Ranger's Treatise

by Kal Ancalas

You've always wanted to be a third jobber, but is it as much fun as it's cracked up to be? A bored and cynical Ranger shares his thoughts on the world of Maple Story. Not for the easily offended. Gah, I can't believe people are still reading this...[dc]

1. Social Status for Dummies

Ranger's Treatise

By Kal Ancalas

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Author's Note

Yes, I've been off of the community for a long while. I stated that the reason was that I wanted to be a Ranger. That, and I had schoolwork.

Well, I still have the schoolwork, but I have reached my goal. At long last, I have become a Ranger.

Okay, I really don't want to spoil this story. Actually, it's not really even a story, per se. It's something I've wanted to write ever since I've turned level 70, but I haven't had the time or mindset to work on it. But now, I'm ready.

Basically, this is a series of essays, or treatises, on my experiences in MapleStory. I know some of you are cowering under your desks just because you heard the "essay" word. Don't worry. I am not going to be like one of those medical experts and write a 98-page report on endowoozywhatsitis. This is basically a collection of memories, thoughts, observations, and such, from a year and a half of experience. (I'm not sure if memoirs are permitted on FF, but if I posted this on FictionPress people wouldn't understand.)

I'm not going to ramble on and on anymore. I'll let the story do its work from here on.

And oh yeah, a late Happy Halloween to all. Candies are overpriced commodities! Don't waste your mesos on them! And when trick-or-treaters come to your house, offer them a bowl of candy. Hide glass shards in it.

See, I still have some of my comic ability left.

-Kal, November 1, 2006

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Part I: Social Status for Dummies

Ranger. A word that has been with me ever since a year and a half ago, when I first learned of this thing called MapleStory.

Ranger. I've done it at last.

Ranger. Seventy levels of blood, sweat, tears, and vicious fights with my parents about how I'm wasting my time.

Well, yes. When I look back at those carefree years, mashing the Ctrl button on my keyboard, trying to gain experience just a little bit faster, it may have been silly. It does seem silly, at least in retrospect. But I still have those memories. Sometimes happy, sometimes sad, sometimes painful.

Ranger. It was what I once stared up at, and now what I am.

Ironically, my first character wasn't even my beloved archer. It was a warrior. I've always been inclined to create warriors in whatever web games I play. This one was no exception. I believe I played my warrior for about 35 levels, then made a bowman, the very same one that is now a Ranger, got my archer to roughly level 24 or so, then made a magician, played for 30 levels, became a cleric, and then I shrugged off MapleStory for a while. I really don't know why. Sometimes I look back and curse myself because I could have used that lost time to become Ranger a little bit faster, and save myself so much trouble.

After this sojourn from Maple for a while, I returned with a vengeance. I needed to become a Hunter. So I trained, became level 25, got a Battle Bow, and set off to Ellinia. I have lost count of how many mushrooms fell under my reign of terror. I have also lost count of how much money I spent on potions. But in the end, it was worth it.

I remember buying a 57 attack, 6 accuracy Ryden from some person for 500,000 mesos, in my late 20's. It drained me completely of all my life's savings. I had to sell my spare equips and ores, dumping them for a low NPC price, instead of selling them adequately later. But it was worth it. Oh, yes.

Many people have left Maple simply because "it gets boring after a while." Trust me. I would know. I have worked all the way up to where I am now without hacking, botting, or any other illegal method. (To be fair, though, I lent my account once, to a friend, and he botted me up by 25 percent. However, I changed my PIN after that, even though I might very well have become a Ranger in a week. Anyway, I've died several times, so I guess that makes up for the experience I've illegally gained.)

If you take a moment to go to El Nath, stare at the pros dotting the place. All of them, showing off their flashy third job skills, busting out huge numbers that you would think weren't even humanly possible, and just think. Most of those people are either hackers or third graders with too much time on their hands, anyway, but the knowledge that you could attain that level of excellence and perfection, if only you had the mind-set. I have known countless friends who have started Maple earlier than me and dropped it when they were in their 40's-50's. They could easily be level 80-90 now, scaring beginners and roaring on Zakum. Instead, their characters have been lost forever to time, what once could have been was no more.

Around my early 30's, as a Hunter, the third job advancement was released. I had seen videos of it on YouTube, of course, but I assumed that those flashy skills were going to stay in MapleSEA and the Asian versions forever.

Dead wrong. As soon as I received the patch, I was ecstatic at first, then my mood quickly deteriorated. I was level 30, maybe 31 at the time. For all I cared, the 3rd job advancement was only a legend. I could only stare up at those people and gaze in spellbound wonder. I was 40 levels away from perfection.

Indeed, as soon as the patch was complete, I saw a Ranger, level 80 or so. I don't remember his exact name, but sure enough, there he was, showing off for the little noobies, setting the poor snails on fire, strafing them, murdering them with Rain, and fending off the repeated trade and party requests, I am sure, for as long as he could until his patience wore out. As a matter of fact, this is something that annoys me to no end today. When I go off to the fields west of Henesys to relieve stress, I am bombarded with streams of "Train me pls, money pls, etc. etc." In the end, I simply create a party and invite no one, disable trade requests and whispers. It effectively ends the endless tirades.

But enough of that. Returning to the subject at hand, I watched him deal about 10k with Strafe. I don't remember the exact sum, but all I know was that his damage was at least 20 times stronger than mine. Even with my scrolled Ryden and maxed Double Shot, I could only deal out 600-700 damage at most. (Sweet irony that now, with a Golden Hinkel and maxed Final Attack, I can now deal up to 4000 damage with Double and almost 4000 with FA afterwards.)

In any case, I was overcome with awe. Simply paralyzed with wonder. I believe that that Ranger's fame level must have increased by at least ten points that day from amazed people like me.

The experience made me sullen for a bit afterwards, as I'm sure it did for a few other people. When you think you're on top of the world, bombing mushrooms with Arrow Bomb and then a Ranger comes along and screws you over with Arrow Rain, you're definitely going to feel a bit of depression.

I trained hard after that, going to the Wild Boars with a fury matched by few. I slaughtered them by the hundreds, amassing tons of boar teeth that I didn't even need. (Incidentally, this was about the time the Maple Items were released, and I never found a Maple Bow or Maple Soul Searcher. However, out of serendipity, I did find a Maple Bow at Ticks while training at Ludibrium in my late thirties.)

It's interesting to note my definitions of "pro" here. From level 1 to 29, anyone over level 30 was a pro. I saw endless mages using Thunderbolt and wishing I could do that too. (Little did I know that Thunderbolt was weak as hell until it was maxed, and was also a big waste of MP.) After I hit Hunter, I was on the top of the world, but I discovered there was a sphere of skill beyond the 30's. From then on, anyone level 40 or over was a pro.

I hit level 40 after training at Fire Boars. Ecstatic, I finally put on a Distinction, the dream of many young hunters because of its simply cool looks, took my Vaulter 2000 in hand, and with my Final Attack nearly maxed, I set out to wreak havoc on the good ol' green mushrooms west of Henesys.

Then, an Ice Mage came along, and I was screwed. No matter how hard I tried, Arrow Bomb simply could not trump Ice Strike. Frustrated by the experience (and having wasted countless Blue Potions while trying to KS the mage), I dashed off Retribution. Some of you may still remember it. It lies dormantly in this section.

This caused me to revise my outlook on "pro." From then on, anyone 50 or higher was a pro in my book. Basically, anyone ten levels higher than me or above, I considered a pro. Even today, I still think of myself as the third job noob, and I stare dreamily at level 80 Rangers who have mastered Strafe. Even after that, I'll probably stare enviously at level 90 Rangers who have maxed out Arrow Rain.

However, as soon as I became level 50 (Which I remember vividly, getting up an hour early to level.) I started getting something known as an ego. I showed off flamboyantly, and I wasn't afraid to do it. I was level 50! People were actually asking me to train them and give them money! Although today, these requests piss me off, I viewed them as a sign of skill. I didn't know any better, at the time.

There is a dividing line for the Hunter/Crossbowman that many are aware of. From level 40 down, you wear individual top clothing and bottom clothing. From level 50 on, you get to wear overall armor. (I quickly discovered that since NPC's sold the 100 Overall DEX scroll very cheaply, I turned out a 14 DEX Blue-Lined Kismet for only 350K.) That, I believe, is one of the clear-cut definitions on deciding whether an archer is "pro" or not, or at least "semi-pro."

Level 50 I was, and my head was considerably swelled, but the memories of Strafe still haunted me. If nothing else, I swore, I would be at least level 60 by the end of the summer, able to wield an Asianic Bow.

A tall order that was. Asianic Bows, if you will remember, were extremely hard-to-find and expensive, since only Tauromacis and Yeti and Pepe dropped them, both of which are extremely difficult monsters to deal with. (Now, of course, only Malady drops them. I believe Tauromacis drops the Golden Hinkel instead.) However, my bulging head, still full of pride, I believed I could take down the vile Maladys and find myself an Asianic Bow.

It was a classic Pyrrhian victory. I did eventually find an Asianic Bow, at level 52. 74 attack. (Which I scrolled myself and had a 10 and a 60 fail, thus dooming me for ten horrible levels with the infamous 80 attack bow.) However, the damage the Maladies caused to me were enormous. I spent hundreds of thousands of mesos on potion costs. I paid a high price for my exploits as well: I died twice. Nevertheless, I pressed on, finally reaching my goal (as well as finding a White Calaf and a Sapphire Slain, among other things.) My advice to prospective Level 50 hunters: Either stick with a very good scrolled Olympus until you become a Ranger, or go Asianic hunting in your very late 50's.

In any case, the aesthetics of my new bow overpowered its cruddy attack power. I threw myself upon those poor senseless mushrooms with more pride than I have ever had, blasting them to kingdom come with Double Shot, Final Attack, and Arrow Bomb. Good times, those, until some annoying Hermits and Dragon Knights had to ruin my fun. Nevertheless, becoming level 60 was one of the high points in my Mapling life, aside from becoming a Ranger.

That aside, I return to my original point, definition of the word "pro." Basically, most people follow a simple rule: If he's higher level than you, he's pro. If he's lower, he's noob. Simple enough. Sometimes, I wonder what goes on in people's minds when I step onto the fields of Henesys.

The first category of person I'll digress on is the Pure Noob. Pure Noobs, a.k.a Beginners, are just that. Pure, idiotic noobs who don't amount to anything. Level 1-15. The hobby of a Pure Noob is to seek out level 40 or above people and continuously barrage them with offers for party and money, despite that they are completely oblivious to the fact that the pro is merely there likely to relieve stress and is not in the mood to do a favor. That, and the pro is probably 50 levels higher than them, so they won't get EXP anyway. But no. They strive. They loot. Simply put, they annoy. I make it a business to ignore these kind of people, until finally I get fed up, party them for fun, lead them to Stone Golems, and get them killed.

The next category, that is not quite as bad, is the Pseudo Noob. These guys are level 20-30, and they are up there, thinking that they are on top of the world, killing mushrooms, until suddenly, oh snap, a pro comes along, stealing all their kills. They will then either disparage said pro with a series of insults and jeers, with the occasional snap of "I have a Level (insert big number here) character that can own your sorry ass." Don't think I'm bashing these guys too badly, because I used to be one of them, 40-some levels ago. However, these guys aren't great either. They are usually there to do the 99 or 999 Green Mushrooms quest, which is well and good, but if you want to hunt mushrooms, go to Ellinia. Anyway, you won't get anything from that quest except a few potions. They will beg for training at times, if need be, and they are not above a little defaming. Pseudo Noobs are usually mages or sins. (This is not intended to offend. It's just a simple observation.)

A third category that I'll mention is the Hacker. These guys vac mushrooms and snails for the fun of it. Then they blame the pro and get everyone to mass defame the unfortunate person. Personally, I detest these people. They are nothing more than the slime. Actually, scratch that. They're the shit of the bacteria that infects the fungus that lives on the slime. Any self-respecting pro would NEVER hack in a field full of noobs. Remember that before you start flinging defames, slander, and reports everywhere. (Besides, a false report can get you banned.) It is not pure coincidence that most of the Hackers happen to be Pure Noobs as well.

Another category that shows up at the fields west of Henesys often is the Pseudo-Pro. These guys are in the 4x-5x range. They can be any class, but usually they're warriors or sins. These guys run around, showing off their amazing abilities. For some reason, these guys usually have better attitudes than the Pure or Pseudo Noobs. I don't know why. Perhaps it's because they're closer to achieving level 70 than their lower-level counterparts. Or maybe they're smart enough not to piss off someone 30 levels higher than them. In any case, I like them. They're fairly nice, and they make good conversation.

The fourth category is the Almost-Pro. These guys, as you've probably guessed by their name, are Level 60 to 69. They are superior to all of the previous categories of people. When pros arrive, they're jealous. And they don't hide it very well. Almost-Pros, for some reason, are usually almost always sins. I don't know why, either. Maybe it's that infamous sin attitude. In any case, when a Level 70-plus arrives, the Almost-Pro will try to touch off a KS war. (In my 60's, I was a notorious Almost-Pro. My reflexes had advanced almost to the point that I could KS anyone without Arrow Rain or Eruption.) The Almost-Pros have it tough. They don't quite have the spunk to attain the flashy skills of the 3rd jobbers, despite their strength, but they still get barraged like crazy by the Pure and Pseudo Noobs. I feel sorry for these guys. Instead of training at Zombies and power-leveling to pro status, they choose to be show-offs, and instead end up being annoyed to their wit's end, while ending up getting KSed by a wayward pro anyway.

For those of you getting tired of this, relax. There's only two more categories left. The second to last, the Noob Pro, is for the level 70-79ers. Usually fresh from Nath, just having put their first point in Shout, Ice Strike, Shadow Partner, Inferno, or what have you, they aim to be as flamboyant as possible. And they come prepared. They disable whispers. They create a fake party to fend off party requests. They disable trades. Mostly, they aim to impress. And they usually end up doing so, at least until someone in the 100's comes along. I am of this group. It's fun, I tell you. One of the favorite stunts of this group is to dress up as a Pure Noob and beg for alms. When they are scorned, they pull out their 3rd job skills.

The last category is the Pure Pro. These people are the best of the best, usually Level 90 and above. They flaunt Zakum Helms. They are usually Dragon Knights or Mages. They wield Ice Strike and Dragon Roar mercilessly. And yet, despite the fact that they are 100 levels higher than most other people there, the Pure Noobs still insist on bugging them.

This part of my memoirs has somehow degenerated into a piece that should be properly entitled "Kal Ancalas' Encyclopedia of Maplers." I was afraid it would. It seems only fair that I promise a new chapter soon enough.

That is, if you're not too disgusted at this recollection that you immediately flame and report me, but oh well. You're entitled to your opinion.

-ZerPheonix74