Welcome aboard!
arehb2 wrote:Are ranged weapons any good? What type of character most commonly use them?
In a word, no. This is actually a great selection of threads on the subject:
http://www.ryzom.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10969
Only those of us crazy enough to level a broken tree try it; wouldn't recommend it on your first go around to Ryzom.
arehb2 wrote:Are the chances of getting a specific mat type from any class of mobs the same, independently of where I find the mobs or what level they are?
I'm answering this two ways since I don't know which question you're asking. Each specific mob drops between 2-5 different items, of the same ql and same quality for that particular mob. Those drops will be identical across Ryzom for that particular mob (e.g. weeny kipee), but different species (kipees vs raguses vs mektoubs) drop very different mats (explosives vs points vs hides). Which and how many of those 2-5 items actually drops depends on which combat skill you use (quick melee kills drop a lot more than magic/ranged) and what particular item you're looking for (eyes drop particularly rarely compared to other mats, for instance.)
arehb2 wrote: am trying to get my crafting skill to keep pace with the others but its difficult. My main problem is that I have the wrong mats. For all the item types I can produce, I am short on one mat type. Still my inventory is almost full of mats. Do you have any advice for me?
Post-patch 1, crafting as a solo skill went the way of the dodo bird. Realistically, harvesting is the only way to go to supply requirements; using mob drops works for the occasional item or two but not for grinding. I'd sell lower quality drop mats and find harvest spots for the ones you're missing and then craft and sell. Or, as much as I hate to say this, there's no real need to be a crafter, at least until much later in the game. Its a frustrating profession and while it can be rewarding it takes a lot less time leveling other skills up at first - and at least below q100 there's not a problem finding good item.
arehb2 wrote:When you give items to an NPC vendor to sell - from which vendors can other players buy those items? Is it all vendors of that class in the playzone?
If you're still in newbie island, its all the cities on that island. Once you get to the mainland, its all the cities in that race's land - e.g if you sell in Matis, all Matis cities have your item in stock, but you can't see them or access them in Tryker.
Hope that helps!