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I'm playing an elven Archer at the moment (still in SoA), and using the Elven Court Bow. Are the bonuses from Taralesh +5 really all that great? With the Baldurdash Grandmastery patch I'm on 9/2 attacks/round, and the Elven Court Bow does fit in pretty well with my character.

Any advice/thoughts welcome.

The only time the bow really mattered to me for my archer is when I soloed. When I did that I maxed short bow prof then long. So I would up using Tungan then Gesen and finally late in TOB Tarlash for the bosses and super tough monsters. Gesen would be my pick for all around bow just because I used to watch the D&D cartoon and thought the lightning bow was the coolest. Don't forget to use magical arrows with Gesen for more damage.

As for what fits your character, Longbows are rather dismal in SOA unless you are willing to use a girdle of giant str, but fit the personality of a true archer much better than a short bow. Most archers would only use a short bow when mounted... and that never happens in the game.

Ta. I've got Imoen using the Gesen Bow, and I need the quiver of plenty for my PC.

I remember that cartoon. I think there are some pictures of two of the characters in the Adventurer's Mart.

I like the mana bow if you use longbows. Combine it with Valygars armour and belt of inertial barrier and magic wont hurt you.
What is good about Taralash?

Originally posted by Bruce Lee:
<STRONG>I like the mana bow if you use longbows. Combine it with Valygars armour and belt of inertial barrier and magic wont hurt you.
What is good about Taralash?</STRONG>

+5. It touches things the less enchanted bows can't.

Originally posted by fable:
<STRONG>+5. It touches things the less enchanted bows can't.</STRONG>

Isnt the + on the arrow counts on determining what can be hit?

Yes, the + on the arrow is what count not the bow. The Taralash +5 gives you +2 to movement rate, similar to the boots of speed.

Does the +2 speed bonus give you any extra attacks/round?

Also, if the best arrows you can get are +3, wouldn't that make Archers pretty useless when it comes to being able to hit the more powerful enemies? For example, Kangaxx could only be hit by +4 or better weapons.

I was pretty sure it was the + modifier on the bow that determined what it could hit.

From 2ndEd PnP rules it is the arrow bonus.

My experience in TOB however was the reverse, the bow's bonus was what was used. I did not test this in SOA however as I just blugeoned anything that my arrows would not hit. I ran into baddies that Gesen with +3 arrows could not touch that Tarlash and +3 arrows could.

That's weird, since the magic arrows from the Gesen bow is considered as +4. It could be because of the THAC0 bonus that the Taralash gives, so you have a better chance of hitting the target. Did it say "weapon has no effect"? Because if not then it's because you didn't hit the target because of your THAC0, not the enchantment.

Edit - About the speed bonus, it just modify your character's movement speed, not number of attacks.

[ 11-14-2001: Message edited by: Sabre ]

Does taralash also shoot its own arrows? Like Gesen?
I know that Gesen strikes as a +4. If you put a quiver of plenty +2 together with Gesen you get incredible damage and plus 6 to Thac0.
Even better is firetooth +5 cause the bolts it shoots are considered +5 and the damage is just absurd. I have had criticals doing over 60 in damage with that bow.
I need to test the taralash I think.
Imagine a barbarian using the Taralash, wearing the Grandmasters armour, boots of speed and amulet of cheetah speed!!

Taralash may be +5 but the best arrows are plus 3 so Gesen or Firetooth are still way better.

@Bruce Lee, well, the Barbian's natural speed doesnt add on the the Boots of speed, but im not sure, however, the Grandmasters armour and the Boots have speed do the same thing, therefore, are redundant.

HOWEVER>
My solo archer, at the end of the game was wearing the armour of thorns, Had boots of speed, using Taralash +5, and if I felt like it, the amulet of Cheetah speed. Man, I could fire off three or four arrows, then run away, and fire more, IT WAS GREAT. I dont think there was anything I could'nt hit with Taralash, But I had the staff of the ram for melee.