Yet another "help me choose" thread. :3

[haiQt]

Hey guys, first post here!

First off, great forum. I've learned a lot of Aion by just lurking around here and reading tons. Anyway, here's my question:

I know I want to play either Ranger or Assassin, but I can't decide which one at all.

I've always liked Rangers in the past, I love how they look and play. Thing is though, right now Rangers seem kind of underpowered compared to others damage-wise (yes, I realize damage isn't the only thing that's important [CC, interrupts, ...] but their damage still seems really low compared to other classes [Sorc springs to mind]).

Then there's the Assassin. I also love how they look and play - I guess I always favor the Thief/Ranger/... in games, as that's what I nearly always play. The thing that's holding me back with Assassins is my previous experience with a melee class in games like these: Marauders in Warhammer Online. Marauders were a fun class to play, but in World PvP (mainly medium to large groups or even zergs) they kinda sucked, because you'd just have two giant groups of the two factions facing eachother with space inbetween them. Now, if you were a melee, you were just standing there. If you decided to run to the other group, you'd get shot down by the ranged classes instantly. I don't want to experience the same thing in Aion, will World PvP be like this too or will the groups scatter around?


TLDR; Ranger or Assassin, halp.


Thanks in advance!


E: Oh wow, I just found out that I used nearly the exact same topic title as someone else. Sorry! :3

[Thudir]

Don't worry, wondering about what class you are going to play is only natural, so I don't mind answering .

I guess that the most obvious answer is, what would you prefer more ? Melee or ranged ? Seeing as that's the biggest difference in the 2 classes.

Then , about being afraid to be underpowered / overpowered , empowered or whatnot, If there is anything I've learned playing mmorpgs, it would be that class balance will always be an issue, but that all classes get turns being either over or underpowered. Basicly, don't go for the class you think is the strongest, but go for the most fun one.

About the melee standoff thingy, I can't really say for sure if it's going to be different in this game, but seeing how everyone will be able to fly, I doubt the enemy's ranged players will be able to watch the air and ground at all time, giving an assasin some room to sneak up to them.

That's basicly all I can think of right now, I hope it was atleast of some assistance.

[Darth Frettchen]

I had had to make the same desiscion...even though I was pretty sure rolling a sin.
So now im playing a sin as main and ranger as a tweak. Sin won because I'm a little bit more in to Dual Wield(just got to love that insane fast attack speed) than Bow.

About being over- or underpowered..if you pick a class because of that, then you picked the wrong class.

[Escalus]

from what i hear rangers own in end game pvp. go ranger! xD

[bobcat_grad]

I'm still trying to decide between a scout class or priest... at least you've made it past that decision

[Lelouch]

sounds to me like ranger suits you more

[haiQt]

Heh Lelouch, I just started watching Code Geass a couple of days ago. Nearly at the end though.

Thanks for all the input so far, guys! Much appreciated.

[aionpurity]

Yes, rangers don't compare damage wise to a sin. So you'll need to fill the gap with some skill. They have burst damage, just not as much as others. Rangers specilize in combating with a bow, but they can engave melee aswell tho, duel weild. They have traps, can transform into creatures, and can stealth. So theres plently to answer the current situation with, reguardless of what it is. I rangers have the potential to exceed where a sin could not.

On the other hand, a ranger would suceed where a sin would not, because a sin shouldn't be where a ranger is. Personaly i'm not a fan of the hole, pop out, stunlock, kill in 2 seconds, then disapare. I like how the ranger class has less damage out put, just means when you win, you won. ;p

[Lelouch]

Originally Posted by haiQt

Heh Lelouch, I just started watching Code Geass a couple of days ago. Nearly at the end though.

Thanks for all the input so far, guys! Much appreciated.

i was watching it months ago r2 when it was being subbed every week from japan hopefully your watching it subbed bc they tone it down on the english dub the english dub actualy has caused me to fall out of my computer chair laughing if it comes on randomly on weakends as backround noise adult swim

[Lightborn]

If you are the kind to wait, attack, run, wait, attack, run, then I think the assassin would be for you. I'm not an expert on assassins, just pretty good with rangers.

Rangers are the class that requires strategy to really shine in Aion. Walking up to a guy and shooting it with you bow and running around so it doesn't hit ya is the simplest (yet risky) tactic called kiting. Another could be to do as much ranged damage as you can without moving and then switch to melee and stun the target and stab him in the back with melee skills. Maybe if traps are your thing, you could lay a trap between you and your target and pull him into the trap, and shoot the bejeesus out of him while he's stuck there. Jack of all trades, master of the bow, rangers are the most versitile class in Aion. Capable of great damage when used right, a specialist against any class, a formidable class to fight, and a terrific combatant while flying.

Now for the bad news on Rangers. Their pretty dependent on the players skill at using them. They are one of the more expensive classes to play, they fail at melee compared to the warrior school classes, and the traps they use may not be so great (testing that theory out next beta).

P.S. When you saw rangers doing little damage, it's probably because they where trying to kite elites 3 lvls higher than them.

[haiQt]

Again, thanks for the replies so far, guys. I think I'll go with ranger!

I played a Hunter in WoW up to 2200 rating in season 3 (if that rings a bell for anyone... Hunters were the most horrible class back then ) so I think I qualify for kiting. :P

I'm looking forward to people really shining with Ranger, which will ultimately prove that once again, player skills > class!

[Wired]

I think the most important thing is that ranger has A LOT of tools...

To be a good ranger, you must know how/when/where to use all of your tools...

Learn well young grasshoppa...and you will do well...

[Niceguy]

Originally Posted by bobcat_grad

I'm still trying to decide between a scout class or priest... at least you've made it past that decision

im there with ya
i've played a healer in every mmo since wow beta


but the assassin just looks so promising =)
<- loves burst

[Simonzi]

I made a ranger, got up to level 16. Still wasn't liking it, even though I love ranged bow classes. Made an Assassin, and am loving it.

[haiQt]

I'm a level 20 Ranger now, and loving it. Going to make a Chanter as an alt to see what it's all about!

Then again... Assassin looks pretty fun too. Sigh!