POLL: Archer powergaming: what type of bow to use?

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What do you think are the best bows to use in the game? An archer can max out ***** from the beginning of the game, and each bow tye can be found in Iriny's dungeon.

If you post a response, list 4 or 5 really good bows (don't have to be the same type) so I have a broader range to make a decision.

Danka shane!

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 37 user(s) have voted.
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Poll Results: Archer powergaming: what type of bow to use? (37 votes.)

Archer powergaming: what type of bow is best? (Choose 1)
* Long Bow - 49% (18)
* Short Bow - 51% (19)
* Cross Bow - 0% (0)

 

I haven't played ToB yet though I have it installed, so I don't know what bows are available there. Heartseeker is quite powerful longbow. I like Tansheron's bow a lot. It's a shortbow, but does not require ammunitions. It's my nr.1 golemkiller. The only bow that can hurt golems, since it does magic damage. Gesen bow is almost the same. Does not reauire arrows either, but I still prefer Tansheron's bow. Don't remember why, but Gesen bow just stood in my inventory while Tansheron's was in good use. Crossbows can do some serious damage, but somehow I don't like them.

 

Tasherions bow for me was litrally useless.
for some reason nothing I shot at was effected or does it only work against certain creatures?

As for other bows the only one I've tried is the Gesan bow. Best used when equiped with your own arrows.

On a side note what arrows do the majority of us find the most useful? By this I don't mean it has to be what type you use the most, for example there's the never fail arrows of dispeling, probably the rarest of them but when fighting powerful mages can be a life saver.

 

Short bow by far the best. Not only is there the Gesan, but also so many other good ones that the entire party could be equiped with them.

Also, there is the Tungian bow which is really great and you can get it really early in the game.

 

Giant Hair Crossbow does 1d10 + 5 base damage. Crossbow of Speed gives an extra attack (which can be significant if you're using lightning bolts).

 

For range I go for damage. So I like giant hair, strong arm and heartseeker. Best arrrows in game are arrows of piercing that do insane amounts of damage.

 

These do 1d6 + 6 damage, but the target is allowed a save vs. death to avoid the extra damage. Bolts of Lightning do 1d8 (1d10 from heavy xbow) + 4d4 electrical damage with a save vs. breath weapons for half damage. Even if the target makes its save vs. the lightning damage you're still talking an average of +5 to the base damage. Together with the extra damage from an xbow bolt, Bolts of Lightning do as much damage when the target makes its save as Arrows of Piercing when the target fails. Given that breath is the least favourable saving throw, Bolts of Lightning have a good chance of doing an extra +5 damage on top.

 

Arrows/bolts of biting are also quite useful. Just one shot at enemy mage and he won't fire any spell for a time.
Btw, am I the only one who doesn't like/use/understand darts?

 

I've always carry arrows of dispelling (life saver), normal arrows to attack the most enemies and acid arrows for hitting enemies who need enchanted weapons - and never had any poblems with the game. If you need to hit enemies that require a better enchantment, use the +5 sling from Joluv's store for a while.

 

Short bows all the way for me. I'm a huge fan of the Tuigan Bow as you get 3 shots/round. Couple that with Called Shot and you're gonna do some real damage.

As for arrows, I try to get the Quiver of Plenty as quickly as possible and have Cespenar upgrade it once I start ToB. Short of that, I try to keep a small supply of arrows of dispelling, arrows of biting, and arrows of detonation. I really don't see any reason for the plain arrows once I get the quiver of plenty.

 

It has to be longbows all the way. Shortbows are the realm of thiefs. Your archer can use any bow, so should be using a big powerful composite longbow. Yes, you can get an extra attack with a certain shortbow, but, as an archer your number of attacks will improve as you go up levels as well as thac0, so you will hit often and the extra damage from the best composite longbows should kill the enemy quicker than any shortbow.

 

I would highly recommend getting the Weimer Item Upgrade Mod. You can get a Long Bow called Telemortis that is +4 and makes it's own +4 arrows. That would definately be very lethal with an Archer. I'm using it with Minsc right now.

You need the Heartseeker, a Potion of Power and 4 Laeryls (or whatever) Tear necklaces and it doesn't cost any gold.

Hint: If you find a Potion of Power, hold on to it!

 

Short bow of Gesen for me. Hits anything, and the electric damage is killer on mages with combat protections. Use arrows of biting for more damage. Mazzy and this bow were made for each other. I am sure an archer would really cause problems with it.

 

As much as I want to start off my archer now, and run in with [*****] in short bow, there's only one thing making me hesitate, and please LMK if I'm being silly for being hung up on this issue:

I plan on using Jan, Imoen, and Keldorn in my party.

Keldorn will cover any good Crossbows I come across. Imoen will cover any good shortbows. I plan on eventually sticking Jan with a shortbow as well, as there seem to be many good ones out there.

Since my other two party members will be Anomen and Jaheira, there's left nobody in my party to use a Long Bow. That's the only thing making me thing twice about the issue.

 

Keldorn should never ever use a cross bow! Ever! Keldorn should always always always be equipped with 2 handed sword.

As for jan and imoen, jan has no prof in short bows if i recall correctly... he has it in xbows, so give him xbow and be done with that. To further add to that, imoen and jan are both mages, they should definetely be using spells more often than firing projectiles. Gesen does not belong in eithers hand, it will miss often if they carry it and basically suck when it shouldnt.

Personally I dont like to get grand mastery, it seems a waste to me. When I created my archer I chose versatility over pure power specified to one weapont type. I picked up 2 stars in slings, and 2 stars in long bow and 2 stars in short bow. I used sling up until under dark really, with that sling sold to you by joluv. Then i picked up gesens soon as i got outta underdark. In the mean while as I leveled i maxed out long bow. by the time I hit oasis I got myself the ass kicking Talarash.

 

That's pretty cool, Strifestrike.

I've started the game already, with grandmastery in Longbows (for the reasons listed above). I think I might just sink all future proficiencies into Shortbow.

I plan on giving Jan a point in Shortbows when the opportunity arises. IMHO, there are just so many really good Shortbows, and just a few decent Light Crossbows. The best Crossbows are of the Heavy type, and Keldorn is already specialized in them. I don't plan on him using his Heavy Crossboe often, but there's a few times he uses it.

 

@ Strife:
Keldorn is actually very good at disrupting mages with the xbow, so as a last resort option when all your other characters are tied up trying not to die and there is a hig level mage about to time stop Keldorn will have a good chance of stoping it with th xbow so don't disclude him complety from ranged weapons

Arrows of dispeling are very valuable against mages like Irenicus, only problem is there very rare, the most you can get that I know of are 36-41 (5 from Spellhold, 6 from Mage stronghold quest #2, 20 for killing the Black dragon in hell and more from WK) if you play an evil Mage or Sorcerer anyone know of more?

Also anyone ever use there Archer in Melee? the only penaltys the Archer class gets is only 1 * in Melee weapons and can only wear studded leather at best, but there's the White Dragon Scale in WK that has an AC rating of -2, casts Cone of cold x3 a day and gives 50% cold resistance.

 

You can get a couple of sheafs of Arrows Of Dispelling from the fletchers in Waukeen's Promenade.

All the blooming time. I like my PC to lead the party. This meant that the Archer I tried playing was forever getting meleed, to the extent that I gave up.

 

So far my archer is working out well. He's not totally munched out or anything, and he's a lot of fun.

I went for longbows, and am currently using the Elven Court bow (or something like that), which is a +3 or 4 bow.

I don't like going into melee with him, and my only melee weapon is the sword of Chaos (the one from the genie in Irenicus' dungeon). I rarely use it, but with an 18/32 strength, I'm still decent when I need to be. I've also go a slot in Two handed weapon style, and my next slot will either be in Halberds or Quarterstaves -- I haven't decided which (both have good 'reach,' meaning I can attack from behind another party member if need be).

I avoid melee by using the party formation that looks like a circle, with the proagonist in the middle.

 

Does two weapon style make any difference for ranged attacks or just melee?