Fun and decent ranged classes?

[Seravajan]

Which ranged classes are fun and still decent to play? Both sides are okay.

I tried an engineer but I heard that it scales terribly when gaining levels. And the sorcerer is constantly killing himself.

[Nefarian78]

Depends on content you plan on doing. All ranged classes serve a purpose (Engi and Magus are slightly more difficult to make work) however what they excel at is smallscale roaming aswell as snowballing less experienced groups and farming pugs in scenarios.

I would recommend you try Sorc or SW.

Sorc is arguably the best destro rdps class overall and is extremely fun to play, however it also requires the most sinergy with your group and playing solo is basically impossible.

Shadow Warrior is an excellent order rdps and the best roaming class in the game by a mile thanks to it's ability to catch people at 120ft range aswell as festering arrow making literally any target a viable kill target no matter what.

[Aethilmar]

Magus (single target) - played one and been victim. Actually one of the best roaming classes but you need to plan ahead.
Sorc - have not played but been a victim. Yeah they blow themselves up but nastiest single target TS deleter around.
SH - have not played but been a victim. Really dangerous to clothies. Not so much to armored folks. Hard to catch when played well.
DPS shammy - have not played but been a victim. Hard to catch. Hard to kill. Mostly pointless until RR70 though but you can always be useful as a healer in the meantime.

Engineer (single target) - played one and been victim. They nastier than Magus against clothies but have tougher time against armor.
Bright Wizard - played one and been victim. They are dangerous but they don't worry me like a sorc does.
Shadow Warrior - played one and been victim. Ultimate YOLO class. Dangerous if you let them stand still. Otherwise free food.
DPS AM - played one and been victim. Easier to catch than Shammy but somewhat higher DPS. Like shammy, mostly pointless until RR70 though but can always be useful as a healer in the meantime.

Honorable mention:
White Lion - play with your food at a distance until you ready to pounce.

There you go. Pick your poison. But if you going Order, please don't pick Shadow Warrior. Enough of them already.

[FFNation]

Shadow warrior is probably best if you don't like bright wizard or sorc damaging themselves.

[BluIzLucky]

Love DPS AM..
Top tier solo
can be very dangerous on single target burst with full combo in party (though seems like devs are planning a nerf here, we'll see in 2 weeks)
very strong hybrid in RvR (and very fun)
Very high AoE burst (but low radius)
Downside is victorious ring is a fairly big upgrade, but can do without.

Runepriest is also pretty great AoE support DPS (but not really ranged, and not half as fun as AM tho way more chill)

Though both are less competitive in 24v24 than engi or bw.

[Derpy]

Squig Herder been the most fun ive had in this game. If someone gets close, at least you have an option to fart and vomit on people in your squig armor.

No idea about endgame, my guy is only lv 37.

[fabrizio3k]

Engineer is still the most enjoyable rdp I've played since the beta but that's just my 2 cents

[tazdingo]

I always liked engi for ST... relies less on brainless assist, you always have to think ahead in regards to positioning and manually pick the correct targets in the back. odd mechanical skills like platforming and how you use your camera are greatly rewarded.

focus sorcs and zeals and you can be a silent carry. shooting anything with armour is just a waste of ap

[Fenris78]

SW can be a monster when you know how to fully use his stances, and are prepared to play assault spec ; otherwise you'll die to anything since you cant kite or survive as good as a SH.
Playing ranged (scout) only will make you a sitting duck with no mobility.

But properly played assault+ranged SW can wreck most opponent at range and in melee.

Otherwise you can try the kiting SW build, wich rely on both ranged stances and slotting speed tactic, but it will only work against tanks and melee.

To my taste, and I dont speak generally but after trying most of other Order classes, I find assault SW to be the most fun ranged class to play, because you get good mobility (not as good as other but decent), and many tools to outlast or take the upper hand in most situations, including warband play for wich you can just switch to another tactic set and be AoE build to mass debuff enemies for your realm.

The class is also pretty much self-sufficent, you dont really rely on tank and can solo well enough. The only real downside is to not be able to self-heal outside of potions, and low HP pool overall.
But you will kill most WEs jumping on you if you know how to deal with them (need good gear tho and good knowledge of the class).
You wont find yourself a deadweight or a liability to your group, since you can backdash and still keep pressure on target, not to mention the shadowstep to gap close or quickly support backlines if needed.
You cannot do all of that with other ranged classes, wich come all with strenghts and weaknesses, but to me they dont achieve the good balance of the assault/skirm or assault/scout SW.

Other distance classes (BW/Sorc, Engi/Magus) are either very static or very support-dependant (need tank and/or healer to perform well enough), and dont have the frontload damage of SW, while getting stronger over time (BW/Sorc mechanics and turrets/daemons wich bring bonuses).

SH if pretty much same as SW, without Ranged AoE capabilities, but with greater mobility and survivability. Class is lacking ST burst in melee mode and some bonuses in armor mode (AA damage, inability to use ranged), and are more focused on melee AoE, but they are good too.

Be aware that in couple of months from now, there will be a big balance patch wich will greatly affect ranged classes, on first glance in a negative way, especially for SH/SW and Engi/Magus, but time will tell...

Play at your own risk but play for enjoyment first !

[Seravajan]

A question to the SW: Does he have an offhand item or a two-handed item?