so can anyone give me a reason..any reason at all to make an elven x-bow archer? Btw, if I only want a party with 4 (max 5) ppl who should I take with my archer? I dont' want to make all my chars cuz I want to see the story. Thanks!Question about Elven Archer
-
JustCurious
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2002 11:00 pm
- Contact:
Question about Elven Archer
I'm having a tough time sticking with one character for this game. Got to chapter 2 with a mage...then recently got to chapter 3 with a Kensai...but now I'm bored again and want to start a new archer. After reading the threads here it seems like there is absolutely no reason to specialize in crossbows, but I think they're much cooler. so can anyone give me a reason..any reason at all to make an elven x-bow archer? Btw, if I only want a party with 4 (max 5) ppl who should I take with my archer? I dont' want to make all my chars cuz I want to see the story. Thanks!
so can anyone give me a reason..any reason at all to make an elven x-bow archer? Btw, if I only want a party with 4 (max 5) ppl who should I take with my archer? I dont' want to make all my chars cuz I want to see the story. Thanks!If you like x-bows then that is a good a reason as any to specialize in x-bows right?
There are many good x-bows in the game aswell, especially if you have ToB.
Party-- well since you are elven and good aligned go with either aerie or jaheira as romance(if you want that).
Good team could be
You
Minsc
Valygar
Aerie
Imoen.
A suggestion since you have the dreaded tendency to restart is to not plan to much ahead. Just play along with what happens and see where it takes you.
There are many good x-bows in the game aswell, especially if you have ToB.
Party-- well since you are elven and good aligned go with either aerie or jaheira as romance(if you want that).
Good team could be
You
Minsc
Valygar
Aerie
Imoen.
A suggestion since you have the dreaded tendency to restart is to not plan to much ahead. Just play along with what happens and see where it takes you.
You can't handle the truth!
The best reason to specialise in x-bow is, of cource, what Bruce Lee said: you think they are cool.
Now, for the powergaming reasons (not to be overlooked, as i think): as it is with a bow, an extra attack every round is really better than a better bonus to damage you get from a longbow/heavy crossbow (i'm talking Tungian bow/Crossbow of speed here):
Simple math: ((1-8)+5)x3 or ((1-8)+3)x4
This is especially true for an Archer - since he gets all those damage bonuses/called shots.
More to add, ToHit is not a problem really - you START with thac0 ~6 with a first weapon you find (plain x-bow), and as you get levels/items... well, you'll not be missing often.
Now, add to this some special bolts:
- of Biting: Poisoned Troll/Mage killer
- Kua-Tua: 2d6 damage + paralise! also you get them quite late, you'll still find them useful (and with ToB installed they stack x40, so you can pick up...)
oh, and you can get the ToB x-bow really early (you BUY it at Watcher's Keep perimeter - that's outside) - +4, i think, no bolts, elemental damage, low speed factor - you get the picture.
This is why my archer has +++++ sbow, +++ xbow, + staff - and i build the specialisations up gradually during the game, with advantage to sbow, due to roleplaying reasons (i figure, learned to use a bow, then picked up some skill in crossbow)
The usual gear for him is both a bow and a crossbow equipped, and switch during battle (i call this sniper->machine gun mode):
Kua-Tua bolts & Called shot -> biggest baddy/mage paralised/weak/etc. -> Arrows at better damage bonus to kill.
Also, there's a cheesy tactic of using the "guard button" to shoot out out of enemies' range / around corners - i've posted a thread about this earlier, use it if you like - this makes your Archer to a real "Death From BVR".
As far as the party is concerned, you just need to make your 4 basic classes: thief (don't need a regular scout - your stealth is more than enough), mage (enoough said), priest (druid or cleric, IMHO doesn't matter, warrior (a tank, since the Archer lacks there). or, combine: e.g. Jaheira - both a good tank and a priest, etc.
Just my $0.02
Now, for the powergaming reasons (not to be overlooked, as i think): as it is with a bow, an extra attack every round is really better than a better bonus to damage you get from a longbow/heavy crossbow (i'm talking Tungian bow/Crossbow of speed here):
Simple math: ((1-8)+5)x3 or ((1-8)+3)x4
This is especially true for an Archer - since he gets all those damage bonuses/called shots.
More to add, ToHit is not a problem really - you START with thac0 ~6 with a first weapon you find (plain x-bow), and as you get levels/items... well, you'll not be missing often.
Now, add to this some special bolts:
- of Biting: Poisoned Troll/Mage killer
- Kua-Tua: 2d6 damage + paralise! also you get them quite late, you'll still find them useful (and with ToB installed they stack x40, so you can pick up...)
oh, and you can get the ToB x-bow really early (you BUY it at Watcher's Keep perimeter - that's outside) - +4, i think, no bolts, elemental damage, low speed factor - you get the picture.
This is why my archer has +++++ sbow, +++ xbow, + staff - and i build the specialisations up gradually during the game, with advantage to sbow, due to roleplaying reasons (i figure, learned to use a bow, then picked up some skill in crossbow)
The usual gear for him is both a bow and a crossbow equipped, and switch during battle (i call this sniper->machine gun mode):
Kua-Tua bolts & Called shot -> biggest baddy/mage paralised/weak/etc. -> Arrows at better damage bonus to kill.
Also, there's a cheesy tactic of using the "guard button" to shoot out out of enemies' range / around corners - i've posted a thread about this earlier, use it if you like - this makes your Archer to a real "Death From BVR".
As far as the party is concerned, you just need to make your 4 basic classes: thief (don't need a regular scout - your stealth is more than enough), mage (enoough said), priest (druid or cleric, IMHO doesn't matter, warrior (a tank, since the Archer lacks there). or, combine: e.g. Jaheira - both a good tank and a priest, etc.
Just my $0.02
Personally, if I was to make an Archer, I'd set him up for one reason, and one reason only. *drum rolls*........
THE GESEN BOW!!! *flashy lights, funky music* Yes, The Gesen Bow! No ammuntion required! 1-8 Electrical Damage (I think), Resistance to electricity, 4 shots a round (I think).... all for the measly little price of a romp in the Underdark! Get yours now!
Although Crossbows are very cool, I find that good crossbows are more for powergaming in a way. It's hard to explain really. I've played in some hardcore DnD game, with the full RP and everything, and I've learned that a BOW is much more useful if you wish to play from the total RP experience. I always found the crossbows tactically unsound, unless you can keep the crossbowman from being attacked, then he can rape the lines of the enemies at will! But, as Bruce and Mirk said, if you like the X-Bow, go for it!
Good Luck in you venture through Baldur's Gate 2!!
- King of Hearts
THE GESEN BOW!!! *flashy lights, funky music* Yes, The Gesen Bow! No ammuntion required! 1-8 Electrical Damage (I think), Resistance to electricity, 4 shots a round (I think).... all for the measly little price of a romp in the Underdark! Get yours now!
Although Crossbows are very cool, I find that good crossbows are more for powergaming in a way. It's hard to explain really. I've played in some hardcore DnD game, with the full RP and everything, and I've learned that a BOW is much more useful if you wish to play from the total RP experience. I always found the crossbows tactically unsound, unless you can keep the crossbowman from being attacked, then he can rape the lines of the enemies at will! But, as Bruce and Mirk said, if you like the X-Bow, go for it!
Good Luck in you venture through Baldur's Gate 2!!
- King of Hearts
"Many who live, deserve death. Many who die deserve to live. Can you give them that justice, young Frodo?"
- Gandalf
- Gandalf
-
JustCurious
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2002 11:00 pm
- Contact:
Thanks...just one thing, what is "powergaming"? If I'm not yet playing Thrones of Bhaal (After all, I've only made it to chapter3 in Shadows) then Xbows are still a good choice? I was looking in the manual and basically the xbow bolts do 2 more damage (1-10 vs 1-8) than a long bow. As long as there will be good Xbows for me to find in the game I have no problems with specializing in it since I love em However I don't want o play for a while, realize Xbows suck and want to start *gulp* a 4th character.
However I don't want o play for a while, realize Xbows suck and want to start *gulp* a 4th character. -
Silvanerian
- Posts: 455
- Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2001 10:00 pm
- Contact:
@ Just Curious:
Don't worry about having to start over again. My advise is to not grandmaster one of the three bows at first, but go specialized and then find out what you want to use. There's a lot of great bows in this game.
There're three good shortbows, two of which are available in chapter two and three. The last is after the underdark.
The great crossbow of Fire that someone else mentioned can be bought in chapter two also - if you have the money.
The great long bows are available in chapter six, but there're some really nice ones earlier as well.
Since you're not soloing it doesn't really matter all that much if you "wasted" a couple of proficiencies if you realized that longbows suck, for instance. (in your opinion)
But if it really bothers you to "waste" the proficiencies, then I'd recommend to look at the equipment page of this site and see which bows you like and go for those/it.
And if you don't mind "modifying" your game a bit, then you could always distribute your profieciencies differently with ShadowKeeper.
-Sylvanerian
Don't worry about having to start over again. My advise is to not grandmaster one of the three bows at first, but go specialized and then find out what you want to use. There's a lot of great bows in this game.
There're three good shortbows, two of which are available in chapter two and three. The last is after the underdark.
The great crossbow of Fire that someone else mentioned can be bought in chapter two also - if you have the money.
The great long bows are available in chapter six, but there're some really nice ones earlier as well.
Since you're not soloing it doesn't really matter all that much if you "wasted" a couple of proficiencies if you realized that longbows suck, for instance. (in your opinion)
But if it really bothers you to "waste" the proficiencies, then I'd recommend to look at the equipment page of this site and see which bows you like and go for those/it.
And if you don't mind "modifying" your game a bit, then you could always distribute your profieciencies differently with ShadowKeeper.
-Sylvanerian
Qualis Artefix Pereo
Powergaming is the oposite or roleplay... you play to win, build up your character's stats and basicly achieve the best amount of char power possible.Originally posted by JustCurious:
<STRONG>Thanks...just one thing, what is "powergaming"?<snip></STRONG>
Very common in MMORPGs as they revovle around stats.
"I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!"
-
UserUnfriendly
- Posts: 4109
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Sluggy Zone
- Contact:
Without tob, you want the crossbow of searing at ribalds, and possibly go for the lgt crossbow of speed in coronet. both are good choices and really do a lot of damage.. I am especially fond of the crossbow of searing since you can use biting or koa tuan bolts and get extra fire damage.
with tob, load up a fireooth with paralysis bolts and youve got with greater whirlwind, fire giant killer. all teh best crossbows are store bought, which is very nice indeed. your best choices are short bow, aka mazzy style, or crossbow, with keldy with gloves of dex, long bows suck big time. The only good long bow in the game is the long bow that adds move ment rate. or if you play with minsc...
with tob, load up a fireooth with paralysis bolts and youve got with greater whirlwind, fire giant killer. all teh best crossbows are store bought, which is very nice indeed. your best choices are short bow, aka mazzy style, or crossbow, with keldy with gloves of dex, long bows suck big time. The only good long bow in the game is the long bow that adds move ment rate. or if you play with minsc...
They call me Darth...
Darth Gizka!
Muwahahahahhahahha!!!
Darth Gizka!
Muwahahahahhahahha!!!