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Longbows or crossbows?

Discussion in 'BG2: Shadows of Amn (Classic)' started by Arngor, Mar 3, 2005.

  1. San Ti Gems: 5/31
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    i prefer longbows.they are stronger and you get a really good one in nalias keep.
     
  2. Scythesong Immortal Gems: 19/31
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    I prefer Shortbows. The Tuigan+1 has more attacks than any other ranged weapon(Quantity over Quality). Tansheron's Bow gives you unlimited +3 Arrows. The Gesen Bow is the most damaging bow in the game. The first two can be found early in the game.

    There's not much different between Short Bows and Long Bows (since both use arrows as ammunition) except that Longbows will give bonuses to hit and damage. The damage bonus is not worth sacrificing Gesen and the Tuigan+1. And since Archer THAC0 parallels that of a Kensai's, it boils down which weapon has the better bonuses.
    At this point, it becomes a matter of preference.

    As for Crossbows, there are only two Crossbows worth spending those stars in, I'm afraid. One is the Light Crossbow of Speed, and the other is the one you can get from a particular quest in the Temple District. The Great Oil Crossbow, despite the promising description, is a big disappointment.
     
  3. Arngor Gems: 2/31
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    You're all talking about a bow called the "Gesen bow". What's this? I've never found it. Only the shaft. I played thorugh the game once before and I am pretty certain I looked in every single crevice and hole there is and couldn't found it.

    Okay so it's settled. If I go with an elven archer I'll go with longbows. But, what If I go human? Myself I've always found crossbows to be so much cooler when I saw someone on the discovery channel put a bolt clean through a suit of platemail. When I've played through the game with previous characters It seems like I've found more crossbows than normal bows.

    Mrf. I do not like the fact the highest quality bolt or arrow you can find is +2. What do I do when I encounter creatures who requires higher then that to hit? Sit and wait?
     
  4. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    I once found both parts of that bow but lost one of the pieces before I had a chance to stick them together.........
     
  5. Arngor Gems: 2/31
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    Another thing occured to me. Many longbows require 18 strength to use, while crossbows only require 17 strength as I recall. I'm not sure though.
     
  6. Aces Gems: 19/31
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    Longbow, especially for elves!

    They get a +1 thaco bonus for blades and bows. ;)
     
  7. Rudiger Gems: 3/31
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    In the unmodded game the only arrows or bolts that are +3 or better are those produced by Tansherons bow and the Gessen bow (which are the only +4 arrows in the game). The arrows of piercing that you might expect to be +4 are only +1 when determining what you can shoot with them.

    So
    Yup :( , or wade into melee or whilst promising yourself that your next proficiency point will be in shortbows.

    As to the Gessen bow string, its in spellhold.
     
  8. Arngor Gems: 2/31
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    Ah. There was ONE puzzle I coucl NEVER figure out. The one with the statues with text and you have to put the correct item in the correct statue. I couldn't figure it out.
     
  9. Truper Gems: 8/31
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    Welp, I won't spoil that puzzle for you, but the Gesen bowstring isn't there. Seems there's a piece of Spellhold you missed your 1st time around.
     
  10. Arngor Gems: 2/31
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    *curses* Ah hell. I guess I'll have to Take a look there myself.

    On another note: wich is more usefull? Valygar or Minsc? Contemplating who I should bring to spellhold.
     
  11. Goli Ironhead Gems: 16/31
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    Minsc, certainly Minsc."Go for the eyes Boo,go for the eyes!"
     
  12. Truper Gems: 8/31
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    Minsc is definately more entertaining. I'd say the choice depends on a couple of things. The first is how much you like backstabbing. As a Stalker, Valygar is quite good at it. On the other hand, Minsc with his exceptional strength is much better in a straight melee role. Another consideration is what weapons you have available, and which ones your other party members are using. For instance, in my parties, Celestial Fury is *mine*, and since that's Valygar's best choice of weapon, I tend to use Minsc, and give him Lilarcor - the number of enemies in the game that use confusion is huge, and a confused Minsc is a real danger to his friends ;)
     
  13. The Shaman Gems: 28/31
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    Well, yeah - if you use the CF yourself, Valygar isn't that good - but with it, he can backstab almost as well as a thief - and can really show those mages what he thinks of them :)
     
  14. Arngor Gems: 2/31
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    Heh, yeah, Celestial Fury. I've seen Yoshimo make people to *splat!* from a simple backstab. Did 67 points of damage. Damm.

    I forgot to mention that Minsc is lvl 13 while Valygar is lvl 9. Probably because I forgot. I will bring Minsc to spellhold. Now I need to finnish the game with my Cavalier first, then my Monk and THEN I can play my archer. I seem to have a habit of starting several characters at once.
     
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