Bow v Crossbow and Archers in general

[Ragin Cajun]

Which do you prefer and why...

And are archers a viable class in the game? What's the best way to build them? I don't really see anything in the archery tree that is "must have" but have never used scattershot/etc. in play as I usually build up the DW tree. So, looking to see some feedback on the Archery tree and again, how viable is the class spec based on what you have seen..


Oh, and does the damage come close to matching dual wield daggers or 1H Sword + Dagger? And...it appears that Dexterity is the primary rating for damage...does strength play a role in To-Hit or is that just for melee?

Thanks

[Scottg]

Which do you prefer and why...

And are archers a viable class in the game? What's the best way to build them? I don't really see anything in the archery tree that is "must have" but have never used scattershot/etc. in play as I usually build up the DW tree. So, looking to see some feedback on the Archery tree and again, how viable is the class spec based on what you have seen..


Oh, and does the damage come close to matching dual wield daggers or 1H Sword + Dagger? And...it appears that Dexterity is the primary rating for damage...does strength play a role in To-Hit or is that just for melee?

Thanks

Without regard to Awakening..

I'd only build an Archer for a stealth-based Rogue.

Rapid shot just doesn't make-up for a well built melee player, and there are to many enemies in any given fight. Scattershot is excellent, but the duration of the stun effect isn't long enough when compared to the cool-down period.

Also the better effects take a LOT of stamina.. and there aren't any stamina potions in origins. However, consider installing this:

Choose Language | BioWare Social Network

Basically it's better to build a Rogue-based character that is support until you get to level 8 and can select Combat Stealth. ..at that point put your party on "hold" most of the time and go around "assassinating" opponents. Arrow of Slaying is the highest single damage attack method in the game. Critical Shots aren't to shabby either if you have stamina portions (particularly considering their 10 second cool-down).

Look to the Dragon age wiki for info on Strength/Dexterity/Cunning. Also look to it for weapons. Note that Lethality's Cunning bonus doesn't add to attack (only damage).

With Origins (std.) - Marjolaine's Recurve is not difficult to obtain once you are past Lothering.. and it's pretty much the weapon to use most of the time.


The alternative is Dual-weapon Warrior with occasional access to Archery. But there the emphasis is on Dual-weapon Fighting. (..Scattershot would be particularly worthwhile.) Considering you can make a rather excellent Dual-wielder with just 5-6 talents (i.e. Dual-Weapon Finnesse, Momentum, and optionally Dual-Striking), that leaves a lot of additional talents that can be plowed into Archery.

[GoldDragon]

Well, here's a little story about the power of archers in DA:O. (Note: I use a mod that gives skill books, so despite a somewhat low level, I had the abilities of a higher one). Possibly spoilerific!

Origin: Dalish Elf Male.

Class: Rogue Archer (I reffer to him as a Hunter) Fairly High Cunning

Situation: Zevran's Ambush

Zevran had Ambushed us as he was hired to do. Thinking that Alistair, Leliana, and Wynne (I don't think I had installed the extra dog slot yet) would easily be able to handle the ambushers, I had Theron go stealthy and start disarming the traps before Alistar set them off. after disarming 2, I noticed that the fighting had stopped. Looking around (and still stealthy), I see that my party had bit the dust.

Hiding behind a tree, and positioned that only one of the assasins could see me, I used Arrow of Slaying on the one Assasin that could possibly see me. He went down like a sack of potatoes. Going stealthy again, I wait for the timer to finish before positioning for the second of three on the ledge. Again, one Arrow of Slaying to the assassin, and she went down like a sack of potatoes. Repeating this solution, I reduced Zevran's Assassins . At the start, he had 11 Assasins. 12 to one usually isn't good odds for survival.

All in all, I only needed 16 arrows to wipe him and his entire party out.


For the record, Theron fell to a Hurlock Emissary's Fireball in the very next conflict.:laugh:

True, the Archer doesn't get much of a benefit from the rogue's talents as a dual-wielder would get, but used carefully, the archer can be just as powerful as any mage. For Fireball, Scattershot is the archery equivalent. Target the strongest enemy in the cluster, and it will hit just about everything in the cluster.

EDIT: Theron also had a high Dex.

[DaveO]

As other posters have mentioned, Stealth + Arrow of Slaying makes Rogue archers almost unstoppable. Regardless of whether the archer is a Rogue or Warrior, I'd advise some points into the Dual Wielding skills since some encounters are in close quarters.

In regards to Strength versus Dexterity for an archer, Strength is useful if you plan on using crossbows. Dexterity is useful for dodging blows, and if you decide to go down the Bard path a good Cunning score improves your ability to penetrate armor with attacks.

[Ragin Cajun]

I usually take the first row in archery to get to Master. I honestly had not paid much attention beyond that and have been pleasantly surprised by the damage I can deal out as an archer. Scattershot is pretty sweet too although I wish it had a quicker recycle. Still, almost to the end of the OC and it's gone well with my archer build.

[Crenshinibon]

I personally would choose bows, primarily due to them having greater bonuses than the crossbows. I strongly suggest that you take all of the abilities under Archery and completely forget about stealth.

Throughout the original game, as well as the expansion (especially the expansion) archers are powerhouse characters, having great damage AND the second higher defense next to a Sword and Shield warrior.

Both, rogues and warriors make great archers and as such, stealth isn't necessary because of your great range (you can start firing before enemies spot you) and amazing defense score.

The main difference between warrior and rogue is the damage and critical hit rate, as well as the fact that a warrior can keep his stamina up during a battle through Deathblow. In Awakening, the rogue becomes more focused in DPS whereas the warrior, still doing similar damage, has a higher rate of fire, can do spirit damage and has better survivability and crowd control.

[Ragin Cajun]

With Origins (std.) - Marjolaine's Recurve is not difficult to obtain once you are past Lothering.. and it's pretty much the weapon to use most of the time.

It appears in researching this weapon that only Leliana can use it so not much use to me in a archer role.

[Benbe12321]

My first DA:O character that comlpeted the game, was actually a archer (id say ranger, but that was just the most pointless spec), and she kicked ass. For example, *spoiler* when fighting the dragon ni the urn of ashes quest, my whole party apart from me died after damaging the dragon for about an 1/8 of its health. Then i was left with my archer, can't remember what specs, think i was a bard and duelist or assasin, (bard for skills, duelist or assasisn for bonuses). And i managed to kill the dragon by myself, just by spamming arrow of slaying, and the other dps skills (not cc ones) and stamina potions. I only had to drink like two health potions (i dont call them poultices ). And i won it easily. Then in the last battle *spolier* against the arch demon, i completely destroyed it, i was only on medium difficulty, but it was so easy, jusdt because i had alistair going and taking all the damage and drinking tonnes of potions, while i cc'd the darkspawn, and dps'd the archdemon, and i only think one person died or smoething.

Though *spolier* the whole dwarven bit in the deep roads (which i did last out of the 4) I constantly got beaten, and i ended up having to put wynne in the party (instead of morrigan) and put her tactics just onto focuising on me) so i didnt die all the time xD.

[LastDanceSaloon]

Continuing the *spoiler*

For example, *spoiler* when fighting the dragon ni the urn of ashes quest, my whole party apart from me died after damaging the dragon for about an 1/8 of its health. Then i was left with my archer, can't remember what specs, think i was a bard and duelist or assasin, (bard for skills, duelist or assasisn for bonuses). And i managed to kill the dragon by myself, just by spamming arrow of slaying, and the other dps skills (not cc ones) and stamina potions. I only had to drink like two health potions (i dont call them poultices ). And i won it easily. Then in the last battle *spolier* against the arch demon, i completely destroyed it, i was only on medium difficulty, but it was so easy, jusdt because i had alistair going and taking all the damage and drinking tonnes of potions, while i cc'd the darkspawn, and dps'd the archdemon, and i only think one person died or smoething.

You are not alone! In fact, I found that the only way to kill almost all the dragons in the series (crystal excluded in Awakenings) was to use archery.

The ash urn dragon gets stuck in the rocks if you stand in the right place and although it creams any close combat, it's just a matter of patience to take the flames and fire arrows from distance.

Likewise, the Morrigan quest dragon just sits on a plateau and doesn't move, so same tactic.

And, again, the Archdemon doesn't really attack but just jumps from random spot to random spot, so I used the Elven archer army and archers to do pretty much all the damage. Though, weirdly, my warrior got the final strike.

It's for reasons like this that characters such as the Revenants and boss Ogres are actually the toughest challenge of the game in terms of archer combat, so I'm not surprised the Deep Roads gave you the most problems!

However, I also found that archery combined with a chicken runner was the only way to see off Oghrens lover and soon to be ex... (most reloads of the game for this battle).