05-04-2004, 11:43 AM
Hi :)
You knew I would be compelled to answer in this thread, didn't you? Even though I am not allowed to extol the virtues of Crossbows. ;)
For starters, Elvish_Legion has compiled quite a lot of information in this thread at the Amazon Basin.
You have to make a decision, almost from the start, about specialization for your Ranger. You just cannot do it all anymore. I have a Cold/Lightning Thrower on the grow who is a lot of fun. But, as Elvish pointed out, there are many skill structures that can and would work. So many characters to build, so little time......
The one thing he did not discuss directly in that thread was mercenaries. He does recommend dropping points into Blessed Aim for the passive bonus to attack rating. My preference would be to save those points for damage skills and use a Blessed Aim mercenary.
I tried using a Prayer mercenary for my Thrower, on the grounds that I wanted a durable tank out in front of vulnerable little me and Prayer mercenaries are more durable than most. I thought I could make up the AR with lots of dexterity. I was wrong. By mid Act 2 Hell I was having trouble hitting the broad side of a barn, even with over 350 dexterity and a few points in Blessed Aim. I fired Kasim, hired Razan and presto, I could hit things again. Given the differing skill maxes for mercenaries hired in Hell versus Normal, I think you would be better off hiring your Blessed Aim helper right from the start.
You knew I would be compelled to answer in this thread, didn't you? Even though I am not allowed to extol the virtues of Crossbows. ;)
For starters, Elvish_Legion has compiled quite a lot of information in this thread at the Amazon Basin.
You have to make a decision, almost from the start, about specialization for your Ranger. You just cannot do it all anymore. I have a Cold/Lightning Thrower on the grow who is a lot of fun. But, as Elvish pointed out, there are many skill structures that can and would work. So many characters to build, so little time......
The one thing he did not discuss directly in that thread was mercenaries. He does recommend dropping points into Blessed Aim for the passive bonus to attack rating. My preference would be to save those points for damage skills and use a Blessed Aim mercenary.
I tried using a Prayer mercenary for my Thrower, on the grounds that I wanted a durable tank out in front of vulnerable little me and Prayer mercenaries are more durable than most. I thought I could make up the AR with lots of dexterity. I was wrong. By mid Act 2 Hell I was having trouble hitting the broad side of a barn, even with over 350 dexterity and a few points in Blessed Aim. I fired Kasim, hired Razan and presto, I could hit things again. Given the differing skill maxes for mercenaries hired in Hell versus Normal, I think you would be better off hiring your Blessed Aim helper right from the start.
And you may call it righteousness
When civility survives,
But I've had dinner with the Devil and
I know nice from right.
From Dinner with the Devil, by Big Rude Jake
When civility survives,
But I've had dinner with the Devil and
I know nice from right.
From Dinner with the Devil, by Big Rude Jake