For the mid-range levels, this Sage2k's post pretty much sums up my feelings. I didn’t use my weapons much unless I was grouped, but leveling up pre 55ish bow kiting was king. SoW myself, STR buff, Firefist is about all I would need. Snare the mob and kite it around (no casters of course). Throw in an occasional nuke/dot if I had a mana-regen buff. The only escape plans I had was just to root and run, as we cant really burst DPS enough to make a difference in a real emergency. Since Sage2k has pretty much summed up those strategies, I’ll focus on the high end solo-ranger.
Pre-encounter Preparations (buffs, etc)
Self buffs that I keep on myself are: SoE, Greater Wolf Form, CoTP, Storm Strength, Quiver of Cold. These are the key bowkiting spells and pretty much all we need since we’re not getting hit. If I plan to engage (which I almost never, while solo), I’ll also throw in: Call of the Mound, Regrowth, Shield of Thorns, Natureskin, and Warders Protection (total of 45 dmg shield). The main perma’s I look for while bowkiting (pretty much the only sort of soloing in the high end) are: EoT, Pants, JB/KEI, and Glory/Empower. This is for the STR + DEX that’s nice in archery, while haste is always good and JB/KEI if I feel like nuking every fight w/o downtime. All the other stats (agi, sta) aren’t too important as we’re not going toe to toe, IMO.
As for spells, I keep the following up for solo bowkiting: Chloroblast, SoE, Icerend, Engulfing Roots, and Ensnare. The others are just buffs that can be memmed and casted at any time, so they aren’t as important. Honorable mentions go to: Superior Camoflage (for quick escapes), Greater Wolf Form, Regrowth, Storm Strenth, Quiver of Cold.
Starting the encounter/Pulling techniques
If I’m soloing I’m usually in a spot with easy, single pulls. I’ll just run up, snare and start kiting away. If it’s a double pull I’ll pull with a root, snare the other, then snare the rooted so I have time when root wears. If its more than a double pull, I’ll get out spreading snares, back up just the right amount (you’ll know with practice), pull by rooting one, cast spreading snares and hit them all, root them one by one and then go back ensnaring one by one. Pick a target and get started =) haha. If any of them are casters, I start the fight by doing a /who all guild cleric and sending them a tell saying I’ll need a rez in a min.
During combat Routines
Bow Kiting is pretty standard, backpedal and shoot arrows until its dead. Scout the area beforehand and know where wanders go, and avoid them at all costs. If the fight lasts too long, recast snare midfight. If you have KEI/JB, do a nuke at the beginning and when you have full mana again once more. (Usually cant get multiple nukes in though, because Icerend has a LONG recast). If you feel like getting beat up, engage the mob till you’re hurting, then back up and heal yourself if you want to melee more, or just resume bowkiting since you can regen it back.
End of combat strategies
Do a /who all friends and send each of them a tell saying how awesome I am for soloing. Haha no seriously though um… loot the corpse (if they’re worthwhile) and find another mob to kill? If you’re a skilled bowkiter you should have absolutely *zero* downtime. Save for those who don’t have EQ, which should click their huntsmans bracers about 10x then resume. And those who cant summon… pretty much every few mobs run back to a city and get more arrows. Refresh any buffs needed, etc.
Contingency plans (boosting DPS, Root & Run, etc.)
If I’m in WAYYY over my head (which is only if theres 10 adds that I don’t feel like dealing with or if they’re casters) I simply run for the zoneline. If its just one caster I’ll root it and run. Other than there being casters/adds, no ranger should ever have to run. We have the ability of doing damage without ever getting hit, so theres no real need to run away unless SoE wears off, snare wears off, and you’re OOM all at the same time. But yeah, just run. If its in a zone where I have to run through hostile territory, I’ll root, invis and run. If its super hostile or I’m just lazy, I’ll root and click a port neck.
That about concludes my thoughts on soloing, Hope it helps!!!
