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The Vanguard Ranger: Defined <
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The Vanguard Ranger: Defined<
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I recently had the opportunity to ask Darrin "Talisker" McPherson, Senior Game Designer in charge of class design, a few questions about Vanguard's Ranger. What I learned is not only detailed for ranger fanatics, but for all Vanguard players. The ranger role will once again carry a lot of options and utility which any party can benefit from. A ranger can go from being a mean damage dealer, to being able to dodge a handful of enemy attacks, to buffing the party. But be warned, this is not your typical ranger class. The unique combat system of Vanguard is adding some very interesting abilities in the ranger's arsenal that don't just make it an effective class, but a fun one to play. Enjoy!<
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This interview is filled with so many details it is being cut into two posts. How awesome is that?<
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1) The role of the ranger has varied a lot through the years. From computer games, pen and paper RPGs, to famous rangers in literature. What can you compare Vanguard's ranger to that players may be familiar with?<
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The Vanguard Ranger is the ranger of tradition. A mix of Drizzt and Legolas, if you will. They excel at martial and ranged combat equally. Players may have a preference of style, but there will be times when one of the two is more appropriate. They are also closely tied to nature and will have the abilities to match those ties.<
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2) There is a very famous quote amongst the Vanguard ranger community that Brad McQuaid said a while ago. "What do you want to focus on as, for example, a ranger. Do you want to be the bowmaster? Or how about the dual wielding damage dealer? Or how about the scout with incredible perception and other abilities/spells that help you determine what lays ahead, or where something went. While Rangers are Rangers, you will be able to specialize to a degree, and certainly focus on one skill or the other, as well as focusing on collecting one type of item over the other (although I'm sure the power gamer will max in it all)." Is this quote still accurate in Vanguard's vision of the ranger presently?<
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The quote is almost exactly what we have, which is cool because this is the first I’d heard it. As I stated in the previous answer, Rangers are at home wielding twin blades or a long bow. You never need to make the decision between the two, at least not on the high level. There are smaller decisions (like which weapons you specialize in and where you spend you attribute points) that will affect these two as well as your ability to be the scout. Stealth will be an ability that all Rangers have and if they invest in the skills and spend their attribute points in perception related attributes, then they can become the reconnaissance geared Ranger. So yes, you can be the Bowmaster, but that does not mean that your melee skill will suffer significantly.<
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3) What will a typical group find appealing about the ranger class?<
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The Ranger
ings myriad things to the group. The most basic is damage, which all light fighters
ing to one degree or another. Others include specialized bow attacks that allow the Ranger to pacify NPCs, preventing them from assisting their fellows, or their tremendously powerful first strike ranged attack. Rangers
ing buffs, small heals and many other offensively related abilities to the party.<
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4) Can you give an idea of what the ranger's abilities will be? How will they be differ when compared to another offensive fighter? <
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The Ranger, as stated earlier, is very geared towards nature. The Vanguard Ranger is more tied to nature than any similar class before. Even his melee attacks will be flavored with nature magic.<
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The Ranger has a large number of unique abilities and features. The first is the progressive combat forms. Simply explained, the longer a Ranger fights the same target, the better and more effective he becomes. Fighting offensively? Stick with the same target, observe its style and learn how to most effectively beat it. A Ranger who has observed the same target for good deal of time becomes the best (of all the light fighters) at avoiding incoming attacks and can dish out some serious damage.<
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The Ranger also has a unique method of creating combat chains. You start with 3 basic attacks, which serve as “openers�. Simply: Openers, or opening attacks, “open� attack chains. These three attacks are nature themed. Example names are Blade of Summer, Blade of Winter and Blade of Storms. You then have 3 “
idge attacks� which serve to connect an opener with a finishing move. Each of these is themed for the basic types of attacks there are: Smashing, Thrusting, Slicing. Each of these
idges acts differently based on the opener that was used to open them. Blade of Summer followed by Smashing might equal a high damage attack that deals fire damage in an area. Storms and Thrusting might lower your agro greatly. Winter and thrusting might freeze your opponent. There are lots of options and choices.<
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The ability to “forage� useful things from your surroundings will also be a staple Ranger ability. Use “forage� to find components for ranger-only arrows and bolts, or herbs that make your heals more effective.<
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5) We know the ranger is the most skilled archery class. But mechanically, how are they superior? Is it through general damage, abilities, or both? And will the archery skill play an important role if the ranger is assigned to pull?<
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They are superior in a few ways. One is simple skill. Rangers will gain more upfront archery skill than any other class. Because ranged weapons and ammunition require skill to use them, the Ranger can use long bow type weapons far earlier than any other class.<
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The second is the way ranged combat works for Rangers. Their shots are typically more powerful and take less time to aim. When they are required to aim for long periods of time (long being 8-12s) then they are greatly rewarded by extra damage or extraordinary effects. For most classes, aiming makes them very vulnerable to attacks and does not allow movement of any kind. Most of the Ranger’s bow attacks allow for him to move and he is far less vulnerable. Ranged combat for Rangers is night and day when comparing them to other classes.<
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Ranged attacks include lulling shots, AE shots, extreme damage sniper shots, cone shots (multi arrow shots), fast shots and stopping (rooting) shots. Again, there are lots of options.<
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6) The ranger is known for being useful in and out of combat. What kind of skills does the class have outside of combat that will make the class desirable to play?<
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Forage, Stealth, Tracking, Healing, and Curing (poisons) are all things that the Ranger
ings to the out-of-combat table.<
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7) As suggested by earlier interviews, do you plan to have an escape mechanism for rangers such as the monk's feign death or the rogue's escape ability?<
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Rangers will not have the Get Out of Jail free card that “feign death� provides – Rogues won’t either for what it’s worth. Rangers (and Rogues) will have abilities to shed unwanted agro so they can preserve the order of combat (that order being, healer heals the tank). These abilities will allow for agro reduction, but not agro elimination. As I said earlier, if you get too much agro, the Blade of Storms and Thrusting might be the way to go.<
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Every class has some sort of secondary pool like mana, endurance, and chi. What type of pool does the ranger use, and how does affect their gameplay?<
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Rangers have both endurance and mana. Endurance is used to cost melee and ranged attacks. Mana is used to cost spells.<
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9) What attributes does the ranger need to keep in mind? In some games the role is based primarily on strength, sometimes dexterity, and sometimes just about everything.<
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Dexterity will allow you to hit. Strength determines your damage. These are both very important. After that, constitution and agility are safe bets. Avoiding damage and higher hitpoints always come in handy. Intelligence and wisdom will aid you in perceiving hidden or stealthed creatures that could cause your party problems. Wisdom also determines your maximum amount of mana. Some attributes certainly have priority, but all are useful.<
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