We created a thread a while ago that gave our advice on the benefits and contraints regarding various profession templates + ranger. This thread was scattered and repeated itself alot so here goes the compiled list ready for your enjoyment. Please use the index to find the template you wish the learn about and scroll down to where it is located for much easier navigation.
INDEX:
There are a few different 'hybrid' templates out there that dabble in different things but there is a main trend: Master Ranger + Elite Combat Profession with 18 sp to spend however.
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a very powerfull combat profession.
Pros:
Massive Damage Output (rifle) - Lots of nice specials including AOE's
Single Pull Capability (rifle) - Over 40m a rifleman has a huge chance to pull a single creature from a pack
Prone Bonuses (rifle) - Using prone gives lots of shots unagro'd, coupled with Camo too you get 20+ shots un-agro'd
Damage Types (rifle) - You have a massive selection of damage types to hit creatures weaknesses
Single Pool Shots (rifle) - /headshots allow you to attack a creature and work on one pool
Conceal Shot (rifle) - With carefull management can kill a target completely unagro'd
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Keep Critters At Range (ranger) - Pheascene and Adhesive Mesh slow and root creatures
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player many shots without getting attacked
Ranged Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Glow Wire and Glow Juice traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Cons:
Lack Of Melee Defenses (rifle/ranger) - Compared to melee classes, week in defenses against creatures
Range Causes Harvesting Problems (rifle/ranger) - Have to run to target to harvest
High HAM Costs (rifle) - You will need enhancers (Buffs, food, spice) for mind pool in particularaly to hunt effectively.
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
02 - CARBINEER
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a powerfull and moderatly defensive combat profession.
Pros:
Lots Of Damage Output (carb) - With /cripplingShot you do lots of damage. Lots of AOE's to choose from
Short Range Combat (carb) - Due to the fact you fight short range you dont have to run to harvest
Damage Types (carb) - Variety of damage types to focus on creature/npc vulns
Dizzy/KD Combo (carb) - You have the ranged Dizzy/KD combo available which rocks against NPCs
Fairly Quick Weapon Speeds (carb) - Not slow, but not super fast either
Good Counterattack/Defense (carb) - You get nice defensive mods
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player many shots without getting attacked
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Keep Critters At Range (ranger) - Pheascene and Adhesive Mesh slow and root creatures
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Ranged Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Glow Wire and Glow Juice traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Cons:
Bad Combo w/ Zabrak (carb) - Zabraks have low action and secondary action max values
No Melee Mitigation (carb) - Even though you often fight toe to toe with beast, you dont get melee mit
High Action Costs (carb) - You will need enhancers (Buffs, food, spice) to hunt effectively.
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
03 - PISTOLEER
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a low power but moderatly defensive combat profession.
Pros:
Short Range Combat (pistol) - Due to the fact you fight short range you dont have to run to harvest
Mobile Combat (pistol) - Great accuracy whilst moving allowing you to run and fire
Ranged/Melee Combat (pistol) - You can fight at range OR up close and personal
Melee KD (pistol) - Great for crowd control and escaping
Pretty Low HAM Cost (pistol) - Compared to other professions, pistol has low HAM costs
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Keep Critters At Range (ranger) - Pheascene and Adhesive Mesh slow and root creatures
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player many shots without getting attacked
Ranged Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Glow Wire and Glow Juice traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Cons:
Low Defense (pistol/ranger) - Compared to melee classes, moderatly week in defenses against creatures even though in melee range most of the time
Low Damage/Power (carb) - Low powerer compared to rifles/carbs.
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
04 - FENCER
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a very defensive combat profession.
Pros:
Good Defenses (fencer) - Can even hunt without armour most of the time
Fast Attacks (fencer) - Speed of attacks allow you to addapt your combat quickly
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Melee Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Wire mesh and glow wire traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player a chance to go unagroed through dangerous territory
Cons:
Low Damage Output (fence/ranger) - One higher level mobs you cannot do alot of damage compared to other melee classes
Low Damage Types (fence) - Not alot of choice so adapting is hard
High HAM Cost (fence) - Food is a must or buffs
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
05 - PIKEMAN
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a very powerfull PvE combat profession with the right weapons.
Pros:
Melee Range Combat (pike) - Due to the fact you fight short range you dont have to run to harvest
Great AOE Attacks (pike) - Good array of AOE moves
High Loot Weapon Count (pike) - More high end loot weapons than any other profession also with very powerfull DOT's
Great State Defenses (pike) - Good set of state defenses
High Damage Output (pike) - With the right weapons you can do 'lots' of damage
Visually Attractive Moves (pike) - Very impressive to the eye animation on attacks
Cheap Attachments (pike) - Compared to other professions attachments, pike are very cheap
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Melee Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Wire mesh and glow wire traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player a chance to go unagroed through dangerous territory
Cons:
High HAM Cost (pike) - Get buffed or dont fight, simple as
Loot Weapons Better Than Crafted (pike) - This means you need to go loot hunting alot to reach your potential
Low Defense For Melee (pike) - Block just doesnt work as well as dodge and counterattack so lower defense capabilities compared to other professions
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
Weak Master Specials (pike) - Specials at master are disproportionately weak vs. specials of other melee weapon professions.
06 - SWORDSMAN
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a very powerfull (both in offensive and defensive) combat profession.
Pros:
Melee Range Combat (2hd) - Due to the fact you fight short range you dont have to run to harvest
Great AOE Attacks (2hd) - Good array of AOE moves
Devastating Mind Hits (2hd) - With a good weapon and 2hdheadhit3 you have one of the most powerfull PvE set ups in the game
High Damage Output (2hd) - With random pool attacks you still tonnes of damage, plus blast damage for a good low vuln type.
Visually Attractive Moves (2hd) - As with most melee visuals, they rock
Nice Defenses (2hd) - Can kill 15k targets un-buffed
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Melee Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Wire mesh and glow wire traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player a chance to go unagroed through dangerous territory
Cons:
High HAM Cost (2hd) - Get buffed or dont fight, simple as
Low Variety (2nd) - The 2hd specials do not vary much and can become bland
No AP3 (2hd) - For a 2hd weapon there is no AP3 making high level targets sometimes very hard to take
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
07 - TKM (Teras Kasi)
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a very fast, defensive, self-suficient and resistive combat profession.
Pros:
Melee Range Combat (tk) - Due to the fact you fight short range you dont have to run to harvest
Super Fast Combat (tk) - High speed attacks mean adaptablility in combat
Meditation (tk) - Can clear wound and poisons/diseases with this very powerfull skill
Good Damage Output (tk) - On low level to medium level mobs the damage output is great
Powerboost (tk) - Gives you that extra bit of ham to work with, free self buff.
Visually Attractive Moves (tk) - As with most melee visuals, they rock
KD/Dizzy Combo (tk) - Can use this imensly powerfull PvP/NPC combo
Great Defenses (tk) - KD and state defenses along with melee toughness and mitigation make TK one of the best tanks there is.
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Melee Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Wire mesh and glow wire traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player a chance to go unagroed through dangerous territory
Cons:
High HAM Cost (tk) - Your HAM goes down very quickly unbuffed
Single Damage Type (tk) - Only Kinetic im afraid makes for long lasting and often impossible super high level encounters
Single Weapon (tk) - VK is the only weapon limiting both damage type and speed vs damage options
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
18 Point Additions
I have decided to list the 3 most common 18 point additions here. Obviously with Master Ch/Master Ranger you get much more skill points put the main route is that players will take Master Ranger and a Master Combat Profession.
Novice Medic - 1,0,0,0
Provides the ranger with moderate heals to keep him/her alive at those all important times.
Can heal wounds in your camps
Novice CH - 0,0,3,0
Allows player to have higher level pets/mounts than +10 level. Makes for better tank capabilities and a much tougher companion.
Novice Artisan - 0,0,0,1
Allows players to search out those nice inorganics and collect them via the use of extractors etc for extra cash.
This section contains the templates that are either not commonly used or do not fall under the 18 points remaining set up in the previous section. These templates will be to specialise in other areas than out and out hunting, instead choosing to utilise another profession's skills.
INDEX:
01 - Squad Leader
02 - Creature Handler
03 - Pikeman - Custom
04 - *Coming Soon*
01 - SQUAD LEADER
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a good support profession with good support combos.
Pros:
+30 Group Ranged/Melee Defense (sl) - Also takes your over the 120 cap and a very nice addition
+60 Group TN (sl) - Although people do ride bikes, helps people consider walking and also good kiting tool
+60 Burst Run Efficiency (sl) - Lets you burst run without ANY HAM cost when hurt
Dizzy/Stun Area Cure (sl) - Take away these states from everyone in the group
Rally (sl) - Gives you chance to hit, dodge/counterattack/block bonuses so good for tanks
BoostMoral (sl) - Shares the wounds out for faster group regeneration (camp auto-healing)
Retreat (sl) - Lets you give burst run to everyone in group as much as you want
Great Support Combo (sl) - Traps, camps and sl skills enable you to be the ultimate group support role
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Keep Critters At Range (ranger) - Pheascene and Adhesive Mesh slow and root creatures
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player many shots without getting attacked
Cons:
High HAM Cost (sl) - Extreme HAM costs on specials
Can't Solo Much (sl) - Very little combat skills mean not able to hunt solo much, also skills dont work if not in group
Rally Restrictions (sl) - Cant harvest whilst rallied or sit or meditate nor rez
Low Defenses (sl) - Due to no combat defense skill granted due to combat profession boxes you get hit alot and hard
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
02 - CREATURE HANDLER
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a very powerfull defensive semi-combat profession.
Pros:
Great Tank Capabilities (ch) - Huge bulking bio pets have insane resists and ham so you can tank very well
Poisons/Diseases (ch) - Pets can poison/disease so gives you another damage route
Pet Damage Output (ch) - Pet damage output can help topple those beast and also keeps agro firmly on them
Great RP Prospects (ch) - You have a pet and companion to travel with you on your journies
Baby Hunts (ch) - Going hunting for babies adds another fun dimension to the game
47 SP Left (ch) - 47 skill points to spent on other skill make this option prety sp cost effective
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters/babies
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Keep Critters At Range (ranger) - Pheascene and Adhesive Mesh slow and root creatures
Melee Defense DebuffTraps (ranger) - Wire mesh and glow wire traps take down combat defenses making targets much easier to hit
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player many shots without getting attacked
Cons:
Can't Solo That Well (ch) - Its not a case of taking too much damage, rather than being able to dish it out, which ch is very limited at
Redundant Tanks (ch) - Because of armour and buffs most players can tank much better than pets
Very Low Defenses (ch) - You cant have any master elite combat skills so you dont get the defensive capabilities associated with themK is the only weapon limiting both damage type and speed vs damage options
03 - PIKEMAN - CUSTOM
- Ranger (0,3,4,0)
- Master Pikeman
- TK (4,0,0,4)
Main:
Provides the player with hunting skills and harvest bonuses to complement a good support profession with good support combos.
Pros:
Exellent Melee/Ranged Defense: (tk/pc) - With melee defense topping 93 and ranged defense in the 70s makes for a vert fensive template
Powerboost (tk) - Self/free small buff that can go a long way in securing survival in a long battle
Meditation (tk) - Can heal own wounds, dispearse poisons and diseases.
Good Damage With Pike (pc) - With the right weapons a pikeman can be a formiddable force in hunting
Great Solo'ability (misc) - Due to the defensive/offensive traits of this template you can solo extremely well
Good 'Hunter' Template (pc) - This template is very effective at organic resource collection and hunting
Able To Track Animals (ranger) - Using /areatrack enables you to find rare and valuable critters with TN, it makes travel over uneven tarrain much easier
Harvest Bonuses (ranger) - You can harvest more off a single creature than most
Keep Critters At Range (ranger) - Pheascene and Adhesive Mesh slow and root creatures
Camo Bonuses (ranger) - Using camo kits give the player many shots without getting attacked
Cons:
High HAM Cost (pike) - Get buffed or dont fight, simple as
Loot Weapons Better Than Crafted (pike) - This means you need to go loot hunting alot to reach your potential
Lots of SP Cost (misc) - Ranger and scout cost alot of SP, could be spent elsewhere
Weak Master Specials (pike) - Specials at master are disproportionately weak vs. specials of other melee weapon professions.
Limited Damage Types (pike) - With only Kinetic, Electricity and Energy the range is somewhat limited.
Cannot Heal (misc) - Not having medic means no heals during combat
I have made a new character on starsider. Spent some time on allakhazam looking at all this stuff and though a little wiser this is what i wished for. Your info rocks Thortac. Thanks. 5 stars and nominate for sticky =)
Its not just my take on professions though, i used our previous template thread to source some details here and there. Thanks for everyone who helped over in that one. Just though it would be easier and more user friendly to have them all in one indexed thread
Im bored, been crunching out the all around hunter type of character. Animals, or man, no difference. Best thing i can see as so far, is you'll be using very SP and have zero left over.
What do you think?
Major Rapax Victis - Commando Time wasted playing MMO's: Meridian59, Ultima Online, Everquest, Asheron's Call 1 & 2, Dark Age of Camelot, Anarchy Online, Earth & Beyond, Eve Online, Planetside, Star Wars Galaxies "I'm really bored." ...has mastered the Pilot profession
under pistoleer: Pretty Low HAM Cost (pistol) - Compared to other professions, rifle has low HAM costs (shouldn't it read 'PISTOL has low HAM costs'?)
also, I have never actually tried it, but does using camo with a melee attack work like it does with the ranged professions to give you a few extra un-agroed shots? I always assumed that at melee ranged the MOB agros you immediately regardless of your camoflauged state.
Not only is this a good Ranger resource, but one can gather the overview of all combat professions in the game as well, at least for PvE.
Five star post.
Star Wars Galaxies or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Jedi.
Im bored, been crunching out the all around hunter type of character. Animals, or man, no difference. Best thing i can see as so far, is you'll be using very SP and have zero left over.
What do you think?
Could you run me up a list of pro's an cons for that mate? Just make sure you've tried the template first, we need to be able to give sound advice to people asking for it.
under pistoleer: Pretty Low HAM Cost (pistol) - Compared to other professions, rifle has low HAM costs (shouldn't it read 'PISTOL has low HAM costs'?)
also, I have never actually tried it, but does using camo with a melee attack work like it does with the ranged professions to give you a few extra un-agroed shots? I always assumed that at melee ranged the MOB agros you immediately regardless of your camoflauged state.
Sorted, Thanks
Keep these bugs and changes coming. Are there any pro's or con's that are important to you that dont feature on this list?
Im bored, been crunching out the all around hunter type of character. Animals, or man, no difference. Best thing i can see as so far, is you'll be using very SP and have zero left over.
What do you think?
Could you run me up a list of pro's an cons for that mate? Just make sure you've tried the template first, we need to be able to give sound advice to people asking for it.
Well, i was asking for advice, not giving it. Maybe i should have given my post a thread of it's own. *shrug*
Near as i can tell the big con is not having a weapon totaly mastered. Is this a hinderance? i honestly don't know.
The pro as near as i can tell, is being able to continue to harvest organics as a proffesion, maintain ability to camo yourself in both hunting citters, and NPCs in BH missions, and being able to be the all around hunter.
But then again, id be spread out all over the place, which might be a weakness in and of itself. I dunno, thats why im asking. For character, im split between being the outdoorsman, and being a Bounty killer, im a spagetti western fan, so if i managed to create my own Lee van clef or clint eastwood, id be grinning ear to ear.
Major Rapax Victis - Commando Time wasted playing MMO's: Meridian59, Ultima Online, Everquest, Asheron's Call 1 & 2, Dark Age of Camelot, Anarchy Online, Earth & Beyond, Eve Online, Planetside, Star Wars Galaxies "I'm really bored." ...has mastered the Pilot profession
Well, i was asking for advice, not giving it. Maybe i should have given my post a thread of it's own. *shrug*
Near as i can tell the big con is not having a weapon totaly mastered. Is this a hinderance? i honestly don't know.
The pro as near as i can tell, is being able to continue to harvest organics as a proffesion, maintain ability to camo yourself in both hunting citters, and NPCs in BH missions, and being able to be the all around hunter.
But then again, id be spread out all over the place, which might be a weakness in and of itself. I dunno, thats why im asking. For character, im split between being the outdoorsman, and being a Bounty killer, im a spagetti western fan, so if i managed to create my own Lee van clef or clint eastwood, id be grinning ear to ear.
Ah sorry mate i misunderstood
Well yes the most obvious con is that you dont have the bonuses granted by many of the mastered level templates. The skill you would gain in these could be more defenses such as the block and def mods gained in counter sniping (rifleman), more speed mods in rifle ablilties 4 and Master boxes.
The bonuses to ranged professions regarding mastery of marksman are not as attractive as they are to melee professions mastering brawler. For example Overcharge2 ability does not have the same effectivness and usefulness as perhaps Warcry2, Intimidate2, Various Rank 2 Lunges and Bezerk2 (i dont use this personally). As you can see, mastering marksmen for the investigation line in BH only kind of ties up alot of skill points that could alternatively be spent on other possibilities.
Alot of people take BH pistols and then work in pistoleer which creates in interesting combo. However you then limit the possible points you could spend on ranger skills. Its a very find balance.
Not mastering an elite combat profession means you miss out on lots of defenses, damage mitigation and most of the time the speed mods. A 'fun' template on paper is not always the case when you finally get it (i have experienced this myself) so make sure you keep evaluating your template at each stage of progressing to guage if the added bonuses in front of you are realy worth it.
