Question Regarding Archers.

d00der82

Hello, I'm looking to run an Archer through the trilogy and had a few questions.

I know that there is an easy to obtain +3 bow and gessan later in the game for bg2, however, do you need +1 arrows to hit some of the enemies in bg1 (like the vampiric wolves)?

Also, if I wanted to specialize in all three bow types, is there a real disadvantage to just having 3 pips in all three?

Thanks

JuliusBorisov

Hello, @d00der82 and welcome to the forum.

Yes, you need arrows +1 or more to hit enemies that require magical weapons, like Vampiric wolves.

The disadvantage of putting 3 pips in shortbows, longbows and crossbows is that you won't use them simultaneously, in the end concentrating on one or maximum two kinds of bows/crossbows. You won't get extra 0.5 ARP if you don't get 5 pips in your weapon.

There're wonderful threads here about archers and how they can be not only viable but superb all the way till the end of BG2.

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/45761/how-do-ranged-weapons-work-vs-creatures-requiring-enchanted-weapons

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/40724/mage-vs-fighter-w-bow-or-archer

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/40063/archer-damage-calculations

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/40303/the-archer-dilemma

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/44672/which-ranger-kit-archer-or-stalker

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/44197/ranged-weapons-suck-in-this-game - especially @semiticgod 's post there.

d00der82

Thank you for the info bengoshi! After much consideration I have opted to go with an eleven fighter mage multi. Still able to exhibit archer dominance in bg1, while have versatility that will span the entire trilogy. I started him with long bows and long swords, will prob stick to sword and sheild until bg2.

Do you get to redo your proficiencies in bg2ee? What other weapon type would compliment lomgs word for a dual wielding fighter mage?

JuliusBorisov

There's no way to change your proficiencies (including the BG1-BG2 transfer), either than using the EEKeeper - https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/16497/ee-keeper-updated-to-v1-0-3#latest.

The most general advice on weapons to dualwield is to combine a strong main hand weapon with a speed weapon (the one granting one extra APR): Kundane (short swords) or Belm (scimitars). For an elf, a short sword is better because you get +1 THAC0. And longswords are a good choice for the main hand, I think.

But @Gotural designed an idea that for a fighter/mage character having a speed weapon in the second hand is not so useful - because of your class, you have a lot to do during each round, i.e. cast a spell and fight, retreat etc. This way the better weapon for the second hand would be actually a high-damaging one, or the one with good abilities. This way flails is an awesome choice - because of FoA. Also, you actually can dualwield longswords - Angurvadal and Daystar, The Answerer and Blackrazor. Of course, there's an awesome katana in BG2, but later in ToB you will start to use it less.

d00der82

Huh.... I never even considered short swords before. I usjally give the foa to my buddy minsc.

Thanks for the advice ben!

CaptRory

My archer goes with Crossbows (to use Firetooth in BG2) and grabs a couple melee weapon proficiencies to round out his abilities since I can't put all my pips into Crossbows at the start. Just because you're an archer doesn't mean you can't smack around stuff that requires magical weapons using a halberd or something.