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Archer kit bonus?

claudiusclaudius Member Posts: 82
in Archive (General Discussion)
The gamebanshee website says an archer kit (of ranger) gets +1 to hit/damage per three levels.

My question is if you start at +1/1 and then at third level get +2/2? Or do you start with +0/0 and get +1/1 at third level.

Also, can you use darts as your missile weapon?

Comments

  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    claudius said:

    The gamebanshee website says an archer kit (of ranger) gets +1 to hit/damage per three levels.

    My question is if you start at +1/1 and then at third level get +2/2? Or do you start with +0/0 and get +1/1 at third level.

    Also, can you use darts as your missile weapon?

    Well you can't get over specialisation with it if you are an archer, so I would guess that would be a no.
  • claudiusclaudius Member Posts: 82
    Thanks! Any idea about the level table of the bonuses?
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    Turns out I was wrong, at level 8 with darts they get a -2 missile adjustment.
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    No clue as to when you get the adjustments, but since rangers can only get to level 8 I guess it would be every 3 levels (nothing for levels 1-3, -1 to thaco for levels 4-6, -2 to thaco for levels 7-9, etc).
  • claudiusclaudius Member Posts: 82
    edited December 2012
    "Turns out I was wrong, at level 8 with darts they get a -2 missile adjustment."

    Sorry, I didn't understand. Is it related to not getting the possibility of specialization with darts?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    What he's saying is that the passive bonuses (+hit/+dam) of the Archer kit apply to darts, even though Archers can't specialize in darts.
  • claudiusclaudius Member Posts: 82
    edited December 2012
    Oh I got it now. Hmm hard to weigh out..

    level 8 3 1/2 darts per round at Thac0 = X -2 1d3 damage + 2
    level 8 3 arrows per round at Thac0 = X -3 1d8 + 4

    arrow wins the day especially for an elf. Though this doesn't include the comparison of magical availability/costs of said items..

    Did I mess something up in the analysis?

    It would be cool to be a ranger/thief...
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    edited December 2012
    Looks like you get a missile adjustment (or what Kaigen describes as a passive bonus) at level 3 (+1 to attack rolls and damage) and level 6 (+2), and that includes darts.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Yeah, if you could get grand mastery with darts, they would be able to equal arrows by level 8 (and potentially exceed them by high levels). Of course, you can get a short bow with base 3 attacks per round very early in BG2, which kicks darts to the curb once again.
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    arrows win out in the end, in large part because of their greater damage and wider selection.
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    Kaigen said:

    What he's saying is that the passive bonuses (+hit/+dam) of the Archer kit apply to darts, even though Archers can't specialize in darts.

    One correction here. Archers can specialise in darts (**), they just can't do any better than that.
  • DragonspearDragonspear Member Posts: 1,838
    @Kaigen

    That shortbow would actually be bad for archers as if I recall correctly it would only give you 3 attacks per round.

    An archer would already have 3 attacks per round just specialized in a bow upon reaching level 7. By the time they're grand master and level 13 they'd be up to 4 (maybe even 4.5; the wording on grand mastery is kinda vague here).
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Dragonspear said:

    @Kaigen

    That shortbow would actually be bad for archers as if I recall correctly it would only give you 3 attacks per round.

    An archer would already have 3 attacks per round just specialized in a bow upon reaching level 7. By the time they're grand master and level 13 they'd be up to 4 (maybe even 4.5; the wording on grand mastery is kinda vague here).

    True, although Tuigan is the only shortbow that gets a damage bonus before Gesen, so even with the wasted .5 attack from hitting the attack cap, it's still probably your best bet until you get your hands on Gesen.
  • TeacherTeacher Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2012
    At lvl 1, my archer is doing min 5 damage with heavy crossbow. Damage: +1 bolt, +2 specialization, +2 heavy crossbow. Should have been 6 damage if archer +1 ranged damage applied. So that means the archer bonuses do not apply at lvl 1... or they do not work with the heavy crossbow.

    Edit: Damage done was against Hobgoblins around Friendly Arms Inn... just fyi
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,760
    The answer to the OP is: you start with +0/0 and get +1/1 at the third level. I've tested this with a bow and that's it.
    By the way, from the description it clearly reads you get your first bonus at the 3rd level.

  • hzfhzf Member Posts: 70
    Level 3: +1/+1
    Level 6: +2/+2

    Can hit high mastery at level 6.

    My elf archer ended up with a thaco of 1 iirc, or -1 with +2 arrows. That was with a comp longbow+1 and the missile bracers.
  • JarlealeJarleale Member Posts: 114
    Would rather use +1/+2 bracers for the damage. You'll most likely still hit anything.
  • claudiusclaudius Member Posts: 82
    Thanks everyone!
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    Dunno about anyone else but I ran a Dartcher in BG2. I was ** in darts, and when I got my hands on the Crimson Dart...
  • baaddarebaaddare Member Posts: 145
    Dazzu said:

    Dunno about anyone else but I ran a Dartcher in BG2. I was ** in darts, and when I got my hands on the Crimson Dart...

    yup i rather like darts even in bg1
  • ZanathKariashiZanathKariashi Member Posts: 2,869
    Archers CAN specialize in darts, and slings. They can't GM in them however like they could bows/XBows.
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