ranged rumors scare me

[gmoff]

So i'm looking around (im new) and i see countless posts about how horrible ranged is. That ranged is more of a hobby than a real class. What makes them so horrible?

[kyesmith]

So i'm looking around (im new) and i see countless posts about how horrible ranged is. That ranged is more of a hobby than a real class. What makes them so horrible?

Ranged is no more nerfed than some other skills, it does need reworking badly tho, i wouldnt take ranged up as your primmary melee but it is definatly something to come back to maybe when your higher lvl.

[mugendo]

So i'm looking around (im new) and i see countless posts about how horrible ranged is. That ranged is more of a hobby than a real class. What makes them so horrible?

Range is not as powerful and 'easy' as the other combat skills. It requires ammo for the weapon which forces the shooter to learn to craft that, buying the ammo is not a practical..or cheap option.
When fighing at low levels (the only level i know at the moment) the damage output is painfully low.
But I have been reading posts by the experienced ranged people and it does develop fully (still needs some dev attention though).
Think of Range as the skill of the PLAYER..not the character

[kibsword]

Launchers and Autolaunchers are fun to use, and can be VERY effective in mass pvp if used right. But they are generally best for more experienced and higher level characters to use. Rifles/bowrifles/pistols/bowpistols are ok, but not great.

Everything is expensive.

[rundll32]

Everything is expensive.

Youre telling me kibs

[aardnebb]

Youre telling me kibs

Pfff, except my services of course. Very reasonable *nods grumpily*.

[blaah]

Launchers and Autolaunchers are fun to use, and can be VERY effective in mass pvp if used right. But they are generally best for more experienced and higher level characters to use. Rifles/bowrifles/pistols/bowpistols are ok, but not great.

PvP is the key word with ranged. useless in PvE (fun tho), good in PvP (or so i have heard

[norvic]

Ranged has always been my primary skill, for sure it could do with some lil tweaks but it is not gimped or useless at all.

It is harder than spell chucking or stick waving to progress in as you have to lvl dig and craft in parallel, buying ammo is not a viable option.

Solo lvling is perfectly feasable because of the ability to "Kite" whether you approve of this or not although downtime can be an issue because of stamina burn.

While I was sub 200 as a ranger I used to perform a support role as a secondary tank when teamed standing off the aggro adding damage with the ability to taunt and hold aggro if main tank went down or switch to healing as necessary. Since the Improvement of meduim armour I do somtimes now find myself primary tanking while the arm wavers do their thing.

In Pvp ranged is very effective providing you stay out of reach of the pesky stick wavers.

All in all if you have any patience you will probably find ranged the most enjoyable profession of all.

Edit: a few early morning typos, shouldnt post when first coffee wasnt even finished

[khyle]

Another main skill ranger here, have been using ranged from the very beginning. My melee skills are at about half my ranged skills, with magic again about half of that, I think that tells some story. So, ranged combat is not "useless" or "nerfed" or anything, it's just different.
I should make clear that I'm not playing Ryzom for levelling up quickly or 0wnz0ring in PvP, but because I like the fantastic world, ecosystem and story. I am still in my mid-hundreds levelwise, although I've been playing quite some time now.
So, if your joy lies with maxing out everything as fast as possible, go with melee or magic (first...). Else, give it a try and enjoy whatever you like - there's no need to be 250 in a week

[kodajinn]

Another main skill ranger here, have been using ranged from the very beginning. My melee skills are at about half my ranged skills, with magic again about half of that, I think that tells some story. So, ranged combat is not "useless" or "nerfed" or anything, it's just different.
I should make clear that I'm not playing Ryzom for levelling up quickly or 0wnz0ring in PvP, but because I like the fantastic world, ecosystem and story. I am still in my mid-hundreds levelwise, although I've been playing quite some time now.
So, if your joy lies with maxing out everything as fast as possible, go with melee or magic (first...). Else, give it a try and enjoy whatever you like - there's no need to be 250 in a week

This is great to read. My vision for my first character is primarily a Rifleman with twin daggers or spear as backup weapons.