’m actually a fan of the more defensive feel of the Ranger’s greatsword. It’s different than everyone else’s greatsword and feels like a uniquely Rangery sort of use of such a large, cumbersome, generally un-Rangery weapon.
I like the evasion built into the autoattack chain – it’s harder to time it properly to deal with single large hits a’la boss whacks, but that’s not really its purpose. I use Counter and Hilt bash for those. The AA evasion, on the other hand, makes itself felt when I’m hip-deep in meanie-kittens and getting attacked on all sides.
That said, while I like it, I agree that it needs help. Swoop has some funky targeting issues that could use resolving, Counter is just weird and frankly kinda contradicts the weapon’s function – why, exactly, does a greatsword ranger want to kick his enemy out of his weapon’s reach? – and Hilt Bash has way too much cooldown for not really doing much. You can’t usually time it sufficiently to catch your pet’s big attacks anyways. The fact that said interaction is the only pet interaction bothers me.
I’d work the greatsword a little differently myself, though. Up the AA damage for the thing and keep its evasion. Swoop works – it’s a little boring, but it’s a nice long-range lunge with solid-if-unexceptional damage. Maul could use an extra stack of bleeding or two – it’s where the greatsword’s damage is supposed to be, so why is it so…meh? Still, mechanically fine if numerically a little blah.
What I’d like is for Counter’s knockback to flush itself. Instead, a successful counterattack gives the Ranger Protection for, say…five seconds. That’d give it a lot more flexibility – use it strategically to counter single large attacks, or hit it in a scrum, counter whatever pokes you first and get the Protection to help blunt the onslaught. I’d also like to see Crippling Throw either cut Counter’s recharge in half, as has been suggested, or do a good bit more damage. Right now about all it’s good for is finishing a running whatsit you don’t feel like chasing down or getting a bit of damage from a whiffed Counter. Neither of those is a task that should be encouraged.
As for Hilt Bash, if they insist on keeping the flanking thing, then I’d much prefer for it to be a stun in general and a knockdown when flanking. A 30s recharge for a one-second Daze that deals no real damage is steep, and it’s not honestly that much better as a stun. A knock, on the other hand, is absolutely worth trying for the flank to get, and at the same time getting the stun if you whiff it or don’t have time to flank isn’t too bad. The pet interact on that could, perhaps, change to Protection or Regen, to help emphasize the more defensive/controller-y aspects of the thing. personally, I’d like to see a Blind on it for the same reason – would let you exercise a lot of control for your 30s, effectively null-damage control skill, and make the playerwant to actually learn to use it well instead of just A.) throwing it out there because it’s a skill and why not, or B.) forgetting it exists.
