Favorite Ranger Kit?

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 8:45 pm

What's you guys' favorite ranger kit?

Stalker's my favorite; he may not do 90% of the party's enemies with missle weapons like the archer, but I find the stalker a lot more fun to play as well as a lot more versatile. The stalker, RP-wise, also feels more like someone who actually takes charge and sets up the party's attack strategy, which is what the PC as leader should be doing. The archer feels like too much of a supporting character.

Don't get me wrong, I love archers as well and know their power. I just like stalkers better, and at higher levels they can be just as powerful.

Regular ranger is pointless unless you plan on dualling to cleric; come on, what self-respecting ranger wears metal and denies himself the stealth ability?

Beastmaster ... ha. Well, actually, dualled to cleric (yes, it can be done w/ ToB installed) even he becomes a monster. But still, it's not a kit I particularly like.

hwttdz · Post by **hwttdz** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 9:21 pm

This is the best question ever. I love rangers. I really like all of them so much but they're all so different. The one's I figure worthwhile are the elven archer, the stalker probally elven as well, and the human archer with 2 *'s in slings dualed to a cleric. I love the backstab of the stalker. I think that this is one of the best balanced classes with reguards to kits. Beastmaster is the odd man out. I think for theives bounty hunter is the odd man out. For clerics the choice is made for you. For fighters I think only kensai's are of use. Paladins are well balanced. I think that cover's it. I should start my own thread about kits. Sorry Impaler987.

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 9:30 pm

Originally posted by hwttdz
and the human archer with 2 *'s in slings dualed to a cleric.

Do you have ToB installed? If not, you're good to go. Otherwise you can't dual either an archer or a stalker to a cleric. With ToB installed only plain rangers and beastmasters can dual to cleric.

hwttdz · Post by **hwttdz** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 9:35 pm

I was actually unaware of that. I guess you could make your character then dual. Then install ToB.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 10:00 pm

Originally posted by Impaler987
what self-respecting ranger wears metal and denies himself the stealth ability?

The answer is, Rangers who are played by people who play them exactly like Fighters (and there seem to be a lot of people who do just that). What's the point? They might as well play a Fighter.

I'm with you: if you're going to play a Ranger like a Ranger, then you might as well play a Stalker. So the Stalker kit gets my vote.

I don't care for Beastmasters that much, either. If I were trying to create the least effective party possible, that's one of the kits I would choose. (I'm just trying to bait people by saying that, of course.)

Skuld · Post by **Skuld** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 11:03 pm

Here's what I say, if you want a beastmaster, just play a Fighter/Druid. It'll be much more effective. And as far as the other 3 go I really can't decide. Backstab is awesome, but I rarely use it. Being that I use parties of no more the 4 chars there's usually no room for a ranged weapon user. But I did do my first successful run through IWD with a duo of an elven ranger and a thief/illusionist. I'm gonna have to go with the stalker.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 11:39 pm

It is a close one between archers and stalkers and even though I have never played a stalker myself my vote goes to the stalker kit. The reason I haven't played a stalker myself is that Valygar is so damn good!

ARcheR_S_ · Post by **ARcheR_S_** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 5:39 am

ARcheRS all the way BABY!!!!

They just rock in my opinion: I play an ARcheR and he has the most kills.......earned the most experience (for the party that is)
AND; he kills the toughest opponents (Dragons, linches, Mindflayers, Irenicus, KANGAXXXXXX!!!!!!!!)

Just name it.......he does it.
And in my party he doesnt has a supportive rol.
Id better say: the rest needs too support my ARcheR....not the other way around.

-ARcheR_S_

gnomethingy · Post by **gnomethingy** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 8:36 am

If I play a straight ranger, I only use stealth outside..

I wear metal armour inside, since your shouldnt be able to hide unless your in the wilderness

I like regular rangers, since having a small selection of spells is cool, stealth is handy when you need it which isnt that often and there the only warrior subclass I feel happy about duel weilding with, I dont like the rp implications of any other duelweilder, dont ask why or ill bore you to death.....

ARcheR_S_ · Post by **ARcheR_S_** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 8:43 am

Why??

Hehehehe

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 9:03 am

hehe. i say archers all the way.
want to backstab? take a thief.
normal ranger? fighters are far more useful at the same job.
beastmaster? no self respecting treehugger would choose this over a druid kit, and no sensible gamer would choose this for anything other than novelty value.

archers are a unique class, incredibly powerful, and make a great unit to back up a kensai. archers all the way.

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 9:52 am

Originally posted by Robnark
want to backstab? take a thief.
normal ranger? fighters are far more useful at the same job.
beastmaster? no self respecting treehugger would choose this over a druid kit, and no sensible gamer would choose this for anything other than novelty value.

Want to backstab and get your ass kicked afterwards? Yeah, take a thief. Want to backstab and kick everyone's ass afterwards? Take the stalker. And despite the lower multiplier I found that the stalker usually does more damage on a backstab than the straight thief.

I pretty much agree with the comments on the normal ranger and beastmaster though. Except a beastmaster/cleric dual-class can actually be quite effective; essentially a druid with some added stealth, access to the cleric as well as the druid line of spells, the additional spell slots he gets for dualling to cleric actually make his special animal summoning spells somewhat meaningful, and he gets a cool familiar. But yeah, single-class beastmasters do suck, big-time.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 10:00 am

actually, that's quite true about the backstab thing, but i never really use it, and find thieves a more versatile class to take with me in case i decide to.
basically, a ranger with backstab. not too shoddy really. personal taste, i suppose

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:35 am

Well, if you really never use the backstab, why not take a swashbuckler? Swashbucklers are another favorite class of mine; they receive the same amount of thieving skill points as straight thieves, plus they can actually fight some.

When playing a solo-multiplayer game, I take a swashbuckler to be my true thief. Then, if I want a backstabber, I take a class that specializes in it and can bring other cool abilities to the table. In the case of a good-aligned party, the stalker is perfect for this because he has his own wide range of talents plus the backstab.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:40 am

Originally posted by Impaler987
Well, if you really never use the backstab, why not take a swashbuckler?

hehe. i do

they're damn good in combat, have the thief skills, and i don't care about a shoddy backstab. also, it makes sense if you're taking a stalker as a backstabber. a damn fine kit is the swashbuckler

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:56 am

Ah yes the swashbuckler! Reminds me of my fine half-orc swashbuckler Dench Fastmouth, he could sweep the ladies of their feet and take on any man in a swordfight.

gnomethingy · Post by **gnomethingy** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 6:56 am

Originally posted by ARcheR_S_
Why??

Hehehehe

Aside from the blade and swashy which arnt warrior subclasses the ranger is the only class with any sort of emphasis on duel weilding, theres alot more too it than that... but since you added the hehehehe im sure you dont actually want to know

smity · Post by **smity** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 9:32 am

archers rule!!!! at the beginning of ToB Illarsera came with a few black reaver friends, I used a called shot and his hp dropped from uninjured to badly injured in one hit (naturally I followed up and killed on the next hit)

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Favorite Ranger Kit?

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Favorite Ranger Kit?