Ranger elite specialization for the 3rd expansion.

[Kodama.6453]

@anduriell.6280 said:

@FrownyClown.8402 said:

@Supreme.3164 said:

@FrownyClown.8402 said:Offhand sword with a 600 range leap and another skill with an evade.

Gain the ability to summon pets instead of swap, allowing for 2 pets at once. Tradeoff is they cant be unsummoned and need to be kept alive to get any use out of them. When a pet dies it goes on a 30s cd.

Rangers at large simply don't want an elite strongly based on pets because....

1-The AI is pretty terrible2-The pets will be hard nerfed in the end if they prove to be useful or worst do great DPS3-This sub-community needs something that offers more WvW presence , another duellist build is surely not needed...we have already dozen of them

Soulbeast can make a perfectly acceptable frontline build. Not our fault its not meta.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?POwAEdflRweYhsI2JmyX7PzRMH-zVRYhBLG1sTQjraGB-w

Is not meta because is not good enough. There are already threads which show the stats and why ranger is not a good option in squads.

@"Kodama.6453" said:Ranger is loaded with unique buffs for allies already, so I wouldn't give them another specialization that gives more unique pulsing buffs to allies.Also you transforming into a werebeast and then pulsing weaker versions of your buffs to allies around feels a bit too similar both mechanically and flavorwise to the shared stances from soulbeast for me.

I just personally would prefer to give ranger an elite spec that focuses on the pet. Soulbeast removes one pet, druid weakens your pet. Having a new spec that improves pets instead would be great. Either by strengthen your existing pet or by being able to summon more pets at your side, which then will maul your target you are keeping stunned with your hammer and hard CC utilities.

In general I like the idea to revive the bunner thumper in this game in some form. Obviously, they can't take the name bunny thumper for the spec, so I would use "stampede" instead. It puts emphasis on the hard CC theme of the spec as well as the aspect that you might get killed by a hoard of animals.My choice for utility skills for such a spec would be physical skills.I get what you are saying, i do.

Focusing in the pet is not a good solution as other said: Pets AI is terrible and it doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10, they will die almost instantly to all the random AoEs because the lack of evades and cleanses.

Also other players keep complaining about the AI doing all the work for the ranger, Enforcing that role would make the forums to be overtaken by all the whining and the spec would be deleted.

Using more AI is not the way to go for ranger. I thought about totems but then again spirits in it's actual design are not wanted and we don't want to be a banner slaves.

So the only cool option i see is: Apply transformations like a werebeast and offer some PbAoE support.The fact the hammer is a melee weapon with leaps is designed to force the ranger to go into melee constantly and be able to the longbow behind. The transformations are there to enforce the role and to give the aditional tankiness or damage the ranger needs to be able to play that role.

Soulbeast is a halfcooked spec with not clear design which at best could have a support role in an squad. We still need anspec to work in squad comps with an offensive role.

You say that you get what I say, but do you really?If ranger already has alot of unique buffs for allies, then there is no need to give them any more of that.

If I understand you correctly, then you mostly mean that rangers need something that makes them work in squads for WvW?A bruiser spec can achieve that without having to give buffs to allies around. What ranger is lacking currently is hard CC and defensive mechanics like blocks, more evades, etc, so they are able to survive in such big fights.

I don't see the need to give them more buffs to achieve this.

[Thornwolf.9721]

Hammer

Pet-focused, all about making the pet bigger and badder.

shouts (Ours became commands, so now we could have shouts as they'd be different.)

Call it the bunny-thumper.

[Roku.1852]

@rdigeri.7935 said:Pet mounter

Okay on a serious note, i'd like to see something more in touch with the physical, survivalist theme of ranger.

Perhaps coordinated attacks and movements together with the pet would be a good way to make them a bigger part of play

I like this a lot. Soul beast connected the ranger and pet together. But i would really like to see the pet more involved instead of just tanking or adding 2 or 3 additional skills.

[anduriell.6280]

@Kodama.6453 said:

@anduriell.6280 said:

@FrownyClown.8402 said:

@Supreme.3164 said:

@FrownyClown.8402 said:Offhand sword with a 600 range leap and another skill with an evade.

Gain the ability to summon pets instead of swap, allowing for 2 pets at once. Tradeoff is they cant be unsummoned and need to be kept alive to get any use out of them. When a pet dies it goes on a 30s cd.

Rangers at large simply don't want an elite strongly based on pets because....

1-The AI is pretty terrible2-The pets will be hard nerfed in the end if they prove to be useful or worst do great DPS3-This sub-community needs something that offers more WvW presence , another duellist build is surely not needed...we have already dozen of them

Soulbeast can make a perfectly acceptable frontline build. Not our fault its not meta.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?POwAEdflRweYhsI2JmyX7PzRMH-zVRYhBLG1sTQjraGB-w

Is not meta because is not good enough. There are already threads which show the stats and why ranger is not a good option in squads.

@Kodama.6453 said:Ranger is loaded with unique buffs for allies already, so I wouldn't give them another specialization that gives more unique pulsing buffs to allies.Also you transforming into a werebeast and then pulsing weaker versions of your buffs to allies around feels a bit too similar both mechanically and flavorwise to the shared stances from soulbeast for me.

I just personally would prefer to give ranger an elite spec that focuses on the pet. Soulbeast removes one pet, druid weakens your pet. Having a new spec that improves pets instead would be great. Either by strengthen your existing pet or by being able to summon more pets at your side, which then will maul your target you are keeping stunned with your hammer and hard CC utilities.

In general I like the idea to revive the bunner thumper in this game in some form. Obviously, they can't take the name bunny thumper for the spec, so I would use "stampede" instead. It puts emphasis on the hard CC theme of the spec as well as the aspect that you might get killed by a hoard of animals.My choice for utility skills for such a spec would be physical skills.I get what you are saying, i do.

Focusing in the pet is not a good solution as other said: Pets AI is terrible and it doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10, they will die almost instantly to all the random AoEs because the lack of evades and cleanses.

Also other players keep complaining about the AI doing all the work for the ranger, Enforcing that role would make the forums to be overtaken by all the whining and the spec would be deleted.

Using more AI is not the way to go for ranger. I thought about totems but then again spirits in it's actual design are not wanted and we don't want to be a banner slaves.

So the only cool option i see is: Apply transformations like a werebeast and offer some PbAoE support.The fact the hammer is a melee weapon with leaps is designed to force the ranger to go into melee constantly and be able to the longbow behind. The transformations are there to enforce the role and to give the aditional tankiness or damage the ranger needs to be able to play that role.

Soulbeast is a halfcooked spec with not clear design which at best could have a support role in an squad. We still need anspec to work in squad comps with an offensive role.

You say that you get what I say, but do you really?If ranger already has alot of unique buffs for allies, then there is no need to give them any more of that.

If I understand you correctly, then you mostly mean that rangers need something that makes them work in squads for WvW?A bruiser spec can achieve that without having to give buffs to allies around. What ranger is lacking currently is hard CC and defensive mechanics like blocks, more evades, etc, so they are able to survive in such big fights.

I don't see the need to give them more buffs to achieve this.Yes i do get you, ust i don't share your opinion about ranger needeing a bruiser, we already have druid as bruiser and is still not wanted.To have an sport in squad ranger must at least have one of this:

• deal good ranged AoE damage
• deal fantastic support AoE
• provide an unique effect for the squad it can't be found anywhere else.

Core does not have any real AoE damage either support to share with the squad and thats why is not wantedDruid only provide heals which everybody has access for and is not very reliable, thats why is not wanted in squads.Soulbeats stances don't last long enough and most of them don't have any significan t effect (superspeed and might on dodge...) to have them into consideration and that's why is not wanted.

And thats why you can see immob ranger being used for some small ganker guilds, because it's the only thing ranger can offer other classes don't do better.

Ranger needs an new spec with a lot of AoE embedded and access to unique buffs . It does not need another bruiser, we already have 2 specs doing that.

[Trevor Boyer.6524]

Ranger needs rocket launcher.

[Shiyo.3578]

@draxynnic.3719 said:

@Saulot.7259 said:I would really love the new specialization to be pet focused. The previous two specs fought the class mechanic. Druid weakens your pet, soulbeast removes your pet the majority of play (individually depending on your game mode). I want to see the specialization enhance the pet.

I was thinking something like a Warden. A tanky build that adds a shield as a weapon. The ranger may split some of its damage to the pet or receive damage reduction within a certain proximity of the pet. The Warden could potentially use wells where they gain fortitude by connecting with the earth.

Given current design principles, what would be the tradeoff? The core ranger mechanic is, for better or worse, pets, so an elite specialisation that only strengthens that would be hard to tradeoff short of a direct penalty to the ranger's stats. One possibility, I guess, could be to make it so that the F2 is no longer under the player's control, but happens when the pet chooses to use it - this could possibly fit for a case where the ranger has

both

pets out at once.

Trade offs don't exist for most elites, and all that were added should be reverted.

[Saitam.9340]

Zodiac Ranger.Channeling the celestial power of the different Canthan star signs, all of which are different animals. Replaces the pet with a celestial being that mirrors the Ranger's actions.The Zodiac Ranger synchronizes their fighting style with the Celestials themselves, using abilities in tandem similar to Mesmer clones but without the shatter effects.New weapon would be offhand sword, for Shiro reasons.New skill type would be.. Mantras? Maybe Spirit Weapons? Bathing the battlefield in a variety of celestial effects, similar to weather patterns? Or raining stars down on enemies?

[Kodama.6453]

@Saitam.9340 said:Zodiac Ranger.Channeling the celestial power of the different Canthan star signs, all of which are different animals. Replaces the pet with a celestial being that mirrors the Ranger's actions.The Zodiac Ranger synchronizes their fighting style with the Celestials themselves, using abilities in tandem similar to Mesmer clones but without the shatter effects.New weapon would be offhand sword, for Shiro reasons.New skill type would be.. Mantras? Maybe Spirit Weapons? Bathing the battlefield in a variety of celestial effects, similar to weather patterns? Or raining stars down on enemies?

While it sounds cool, I don't think that they will do another celestial elite spec for ranger after druid.

[Aomine.5012]

I'm 90% certain the last specialization would be pet specialize class.It is the only playstyle ranger has yet to get so far, so it's a no brainer.I'm actually quite excited about it actually, a specialization to boost pet to furious beast degree.Maybe allowing 2 pets activate at the same time with some cool new abilities and strong boosts for pet.

As for weapon choice, maybe a hammer just for the GW2 meme. (Bunny thumper)

[Kodama.6453]

@Shiyo.3578 said:

@draxynnic.3719 said:

@Saulot.7259 said:I would really love the new specialization to be pet focused. The previous two specs fought the class mechanic. Druid weakens your pet, soulbeast removes your pet the majority of play (individually depending on your game mode). I want to see the specialization enhance the pet.

I was thinking something like a Warden. A tanky build that adds a shield as a weapon. The ranger may split some of its damage to the pet or receive damage reduction within a certain proximity of the pet. The Warden could potentially use wells where they gain fortitude by connecting with the earth.

Given current design principles, what would be the tradeoff? The core ranger mechanic is, for better or worse, pets, so an elite specialisation that only strengthens that would be hard to tradeoff short of a direct penalty to the ranger's stats. One possibility, I guess, could be to make it so that the F2 is no longer under the player's control, but happens when the pet chooses to use it - this could possibly fit for a case where the ranger has

both

pets out at once.

Trade offs don't exist for most elites, and all that were added should be reverted.

Trade offs (in Anet's sense) exist for all elite specs except one: tempest.