1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

Are Archers Worth It?

Discussion in 'BG2: Shadows of Amn (Classic)' started by Vicsun, Jun 30, 2001.

  1. Vicsun Gems: 9/31
    Latest gem: Iol


    Joined:
    May 5, 2001
    Messages:
    322
    Likes Received:
    0
    I was wandering, isn't a fighter with a grand mastery in bow a better ranged character than the Archer? I'm not complietly sure what bonuses the archer gets (and I'm too lazy to search now), but I'm almost certain he does not get any speed bonuses. However if you have a grandMastery that means that you get -1 to speed and +1 attack per round. Also some good to hit and damage. Yes Archers have a "called shot" ability, but it's almost usless IMO. I mean what good is a -1 to wisdom to an orc? If it lasted long enough you could probably kill a 15000 HP monster with only a few hits (just like the mindflyers suck your brains out), but it only lasts for a few seconds.
    Any thoughts?
     
  2. Wildfire Gems: 23/31
    Latest gem: Black Opal


    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2000
    Messages:
    1,557
    Likes Received:
    1
    AFAIK - The special ability, called shot, has a variety of affects, which vary depending on your level. So the decrease in wisdom is just one affect of many. Archers also get the special abilities that rangers get - eg a few priest spells - cure light wounds and find traps are *very* useful. There is also of course the charm animal ability, which is fairly useful, as well as hide in shadows, which you would be able to use all the time as you cannot wear metal armour. I would personally go for the archer, but its up to you.
     
  3. Vicsun Gems: 9/31
    Latest gem: Iol


    Joined:
    May 5, 2001
    Messages:
    322
    Likes Received:
    0
    Well I'm not going through BG2 one more time. I was just wandering.
    And about the Archer - all the effects which called shots do are just int drain, wis drain, or in one word they all drain stats. Find traps isn't that useful since you can't disarm the traps, and I have a thief for that job anyway. Even if I were planning to solo, I wouldn't be able to be always detecting for traps, I'd be doing it just when I know there is a trap. But if I know where it is just detecting it without being able to disarm it is worthless. Cure light wounds isn't that usefull at all since it can't be used in battle (well it can, but since it heals only 1-4 HP it won't make much of a difference). The animals in BG2 aren' that strong so I don't see the use of a charm animal ability. I don't need to hide in shadows since I won't be a melee character.
    The reason I created this topic was because I was wandering if the combat bonuses of an archer are bigger than of a fighter with a grand mastery with bows.

    edit> Oh and by the way what's AFAIK?

    [This message has been edited by Vicsun (edited June 30, 2001).]
     
  4. Earl Grey

    Earl Grey Mmm... hot tea! Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2000
    Messages:
    1,933
    Likes Received:
    1
    [​IMG] * +1 to hit and +1 to damage with any missile weapon for every three levels.
    This results in +5 To hit/+5 damage at level 15.
    * Archers can get Grand Mastery (five stars) in Missile Weapons.
    * Called Shot is not very useful, I agree.

    Conclusion: Archers are clearly better at bows than a fighter can be. :)

    * CLW heals 8 HP's, not 1-4.
    * AFAIK = As Far As I Know
    * A few other:
    IIRC = If I Recall Correctly
    IMHO = In My Humble Opinion
     
  5. Extremist Gems: 31/31
    Latest gem: Rogue Stone


    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2001
    Messages:
    4,366
    Likes Received:
    0
    [​IMG] IMHO archer is the best class for beginners in BG2 who never played BG1, IWD or PT.
     
  6. shadow_thief Guest

    Are you sure about that? I mean I played BG and IWD(the first chapter) and HOW but I still think the archers are REALLY good.
     
  7. Vicsun Gems: 9/31
    Latest gem: Iol


    Joined:
    May 5, 2001
    Messages:
    322
    Likes Received:
    0
    Oh I just didn't know that archers can get a grand mastery in ranged weapons. If that is so they are cleary better than a fighter. Does that include crossbows?
    Perhaps I'll play ToB with an Archer when I get it and finish it with my imported fighter/thief
     
  8. shadow_thief Guest

    Yes. Achers can get grand mastery in ALL ranged weapons except throwing daggers and axes.
     
  9. Avooch Dar Guest

    Great that means you can be a grand master with a sling.
    Doesn't have that devestatingly awsome affect does it?
     
  10. cathon Gems: 5/31
    Latest gem: Andar


    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    While I'm not sure it is the best way to go, grandmastery in the sling is not the worst thing in the world. As an archer you would have ...

    multiple attacks per round.
    could use sling of seeking and get strength bonuses to damage, in addition to your archer bonuses, and magic bonuses, and grand mastery bonuses.
    could use the sling of everard and get +5 weapon attacks
    Use a shield in the off hand

    maybe not the best choice, but no one could use a sling better than an archer, and it might be good to have him using the sling of everard against Adamantine golems and the like.
     
  11. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2000
    Messages:
    10,140
    Media:
    63
    Likes Received:
    250
    Gender:
    Male
    [​IMG] There is a problem ... I once tried an archer using a sling. The sling is somewhat underrated and misunderstood by the BG-2 developers despite the fact that they are formidable weapons. The archer as the ultimate "ranged weapon god" can only become grandmaster with crossbows, shortbows and longbows - using slings he is restricted to ** like a normal ranger - I think that´s a bug. Well - imho slings as weapons are just as ranged as crossbows or bows ... GAME DEVELOPERS ! :rolleyes:

    Another slinbg bug is that a cavalier actually can use a sling with ** (just like - iirc - throwing daggers and throwing axes as well) although he shouldn´t be able to use a ranged weaopon at all.

    [This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited July 03, 2001).]
     
  12. shadow_thief Guest

    I do believe that throwing daggers and axes is not considered a ranged weapon because you could use it as melee as well.
     
  13. Shadowcouncil Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Veteran

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2001
    Messages:
    3,319
    Likes Received:
    16
    Gender:
    Male
    Hmmz a topic about Archers and BTA didn't reply? Strange :)
     
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.