Let the Ranger idea die (Woodsman).

[akboy]

Re: Let the Ranger idea die (Woodsman).

First I have a slight issue with the name ranger as it is commonly associate with high fantasy rather then gothic. It's a meshing problem with the universe. Personally I've always loved the Ranger class. I just don't think the name fits.

The same could be said about the Wizard and Witch Doctor. Almost every fantasy setting, high or not, has had some kind of wizard. I'm sure some of those settings don't mesh with the Diablo universe. The Witch Doctor has a similar problem because many real world tribal cultures have witch doctors, yet they are known for using voodoo dolls and healing magic, not spells that would work in combat.

Blizzard has made it clear they want to give classes names that will be familiar to people. So it's inevitable that the names they choose will have a history that includes uses that don't fit the the Diablo universe.

My main issue is with people using the term ranger to refer to only an archer or ranged class, and there by ignoring all the other attributes of the class. While rangers are archers they are also beast tamers, trackers etc. The reason I suggested the name woodsman is to get people to think about a ranger without the archer connotation that it has picked up; probably would have worked better had I started with the beastmaster or stalker tree instead of the archer tree.

How many people have you heard suggest or assume a pure archer class? Even when people use the term "archer," I don't think they are referring to a pure archer class. They're probably just talking about the class that will have bow skills, similar to the Amazon.

We know there's a very good chance one of the last 2 classes will have bow skills. But it's still hard to guess what other kind of skills the class will have. So instead of guessing what those other skills will be, and making a class name to fit those skills, it's just easier to call it the ranger or archer for now. You're welcome to post new class ideas, but don't expect people to change what they call the archetype in general discussion.

 

[Barefoot Soldier]

Re: Let the Ranger idea die (Woodsman).

I’m not asking people to change the archetype because the archetype itself already encompassed the other two skill trees I suggested. Personally I don’t believe that Blizzard would use the name ranger. So I suggested another baser name just for the sake of discussion, and in the hopes that by removing the stigma of the name in discussion we might spawn other ideas as to their skill tree.

I suggested some skills to get the ball rolling the archetypes that I believe the ranger posses. I only suggested 12 skills for for each individual branch and was hoping for more ideas and thoughts.

Obviously our banter over the name has somewhat defeated my purpose of suggesting another name.

 

[Atrav]

Re: Let the Ranger idea die (Woodsman).

I would really like too see a ranger type class in D3. Primarily a class that use bows or crossbows.

 

[Fox VII]

Re: Let the Ranger idea die (Woodsman).

If this were to come to fruition i can't honestly say I'd be at all interested in playing the Marksman tree.

I would also like to say that I have played neither WoW or Guild Wars so any stolen ideas are unintentional.

Look at the three skill catagories for Guild Wars verses the proposed Woodsman. The similarities are uncanny!

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/List_of_ranger_skills :whistling:

Anyways, I still really like your ideas and would be happy with something like them in DIII. What would make the class great (IMO), would be if the bow skills could be ignored completely if one wanted to focus on just stalker or beastmaster skills.

Actually, I'd like to see dagger or "hunting knife" skills tossed into the mix for the people not wanting to only use a bow.

Also, you should try making a ranger/assassin mix if you ever try Guild Wars. I'm sure you'd be able to mimic exactly the play style your describing here for your woodsman.

SIDE STORY - I remember tracking a wounded deer with a bunch of guys. We all figured would be laying dead in a ditch. Unfortunatly since it was almost dark everyone dropped their guns off at the trucks and we were all without a weapon when we came across the still deer laying against a big rock. hehehe One guy had a big knife so he's like, "hey I'm going to go jump it and slit it's throat!." Well he jumped on it all right, but that sucker leaped and threw them so far none of use could stop laughing... The deer was never seen again.

 

[Barefoot Soldier]

Re: Let the Ranger idea die (Woodsman).

The similarities are uncanny but accidental. I've been using a un-bootcamped Mac for the past six years I can't run Guild Wars.

I like the ideas of using hunting knives. Maybe something along the lines of the Warden from Warcraft III. Actually I like all three of her non-ultimate skills for this build. So that would be

Fan of Knives
Shadow Strike (poison)
Blink (Teleport)
Elemental Charges