Xbow archer build

jukaga

After having Keldorn lug the Firetooth +4 part time in my last game, I want to play an xbow specialist archer for my next run. I was mainly wondering what my melee options should be. As a Ranger, do Archers still get the free 2 weapon style points, and if so is it worth dual wielding with only being proficient. What I was thinking was taking a blunt weapon to offset my piercing damage from the xbow like the FOA and taking points in single weapon for the extra AC to offset my no-metal armor restriction. I'm thinking Crom Feyr would be a waste on him as melee use would be infrequent. thoughts?

Lathrael

Mace of disruption +2 is great when facing undead, whom mostly resistant to piercing damage (also helps against level drain when vampires get close). Pixie prick is also nice for lower levels, has good chance to disable your enemies. You cannot go wrong with crom feyr, unless you want someone else using it.

With high level in fighter-oriented class (base bonus attacks and thaco) and good strength, you won't be bothered about your missing profiencies much as you might think of.

Real

Personally, as an Archer, I would avoid dual-wielding for two reasons. First, you are an archer damnit. Second, I hate switching weapons. It breaks the flow of the game for me. However, if you do not mind doing this, an archer can still be a competent in melee later on if dual-wielding due to their ranger thac0/hp progression. Since compared to other rangers, he really only lose out on specialization which is only half an attack.

Honestly though, if you only intend on achieving grandmastery in xbows (and not other bows), you should have more than enough points to put in multiple melee weapons of your choice. Later if the game, if you realllly want to dual-wield, you can put points into two-weapon style.

jukaga

Yeah, I'm planning on buying Firetooth as soon as I can afford it (suck it Shadow Thieves) and running with it all through TOB. Mazzy will run with Tuigan->Infinite +3 bow->Gesen. Longbows are a waste of space. Melee will be an afterthought. I'm thinking Flails-Maces-Longswords as profs.

Skaffen

Unless you go for grand mastery in xbows and bows profs shouldn't be a problem anyway. To save time on weapon changeover I'd go with something twohanded. Why not spears and Ixil? Then you can nail to the ground, walk away and shoot? Crom is a great lock opener btw. if you don't have a thief and worth it just for that.

Real

^I know how you feel. I also restarted and rolled a ranged character after encountering firetooth... But the ranger good-only alignment no-low-rep put me off eventually.

Itstucktwice

I second spears, as I have always believe they fit a ranger thematically. The times you do have to melee you want as much room between you and your opponent as possible.

[Deleted User]

Spears are a good option; but I'd also keep a blunt weapon around for clay golems since you can't hurt them with your ranged weapons. Quarterstaves are always nice.

jukaga

So I've acquired the Firetooth +4 pretty early on and on a lark cleared out the 1st level of Watcher's Keep to get the infinite bolts +1 container, I've noticed that when I have that equipped I seem to be doing consistently more damage. The inventory screen damage total confirms this but the breakdown window next to it doesn't have the math match up; according to those numbers it should be doing the same. Am I missing out on the +4 magical nature if I use the quiver? If so does it make sense to use the quiver in most situations except those like Liches and the like that require +4 to hit? Seems like a bug to me. Either way this build is a killing machine.

CrevsDaak

@Jukaga just you will be missing the +4, but you can change with no trouble right before the battle against the Demilich starts, I used that combe with Gesen's Shortbow through all SoA and ToB, and it rocks, since it also deals the elemental damage and the bonus damage, it's very cheesy!
You should select Mace and then I left the other weapon Prof to your choice, Long Sword, Bastard Sword, Scimitar/Washaski/Ninja-to, and Hammers have all good stuff, not to mention axes...

DinsdalePiranha

max crossbows, get firetooth, get whirlwind HLAs, profit. maybe also load it with bolts of lightning.

against undead, use a cleric with undead turning. I actually didn't bother with melee when I had an archer, maxed shortbows first, and used the tuigan, the rest of the points went into crossbows, so I could hit enemies that required +x weapons. by level 18, you can max crossbows, and start getting whirlwinds... fun stuff.