Advice for a Ranger

[CrazyBernie]

Well honestly you shouldn't be holding anything in your hands to cast a spell, except maybe a wand.

[silverkitty]

get more concentration:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3334&start=0
it increases how much you can hold while casting, among other things

get more bow skill:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3285
you get to do auto-hit every 10 turns or so around 25.

[Iane]

Well honestly you shouldn't be holding anything in your hands to cast a spell, except maybe a wand.

So what you are saying here is, playing a Combo Character in Eschalon is pointless

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Depending on the relative weight and how bad your strength is, you might need different gauntlets, instead. Your strength shouldn't be that lousy (though it's not strictly necessary for a bow user, one imagines that a Ranger is at least reasonably fit).

[CrazyBernie]

Well honestly you shouldn't be holding anything in your hands to cast a spell, except maybe a wand.

So what you are saying here is, playing a Combo Character in Eschalon is pointless

No, I'm saying it only takes one round to switch out your weapon, which is hardly an issue for a ranged character.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Listen to Bernie. He's a captain now. We should be saluting him.

[Dragonlady]

Listen to Bernie. He's a captain now. We should be saluting him.

He's not the only Capt. around here.

[CrazyBernie]

Whoever said talking too much was a bad habit obviously never held any rank.

In other news, I use/used dual concentration rings for both my current cleric and previous ranger. Unfortunately it's not enough to allow me to cast while carrying a shield, but I usually try to buff up before combat anyways.

With my ranger, I noticed a big jump across the board in stat boosts with the rings. Damage, ToHit, Carrying capacity... they might actually be a bit overpowered...

[Krafen]

Try casting the spell that boosts your strength. That should help a bit.

[Iane]

I don't think I'll ever play a Ranger or combo of again as I think there is way too many restrictions placed on this build and frankly I'd hate to start the game all over again and yes one round would not be an issue if a bow is all that was being swapped but it's not.

The game becomes extremely boring also when you chew through arrows only to find the shops update stock once in a week (think) and then they sell very little - so your fighting for one or 2 game days and find you have to camp until you can get more stock and that presents more problems - this to me does not make a fun game

[BasiliskWrangler]

I don't think I'll ever play a Ranger or combo of again as I think there is way too many restrictions placed on this build and frankly I'd hate to start the game all over again and yes one round would not be an issue if a bow is all that was being swapped but it's not.

The game becomes extremely boring also when you chew through arrows only to find the shops update stock once in a week (think) and then they sell very little - so your fighting for one or 2 game days and find you have to camp until you can get more stock and that presents more problems - this to me does not make a fun game

This is "Basilisk Games Opinion" on the Ranger class: I feel it is incorrect to imply that a Ranger is an exclusive bowman. This is why the True Ranger challenge only expects 80% of the kills to be by bow. Furthermore, stealth and magick are both encouraged to be part of a Ranger's skill set, as direct combat should never be the essence of the Ranger.

As for arrows being scarce, they are to some extent. Every merchant restocks arrows every week- a Quick Travel between Kuudad, Everdale and Eastwillow every seven days to buy up all their arrows is often sufficient anytime I played a bowman. Stop by Fletcher's Grove early on, and often I end up with a surplus of arrows for most of the game.

I also often develop a minor skill in Swords or Cleaving as well. This is especially critical for the early levels when arrows are a bit more scarce. Is it blasphemy for a Ranger to use a sword? Not according to Aragorn in Lord of the Rings. A bow is just one of many tools of the Ranger, not his exclusive weapon.

As for the game getting "boring" because you chew through arrows- I can only respond by saying I respect your opinion. But for me, running low on arrows and relying on "from-the-shadows long-range" Intense Focus shots adds a lot of fun to the game. One of the best times I had during testing was being stuck in Hammerlorne with only 23 arrows and figuring out how I was possibly going to finish the dungeon. I did it, but it took some strategy!

Overall, as a player of Book II, I feel a well-round Ranger is about the most fun class to play. It offers more play diversity than a Mage or Fighter and often has just enough stealth ability to make things interesting!

[CrazyBernie]

I'm not sure why you would be having such a hard time with a ranger combo... could you post a screenshot of your character? Either that or your latest save if it'll fit.

[Louist]

Hello all,

This is my first post. I've been playing through Book 2 for a few days now, getting a taste of different character types to see what I enjoy. I'm still learning, but here's my two cents:

Initially, Ranger was the most fun of the characters I've tried. Even with lower hit points, he tends to be a bit easier to use in combat because he doesn't get hit often.

But as I continue to play him, I'm getting more of a feel for the, in my opinion, major downsides to playing a ranger, and the class is becoming tedious.

First off, early on arrows are really scarce. When all you have is the Eastwillow blacksmith, who carries 30 arrows as often as 50, you have to be very picky with your shots. At first or second level, it's not uncommon to take 4 or 5 shots to kill a rat. That means camping out for a week every 10 rats... This gets better (I've discovered my second town, this one in the Wolfenwood), but its still a lot of travelling around just to fill my quiver.

Second, dungeons are a real pain. While it makes sense that you can't weild a bow and hold a torch at the same time, it makes any ranged combat underground rather more diffucult (and expensive) for a ranger than for a spell-caster or a melee type. Yes, I can (and do) draw enemies to a source of light, but that certainly isn't less tedious. And some areas (I'm currently doing Ironpool Dam) it just isn't a realistic use of my time. Pulling all those drowned back to beginning of the map so I have more than 33% change to hit them just isn't fun.

Now, it's not all bad. Since picking up a melee skill (Piercing, since I found a book for it) I'm wasting less arrows when something is at point blank. And with the foraging and merchantile skills, I'm easily affording all the arrows I can buy.

However, I'm now stretched pretty thin as far as skill points go, and it feels like I'm doing it just to keep my ranger afloat. Magick might be an option to help with light in dungeons, but that means spreading myself even more....

I'm still enjoying the game, and the character, but it does feel that a ranger is rather less effective with the same skill points invested.

Oh, also, where is this fletcher's grove that was mentioned? I'd love some free arrows. Also, I've found a lantern, but I just cant figure out how/if you can use it. Man, I wish I could just drop a burning torch on the ground. Even if it just lasted a few turns, it would save me a lot of work.

Thanks,
Louist

[Kreador Freeaxe]

I haven't played Book II yet (only two more days to Mac release, though), but certain elements of playing a Ranger won't have changed. A few things that I found useful in dungeon settings: The first chance you get to talk to a magic trainer (somebody posted all the trainers, I think, if you want to know where he/she is), learn some elemental magic for Predator Sight. Until then, try to find the potions (did the recipe become available in Book II, or is it still one of those potions you can only get by buying or finding?). For situations in the dark where you have lots of enemies, it's great. You get no penalty for darkness.

Another useful tactic, particularly if there's an available choke-point, is to toss down some demon oil. It will effectively block your enemies from getting to you, and illuminate them so they're easier to hit.

Also, if there are convenient exploding barrels around, try to create choke points with them and draw your enemies there. Your arrows never miss the barrels, and the explosion does a much more efficient job of killing them all with much less expenditure on your part.

In my sensibility, the Ranger is really the most strategic of the various builds, though perhaps thief/rogue comes close. You want to liberally use trainers to learn as much as you can, and use whatever you have available to adjust situations to your benefit.

[Louist]

I havent seen any potions yet, but I'll keep an eye out. Worth be worth the price.

Thanks