Weapons for archers

lompo · Post by **lompo** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 8:56 am

I'm starting a new character, an elven archer, and I'm wandering where to put his prof. points.
For melee should be easy: long swords, to get the racial bonus.
For ranged weapon (the most important) I am a little puzzled:
Between long and short bow: do the short bow get the racial bonus too?
Xbows could be great if there is a way to keep the drow xbows of speed +3 (extra attack and speed=1).
How about the sling of Everard: is a +5 and you can use a shield
(which is great for compensate the armor rest. of archers).
Any suggestion is appreciated.

Lykwid · Post by **Lykwid** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 10:16 am

I have played a few times through with an archer now, one time i took crossbow (for the firetooth that can be had very very early in game) , this guy kicked butt, esp useing whirlwind , this crossbow is the hardest hitting ranged weapon. The next time through i thought id go shortbow for the nice shortbow you can have made, but after trying it i found it to be just too slow (enemies casters can cast before the arrows actually get to them). So i just ended up useing the tugien shortbow, which i found to kick some serious butt with its extra attack. If i had to play another archer id take the firetooth again, its got 3 real bonus's , it does elemental damage so it gets by stoneskin, you dont have to supply bolts for it , and the bolts it shoots automatically are considered +4 so you can hit all the monsters no prob.

-Lykwid

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 10:23 am

Yes, the elves' racial bonus applies to short bows, too.

Don't forget the Light Crossbow of Speed sold in the Copper Coronet - it may not be +3, but it is still a good weapon for an archer. The downside to crossbows in SoA, however, is you'll have to melee creatures that require +3 weapons or better to hit.

Slings average more damage per hit than arrows, but have a shorter range and fewer attacks per round.

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 10:25 am

@Lykwid - the problem with the Firetooth crossbow is that it's not available if you don't have ToB installed.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 12:10 pm

The Archer can´t put five profs in slings, can he? That's why the Archer/Cleric isn't a hit.

An elven Archer equipped with a Short Bow seems ridiculous to me.

Pebz · Post by **Pebz** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 12:25 pm

No, Archers can only put ***** in crossbows, shortbows and longbows. He can put ** in slings and darts, and * in the rest.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 1:37 pm

I wouldn't go for shortbows, gessen is far the best shortbow in the game, but can be used my a lot of NPC's (Nalia/Jan/Imoen) and you probbaly have one of them in hyou're party, cause their the only thiefs. (and Mazzy but she's a fighter)
Longbows however are not uses by a lot of NPC's, and those who can use them, most of the timeare better in melee combat!

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 3:10 pm

Wait, wait!!!!!
The Gesen Bow is GREAT!
Just equip it with normal arrows, the flying animation will be dropped, and the arrows will be fast again.
And you'll get double damage, normal and electrical!
Fail that spell, you evil STONESKINNED mage!!!!

And if you use magical arrows of other types, even better!
Fast arrows, with their magic bonus, AND the electrical damage!
Try flame arrows, or the arrows or piercing....
Or just grab that quiver of plenty!
Go for Gesen!!!!!!

@Astafas: I don't understand you. Elves are smaller than humans,
a short bow fits very well IMHO.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Feb 13, 2002 3:12 pm

Yeah, but gessen is the best longranged weapon for thief/mages, and almost every team has one of them in their party!

lompo · Post by **lompo** » Thu Feb 14, 2002 2:31 am

Originally posted by Stilgar
Yeah, but gessen is the best longranged weapon for thief/mages, and almost every team has one of them in their party!

But you have available Tansheron and Tuigan too!
How about the possibility to bring the drow xbows outside (without dissolving)?
If there isn't a way, I'l go for short bows.
Thanks to all

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu Feb 14, 2002 2:59 am

Originally posted by Littiz
@Astafas: I don't understand you. Elves are smaller than humans, a short bow fits very well IMHO.

Ever read a Forgotten Realms novel? Or any other "traditional" fantasy for that matter? Elven Archers are reknown for their extreme skill with the Elven Long Bow. Short Bows are IMO more suitable for Thieves (wanting smaller conceivable weapons) and Hafling/Gnomes/Dwarves (their size making it hard to use larger weapons). Play the game whichever way you like, though.

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Thu Feb 14, 2002 1:34 pm

I've read only LotR...
Maybe you're right.
But I like elves with shot bows.