Anybody else think Ranger is gutted?

[Nojheim]

I recently watched a pvp video where the guy described a Rangers role as the guy in the back being a pain in the arse. This is exactly what I think we should play like.
You stay at the back of the team, utilising our range, constantly putting in the slows, interrupts and DOTing people up, watching for when someone is low and then using our great burst damage to get the kill.
I play SB/LB, with spike trap, muddy terrain, quickening and rage as one and the level of control and avoidance you can get using that combo is immense. You can lock people down using the traps and cripples with the SB, and then burst them down with the LB at max range using rapid fire and quickening/rage as one. Yes if you get caught we don't last long, but that's the art of the Ranger, you shouldn't get caught.

[Mitchrapp]

I recently watched a pvp video where the guy described a Rangers role as the guy in the back being a pain in the arse. This is exactly what I think we should play like.
You stay at the back of the team, utilising our range, constantly putting in the slows, interrupts and DOTing people up, watching for when someone is low and then using our great burst damage to get the kill.
I play SB/LB, with spike trap, muddy terrain, quickening and rage as one and the level of control and avoidance you can get using that combo is immense. You can lock people down using the traps and cripples with the SB, and then burst them down with the LB at max range using rapid fire and quickening/rage as one. Yes if you get caught we don't last long, but that's the art of the Ranger, you shouldn't get caught.

That's pretty much what I do. If I get separated from the group and run into an opposing player I'm pretty much screwed.

[Steel Singer]

So basically the last 2 guys confirmed everything.
The ranger sucks at sPvP.

In sPvP there are a ton of 1v1 and 2v2 and only very few 3v3's. So basically the ranger has a huge disadvantage there.

[Vayne]

So basically the last 2 guys confirmed everything.
The ranger sucks at sPvP.

In sPvP there are a ton of 1v1 and 2v2 and only very few 3v3's. So basically the ranger has a huge disadvantage there.

Guess it depends on what you mean by suck. Useful but easy to die doesn't suck to everyone. I guess it has to do with teamwork and communication and how you build your team. I could see this really sucking in random matches, and being really useful in a team built for it.

Then again, when I did PvP that was the type of character I tended to play...a harrasser. It's a valid PvP role, as you well know. You may not like it...but that doesn't mean the ranger sucks. Clearly some people are enjoying and even successful at it.

But it takes a certain mindset.

[Fey]

Lets be honest for a minute here:

In PvP, Rangers only use Shortbows, literally. Secondary weaponset was varied, but ALL of them use Shortbows. In PvE? Every ranger USED SHORTBOWS. When one weapon set is universally good and the majority of everyone playing the profession is using it, there's a problem.

Besides, being able to shoot arrows like you're firing a machine gun was retarded mechanically and aesthetically.

[Cariad]

Honestly can't see why anyone would choose to play a Ranger other than having preconceptions of it being a stupidly easy class to play with major benefits over other classes. Stand as far away as possible and send your pet after it. Rangers, lol.

This post was brought to you by a melee player with a great disdain for Rangers.

[Vayne]

Lets be honest for a minute here:

In PvP, Rangers only use Shortbows, literally. Secondary weaponset was varied, but ALL of them use Shortbows. In PvE? Every ranger USED SHORTBOWS. When one weapon set is universally good and the majority of everyone playing the profession is using it, there's a problem.

Besides, being able to shoot arrows like you're firing a machine gun was retarded mechanically and aesthetically.

I'm a ranger in PVe, and I don't always or even usually use a short bow. I do some long bow, some melee, I like sword and torch and sword and warhorn in PVe. I guess there's an exception to every rule.

[Stonesolid]

My gf (who is terrible at video games) plays Ranger and enjoys it. She doesn't have to dodge roll. lol I know because she doesn't know how yet still never dies in PvE.

I've met a few darn good Rangers in PvP but the vast majority of them are easy targets (just like Eles - few great, most bad). I haven't personally tried one in sPvP (Rangers are awesome in WvW) so I can't say how they are as a class. Either way I don't think the nerfs had much to do with it - the bat barely made a glancing blow to the Ranger.

[Nojheim]

All you need to do is to learn how to kite melee and have basic situational awareness and you will not be at any disadvantage.

[Fey]

I'm a ranger in PVe, and I don't always or even usually use a short bow. I do some long bow, some melee, I like sword and torch and sword and warhorn in PVe. I guess there's an exception to every rule.

If I made a ranger I'd use a longbow as well, and probably throwing axes. And it's not really an exception because pre-nerf the majority of Rangers still used a Shortbow as their main weapon, which is part of the reason why they nerfed it. The speed of the auto attacks was too powerful, yes. But not just because it did so much damage. It also made the other weapon options obsolite. Hell, they'll probably still use it anyway. It's still a really good weapon.

Players like us could obviously still choose to use the other weapons, but pre-nerf they weren't nearly as effective.