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Questions about an Archer build

rlterryrlterry Member Posts: 35
in New Players (NO SPOILERS!)
I don't know where to find in depth behind the games numbers regarding how some skills apply to items.

My question is I want to make a Archer (Ranger Kit) or Fighter that specs mainly into bows. But I want to throw a skill or two into either a slashing or crushing weapon (because you never know). I was thinking about Bastard Swords since you can get a +1 fairly early in the game, and as far as i've played I can't see anyone else needing it. But since You can't have a shield in the off-hand because of the bow I am going to assume the weapon automaticallt becomes a two-hander correct? Is the weapon only a one-hander if you dual-wield or sword-n-board? Reason I am asking is for the weapon specials you can spec into.

Or would it be better to just throw everything into long bows, short bows and cross bows so that I will have a nice selection while going through the game? Isn't it better to have a melee weapon in hand if you can get out of melee range due to you getting some sort of penalty for using a ranged weapon within melee range? Or am I thinking of another game? I am getting old so games are starting to blend together for me.

Comments

  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,420
    It is best to have a melee weapon too. By far the best easy thing to do is go with a two handed melee weapon, since swapping out your bow for two weapons, or a weapon and shield every time you melee is a pain, and one handed melee weapons just aren't as effective. Two-handed sword or halberd are my first choices, and magic examples of each are available early in the game. Bastard sword is also an acceptable choice.
  • rlterryrlterry Member Posts: 35
    Awesome thank you!
  • MadhaxMadhax Member Posts: 1,416
    I wound up using single-weapon style and longswords for my archer in a BG2 playthrough several years ago. Don't know if it was the best choice, but I valued the extra AC over superior damage from a 2-hander, since I wanted him to avoid melee anyway.
  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,420
    Madhax long sword is always a good choice since there are so many good ones to choose from, especially in BG2. BUT, the biggest advantages of one-handed weapons are that you can either use a shield with them or dual wield. And I just find it gets to be a nuisance the way the game won't let swap out a bow for a weapon and shield easily from the combat screen. So if you are using an archer of any sort, I think a two handed weapon is a better choice. Added bonus, when you style specialize in two handed weapons you can score critical hits more often.

    Of course another thing to consider is what everyone else in your party is using. You are always best off diversifying so you can make best use of a wide range of magic items, and not end up short of long swords. Or arrows! I've never really had a problem with this in BG, but in IWD I often end up giving one of my archers crossbow, just because magic ammo is in such short supply.
  • gustonguston Member Posts: 70
    Madhax said:

    I wound up using single-weapon style and longswords for my archer in a BG2 playthrough several years ago. Don't know if it was the best choice, but I valued the extra AC over superior damage from a 2-hander, since I wanted him to avoid melee anyway.

    I've actually never though about doing that before. That's a pretty good idea. Gotta remember that for BG2.
  • ZanathKariashiZanathKariashi Member Posts: 2,869
    Darts are the best weapon in the game....I'm not joking. Especially for an archer.
  • amftronamftron Member Posts: 109
    Ii just wish they'd added something like the Crimson Dart or a lesser enchanted version to the EE.
  • ZanathKariashiZanathKariashi Member Posts: 2,869
    Yeah would be nice...even just a +1 returning would be awesome. Though the larger stack sizes do help quite a bit as well.
  • NonnahswriterNonnahswriter Member Posts: 2,520
    One quick question: so does putting ranks in the two-handed-weapon-style proficiency also give you bonuses for using a bow? Since a bow is a two-handed weapon?
  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,420
    No, the style specializations are for melee weapons only. Good try though...
  • OurQuestIsVainOurQuestIsVain Member Posts: 201
    This is kind of an interesting question you bring up. It would make sense if you weren't using a shield and you equipped a bastard sword that you would use both hands wouldn't it? After all, the bastard sword is also known as the hand and a half sword, if you had a free hand there would be no point in not using it to give yourself more strength and dexterity for your swings.

    It would be really neat if they implemented some sort of system in EE that detected whether or not you were using a shield in conjunction with your bastard sword and depending on that gave you a bump in damage or thaco.
  • reedmilfamreedmilfam Member Posts: 2,808
    OurQuestIsVain said:

    This is kind of an interesting question you bring up. It would make sense if you weren't using a shield and you equipped a bastard sword that you would use both hands wouldn't it? After all, the bastard sword is also known as the hand and a half sword, if you had a free hand there would be no point in not using it to give yourself more strength and dexterity for your swings.

    It would be really neat if they implemented some sort of system in EE that detected whether or not you were using a shield in conjunction with your bastard sword and depending on that gave you a bump in damage or thaco.

    Actually, there were different damages for the bastard sword, depending if it was used single or dual handed in 2nd Ed rules. I don't think the game mechanics allow for it in BG - how can the game know if you're using it as single weapon style, or 2-handed? In short, it can't. Hence the issue.

    Monks are similarly limited. In pnp rules, they can use any monk weapon, hands, or any combination, at monk speed. That's beyond what BG game engine can copy.

  • RiolathelRiolathel Member Posts: 330
    edited December 2012
    You could also do single hand style and a bastard sword.. im pretty sure BS are always one handed in BG. I used one with my kensai and gave him the style for extra AC

    @Nonnahswriter

    Ranged weapons get no bonuses from any of the styles
  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,420
    edited December 2012
    There was a mod that allowed for the one or two handed useage and its differences. Maybe at some point we'll see some official implementation.
  • ZanathKariashiZanathKariashi Member Posts: 2,869
    edited December 2012
    It'd use the same mechanic as thrown weapons (which can be used melee or range, sans darts). You'd right click on it and pick the 2-handed version to use). Katanas would also get this change as they're mechanically identical to bastard swords (just better constructed and more damage in this version).

    And no, it says in the description that 2-handed style does not apply to ranged weapons.

    single weapon doesn't apply for slings but does for darts and thrown dagger/axes.
  • NonnahswriterNonnahswriter Member Posts: 2,520
    Right when I thought I'd found a loophole. Ah well. XD Thanks for answering!
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