Class Acts: Ranger

[Phaezen]

From Andy Collins here it looks like they are revising the article and will be releasing an errated/corrected version later this week

 

[timbannock]

Because the CO boards base their "knowledge" and "ratings" on math and dps, instead of actual play. I can assure you the archer ranger is a far cry from underpowered. In fact, it may be the best striker around. And when I say best, I am not talking about dps, but overall steady chance, chance to die, utility for group, etc.

Seriously, saying an arched ranger doesn't work with the other PBH classes makes me wonder if you have 1) played one 2) seen one in play or 3) picked up the wrong game and are playing Heroquest 4e. Your analysis about healing surges is borderline funny though, but it lacks perspective.

Agreed. Actual play: I used Kobold Hall, and my players had picked some really oddball characters for the playtest, including a ranged-heavy group.

It was a tough fight, but their ability to fight on the run and really spread out pretty much rocked the dragons' world.

In fact, the melee-focused design of 4e seems to make archers extremely good if they are mobile: they can act as artillery monsters, they avoid tons of AOE attacks, and if they are fast enough (Elf, anyone?) they can move in and dump potions or provide other aid as necessary and then get out again.

Sub-optimal maths =/= sub-optimal tactics

 

[Shroomy]

From Andy Collins here it looks like they are revising the article and will be releasing an errated/corrected version later this week

Its good that they acknowledged their mistake and even better that their going to fix the PDF release before the powers are added to the DDI databases. I'm hoping for a little extra reading tonight.

 

[Rechan]

Collins' reaction seems a bit strong. What was broken?

 

[Shroomy]

Collins' reaction seems a bit strong. What was broken?

Its more of a basic rules thing. The main problem is that many of the attack powers are immediate interrupts without any triggers; some people also have issues with Utility Powers that grant attacks and an encounter powers that includes a save ends condition.

 

[catsclaw227]

My [Experience] as well. I've created a TWF ranger, in my catalog of characters, but I've never seen one played in 4E. Every 4E ranger I've seen in action was an archer.

I had always seen archers as well, but my most recent campaign has a dwarf ranger with two craghammers. It's really cool.

 

[catsclaw227]

Its more of a basic rules thing. The main problem is that many of the attack powers are immediate interrupts without any triggers; some people also have issues with Utility Powers that grant attacks and an encounter powers that includes a save ends condition.

Right. I saw this immediately when I read it the first time. Interrupts with no triggers? Wha...? . Good for WoTC to step up and take a strong stance and I think Collins' over the top reaction was good! It tells me that they give a you-now-what about fixing obvious errors.

I like Collins' reaction.

 

[LightPhoenix]

What's interesting to me is that Bruce Cordell is listed as the author. I wouldn't think that he'd make such egregious mistakes in an article. I'm wondering if perhaps somewhere along the line an incomplete version got used instead of a completed version. The fact that it would take some time to fix suggests to me it may have been early on in the process.

 

[Rechan]

an encounter powers that includes a save ends condition.

I would think an encounter power is the appropriate place for a save ends condition. It's not like the martial classes don't have powers that these things.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I would think an encounter power is the appropriate place for a save ends condition. It's not like the martial classes don't have powers that these things.

They do? Certainly not many. In fact, there are only two save ends encoutner powers I can remember off hand - Fire Shourd and the Plane Shifters Paragon Path encounter attack power.