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Bows vs. shields

Discussion in 'Baldur's Gate (Classic)' started by kemanmaldea, Jul 13, 2001.

  1. kemanmaldea Gems: 12/31
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    What do you prefere. The only person I had use a sheild way my cliric. when they made IWD they saw fit to give every one 2 or more wep slots allowing my clr to use slings too.
     
  2. Voltric Gems: 19/31
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    [​IMG] Will I think the answer is both, under the right situation.

    I always put at least one slot from each PC in a ranged weapon. Most of the time only my 'back line' use their ranged attack but situation arise where having 6 ranged attacks is very important.

    For example - in my 6 person party I'd have a front line of a fighter, paladin and cleric. Both my paladin and cleric used a shild when in melee. The fighter used bastard sword or 2H sword thus no shield. When attack at range the fighter went to long bow while the cleric to sling and the paladin to throwing axe thus they kept their shields.

    In the back line were by mage/thief, bard and druid. This setup was easy because the m/t and bard could not use a shield at all they used a short bow and X-bow to attack, with longsword and shortsword for melee. The druid used a bockler all the time - with a sling for ranged and with a scimitar in melee.

    In CRPGs it's not hard to do the setup when you are play table top then the choice is based on your character's personality.
     
  3. Crawl Gems: 23/31
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    Well in BG it really is important to have at least one character that you develop into the melee fighter. For me, I chose Khalid, because of his naturally lower ac and the fact he's a pure fighter who could take advantage of the proficiency system in BG to it's fullest. Anyway, always give the tank a shield and max out his proficiency in a weapon of choice (longsword is always good) all the way to grandmastery. Now my other characters use bows for the most part as much as they can (myself, Minsc, and Coran), so I never gave them shields. It was too much hastle to switch back and forth, so I kept them out of the thick of melee as archers and only let them wade into melee as backup. My cleric/illusionist (Quayle) used a shield simply because, well, why not. It gave him the AC bonus and all he ever used was a sling anyway. And my mage (Dynheir) couldn't use one anyway, so that's why I never gave her one.
    I suppose my main point here is that archers are very useful in BG1, but you need at least one tank, so think accordingly when giving out shields to party members. If you want them on the front lines, then give them the best AC possible, including that gained from shields. If you want an archer, forget about it.

    EDIT: Don't you hate when you find stupid things in your posts much much later?!?!

    [This message has been edited by Crawl (edited September 24, 2001).]
     
  4. kemanmaldea Gems: 12/31
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    I allways used bow wepons (not X-bow)and no shields figuring I was ahead as I could easally stop mages from casting (except the dude protected from normal missiles hated him for it.) or when agenst melee only baddies take out one or two with ranged. am still wishing in bg they let clirics have two wep slots
     
  5. Shadowcouncil Gems: 29/31
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    You needs at least one char with a shield for the AC. He can be the front-figher and use Sling. The others should go for Ranged weapon and after damaging the enemy enough get to melee.
     
  6. Mollusken Gems: 24/31
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    Clearly your thief and ranger use the bows. The rest slings and shields. The thief and mage never enters close combat. The ranger uses 2 handed sword (Spider's Bane's nice ;)) in close combat, but only if the enemies suddenly are all aroung him or there is a tough spider ahead. The ranger uses the gauntlets of dexterity for better bow skills, and it also gives him the nice AC you want.
     
  7. kemanmaldea Gems: 12/31
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    Only people I had using slings wheere my mage and Yeslick. Yeslick and my pure cliric had shields. my fighter and main charictor used spiders bane and the +1 composit long bow from Fieldposts Inn. Minc used the long bow of marksmenship and the +2 sword from Graywolf and Yeslick got a sling+1 and the +2 war hammer.
     
  8. Vermillion Gems: 18/31
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    I like the bows better, my fighter type people always used them, and since they had 2 handed weapons for melee too it didn't matter about shields. Only the clerics had shields as they used the slings, and my thief and mage can't use shields so thats no prob.
    I suppose it just depends on whether you want to use them or not.
     
  9. kemanmaldea Gems: 12/31
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    Nice to know that I am not the only one who thought that shields are mostly use less.

    [This message has been edited by kemanmaldea (edited July 23, 2001).]
     
  10. Voltric Gems: 19/31
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    [​IMG] In BG1 I played a Paladin. In BG2 I started with my Paladin but I wanted more freedom of action so I also played a bard.
     
  11. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    It depends on the situation. Ranged weapons are dominating BG and I like to have a really good AC when dealing with kobolds, black talon elites and folk like that. And then a tower shield (a certain +1/ +4 vs. missiles & boots of avoidance & girdle of piercing) is a very valuable thing to have :D

    An the other hand I like to use ranged weapons - so I have to find a ballance - sometimes I change my chars fighting style within the game (melee only for example when dealing with a missile gang).

    [This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited July 23, 2001).]
     
  12. [sOv]Storm Gems: 3/31
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    shields are extreamly handy to have with any fighter, ranger, or paladin, a large shield+1 adds 2 to the armour class, and their are still various range weapons of vry good power that you can use with the shield equipped, axe, dagger, and sling, the throwing axe does 1d6 the same as the bow and the throwing axe+1(which is in candle keep) has unlimited amunition, in wy opinion the best weapon in the game for range combat
     
  13. kemanmaldea Gems: 12/31
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    But you must remember fire rate. bows fire rate is 2 plus what you get for levels so efectivly you are getting not 1d6 but 2d6 of possible damage
     
  14. DragonRider SkyWard Gems: 16/31
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    Well depending on the type of armor and special items you have sheilds just get in the way. For instince, my fighter has anken armor(i think thats how you spell it)armor and a few other items makes his AC high to protect him and frees up his movements for two handed swards. But if your not useing a two handed weapon then a sheild is a must.
     
  15. Nobleman Gems: 27/31
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    Most monsters in BG1 doesn't have below 11 in AC (greater basilisk eg.)
    This means that to be almost invinvible one should strive to get an AC -8

    SPOILER, The fullplate (has enhanced prot Vs. Slashing and piercing) and gauntlets of dex and ring of protection and a good shield should be enough. Also with the spell "prot. from evil".

    Anyway if you feel you have a low AC there is no reason to wear a shield. Then its probably a good idea to look out for a better two handed weapon.

    EDITED HERE: There are strong humanoid enemies with magic weapons strenght enhancers and weapon specialization. I always wear shield against those.

    [This message has been edited by Nobleman (edited September 23, 2001).]
     
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