Archer + bow proficiency question

[Morphx2]

Are archers really good when they get a big level? Would dualing to a cleric be good? If so, what level?
Also, do bows use 2-handed weapon proficiency?

Thanks

[The Outsider]

Archers can be scary powerful at high level. First of all, they can put 5 proficiency stars into ranged weapons; they end up with crazy THAC0s. Also, there's the called shot ability, which also becomes really nasty at high levels.

Sure, dual to a cleric if you want... but I'm not sure that you need to. Take Viconia or someone into the party, let your archer get the high-level benefits of called shot.

Have fun.

[Xandax]

If you dual into a Cleric - just remember that a cleric can't use bows

[Morphx2]

What proficiency is bows though?
Is it 2-handed weapons?

[Thomas]

Bows are indeed twohanded weapons but the Twohanded Weapon Style only gives bonuses to melee weapons. Bows are quite powerful enough without additional bonuses and Archers are the best bowyers in the game. I don't recommend dualing a Archer into a cleric though, from a powergamers point of view, since that don't take the kits strengths into consideration.

[TheHellion]

Originally posted by Morphx2:
What proficiency is bows though?
Is it 2-handed weapons?

Yeah, the bow is considered a two-handed weapon, so you should get benefits for allocating points to two-handed weapon style proficiency.

Archers kick a$$. Mine had a -14 THAC0 by level 17. The only thing limiting the archer is the fact that only the magical rating of the arrow is taken into account when determining what you can hit. So, with most bows, creatures that only can be hit by +3 or better weapons are out of your reach. There is an exception, however, which is why I would recommend dumping your points into short bows instead of long bows. The short bow of Gesen requires no ammunition; it magically generates its own arrows. The bow itself is a +4 weapon, and thankfully, so are the missles it fires. There are other benefits as well. Mages or clerics using stoneskin or ironskins respectively will still be damaged, since neither of those spells protect from the magical electrical damage. It's definitely the way to go.


[This message has been edited by TheHellion (edited 02-23-2001).]

[Saigo]

I have another solution for you -- all rangers start with two stars in two-weapon style. I eqipped my archer with the Girdle of Hill Giant Strength and the Strong Arm Bow (both available from Ribald at the beginning of the game)for unbelievable firepower. When facing monsters requiring +4 weapons to hit, I switch to dual weilding the Flametongue and Daystar. The Gesen bow went to my thief who can only use short bows. This keeps the vulnerable thief out of harm's way and still doing damage. Wearing the Shadow Dragon Scale, the Archer's AC and higher hit points allow him to fight at close quarters more effectively than the thief.

[Sparrowhawk]

perhaps I've missed something along the way, but aren't Arrows of Piercing +4 to hit? They seem to have worked nicely on Liches for me so far...

mh

------------------
Only in silence the word,
only in dark the light,
only in dying, life:
bright the hawk’s flight
on the empty sky."

[Saigo]

Originally posted by Sparrowhawk:
perhaps I've missed something along the way, but aren't Arrows of Piercing +4 to hit? They seem to have worked nicely on Liches for me so far...


mh

You are absolutely right. But with the girdle of hillgiant strength and two +4 longswords, I do more damage than with a bow.

[TheHellion]

Originally posted by Sparrowhawk:

perhaps I've missed something along the way, but aren't Arrows of Piercing +4 to hit? They seem to have worked nicely on Liches for me so far...

mh

That's right, arrows of piercing are +4 to hit. In my experience, though, it's hard to acquire very many of them. The unlimited ammunition of the Gesen bow seems preferable to me.

Also, if you plan to dual-wield and use a bow, you're better off sticking with the core ranger class, or using a kit other than the archer. If you're an archer, you can't specialize in anything other than bows. You also can't wear metal armor, which means you'll ultimately take more damage than you might otherwise. I think archers are far better off at range.

[Saigo]

@TheHellion, right again, but once your in the scrum, what can you do? Whip out a couple of longswords and go to town!