New Dwarf ranger

[eeky]

I asked about this on the GS forums but this is probably a better place.
Thinking about making a dwarf sniping at first then maybe open archer ranger. Will go GoS. I'm picking dwarf for strength bonus and better Con.

Need some help on stat placement. Here is what I have so far.

STR 60
CON 70
DEX 63
AGL 77
DIS 73
AUR 82
LOG 82
INT 69
WIS 70
INF 24

Training
1x Armor Use Want to be in brig then maybe pick up ranks later?
2x Ranged Weapons
1x Ambush Up to 40 ranks then not sure if I should go on
2x Physical Fitness GoS
.5x Dodging Heard I need it
2x Stalking and Hiding
2x Perception
1x First Aid
1x Survival
1x Harness Power
1x Spell Research
1x Ranger spells Wish I had more!
What should I do the first 30 days, run a fletching script sitting on a node or would I get more exp power lvl'ing with a claid?

I appreciate any advice.

[zhelas]

Unless you are doing it for RP reasons or want to be primarily a caster or you have some uber leet set of brig, I would eventually get 70 ranks of armor to get into Augmented Chain.

If you are going to snipe 1x in Ambush. After 40 ranks of ambush and perception you start getting small AS boosts to your range AS.

2x pf is nice. I went 1.5x in pf and I don't have stamina problems. Bumping it up to 2x is a post cap goal for me.

.5x Dodge seems a little low. I would get it up to .75x to 1x. It is quite helpful for your DS with the addition of mobiles.


Thinking about making a dwarf sniping at first then maybe open archer ranger.

Personally I would try to start fitting in MIU and Arcane Symbols. Having 24 ranks in each will be helpful. When you hunt warcamps, you want to use lots of tricks and toys. I found that 509 + 606 + Haste = 1 sec open aim eye shots.


What should I do the first 30 days, run a fletching script sitting on a node or would I get more exp power lvl'ing with a claid?
Why not do both? Claid hunting will make quick kills. When you have your exp gift, fletch to stay fried.

[eeky]

I need to know what else I can/should tank and what I should raise. Not sure about strength, it's dwarf so there should be a bonus and I'll be an archer/sniper so I'll want fast draw times for whatever bow I'll be using. (Don't have a clue what to get)

New stats
STR 60
CON 70
DEX 86
AGL 77
DIS 40
AUR 69
LOG 82
INT 69
WIS 87
INF 20

Still messing around with skills. PF is more than just Sunfist but the maneuver bonus. Think staying 2x ambush at least for the beginning so I can hit what I aim for. I'll get 9 MIU for hast imbeds and keep FA and Survival because I need coin and it's a cheap way to do it. Still working on dodge..
It's painful to fit everything at the beginning!

[zhelas]

My recommendations:
Core:
2x Range for life
2x perception for life
1x ambush for life since you want to snipe
2x hiding and stalking since you want to snipe

Skills to consider:
1x armor to 70 ranks
At least 1x PF buy 1.5x to 2x is better
1x Dodge
24 ranks miu and arcane
1x FA
1x survival
1x harness power for life
1x spells - get up to 640 first then switch to minor spirit till either 120 or 130 and switch back to ranger ranks
24 ranks of SMC. Mana sharing is quite nice.
work in climbing and swiming. 30 ranks of climbing to get to pinfar.. 30 ranks of swimming to get into the rift.

[eeky]

I'm stupid, didn't see I had armor set for 30 by lvl 20... Much easier to put points now where you suggest. Anything on stats?

[zhelas]

Pertaining to stats, I am not an expert. Someone might chime in here with some advice.

If I wanted a place to start, I would try and find one of those character spread sheets. Like you find on www.tsoran.com. With a spread sheet like that you can see the growth of your character as they gain levels.

[Sheikh]

1. abandon this plan
2. re-roll as a halfling
3.???
4. profit

Halfling rangers are pretty damn sweet if you look into all the racial/class perks

[eeky]

1. abandon this plan
2. re-roll as a halfling
3.???
4. profit

Halfling rangers are pretty damn sweet if you look into all the racial/class perks

What about encumbrance issues and rt for firing times? If you have some numbers I would be willing to plug them in and check it out. I'm not sure what the benefits would be.

[Sheikh]

Encumbrance does not have any effect on ranged RT, just encumbrance. These are the perks that I love about them.....

- Halfling natural badass elemental TD
- Rangers give you good spirit TD
- Halflings give natural resistance to maneuvers
- Halflings have the size difference bonus for ambushes
- Rangers are possibly the best class for AdvGuild bounties
- rapid fire+spike=win
- the list goes on and on but I am tired of typing, hopefully Spiffy will chime in or anyone else that has gone this route, it is pretty incredible.

[SpiffyJr]

Encumbrance does not have any effect on ranged RT, just encumbrance. These are the perks that I love about them.....

- Halfling natural badass elemental TD
- Rangers give you good spirit TD
- Halflings give natural resistance to maneuvers
- Halflings have the size difference bonus for ambushes
- Rangers are possibly the best class for AdvGuild bounties
- rapid fire+spike=win
- the list goes on and on but I am tired of typing, hopefully Spiffy will chime in or anyone else that has gone this route, it is pretty incredible.

Halfling Rangers!

- +40 innate elemental TD (+20 sorcerer). Couple this with the spiritual TD of being a Ranger and you're virtually immune to CS spells against like-level NPCS all the way to cap. In 89 levels I have never taken more than a minor from a NPC cast CS spell.
- +15 dex bonus makes for the highest AS potential for bow users. A +10 str bonus coupled with 606 means you'll be firing a composite bow aimed in 5 seconds. Sure, it's not 3 seconds, but it's just as fast as most of the other professions in the game. Find a few enhancives and you can drop that easily.
- Encumbrance really isn't an issue with 606 + 10 str bonus. I carry a satchel full of herbs, 100 arrows, and I can still carry a few boxes before returning. You're also going ranged so it's even less of an issue.
- Insane spiritual regen coupled with CoL for even more insane benefits. +35 AS/DS, +20 bolt DS, +15 generic TD, no bleeding. Sure, GoS is nice, but the mechanical benefits of CoL are still superior for the numbers game.
- 602 + 618 + halfling bonus = you are virtually immune to all maneuvers and the ones that do hit you are very minor. I was a 50 halfling in Pyrothags and never died to their shards. I also never took more than 5 damage from a fire mage (21 levels higher) boil. Tillmen (level 100 I'm 89) missed three boils in a row.
- Great DS. I have over a 400 DS at 89 in offensive self-cast WITHOUT the +40 from my mongoose. Defensive DS is near 600.
- Halflings have a moderate hiding BONUS. The only race to have a bonus in ANY AREA IN THE GAME. This helps sniping, by the way.

People complain about encumbrance and low strength all the time. The fact is: why give up all the bonuses of playing a halfling for a single negative that can easily be made for by enhancives (or a shot of 509)? 40 elemental TD is 13.33 LEVELS of TD that can NEVER be gained in any other circumstance.

[SpiffyJr]

Encumbrance does not have any effect on ranged RT, just encumbrance. These are the perks that I love about them.....

- Halfling natural badass elemental TD
- Rangers give you good spirit TD
- Halflings give natural resistance to maneuvers
- Halflings have the size difference bonus for ambushes
- Rangers are possibly the best class for AdvGuild bounties
- rapid fire+spike=win
- the list goes on and on but I am tired of typing, hopefully Spiffy will chime in or anyone else that has gone this route, it is pretty incredible.

Halfling Rangers!

- +40 innate elemental TD (+20 sorcerer). Couple this with the spiritual TD of being a Ranger and you're virtually immune to CS spells against like-level NPCS all the way to cap.
- +15 dex bonus makes for the highest AS potential for bow users. A +10 str bonus coupled with 606 means you'll be firing a composite bow aimed in 5 seconds. Sure, it's not 3 seconds, but it's just as fast as most of the other professions in the game. Find a few enhancives and you can drop that easily.
- Encumbrance really isn't an issue with 606 + 10 str bonus. I carry a satchel full of herbs, 100 arrows, and I can still carry a few boxes before returning. You're also going ranged so it's even less of an issue.
- Insane spiritual regen coupled with CoL for even more insane benefits. +35 AS/DS, +20 bolt DS, +15 generic TD, no bleeding. Sure, GoS is nice, but the mechanical benefits of CoL are still superior for the numbers game.
- 602 + 618 + halfling bonus = you are virtually immune to all maneuvers and the ones that do hit you are very minor. I was a 50 halfling in Pyrothags and never died to their shards. I also never took more than 5 damage from a fire mage (21 levels higher) boil. Tillmen (level 100 I'm 89) missed three boils in a row.
- Great DS. I have over a 400 DS at 89 in offensive self-cast WITHOUT the +40 from my mongoose. Defensive DS is near 600.
- Halflings have a moderate hiding BONUS. The only race to have a bonus in ANY AREA IN THE GAME. This helps sniping, by the way.
- Some sort of poison/disease resistance. I never got immobilized by any of those wasps in Teras. Hell, I didn't even know they could do it until someone asked me how I never got raped by their stings.
- Sexy stats. All 100s except for an 80 in influence.

People complain about encumbrance and low strength all the time. The fact is: why give up all the bonuses of playing a halfling for a single negative that can easily be made for by enhancives (or a shot of 509)? 40 elemental TD is 13.33 LEVELS of TD that can NEVER be gained in any other circumstance.

[SpiffyJr]

My stats/skills at level 89. Aimed eye shots or a spike is a quick ending to anything. I use brigadine (6x ECP) and the 77 ranks give me a reduction in my AP.


Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 177 77
Combat Maneuvers...................| 190 90
Ranged Weapons.....................| 280 180
Ambush.............................| 190 90
Physical Fitness...................| 257 157
Dodging............................| 190 90
Arcane Symbols.....................| 50 10
Magic Item Use.....................| 50 10
Harness Power......................| 188 88
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Spiritual Lore - Summoning.........| 70 15
Survival...........................| 190 90
Stalking and Hiding................| 280 180
Perception.........................| 280 180
Climbing...........................| 140 40
Swimming...........................| 140 40

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 30

Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 50

Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 97 (8) ... 97 (8)
Constitution (CON): 96 (33) ... 96 (33)
Dexterity (DEX): 94 (37) ... 94 (37)
Agility (AGI): 96 (33) ... 96 (33)
Discipline (DIS): 97 (18) ... 97 (18)
Aura (AUR): 98 (19) ... 98 (19)
Logic (LOG): 98 (29) ... 98 (29)
Intuition (INT): 96 (33) ... 96 (33)
Wisdom (WIS): 96 (23) ... 96 (23)
Influence (INF): 78 (9) ... 78 (9)

[eeky]

Damn you! I've been working and reading try to set my stats for 3 days and when I finally think I figured it out you do this to me. Actually it's better than seeing at lvl 20.

Could you please give me some stats? I'm kinda mind numb from reading posts from 07 back and fourth and the gs forums also. Also thanks I am really glad to be hearing this now rather than later.

Sorry, Spiffy could you give me your stats from lvl 0 please?

[SpiffyJr]

Damn you! I've been working and reading try to set my stats for 3 days and when I finally think I figured it out you do this to me. Actually it's better than seeing at lvl 20.

Could you please give me some stats? I'm kinda mind numb from reading posts from 07 back and fourth and the gs forums also. Also thanks I am really glad to be hearing this now rather than later.

Sorry, Spiffy could you give me your stats from lvl 0 please?

Level 0 Stats for Pandin, Halfling Ranger

Strength (STR): 73
Constitution (CON): 62
Dexterity (DEX): 30
Agility (AGI): 62
Discipline (DIS): 77
Aura (AUR): 82
Logic (LOG): 85
Intuition (INT): 62
Wisdom (WIS): 62
Influence (INF): 65

I went open archer for the first 40ish levels and worked heavily on getting 640/120. You really want to get those spells as soon as possible. I'd say by mid 50s I was in augmented chain with 640 and 120. I then stopped training in armor/spells until way later (30ish levels later and I only have 650/130). If you go with this build you really only have to worry about bolts and CMans doing any damage. Otherwise, just stand around in offensive and fire away. By level 70ish I was 1x CMans.

You have succeeded at the Kill Creatures task: 0 times recently, 215 times total.
You have succeeded at the Retrieve Heirloom task: 0 times recently, 151 times total.
You have succeeded at the Procure Skins task: 0 times recently, 254 times total.
You have succeeded at the Procure Gems task: 0 times recently, 79 times total.
You have succeeded at the Procure Herbs task: 0 times recently, 315 times total.
You have succeeded at the Kill Dangerous Creature task: 0 times recently, 210 times total.
You have succeeded at the Rescue Child task: 0 times recently, 171 times total (15 failures).

That's from a log early on of my bounties. As you can see - Rangers can do all tasks pretty easily. Once you get 650 you also get an insane modifer to your logic bonus while resting (I was getting 43 xp / pulse) and you can forage in no time with Yierka. I highly recommend getting a rodent for the bonus to Porcupine (logic). Don't worry about first aid. You can easily skin anything with just survival and 604. Also, forget lores until later. They're just not worth it.

My current cmans:

Skill name Mnemonic Ranks
Shadow Mastery smastery 5
Shield Bash sbash 2
Feint feint 3
Subdual Strike sstrike 2
Cunning Defense cdefense 3

Available Combat Maneuver Training Points: 2

At cap I think I'll have 5 smastery, 3 sbash, 3 feint, 3 sstrike, 3 cdefense. I plan on getting up to 5 cdefense and 3 disarm before it's all said and done. This really helps with bandit tasks which are a cake walk.

You fire a wooden arrow at a great boar!
AS: +385 vs DS: +29 with AvD: +25 + d100 roll: +22 = +403
... and hit for 133 points of damage!
Blow shatters knee and severs lower leg!
The great boar squeals loudly as he collapses to the ground in obvious pain and favors his mangled right hind leg.
The great boar lets out a final agonized squeal and dies.
The wooden arrow sticks in a great boar's right leg!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

That's a shot with 102 running (-34 AS/+34 DS) and without fletched arrows. If I wanted to go for a big shot I could remove 102 (+34), add fletched arrows (+25), add 117 (+75), add 608 (+30), and for shits and giggles add madness (+50). That's a single shot of 598 with bolt AS. Enough to really ruin someone's day.

In the black leather pack:
herb (1): some ephlox moss.
weapons (1): deep violet orase runestaff.
gem (3): medium white pearl, blue sapphire, petrified tiger tooth.
other (6): wooden arrow, auburn imflass broadsword, some thick vultite leg greaves, glaes-studded ora mace, glaes-studded gornar mace, invar war mattock.
skin (8): dark panther pelt, orc scalp (3), boar tusk (4).

In the black cloth cloak:
herb (10): brown weedroot ale, barrel of Captn' Pegleg's ale, chunky black ale, bubbling brown ale, tincture of ephlox, some acantha leaf, some torban leaf, some wolifrew lichen, bolmara potion, some haphip root.
other (5): bundle of wooden arrows, dull black ruic short bow, ivory vellum document, skinning knife, roasted ratweed tea.

4,000 silvers

You feel somewhat weighed down, but can still move well, though you realize you are not as quick as you could be. Sure, it's not great but I can manage just fine.

Bolt DS
A human bandit removes a plain wooden arrow from in his quiver.
A human bandit fires a plain wooden arrow at you!
AS: +415 vs DS: +375 with AvD: +14 + d100 roll: +90 = +144
... and hits for 12 points of damage!
Minor puncture to the back.
The wooden arrow breaks apart and crumbles away.

Melee DS without mongoose (I was wrong, it's not 400). Add +40 for the mongoose. Add +55 for Wizard spells (not including 911). 387 + 40 + 55 = 482 offensive DS. Not bad.
A human rogue swings a scimitar at you!
AS: +424 vs DS: +387 with AvD: +24 + d100 roll: +44 = +105
... and hits for 1 point of damage!
Weak slash to your right arm.
That doesn't even sting.

Like level kill shot - as you can see, losing 59 AS isn't an issue (-34 from 102 and -25 from not fletching arrows).
You nock an arrow in your ruic composite bow.
You fire an arrow at a human bandit!
AS: +385 vs DS: +167 with AvD: +30 + d100 roll: +61 = +309
... and hit for 77 points of damage!
Shot knocks the human bandit's head back by pushing on the inside of the skull!
The human bandit rolls over and dies.
A human bandit appears to recover some strength.
The arrow sticks in a human bandit's left eye!

Plate can be an issue but that's what 616 is for.
You gesture at a giantman brigand.
A giantman brigand is enraged by your attack!

Dozens of long thorns suddenly grow out from the ground underneath a giantman brigand! Several of the thorns jab into the brigand!
... hits for 30 points of damage!
... 25 points of damage!
Well placed shot pierces knee, that hurt!
It is knocked to the ground!
The giantman brigand is stunned!
... hits for 35 points of damage!
... 25 points of damage!
Shot knocks the giantman brigand's head back by pushing on the inside of the skull!
The giantman brigand rolls over and dies.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.

One last thing
If you want to do bandits/escorts 619 is the trump card. Long duration irresistible calm. Cast it and procede to weed + eye shot or spike them to death individually.

In summary
Halfling + Spiritually aligned Semi = GS on godmode.

[eeky]

I appreciate it. You singled ambush, how was that at lower lvls? I'm still going GoS. Think it's a good society especially if you have a character that can do well in the camps. Plus I'm poor and free padded armor is nice. Lower lvls compound bow?

Sorry I missed the open archer spot. How did that go? I could do GoS after my 30 days then migrate skills.

[SpiffyJr]

I appreciate it. You singled ambush, how was that at lower lvls? I'm still going GoS. Think it's a good society especially if you have a character that can do well in the camps. Plus I'm poor and free padded armor is nice. Lower lvls compound bow?

Sorry I missed the open archer spot. How did that go? I could do GoS after my 30 days then migrate skills.

Rangers are made to single ambush. 613 helps with aiming. You don't need more than 1x ambush unless you're hurting for AS (which you won't be). After mastering GoS, Voln (x2), and then CoL I'm still convinced CoL is superior mechanically. If you want to do GoS for camps or the social aspect then more power to you. If you're wanting to min/max then go CoL. Composite bow for life.

- Council of Light:
9903: Sign of Warding - 0:06:57 - 5 bDS, 5 pDS
9904: Sign of Striking - 0:06:11 - 5 bAS, 5 pAS
9907: Sign of Defending - 0:06:56 - 10 bDS, 10 pDS
9908: Sign of Smiting - 0:06:15 - 10 bAS, 10 pAS
9909: Sign of Staunching - 0:22:46
9910: Sign of Deflection - 0:06:57 - 20 bDS
9912: Sign of Swords - 0:06:57 - 20 bAS, 20 pAS
9913: Sign of Shields - 0:05:53 - 20 bDS, 20 pDS
9914: Sign of Dissipation - 0:10:03 - 15 elemTD, 15 spirTD, 15 sorcTD

I'm max stamina, max mana, and max spirit. CoL just can't be beat. I can run shadow mastery 100% of the time. If I was in GoS I'd have had to make sacrifices early on to 1.5x-2x PF and I'd have to give up running shadow mastery all the time. Those are sacrifices I'm not willing to make. The only sigils I miss are mending and determination.

[eeky]

SO what did your training look like starting out then?

[SpiffyJr]

SO what did your training look like starting out then?

Probably something like 1.5xish armor, 2x ranged, 2x perception, 1x survival, 1x PF, .99x harness power, rest into spells until 640/120.

[Izzy]

All of the above is good and dandy, until you realize how dumb halflings are. Boo hobbits. lolz

To be more constructive, I personally find that RT is one of the more annoying parts of hunting. You can run into a hunting ground spelled to the brim and be virtually invincible with any race, but in order to get down the the sweet sweet 3 second RT with a longbow you're going to need 40 strength bonus:

606 to be up - obvious, but including anyway [10 str bonus]
Your strength stat to be maxed - placing high or at max early means sacrificing other stats [10 str bonus]
509 - Fairly easy to get, even easier with a pocket mage. Still, has to be an outside source [15 str bonus]

That's it, as far as "easy" strength bonus goes, which leaves you at a piddly 35 str bonus, or 4 second longbow shot, un-aimed. Sure, you could pick up some strength bonus enhancives but +5 str bonus is gonna probably cost a few mil at least. Not to mention you'd probably want to eventually get another +10 on top of that for a total of 50 str bonus or a 3 second aimed shot.

All that said, you obviously don't HAVE to use a longbow, nor do you HAVE to fire aimed shots in 3 seconds. But believe me, once you do it's hard to go back. What does all this mean? It means that I would suggest a race with at least +15 strength bonus, +25 even better so that you can reach the RT thresholds without shelling out all your cash on strength enhancives and instead getting enhancive to boost your AS or something. Also being able to carry more than 2 boxes is pretty nice.

Above all though, pick a race you're going to enjoy playing. Roleplay before rollplay. If you decide you still want to be a halfling...well don't. Be a forest gnome if you want a low strength race. Gnomes at least have an inherent cool factor :D

[zhelas]

I'm still convinced CoL is superior mechanically

That is debatable.

Sigil of Mending: Increases HP recovery by +15 and allows all healing herbs to be eaten in 3 seconds.

Sigil of Concentration: +5 Mana/per pulse

Sigil of Major Bane: Adds +10 AS and heavy crit weighting to melee, ranged and bolt attacks. *** Yes this only lasts 1 minute. But to be honest with a bow or crossbow user how quickly do creatures die with an aimed eye shot? Sure the crit weighting only hurts hated enemies otherwise you do get the +10 AS. You don't need to keep this sigil running 24/7 only activate it when you need it.***

Sigil of Determination: One of the best sigils for an archer. A level 2 wound normally ends your hunt. This Sigil will allow you to continue your hunt with level 2 wounds.

Sigil of Health: Instantly recover a minimum of 15 HP or half of your lost HP, whichever is greater.
Sigil of Power: Converts 50 stamina into 25 mana. ***Nice not to lose spirit points gaining these. Stamina recovery IS faster than spirit recovery regardless of your race***

Sigil of Major Protection: Adds +10 DS and grants heavy critical padding. ***This is pretty sweet. Yes it lasts a minute but again if you didn't kill the creature in a minute and you get hit this will help you a lot. It does stack on armor that has pre-existing padding on it. So if you have HCP armor already.. you will gain additional padding from this sigil.

Sigil of Escape: This is your OH SHIT I AM GOING TO DIE button to hit to escape. As long as you have stamina, once a day you can escape from being stunned, webbed, or RT lock from combat maneuvers.

Conclusion: In the end the difference in AS/DS between GoS and Col is 5 points. As a range user you get a nice push down from the range attack, you will not miss those 5 points.

Voln?!? Unless you want to voln fu or do it for solely RP purposes stay away from that society.

[zhelas]

I personally find that RT is one of the more annoying parts of hunting.

All that said, you obviously don't HAVE to use a longbow, nor do you HAVE to fire aimed shots in 3 seconds. But believe me, once you do it's hard to go back.

Above all though, pick a race you're going to enjoy playing. Roleplay before rollplay.

This...

I wouldn't necessarily choose a gnome unless you want to shoot crossbows:) But Gnomes are more cool than Halflings.

All the bonuses from Halflings are nice. But in my opinion, normally the creatures you are hunting will die quickly thus they can't cast at you. Dwarves are a hardy race and they too have bonuses from elemental magic. CRB/Virilineus plays a dwarf all the time and I believe he has all of their benefits written down somewhere.

Droit is a Giantman and has one of the top spots in GoS. He is the Guardian's secret Ballista.

I have an Elf, at this point in time I use a Composite Bow. I get those 3 second aimed eye shots. I don't have to spend hundreds of thousands of silvers on enhansives or worry that my Adventurer guild badge is charged.

If I eventually get strength enhansives, then maybe I will get a 6x longbow but for now my composite bow works and with 150 camps under my belt I am happy with that

At 67, Fully self spelled up with wizard spells, my DS in full offense is over 400 and in full defense it is over 600. My capped sorcerer could only do as well.

CMANS: I didn't start to get combat maneuvers until my 50th train. To be honest 509+606+haste was so slick that I killed most things before they could use their maneuvers against me. Cmans in general for range users stink. They are really only good for defensive purposes.

[SpiffyJr]

That is debatable.

Sigil of Mending: Increases HP recovery by +15 and allows all healing herbs to be eaten in 3 seconds.


Mending rocks.



Sigil of Concentration: +5 Mana/per pulse


Concentration helps offset some of the large costs of sigils.



Sigil of Major Bane: Adds +10 AS and heavy crit weighting to melee, ranged and bolt attacks. *** Yes this only lasts 1 minute. But to be honest with a bow or crossbow user how quickly do creatures die with an aimed eye shot? Sure the crit weighting only hurts hated enemies otherwise you do get the +10 AS. You don't need to keep this sigil running 24/7 only activate it when you need it.***


Too damned expensive.



Sigil of Determination: One of the best sigils for an archer. A level 2 wound normally ends your hunt. This Sigil will allow you to continue your hunt with level 2 wounds.


Determination is good but it's not hard carrying around a few herbs.



Sigil of Health: Instantly recover a minimum of 15 HP or half of your lost HP, whichever is greater.


Probably better than CoL's which costs spirit.



Sigil of Power: Converts 50 stamina into 25 mana. ***Nice not to lose spirit points gaining these. Stamina recovery IS faster than spirit recovery regardless of your race***


Not bad in the field but wracking trumps power for pure mana.



Sigil of Major Protection: Adds +10 DS and grants heavy critical padding. ***This is pretty sweet. Yes it lasts a minute but again if you didn't kill the creature in a minute and you get hit this will help you a lot. It does stack on armor that has pre-existing padding on it. So if you have HCP armor already.. you will gain additional padding from this sigil.


Too damned expensive.



Sigil of Escape: This is your OH SHIT I AM GOING TO DIE button to hit to escape. As long as you have stamina, once a day you can escape from being stunned, webbed, or RT lock from combat maneuvers.


Once a day - big deal.



Conclusion: In the end the difference in AS/DS between GoS and Col is 5 points. As a range user you get a nice push down from the range attack, you will not miss those 5 points.


People tend to overlook the insane upkeep cost. Let's take a peak here, shall we?

Council of Light - +35 AS/DS, +15 TD, no bleeding, +20 bolt ds (weak spot of ranged users). Total cost: 13 mana and 3 spirit every 16 minutes at cap. Prior to that it is incredibly easy to keep all signs active all the time.

Guardians of Sunfist - Doing a little calculating to round this up to the cost for 15 minutes (compared to CoL 16 minutes) and we have.

15 mana / 15 stamina (offense)
15 mana / 15 stamina (defense)
75 mana / 75 stamina (focus)
15 mana / 22.5 stamina (mending)
0 mana / 45 stamina (concentration)
150 mana / 150 stamina (major bane)
0 mana / 90 stamina (determination)
150 mana / 225 stamina (major protection)

420 mana and 637.5 stamina to keep all your sigils up for 15 minutes. Everyone talks about how great GoS is but they all conveniently forget the upkeep cost which is staggering. At level 55 I was able to run offense, defense, mending, determination, and concentration. I rarely ever ran major protection/major bane because it was a) annoying, b) insanely expensive, c) rarely hunting "hated" enemies for major bane to be effective. I also never used Sigil of Escape and never used Sigil of Focus (too expensive).

Divide those by three and you have a 5 minute (probably the duration of most people's hunts) cost of: 140 mana and 212.5 stamina. Congratulations! If you want to be realistic and drop major bane/major protection then the cost drops a lot but so does the AS/DS boost. Fact is: you won't be running all your combat sigils early on. At level 55 with 1.5x PF it just wasn't possible if I wanted any mana to use spells and you can forget about running shadow mastery. People at cap love to say how awesome GoS is but most of them didn't experience it at low levels and, if they did, will tell you they had a hard time keeping everything active.

For pure min/maxing - CoL can't be beat.

[SpiffyJr]

All of the above is good and dandy, until you realize how dumb halflings are. Boo hobbits. lolz

To be more constructive, I personally find that RT is one of the more annoying parts of hunting. You can run into a hunting ground spelled to the brim and be virtually invincible with any race, but in order to get down the the sweet sweet 3 second RT with a longbow you're going to need 40 strength bonus:

606 to be up - obvious, but including anyway [10 str bonus]
Your strength stat to be maxed - placing high or at max early means sacrificing other stats [10 str bonus]
509 - Fairly easy to get, even easier with a pocket mage. Still, has to be an outside source [15 str bonus]

That's it, as far as "easy" strength bonus goes, which leaves you at a piddly 35 str bonus, or 4 second longbow shot, un-aimed. Sure, you could pick up some strength bonus enhancives but +5 str bonus is gonna probably cost a few mil at least. Not to mention you'd probably want to eventually get another +10 on top of that for a total of 50 str bonus or a 3 second aimed shot.

All that said, you obviously don't HAVE to use a longbow, nor do you HAVE to fire aimed shots in 3 seconds. But believe me, once you do it's hard to go back. What does all this mean? It means that I would suggest a race with at least +15 strength bonus, +25 even better so that you can reach the RT thresholds without shelling out all your cash on strength enhancives and instead getting enhancive to boost your AS or something. Also being able to carry more than 2 boxes is pretty nice.

Above all though, pick a race you're going to enjoy playing. Roleplay before rollplay. If you decide you still want to be a halfling...well don't. Be a forest gnome if you want a low strength race. Gnomes at least have an inherent cool factor :D

I eye shot 90% of the crap I hunt with a composite bow. The difference between a composite/long bow is hardly noticeable unless it's plate. If it is plate and you have to kill it using 616 is far more effective.

Composite Bow: 6 seconds - 1 (halfling bonus) - 1 (606) - 1 (509) = 3 second unaimed shot. 4 seconds open aimed. You can easily get +10 str enhancives (hell, just use your badge) to get this down to 3 seconds from the open aimed. It's not exactly difficult to hit three seconds as a halfling.

Let me know how well that forest gnome does when he gets weapon fired or immolated. The halfling will shrug it off and laugh.

[zhelas]

At 1.5x physical fitness. I don't have any trouble keeping sigil of defense, sigil of offense, sigil of concentration, sigil of mending, sigil of major bane and sigil of major protection running through the entire hunt. I rarely hunted with sigil of focus as well.

Normally I hunt with ebladed arrows. Typically, I will be way fried and my eblades will run out before I have to rest for stamina. If I need healing by the time I have found a healer and made it back to my hunting zone, I am at full stamina. Spirit recovery stinks.

Sigil of Escape hands down is better than sign of darkness. Yes it is once a day. And sometimes it is nice to have that versus having nothing which voln and CoL offer in return.

The duration times of CoL are nice. Keeping the sigils running isn't that difficult. Before I recently converted over to being a Lich user. I highlighted the messages you receive when the sigil dropped. All I did then was hit a macro and it would start them again. Now with lich it is a lot easier.

[SpiffyJr]

This...
All the bonuses from Halflings are nice. But in my opinion, normally the creatures you are hunting will die quickly thus they can't cast at you. Dwarves are a hardy race and they too have bonuses from elemental magic. CRB/Virilineus plays a dwarf all the time and I believe he has all of their benefits written down somewhere.


They get a +30 elemental TD with a -10 aura bonus which makes it's +20. Compare this to the halfling +40 - 5 and it's a +20 to +35 bonus. People tend to overlook the aura negative of dwarves. They do receive a spirit boost of +15 which is nice but isn't exactly needed as a Ranger.

[SpiffyJr]

The duration times of CoL are nice. Keeping the sigils running isn't that difficult. Before I recently converted over to being a Lich user. I highlighted the messages you receive when the sigil dropped. All I did then was hit a macro and it would start them again. Now with lich it is a lot easier.

It's still annoying and extremely expensive compared to CoL. 130 (which all Rangers should get) > Sigil of Escape and Sign of Darkness. Most of the people that bitch about halflings have never even played one. OMGEE MY FLUFFZ AND ENCUMBRANCE MUST HAVE ALL USELESS CRAPZ! STOOPID HALFLINZ!

[zhelas]

Either society will work. My advice to him is to try both. Pick the one he likes. The differences between the two is not so glaring that one is better than the other. It really comes down to preference.

One of the reasons I believe that I can keep the sigils running the way I do is that archery is over-powerfully broken. With the creatures dead at your feet, you can rest in between waves.

Just avoid voln.

[zhelas]

It's still annoying and extremely expensive compared to CoL. 130 (which all Rangers should get) > Sigil of Escape and Sign of Darkness.

Damn straight all rangers should get 130.

Normally I will either ring out or cast 130 before I sigil of escape. However, If you have broken limbs, you are stuck in RT, stunned, webbed etc etc... sigil of escape will free you. 130, sign of darkness, symbol of return or a ring will not.

[eeky]

Yeah it's a tough call. I have an empath in Sunfist and the sign cost is alot even for her. Still I made a ranger so I could breeze through camps and be able to hunt them whenever I wanted. Couple things I could do it try it while I was on my 30 days swinging a claid or wait until higher lvl when I start training in stalk/hide as Spiffy went. Don't really think I want to try it as an open archer and I really like what Spiffy had to say about his training plan. I also will have a society reset so I can give them both a shot.

Thanks guys I really appreciate the info and help.

[droit]

There are a lot of reasons I like GoS better than CoL, but a big one to consider is the overall greater utility of sigil of power compared to wracking. I was CoL for a very long time and the only time I ever used sign of wracking was during my spellups. Now, thanks to GoS, I have a mana generation tool that I can use constantly throughout my hunts without tanking my offense and to a lesser extent, my defense. Stamina recovery enhancives are easy to come by and they help tremendously relative to their cost. I wear +29 stamina recovery while hunting and I generate about 100 stamina per minute. Other sigils aside, that's the equivalent of increasing my mana pulse by 100 mana. Damn useful, if you ask me.

Bottom line: sign of wracking can produce more mana, but sigil of power has more utility.

[SpiffyJr]

Bottom line: sign of wracking can produce more mana, but sigil of power has more utility.

100% truth. Sigil of Power can be used in the field if you have the stamina. Wracking will never be useful in the field hunting unless you hunt until out of mana and then wrack and spike hunt the remainder of the battle.

[SpiffyJr]

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=52412&highlight=innate

FYI: A post I did on racial bonuses/negatives. Give it a look over before you set anything in stone.

[eeky]

I always found stamina recover hard to find. Of course I was looking for my casting empath so I'm sure that makes a difference. I think I'll be needing strength anyways for awhile. I have a feeling trying to get a good bow is going to cost me alot of coin.
I'll be doing GoS it's just a matter of when and I always. I'm pretty sold on the halfling.

[Izzy]

Either society will work. My advice to him is to try both. Pick the one he likes. The differences between the two is not so glaring that one is better than the other. It really comes down to preference.

One of the reasons I believe that I can keep the sigils running the way I do is that archery is over-powerfully broken. With the creatures dead at your feet, you can rest in between waves.

Just avoid voln.

Voln fu is fucking amazing, though. Especially as a ranger. It's as broken as archery is, and effective against things that are in heavier armor. Not to mention it has a static RT, so you can still use it fairly effectively whilst encumbered.

It is definitely a TP investment, but I never regretted going voln on my ranger. Open archery + voln fu = lightning fast hunting ability without being hindered excessively by encumbrance.

Take note though that I had a pocket wizard with me at all times, so I had a full spellup all the time and haste. Take all my suggestions with that grain of salt ;)

[poloneus]

I wrack in the field all the time. Assume owl gets me back to 8 spirit.

[Danical]

I wrack in the field all the time. Assume owl gets me back to 8 spirit.

I thought this used to be true and no longer is. The maximum is increased by the amount increased isn't awarded.

[Danical]

Nevermind. See below.

One benefit of the recent enhancive changes and subsequent modifications to Assume Aspect allows for Rangers to regenerate spirit via the Owl aspect. While the added utility is a desirable one, the long-term magnitude of spirit regenerated was a bit over the top.

The aspect was therefore adjusted this evening to continue to provide the spirit gain, but to a slightly lesser degree. The first shift to Owl will still preserve the disparity between the Ranger's maximum spirit and current spirit (as it currently does). When the shift ends, the extra spirit will be maintained.

Subsequent shifts to Owl within a 10 minute period will only provide 1 spirit to the Ranger's current pool, which will be retained when the aspect ends.

For example:
Initial Owl Shift:
Ranger has 7/10 spirit.
Ranger assumes Owl, and is now at 9/12 spirit.
Owl aspect fades, leaving Ranger at 9/10 spirit.

Subsequent Owl Shift, within 10 minutes of the first:
Ranger has 7/10 spirit.
Ranger assumes Owl, and is now at 8/12 spirit.
Owl aspect fades, leaving Ranger at 8/10 spirit.

The health-gaining portions of the Bear aspect are unaffected by this modification.

-M.

[Danical]

What is this +40 DS from mongoose business?

[poloneus]

and because of lores I get 3 spirit on the first use.

[SpiffyJr]

What is this +40 DS from mongoose business?

When a companion guards you it gives you a bonus to your DS at the cost of AS. Ranged users don't lose AS (and neither does Fu, I believe). I'm fairly certain it's +40/-40 but I could be mistaken.

[Danical]

When a companion guards you it gives you a bonus to your DS at the cost of AS. Ranged users don't lose AS (and neither does Fu, I believe). I'm fairly certain it's +40/-40 but I could be mistaken.

Declaration of shenanigans pending investigation.

[SpiffyJr]

Appears to be +34 in this instance. The bonus increases until you reach maximum affinity and then I believe it's static.

A halfling marauder slashes with a troll-claw at you!
AS: +336 vs DS: +415 with AvD: +19 + d100 roll: +61 = +1
A clean miss.
>tc guard
Your companion wanders closer as she detects your desire for protection.
>
The thorny barrier surrounding you blocks the attack from the halfling marauder!
>
A scrub mongoose scrambles back up onto her feet.
>yawn
You yawn.
>
A halfling marauder slashes with a troll-claw at you!
AS: +336 vs DS: +415 with AvD: +19 + d100 roll: +26 = -34
A clean miss.
>
Your companion takes up a position of watchful wariness in front of you.
>
The thorny barrier surrounding you blocks the attack from the halfling marauder!
>yawn
You yawn.
>
A halfling marauder slashes with a troll-claw at you!
AS: +336 vs DS: +449 with AvD: +19 + d100 roll: +85 = -9
A clean miss.

[Danical]

And the AS?

34 seems like a strange number; are there known modifiers?

[SpiffyJr]

And the AS?

34 seems like a strange number; are there known modifiers?

Just affinity level. I can show you the AS but it's easier for you to take my word for it. It doesn't affect RANGED/HURLED AS. If it wasn't for this little bonus (and assume porcupine) I'd have never bothered getting a companion.

[Danical]

Just affinity level. I can show you the AS but it's easier for you to take my word for it. It doesn't affect RANGED/HURLED AS. If it wasn't for this little bonus (and assume porcupine) I'd have never bothered getting a companion.

Data > Anecdotes.

plz provide.

[droit]

Sort of a weird order, but these clips show 1) a benefit of 50 DS, and 2) no reduction in AS.



You nock a wooden arrow in your ruic longbow.
You fire a wooden arrow at a Grimswarm troll guard!
AS: +517 vs DS: +347 with AvD: +23 + d100 roll: +97 = +290
... and hit for 97 points of damage!
Shot destroys eye and the brain behind it!
[You have earned 50 prestige points.]

The troll guard rolls over and dies.

Your companion takes up a position of watchful wariness in front of you.
>
A Grimswarm troll crusader swings a war mattock at you!
AS: +448 vs DS: +541 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +49 = -8
A clean miss.

>
You nock a wooden arrow in your ruic longbow.
You fire a wooden arrow at a Grimswarm troll raider!
AS: +517 vs DS: +363 with AvD: +23 + d100 roll: +1 = +178
... and hit for 44 points of damage!
Attack punctures the eye and connects with something really vital!
[You have earned 65 prestige points.]

The troll raider falls to the ground and dies.
The scintillating red light surrounding the arrow fades some.
The wooden arrow sticks in a Grimswarm troll raider's right eye!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

>tell companion to cease
You feel outward to your companion and impress upon him your desire that he cease his current endeavor.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

A Grimswarm troll crusader swings a war mattock at you!
AS: +448 vs DS: +491 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +68 = +61
A clean miss.

[SpiffyJr]

Oh, and here's my stats with just my adventurer's guild badge (and assume porcupine).

info
Name: Pandin Race: Halfling Profession: Ranger (shown as: Bodyguard)
Gender: Male Age: 0 Expr: 6401765 Level: 89
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 97 (8) ... 105 (12)
Constitution (CON): 96 (33) ... 96 (33)
Dexterity (DEX): 94 (37) ... 102 (41)
Agility (AGI): 96 (33) ... 96 (33)
Discipline (DIS): 97 (18) ... 97 (18)
Aura (AUR): 98 (19) ... 98 (19)
Logic (LOG): 98 (29) ... 129 (44)
Intuition (INT): 96 (33) ... 96 (33)
Wisdom (WIS): 96 (23) ... 96 (23)
Influence (INF): 78 (9) ... 78 (9)

At cap I'll be at +15 str bonus (+25 total with 606). Throw on 509 and that's a +40 bonus or a -4 second roundtime from bows. 3/4 second comp/long bow open firing time. Like I said before - it's far to easy to remove the ONLY penalty of being a halfling.

[Danical]

Sort of a weird order, but these clips show 1) a benefit of 50 DS, and 2) no reduction in AS.



You nock a wooden arrow in your ruic longbow.
You fire a wooden arrow at a Grimswarm troll guard!
AS: +517 vs DS: +347 with AvD: +23 + d100 roll: +97 = +290
... and hit for 97 points of damage!
Shot destroys eye and the brain behind it!
[You have earned 50 prestige points.]

The troll guard rolls over and dies.

Your companion takes up a position of watchful wariness in front of you.
>
A Grimswarm troll crusader swings a war mattock at you!
AS: +448 vs DS: +541 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +49 = -8
A clean miss.

>
You nock a wooden arrow in your ruic longbow.
You fire a wooden arrow at a Grimswarm troll raider!
AS: +517 vs DS: +363 with AvD: +23 + d100 roll: +1 = +178
... and hit for 44 points of damage!
Attack punctures the eye and connects with something really vital!
[You have earned 65 prestige points.]

The troll raider falls to the ground and dies.
The scintillating red light surrounding the arrow fades some.
The wooden arrow sticks in a Grimswarm troll raider's right eye!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

>tell companion to cease
You feel outward to your companion and impress upon him your desire that he cease his current endeavor.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

A Grimswarm troll crusader swings a war mattock at you!
AS: +448 vs DS: +491 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +68 = +61
A clean miss.

SHENANIGANS!

[droit]

Another clip with just one creature in the room:


A skeletal ice troll swings an enruned ice-covered battle axe at you!
AS: +205 vs DS: +491 with AvD: +38 + d100 roll: +37 = -211
A clean miss.
>tell companion to guard
Your companion wanders closer as he detects your desire for protection.
>
The thorny barrier surrounding you blocks the attack from the ice troll!
>
Your companion takes up a position of watchful wariness in front of you.
>

The troll moans evilly!
A skeletal ice troll swings an enruned ice-covered battle axe at you!
You dodge just in the nick of time!
>

A skeletal ice troll swings an enruned ice-covered battle axe at you!
AS: +205 vs DS: +541 with AvD: +38 + d100 roll: +59 = -239
A clean miss.

[Danical]

awesome companion is awesome.

[Danical]

At cap I'll be at +15 str bonus (+25 total with 606). Throw on 509 and that's a +40 bonus or a -4 second roundtime from bows. 3/4 second comp/long bow open firing time. Like I said before - it's far to easy to remove the ONLY penalty of being a halfling.

If I could wear 509 (or 606) in the rift, I would immediately switch over to Archery.

[SpiffyJr]

awesome companion is awesome.

It would be but more often than not everything is dead before it:
a) enters the room
b) takes the command to guard
c) actually starts guarding

It's handy for dangerous/grizzled creatures and the invasion mob.

[Danical]

It would be but more often than not everything is dead before it:
a) enters the room
b) takes the command to guard
c) actually starts guarding

It's handy for dangerous/grizzled creatures and the invasion mob.

oh . . . slow companion is slow.

[droit]

And another for AS verification:


You nock a wooden arrow in your ruic longbow.
You fire a wooden arrow at a cold guardian!
AS: +517 vs DS: +163 with AvD: +31 + d100 roll: +13 = +398
... and hit for 132 points of damage!
The cold guardian is stunned!
The scintillating red light surrounding the arrow fades some.
Glancing shot. The wooden arrow flips over, landing behind a cold guardian.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
>tell companion to guard
Your companion wanders closer as he detects your desire for protection.
>

Your companion takes up a position of watchful wariness in front of you.
>
You nock a wooden arrow in your ruic longbow.
You fire a wooden arrow at a cold guardian!
AS: +517 vs DS: +137 with AvD: +31 + d100 roll: +21 = +432
... and hit for 138 points of damage!
The cold guardian falls to the ground motionless.
The scintillating red light surrounding the arrow fades some.
Lacking the force and angle to lodge in a cold guardian, the wooden arrow simply falls.
Roundtime: 3 sec.

[droit]

Yeah, what Spiffy said. However, guarding is great for warcamps when you're just camped at the first room. Your companion will guard you all day long, there.

[droit]

Also, you do not get a DS bonus against ranged attacks.

[SpiffyJr]

Yah, it was really nice having a companion in the first room. Have it guard you, use 608 if you snipe, keep a 610 down, put up 612 (lored) + 615 when necessary and you can stay in there all day.

[eeky]

About what lvl do you start hitting what you aim for?