The joys of cliff racers

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 7:44 pm

I've seen several threads criticizing the cliff racers. Seems that people don't like being attacked regularly from above by these creatures; and there's even been a mod to remove 'em. Another mod actually takes away their ability to fly, forcing them to crawl over mountains: talk about inhuman torture to pixels!

But consider. Suppose your character wants to develop really abysmal skills in various miscellaneous weapons? After you've graduated from foragers and rats, what's the next easiest thing to hit in battle without sustaining much damage? Yes: cliff racers.

And suppose you want to create Levitate potions? What's the easiest ingredient to find? That's right: racer plumes, from cliff racers.

So the next time you diss a cliff racer or think about installing a mod that will give its kind repellent body odor, consider the virtues of this much-maligned beast. Think not too ill of it, but smile fondly, ready your weapon, and give them all pet names as they stupidly attack.

Ares2382 · Post by **Ares2382** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 7:50 pm

you tell 'em fable

cjdevito · Post by **cjdevito** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 8:52 pm

You haven't really had the annoyance of cliffracers until you combine two things: a constant effect levitate and an enchanted weapon that paralyzes on strike.

You're high in the air. Cliff racer attacks. You hit it. It plummets. You resume traveling. 5 second later, the thing is attacking you again because neither the weapon blow you thought killed it or the fall from 100 feet up managed to end it's existence. You paralyzed it, it dropped, it recovers, it returns to torment you.

Add to that the fact that sometimes the AI can't handle a flying critter attacking a flying PC, resulting in the cliffracer shadowing you from directly above such that you can't hit it, it can't hit you, but it follows on top of you....and it's annoying sound effects... and it's no wonder that I'd gladly join Dagoth Ur in his plans of conquest if only the first item on his agenda were the genocide of cliff racers.

Ares2382 · Post by **Ares2382** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 9:03 pm

the funny thing about cliffreacers and paralyze is that they don't actually drop to earth, they fall down to near earth but don't hit it. If you were on the ground and hit it with a paralyze weapon or spell they would still be above you suspended in the air, it's weird.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 5:25 am

I am in the camp of genocide on this one, i am usually a fairly easy going guy but they do drive me around the bend...

Funny Story: Rather than spend hours running it takes minutes, i put my boots of speed on and navigate using my mini map, it is fairly easy, these cliff racers are incredible, no matter how fast i go they always stick with me. The fact that i can turn around completely blind and kill them is just a testament to how useless they are

What is the RPG explanation behind them tracking you for miles? It would seem if they were marking territory then they would assume you had gone away and not track you for the entire map...

Crosswind · Post by **Crosswind** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 6:48 am

They vant to sakh yor blahd!

Where's the vampire cliff racer mod...

-Cross

Sirius_Sam · Post by **Sirius_Sam** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 7:57 am

@Cross:

LOL! Finally!...an answer. They're really just big bats

S_S

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 7:00 am

Sleepy, the speed of a Cliff Racer is 255, so you would have to have a lot of speed points anyway for the boots to let you run from them...

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 11:41 am

Originally posted by Ares2382
the funny thing about cliffreacers and paralyze is that they don't actually drop to earth, they fall down to near earth but don't hit it. If you were on the ground and hit it with a paralyze weapon or spell they would still be above you suspended in the air, it's weird.

I know what you mean. I've seen the same effect on people walking on stairs or uneven ground. I think it has to do with the number and type of horizontal planes at ground level, and those of the individual creature. The M&M series was, IMO, the worst. I can remember a near infinite number of those stupid dragonflies sticking out, dead, from cliff sides, as though they were imbedded there.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 11:59 am

Originally posted by fable
I know what you mean. I've seen the same effect on people walking on stairs or uneven ground. I think it has to do with the number and type of horizontal planes at ground level, and those of the individual creature. The M&M series was, IMO, the worst. I can remember a near infinite number of those stupid dragonflies sticking out, dead, from cliff sides, as though they were imbedded there.

And if you're in some coastal town like Gnaar Mok, and you kill one of them, their body will most likely go through the wooden walkways and settle on (or near) the bottom of the ocean, so you can't even get to the Plumes without a long swim, or an upgrade to your graphics card that lets you see through water in my case

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 10:32 pm

I found cliff racers annoying at first, but now use them for target practice to improve my marksmanship (there's nothing more satisfying than dropping cliff racers with a single shot

). I also collect their plumes for my Levitate potions.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sun Jun 23, 2002 12:21 am

i too use them for target practice, using auriels bow...

say, what is suppose to be so darned good about this bow, anyway?????

in df, it was a seriously kick ass loot, it fired lightning arrows, but in mw, its like a regular daedric bow, but light as ebony....it got so nerfed its pityful.....

heck, maybe i should go back to bound longbow, nahhh...

i really like the look of auriels bow, and it seems to do good damage...

can anybody tell me if its like umbra, my now fav sword, in that it can bypass weapons resistance which is not mentioned in the item description????

and sicne you can use the area effect arrows plugin, and get a daedric longbow, or a dwarven crossbow, has anybody done a comparision on effectiveness between the two???

i mean, the crossbow does more steady damage, but the longbow seems to be capable of more damage...

forget stars and darts, no ninja warriors here!!!!

except some of the area effect stars are nice...

Cyris Drake · Post by **Cyris Drake** » Sun Jun 23, 2002 3:39 am

It is a wonder that this Cliff Racer species hasn't become extinct yet. How can they possibly pass along their genes when so darn many of them willingly and without hesitation throw themselves against sword and spell.

I wonder...when wearing full heavy armour - how the heck are these darn birds puncturing my armour? Are they some sort of Ninja Cliff Racers? Red-Shirted Trek security officer Cliff Racers? Maybe they're hooped up on Skooma?

Now making - The Darwin Effect spell...

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Jun 23, 2002 8:04 am

Originally posted by Cyris Drake
It is a wonder that this Cliff Racer species hasn't become extinct yet. How can they possibly pass along their genes when so darn many of them willingly and without hesitation throw themselves against sword and spell.

Ah, but they don't usually encounter well-armored animals sporting daedric weapons and casting tons of spells. The average passer-by is probably a lot softer and tastier.