The Duel (with a Ranger Leader)

Well, another story about meeting a Ranger Leader. Just can't help it I guess, because to me these guys are the closest thing we have to "PvP" in a mob.

Tombo, lvl 55 Ranger and Cujo, lvl 59 Lasher vs. Ranger Leader and his two Vicious Lasher Pets and Four Minions. I'm using my Lvl 57, Lore 65 Runic Bow with: Rashan's Forging Fire, Glacier, and Force on it.

I've fought Leaders before and have started to win engagements, but they were always won with some extra help such as my Tyrant or another player.

Maybe I've wanted to duke it out in more even terms? Though I'm not sure that makes sense since the Leader has about 6 helpers on his side (four Minions and two Vicious Lasher pets). I have been interested in beating one of these guys "solo" though, since observing other class's capabilities when encountering "tough" opponents. I don't have Reap, I don't have a shield, I don't have AOE's, I don't have dual wield, but I do have a pet and my feet along with a respectable Runic bow crafted by Tikbalang, who I go to for all my crafted weapons.

I'm at the Star, ready for some hunting on Arramora. So, I head across to the western side of the river for a long session of kill and butcher in the forests.

Just as I hit the far shore and start my run to the left, POOF! Radar shows the unpleasant appearance of a Leader pack, and Bloodletter arrows are whistling around me. Fortunately I was already running in an advantageous vector and simply kept going for a bit till the Leader and his posse lost interest.

I have no Tyrant for another 10 hours or so. I have no Potions of Refraction. Hmmm, I do have two ichors.

With nothing more than unbuffed skills, my Lasher, and two ichors I start the duel along the shore of that river. The Leader is about the same level as I am, but as we know mobs have the advantage in masteries. Additionally, I won't be able to tank any Minions that close to melee range, and there are four of them in addition to the Leader's Vicious Lashers.

Could I pull minions one-by-one? Where did they settle? Oh great, up there with a couple of Crones and Shock Reapers as well.

First run:

I lay a Crushing Jaws trap and move forward into range. In this instance I want the trap behind me as retreat support to hopefully snag pursuers.

Typical Ranger Leader: On the ball, no slack as soon as I'm noticed. The entire posse begins running my way and two Lasher pets are spawned on top of me as the Leader shouts "Fluffy, Attack!".

I launch Envenom at the Leader as I decide to take some hits from his pets. I've got about 6-8 seconds before the Minons are on me, and I DON'T want to get hit by one of them, much less four.

Envenom hits and Cujo is off! However, I break off and retreat because the Vicious Lashers are starting to make a dent in my health and the Minions are close, though they appear to be switching aggro to Cujo.

Cujo does an admirable job. Better than I've ever seen. He actually had time to poke the Ranger Leader a couple of times before going down under the Leader and Minions.

I sprint up the shore, and one Vicious lasher pet follows having missed the trap. I turn and kill it while the Leader and his Minions return to their lurking spot.

Second Run:

I pop an Ichor and decide I need to strip some minions away.

Again, the entire posse targets me. It's touch and go for a bit, but lo and behold I actually peg the Leader with Sinew Snap! However, in the ensuing moments I am hit hard and have to retreat. The ichor is working, but I was hit by a critical shot from the Leader and a Minion managed to close and get in a whack. Ouch. I get lucky however: As I retreat, a following Minion hits the trap! I HEAR it go off, and without looking pull a wide running turn with a Vicious Pet behind me. I summon Cujo quickly not bothering to buff him as there is no time, and let fly with Fire Arrow, Envenom, and my new favorite: Sinew Snap + Lilitha's Vengeance. The Vicous Pet is nearly on me by this time, but has switched aggro to Cujo who is now tangling the Minion up at his trap-rooted spot. The Minion falls to the ground after a couple more follow up shots though Cujo does goes down under a hit from the Minion and the Vicious pet who followed him in the process.

One Minion down, three to go.

I run up the beach again to gain some distance, pop a Ranger Food, turn, and kill the Vicious pet again who is coming for me off of the Cujo-kill.

Third Run:

I almost died on this one. I was at 35 health. Don't ask me how I lived, because I don't know.

Frankly, this one is a blur in my mind. All I remember is starting the run and beginning the engagement with the Leader, his remaining three Minions, and his two pets. I'm trying to hit the Leader this time instead of a Minion to see if I can hurt him. Sure enough I connect several times and he's hurt for about 30% worth, with Cujo in the middle of the posse trying to get at the Leader! The next thing I know the Ranger Leader hits me with a critical shot leaving me with about 400 of 1250, and I've got a Crone and a Shock Reaper in the mix as well!

I turn and run for all I'm worth, and just as I'm pulling away the Leader nails me again with a hard hit! LOL, I thought I was dead, but my toon is still running and when my eyes flick to the health bar: 35.

I run, I live, I turn to reengage.

I'm feeling like this is impossible at this point, but for some reason I think of some of the PvP dueling I've done recently. Not much really, but that small amount of contact in FFA helped me "feel" some things:

I can be as dangerous as anything else out there. I've got weapons and pets too. Use them. If you've already accepted defeat in your mind before the fight, it's likely you've established the outcome beforehand. Be aggressive, be positive, TRY. If you die, you learn and try again.

Run Four:

I'm not having much luck pulling another Minion away, so this time I'm going to try and hurt the Leader while avoiding the Minions.

I sneak within radar range and manage to pop the first shot. To my pleasure Envenom hits followed by Sinew Snap. Cujo runs to engage as the entire posse turns my way, and I start firing. I'm hit a couple of times, but to my surprise a good percentage of my shots hit also, probably due to Sinew Snap degrading his missle defense skills. The next thing I know, just as I have to dodge to avoid Minions, I realize the Leader is at 50%! How'd I do that? Woot! I must have had a crit or two on my end this time!

I run TOWARDS the Leader, moving past the three Minions charging my way. They turn to pursue, but Cujo is in the Leader's face essentially between the Leader and the turning Minions. In the few moments it takes them to figure out aggro I'm past the Leader on his far side. I turn and launch Fire Arrow. It hits! And WOOT! Rashan's Forging Fire kicks off in addition to my Fire Arrow DoT! (I love the Rashan's Forging Fire visual)

Oops, Cujo is down, and Minions are almost on me. I immediately run past the three Minions again, all trying to protect the Ranger Leader I've just hit. One Minion hits me as I go by and I take a 300hp hit. I'm down to 700 or so and the Leader is launching arrows as well, but I'm keeping in motion and he's missing most of his shots.

I turn, and trade another shot with the Leader (Fire Arrow again). It hits! The leader is down to 25% or so. Yes! I'm doing it!

I run again dodging Minions, and the Leader is launching arrows. I think I was hit once, but not too bad. However, I notice he's low on vigor because, how nice, no more Vicious Lasher Pet spawns are occurring! Maybe his skill is still timed out, but even if it wasn't, he's out of Vigor!

The Minions have turned again and are rushing my way, but I've got a couple of seconds yet, and stop and trade more shots with the Leader. They hit!

The Leader is hurt badly, and he's down to about 15% when he turns and moves away. I want to follow, but I've got Minions on me and I'm forced to retreat. I do so, and the Minions begin their return to the Leader. I pop a Ranger food, and I'm dying here because I just know in the time I'm taking to do that the Leader is going to HEAL right up. Bah!

Silly me. I forgot about the Fire Arrow DoT and Rashan's Forging Fire DoT he's dealing with! When I run deperately back to try and stop him from healing, I see he's not healed one bit, but in fact is nearly stone dead!

I play rabbit past the three Minions, and when all is said and done: I run to about 50 feet from him and pop off Fire Arrow. PANG! It hits! I then run out from between the minions again.

And he goes down with a moan roasting like a Dillo-steak on a grill. Some don't care for DoT effects, but I've found them effective on several occassions, either countering fast regen rates to some degree or finishing off a tough opponent who is almost dead, as has happened here.

With the Leader now dead, each of the three minions was taken, one by one, after a short retreat to regen.

No purple text bow, but each had 5k in gold to loot, and this is my first ever, non-buffed-with-every-pet-I-had victory against a Leader.