Ranger Efficacy

[Abel]

Since I have come back to FFXI my main job (read: passion) has been RNG, I left prior to Nyzul Isle coming out and was out of the End-Game scene well before Salvage came out. I was curious to anybody with End-Game activity knowledge just how effective a good full-time RNG can be? So far at least in EXP I'm still able to out-DD all others, I'm currently 68 and I'm certain this won't really last, and was rather proud to out-dd a very well geared 70 nin last pt. However I'm curious about a few things and I do apologize if this has been rehashed many times prior to my comeback. At this level it seems far better to stand at the appropriate distance in order to attack (I use Ebow as my primary ranged weapon), not only do I miss out on most -gas, tantaras, and puk abilities but I also seem to be doing 30~ dmg more per shot, I realize this has a lot to do with me fighting 77-81lv mobs and the much higher level difference penalty and my PDIF not being at a plateau atm, does it change once I hit 75, should I then melee too, or is any attempt at having my axe/dagger skill near cap a fruitless endeavor that I'm foolish for trying? My axe is gimpy atm but my knife is able to hit with a 70-80% acc range with sushi. I see a lot of 75rng running around with Flame Rings and a fair amount of +str but little +racc in sight aside from maybe AF and vision earring or something to that end, should I do so once i feel I'm nearly capping my racc, or would I be best to push my racc and be sure to eat meat instead, or is RNG acc at 75 good to the point that +10str trumps anything else I could have there? Gear-wise and tactics that's really all I am curious about on RNG as I progress towards 75.

But as far as events and HNMs go, I have many questions which I will try to keep as brief and to the point as possible. All the LS recruiting sites I've ever seen lately for my server seem to never list RNG as a desired job, is RNG just not that useful anymore, or are so few playing it full-time that most leaders just took it down due to nobody ever joining? I'm mainly interested in opinion I suppose since I know I would have to ask individuals on my server if I wanted to know. Also, due to all the unlocking needed, can RNG even do Salvage? I've never heard it or seen it before, and all I see is mnk this, mnk that, and normal DD w/ brd etc etc. What exactly is RNG welcome to, and what, if anything do we excel at? Is there anything I should stay away from, or are we able to do well in all major end-game events and HNMs? I realize that last question is a bit vague but I assume it's better than asking 'are we good for x, x, x, or y?' Anyways, sorry about all the text, and thank you all for your time in reading it and helping me out. ^^

[Yutuyu]

Personally I think it's just that rangers are really rare. They're pretty valuable though.

In sky you can use them to widescan stuff (which is really useful) and they can damage Faust. Shadowbind is <3.

In sea, Ranged is the only type of damage that can hurt every Jailer.

And in Salvage, they do pretty good damage/TP giving and can be out of AOE radius, which makes them decent for boss fights.

[Slott]

RNG are great in salvage imo, at least bhaflau. The one thing they need to be careful of is feeding too much tp to a boss. Ranged cells usually go to waste anyway, so there's no harm bringing a ranger (and shadowbind can help vs bosses like long armed chariot)

[Naramaska]

I was curious to anybody with End-Game activity knowledge just how effective a good full-time RNG can be?

If you're fully merited and geared to the teeth, with some decent support, you can do some really good damage on pretty much every HNM. If you can afford to cap Marksmanship and Archery at +16 each, you can easily swing meat on literally everything in the game, and Slugwinder puts up 700-1000+ on pretty much anything.


Oh, and a Culverin(+1) with Flashy Shot is the most hilarious thing ever for zerg fights or damage ganks. Can easily push towards 2500 damage on stuff like Dynamis Lord, followed by 2000+ barrage, ~2000 EES, another 2200+ Slugwinder, Icarus Wing, another 2200+ Slugwinder. Combine that with random regular shots for TP and you're looking at 11-12,000 damage in a span of about 30 seconds.

[Abel]

Thanks for the replies, I was really uncertain about salvage, though the high damage, high accuracy, and able to stay out of AOE range seemed to me that RNG could perform well if given the opportunity. Though I still don't think most will all too much. I plan on being a full-time RNG, for a while I'm certain I can only have some of the better AH gear, but it's nice to know a well-geared RNG can push high damage like that. On an off note though, I thought temperance (not sure if that's the sea god, fairly sure though) became immune to piercing damage? Or does that not work akin to something like perfect dodge not working on ranged attacks? And judging by what Naramaska said (i believe i missed the merit point cap raising too apparently) the cap for combat is now 16 total, assuming +16 meant skill which would equate to 8 merits in each. For any RNGs out there, is Culv+1 and cannon shells really worth it for some fights? Or will I be slinging away with Ebow for the majority of my RNG career?

[Yutuyu]

Thanks for the replies, I was really uncertain about salvage, though the high damage, high accuracy, and able to stay out of AOE range seemed to me that RNG could perform well if given the opportunity. Though I still don't think most will all too much. I plan on being a full-time RNG, for a while I'm certain I can only have some of the better AH gear, but it's nice to know a well-geared RNG can push high damage like that. On an off note though, I thought temperance (not sure if that's the sea god, fairly sure though) became immune to piercing damage? Or does that not work akin to something like perfect dodge not working on ranged attacks? And judging by what Naramaska said (i believe i missed the merit point cap raising too apparently) the cap for combat is now 16 total, assuming +16 meant skill which would equate to 8 merits in each. For any RNGs out there, is Culv+1 and cannon shells really worth it for some fights? Or will I be slinging away with Ebow for the majority of my RNG career?

Temperance's damage immunity rotates. He's always immune to magic, but he opens himself up to 1 physical type of damage at a time. Rings = slashing, nothing = blunt, bars = piercing.

What I meant by my comment is, there is a jailer which melee cannot damage at all (fortitute) and a jailer which mages cannot damage at all (temperance), in both of those situations, RNG can damage them.

20 total combat skill merit cap.

You will definitely want a culverin & cannon shell on you for whenever you use EES, no doubt about it. That goes for anything really.

[jmc]

Thanks for the replies, I was really uncertain about salvage, though the high damage, high accuracy, and able to stay out of AOE range seemed to me that RNG could perform well if given the opportunity. Though I still don't think most will all too much. I plan on being a full-time RNG, for a while I'm certain I can only have some of the better AH gear, but it's nice to know a well-geared RNG can push high damage like that. On an off note though, I thought temperance (not sure if that's the sea god, fairly sure though) became immune to piercing damage? Or does that not work akin to something like perfect dodge not working on ranged attacks? And judging by what Naramaska said (i believe i missed the merit point cap raising too apparently) the cap for combat is now 16 total, assuming +16 meant skill which would equate to 8 merits in each. For any RNGs out there, is Culv+1 and cannon shells really worth it for some fights? Or will I be slinging away with Ebow for the majority of my RNG career?

Ya, temperance changes resistance to other various types of damage. However, once his ass switches to piercing rangers can do some serious damage to him. Majority of the time, rangers end up kiting for a bit until ninjas pull back hate (lack of plds in LS/On in Sea).

Yet, I dont think ive run into a situation where Ranger isnt good.... or not wanted. If your into ground, pretty much good for Fafnir/Nidhogg even better for KB. Cerberus rangers are pretty good, stay out of AOE range and easy to get out of Gates range, while still pumping out some nice numbers (If well Equipped). BahaV2 is very good for rangers, can put up some impressive numbers against him as well.

[Wulfgang]

Outside of Wyrms RNG probably has the highest universal utility out of all "melee" DD jobs.

Great for Khim and Cerb
Kirin if kited
Arguably stronger than BLM for KB
Has a very high dmg / TP given ratio for Faf / Nid; 2nd to BLM and SAM
Owns LBC and LAC

Toss in Widescan and Shadowbind, which can be resisted by maybe 2-3 mobs in the game (Cactrot, Dynamis Stones, perhaps other things) and you've got yourself a good job. Although the difference b/w a good RNG and a bad one is night and day.

[Naramaska]

Although the difference b/w a good RNG and a bad one is night and day.

QFT. RNG, sadly, suffers from DRG syndrome pretty hardcore. Most RNG you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot. The good ones will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

There's a lot of "really? No shit Sherlok" stuff about RNG, but for some reason 99% of the RNG population is completely unable to clue in on it. I only know of about 4-5 RNG on my server that qualify as good at their job.

[Weeks]

All the good RNGs leveled another DD job when RNG became lolRNG, and they're not going back when they can do as much or more damage at a quarter of the expense.

[VZX]

Most RNG/NIN with meat and no acc buff, you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot.

The RNG/WARs will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

Sorry, FTFY

I'd really like to see equip of RNG/NIN that can hit Kirin consistently without any accuracy buff (sushi or preludes)

[Naramaska]

Most RNG/NIN with meat and no acc buff, you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot.

The RNG/WARs will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

Sorry, FTFY

I'd really like to see equip of RNG/NIN that can hit Kirin consistently without any accuracy buff (sushi or preludes)

Pre-nerf I was able to do it, but admittedly, my RNG gear back then was a bit more hardcore. Things I used to have like 2x Hawker+1 and Dusk Trousers I no longer use due to other options (Flame/Vulcan, AF2 legs) or because I sold them off for NIN/DRK gear. I definately think it's viable from a gear standpoint, just not an economic one.

Although I still don't really see the point in subbing NIN--if i'm able to hold hate off our SAM's spamming 1000+ damage SA WS's without much trouble, it shouldn't be any harder holding it from an RNG.

[Vertabreaker]

Most RNG/NIN with meat and no acc buff, you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot.

The RNG/WARs will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

Sorry, FTFY

I'd really like to see equip of RNG/NIN that can hit Kirin consistently without any accuracy buff (sushi or preludes)

I go /Nin to kirin and never have any acc issues. I use either steaks or subs and get Minuet x 2. I can dig through my parses and find the last couple kirin runs to back this up if you want.

[superfob]

Most RNG/NIN with meat and no acc buff, you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot.

The RNG/WARs will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

Sorry, FTFY

I'd really like to see equip of RNG/NIN that can hit Kirin consistently without any accuracy buff (sushi or preludes)

I go /Nin to kirin and never have any acc issues. I use either steaks or subs and get Minuet x 2. I can dig through my parses and find the last couple kirin runs to back this up if you want.

I want to see the gear you use for meat + minuet buffs and land WS's consistantly on Kirin (assuming no feint is used on him). Even with a full Racc setup, I seemed to miss quite a bit. Althrough this was before the "unnerf".

[Vertabreaker]

Most RNG/NIN with meat and no acc buff, you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot.

The RNG/WARs will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

Sorry, FTFY

I'd really like to see equip of RNG/NIN that can hit Kirin consistently without any accuracy buff (sushi or preludes)

I go /Nin to kirin and never have any acc issues. I use either steaks or subs and get Minuet x 2. I can dig through my parses and find the last couple kirin runs to back this up if you want.

I want to see the gear you use for meat + minuet buffs and land WS's consistantly on Kirin (assuming no feint is used on him). Even with a full Racc setup, I seemed to miss quite a bit. Althrough this was before the "unnerf".

I'll post my gear when I get home from work. I'll try and dig out my parses as well.

[Sasarai]

I highly doubt you maintain a high hit % (especially on WS) without either sushi, preludes or Feint. Mind you, I've never tried.

Personally I go RNG/WAR, eat meat and live with Preludes for Kirin, they are easier for a BRD to stick on me in that fight anyway.

[Krenna]

My salvage group uses 1~3 rngs for chariot fights. They are crazy for the "zerg" time at 25% and below, and they fuck up gears on floor four of Bhaflau Remnants~

[maddadon]

My first job to 75 was ranger. I found Ninja- and don't really do much else these days- BUT--- When I get a chance to play Ranger I always enjoy myself.

I think its pretty much already been said on this thread how useful a ranger can be in most any situation-so I won't reiterate stuff.

Its still a great DD job, has great abilities, and honestly it is the best spike damage job in the game still imho.

[jmc]

Most RNG/NIN with meat and no acc buff, you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot.

The RNG/WARs will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

Sorry, FTFY

I'd really like to see equip of RNG/NIN that can hit Kirin consistently without any accuracy buff (sushi or preludes)

Weapons: Kriegs/Franny/E-Bow
Head: O-Hat
Body: Osode usually
Hands: Crimson/S.Kote
Rings Baha +1
Neck: Hope Torque/Breeze
Waist: Scouts
Legs: Scouts
Feet: Scouts

I have no problems hitting Kirin /nin while eating Curry or Subs. I have a little difficulties when I go /war because I drop both axes for a Vulcan Staff (Lose what... 12 ranged acc?) but not so bad that I need to eat sushi to hit/Ws on Kirin. I do however wait til I get alot more TP before I WS.

Yet from the other rangers ive done kirin with.... a main problem ive seen is alot of them trying to Side/Slug while kirin is running away from them, usually leaving a huge range gap for the weaponskill which usually doesnt help on landing it.

[VZX]

Most RNG/NIN with meat and no acc buff, you'll see are shooting Kirin for 30-50/shot, doing WS's for 2-400 damage, and missing every other shot.

The RNG/WARs will be popping off 110-130/shot, Sidewinder for 800-900, and FS Sidewinders close to 14-1500.

Sorry, FTFY

I'd really like to see equip of RNG/NIN that can hit Kirin consistently without any accuracy buff (sushi or preludes)

Weapons: Kriegs/Franny/E-Bow
Head: O-Hat
Body: Osode usually
Hands: Crimson/S.Kote
Rings Baha +1
Neck: Hope Torque/Breeze
Waist: Scouts
Legs: Scouts
Feet: Scouts

I have no problems hitting Kirin /nin while eating Curry or Subs. I have a little difficulties when I go /war because I drop both axes for a Vulcan Staff (Lose what... 12 ranged acc?) but not so bad that I need to eat sushi to hit/Ws on Kirin. I do however wait til I get alot more TP before I WS.

Yet from the other rangers ive done kirin with.... a main problem ive seen is alot of them trying to Side/Slug while kirin is running away from them, usually leaving a huge range gap for the weaponskill which usually doesnt help on landing it.

Did you get prelude?

I got much more acc than you but still have problem hitting Byakko and Suzaku (not Kirin, but the eva is about the same when you impose acc penalty)