Only been running my ranger for a few levels now, and I wonder if something is normal -- and if so, why?

I'll get set up across a crater or lava flow, and take a shot at the nearest mob. The first shot (usually a skill shot of some kind) goes as expected, but instead of subsequent shots, my toon will run toward the mob (around the crater) for his next shot.

Is that a bug, or does my toon just ride the short bus?

Across the lava you say?

I just think it's this; skill shots have a longer range than normal ranged attacks, so your ranger fires at maximum range, then closes in so the mobs are in range for his normal bolts.

Hold the shift key down while firing, that should solve that problem.

Skill shots are the exception; during normal attacks your ranger seeks an 'unobstructed' path to your target (which means that your arrows always have ground underneath them, because, as everyone knows, arrows are afraid of heights).

Holding shift while attacking, as Talmorr said, will keep you planted, but you don't auto-target, so you'll have to adjust to your target's movements. Also, you'll have to release shift for a moment if you want to use a skill shot.

Incidentally, this idea might interest you.

btw, skill shots do not have a longer range than normal shots.

Given the fact I never use shift for normal shots it seemed as if skill shots had larger range; you approach the mob, you shoot a Poison/Noxious/Shiver shot, you click on your foe, your range closes in and starts chucking arrows from max range automatically.

Since we're already on range issues, I also have a question.

When I summon the Turkey Leg and let the mobs condense around it, I try to clear them out with AoE shots (Noxious, Shiver). So, as I'm holding the right mouse button, I've noticed my ranger takes a step towards the mob after every shot 'till he's basically shooting them in the face.

Any thoughts on this?

Unless a monster is round a corner or something, it might be that you're clicking on the turkey leg, which initiates an auto-hug run to the bait. But it's easy to tell if that's the case, because you will see "turkey leg" or whatever pop up instead of a monster name at the top of your screen.

Since a skill shot interrupts your movement, you might seem to take steps after each shot...also, do you use 'click to move?'

No, actually I use WASD to move, I never click on the bait, I always focus fire on the strongest foe in the group and I never shoot around corners when using bait.

It doesn't just "seem like I'm taking a step after each shot", I actually am. I'm shooting Shiver Shot at a champion who's 15 metres in front of me in a vast, open room and clearing out the fodder at the same time and after every single shot he takes a step forward. Now if I let go of the skill shot and start chucking normal bolts he stops advancing and continues to stand-shoot them off.