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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kaldaen" data-source="post: 4311296" data-attributes="member: 69206">Every class has features that make it stand out in its role on the battlefield.  A number of classes can heal, but Clerics have Healer's Lore, which helps them heal better than those other classes.  Many classes use melee weapons, but Fighters get the Fighter Weapon Talent class feature that gives them a +1 with their chosen weapon style, making them slightly better than other classes wielding that same weapon.The Ranger class is unique in that your choice of fighting style determines your role on the battlefield.  If you choose the Two-Blade style, your role becomes that of an agile melee striker, using two weapons to deal heavy damage to the enemy while staying on the move.  Other classes can dual-wield, but the TB Ranger's Fighting Style feature allows him to wield two main-hand weapons and make a separate attack for each one.  This makes him better at dual-wielding than another class wielding two swords.Choosing the Archery fighting style puts you into the role of artillery support.  Most of your damage comes from your bow or crossbow.  Supposedly, you have focused on ranged attacks, but you are no better at hitting targets with the bow than any other class.  Anyone with proficiency in military ranged weapons can pick up a longbow and get the exact same +2 bonus to attacks as your archer.  In fact, in order for another class to match your "focus on ranged attacks," all they need to do is take a feat -- one that's actually fairly useful.This is why we're saying the Archery fighting style needs a boost -- there's nothing unique about it that demonstrates how the character excels at his chosen role.If you want a mechanical example of how the Archery style is lacking, it's actually rather easy for a TB Ranger to outclass an Archer's attack bonus and equal his potential damage.  All he has to do is dual-wield Bastard Swords, which are a good choice of weapon for him regardless.  Consider the Twin Strike power:The Two-Blade Ranger is dealing 1d10/1d10 damageThe Archery Ranter is dealing 1d10/1d10 damage with a longbowThe Two-Blade Ranger gets a +3/+3 proficiency bonus on attacksThe Archery Ranger only gets +2/+2 bonus on his longbow attacksSo now the Archer is actually worse off than his Two-Blade counterpart.  I know someone is going to suggest that the Archer just take Weapon Focus (longbow), but the TB Ranger can just as easily take WF (bastard sword), and we're back in the same situation.On top of that, a Dex-centric Rogue can take the Weapon Proficiency (longbow) and Ranger multiclass feats, choose Triple Shot as a replacement Ranger power, and then be just as good with it as the Archery Ranger.I think it's important for the Rangers who choose the Archery style to have something that makes them just a little bit better than other characters at range.  Every other class has staked out their territory, so to speak, so it makes sense that Archers should have theirs.</blockquote>

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