Sort of. There are several epic quests for each class; a
1.0,
1.5,
2.0, and 2.5. Most people do the 1.5 and 2.0 at level 65+ and 70+, respectively. For Rangers, most do 1.0 as it's one of the best slow procs in game.
At 51+, you can start putting experience into AAs, and use the points to buy abilities. This is where you focus on melee weapons or bows. In the end, melee is generally the better way to go for higher dps, but at certain levels, with AAs and good bows, and especially using disciplines (spell like abilities that use Endurance instead of Mana), archery is competitive if not better. The first discipline for archery is
Trueshot, and the first AAs, are
Endless Quiver and
Archery Mastery rank 3, both available at level 59. Headshot at level 61 is a very useful AA as well. This is the level range, with the AAs that make archery a viable combat option. By 65, if not before, with epic 1.5, melee should be better unless using the Trueshot discipline, or for specific techniques, such as using Headshot which only works on much lower level mobs.
There will be times when archery is a preferred way to go, especially with the Trueshot (and it's upgrades later on) discipline.
EDIT: Some other useful links:
https://everquest.allakhazam.com/wiki/EQ:Alternate_Advancement_-_Class#Ranger Not complete, but all upto Seeds of Destruction expansion.
https://everquest.allakhazam.com/wiki/eq:AA https://everquest.allakhazam.com/wiki/Category:EQ_Alternate_Advancement Yther Ore.
Edited, Mar 12th 2012 7:45pm by Yther