1. Weapon choice and specialization:
What weapon skills should he specialize/work on? As far as types go, blunt/avoidance weapons offer skill/damage along with avoidance, while the slash weapons offer skill/damage along with backstab - with is useless for rangers. This would initially lead one to conclude that blunt is the superior choice.
Are there more or better slashing/piercing weapons? One benefit of slash is that you will not be competing with monks for the blunt weapons - and there seem to be a lot of monks around so you won't be fighting with them for items.
How helpful is the "avoidance" part of the blunt/avoidance duo?
Does it pay to use the non-specialzie weapons?
Are 1-handers or 2-handers the preferred weapon of choice? As I recall from EQlive, 1h weapons caused more threat (which had its pros and cons), and all things being equal damage-wise caught up to the 2-handers in the 30's or 40's. (Swarmcaller with its slow was a nice weapon) Are things the same here?
2. Race: I am leaning towards halfling as my druid is a wood elf. Human doesn't seem like a good choice due to poor vision.
Is there a disadvantage to choosing a halfling due to its small size and low charisma? I would probably put all my points in charisma so my snares/root could land. How serious is the -10% proc. rate? Does the death save and +taunt make up for it at all?
3. Archery: Is it nonsensical to emphasize archery early on by some putting points in sight/warding and getting dex gear?
I have a level 30 character, so I can help out the ranger a bit now and in future, but I likely will not be raiding much on either character.
Any other advice/tips would be welcome.
What weapon skills should he specialize/work on? As far as types go, blunt/avoidance weapons offer skill/damage along with avoidance, while the slash weapons offer skill/damage along with backstab - with is useless for rangers. This would initially lead one to conclude that blunt is the superior choice.
Are there more or better slashing/piercing weapons? One benefit of slash is that you will not be competing with monks for the blunt weapons - and there seem to be a lot of monks around so you won't be fighting with them for items.
How helpful is the "avoidance" part of the blunt/avoidance duo?
Does it pay to use the non-specialzie weapons?
Are 1-handers or 2-handers the preferred weapon of choice? As I recall from EQlive, 1h weapons caused more threat (which had its pros and cons), and all things being equal damage-wise caught up to the 2-handers in the 30's or 40's. (Swarmcaller with its slow was a nice weapon) Are things the same here?
2. Race: I am leaning towards halfling as my druid is a wood elf. Human doesn't seem like a good choice due to poor vision.
Is there a disadvantage to choosing a halfling due to its small size and low charisma? I would probably put all my points in charisma so my snares/root could land. How serious is the -10% proc. rate? Does the death save and +taunt make up for it at all?
3. Archery: Is it nonsensical to emphasize archery early on by some putting points in sight/warding and getting dex gear?
I have a level 30 character, so I can help out the ranger a bit now and in future, but I likely will not be raiding much on either character.
Any other advice/tips would be welcome.