bow's in bg1
Sereph
Member Posts: 23
So I just read a thread that said the bg2 engine nerfed bow damage, what was it like in bg1? What were the differences? Just curious, I've been thinking about playing an archer for my first time through and I'd like to imagine how awesome it would be with the original engine.
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Either way Bows will rock in BG 1 and 2, specially if used by the Ranger (Archer) Kit, he drops stuff so bloody fast, not even funny.
Bows in BG1 were superior because of their extra APR and the ridiculously high damage from elemental ammo.
Couple that with slow mob walking speeds, enemy mages without access to higher level protection spells like Stoneskin or Protection from Normal Missiles, and huge outdoor areas that were perfect for kiting.
It basically meant that if you had 2-3 archer-types in you group with decent thac0s, very few mobs would live long enough to get into melee range or cast a spell.
Sirens and pretty much every other magic user were easy kills with good archers. It is also more realistic this way, the longbow was a hardcore weapon back in it's time, a good amount of archers having the high ground could really help to win an otherwise loosing battle.
I played through all BG2 and ToB with the Archer kit once. That guy brought all the awesomeness of ranged weapons back into BG2, dealing damage like melee fighters but with more APR and from a distance. Add shoes of speed and you get yourself some cheese
I also recently heard Composite Bows added STR damage, which is news to me. So they may remove that, or perhaps not (maybe it was intended yet never mentioned). That does seem to add an unfair bonus when coupled with the massive elemental damage on arrows in BG1. So one (or both) will likely go. If they don't Archers (Ranger kit) will mop the floor in BGEE.
Composite longbows were SUPPOSED to add your strength multiplier. What they did instead was grant all composite longbows and automatic +2 to damage. Thus as long as your strength is 18/01-18/50 you were doing the proper amount.
(I don't mean this in a condescending manner to anyone. I'm with said fanboys.)
In this case Elemental Arrow damage is likely being reduce across the board.
One thing being changed I do have issue with is Kits, any attempt at changing them for BG:EE will reduce their use in BG2:EE which I don't like as it's an attempt at balance when balance isn't needed.
Elemental Arrow damage on the other hand, is simple just making things consistent.
I don't know who's been spreading round that they added str damage, I'm glad all is as it was and I haven't been mistaken all this time. I'd say leave the BS damage as it is in BG1 & the scaled down damage in BG2. They would of made a conscious choice to set it at that level in the first place.
The scaled down damage in Bg2 is likely the same reason there's few arrows of dispel & det. Not that I didn't sorely miss both in BG2! I wouldn't mind original BG1 arrows returning in TOB, unlikely though.
By the time you get the AC of your front line fighters -7 or lower your chances for survival drastically improved. Wizards could use the shield and mirror image spells to survive longer. The sleep spell shines on the low levels. It's easier if the ranged opponents sleep instead of firing arrows.
Moreover, there are no +4 or +5 arrows.
10th
Am not sure about the Sling of Seeking, though - could anyone confirm?
Even if discounting the Eagle Bow, are short bows still a better option than long and composite bows in BG2?
I'm asking, as I'm going to run an (evil) elf Fighter/Mage multiclass through BGEE and BG2EE, probably configured for 2-handed swords (and staves) and long bow, as my thief usually gets given he best shortbow, and doesn't seem right to give elves crossbows (and they don't get the +1 THAC0 bonus for them).
It might not be a problem for a fighter/mage not to have an ammunitionless bow, since they won't be using it as often as a Thief or Archer, although the lack of +3 (or higher) arrows until ToB could be a problem - does that mean there are some foes that a longbow won't be able to hit (because they are immune to < +3 weapons) in SOA/TOB that a shortbow could? If so, might consider giving my Fighter/Mage proficiencies in shortbow instead, and make my thief learn about crossbows...
There are 5 very nice ranged weapons in BG1 (ignoring throwers):
Eagle Bow
Long Bow of Marksmanship
Light Crossbow of Speed
Heavy Crossbow of Accuracy
Sling +3
You could with a little planning set up a group where every character can use one of those, plus a dart throwing Mage for the 6th slot. Maybe something like:
Elf Archer PC - Longbow + 1 point in Halberd (Halberd +2)
Fighter - Xbow + 2 handed sword (Spiders bane)
Thief - shortbow
Cleric or Druid - Sling + cleric weapons
Bard Xbow / Bastard Sword / Axe
Specialist mage - darts
Also - my Fighter/Mage will be using Spiders Bane (will combine nicely with Web...)
My thief (probably Imoen) can use crossbows instead, if necessary.
http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/threads/taralash-darkfire-bow-etc.93047/
http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/threads/short-bow-long-bow-or-crossbow.32318/
Basically, if you want unlimited magic ammo (some of which is the only bow ammo better than +3, which is rare anyway) you need to go for short bows (espc. for Gessen) or crossbows (espc. for Firetooth)
Pity, as longbows seem better from an RP perspective for an elf fighter/magic user, but I might still stick with them.
As a fighter/mage you're better off not having to split your focus so you can also gain epic mage feats faster. But you'll gain plenty of pips in the time inbetween so why not use a bow for the first half of the game & a crossbow in the later stages.
Level 1
Two-handed Swords++
Longbow++
Levels 3 & 6
Two-handed fighting++
[Level 7 - 1.5 Base APR]
Levels 9 & 12
Staves++
[Level 13 - 2.0 Base APR]
Levels 15 & 18
Crossbow++
Levels 21 & 24*
Halberd++
* though its going to take ages to get here as a Figher/Mage, is Level 24 even possible? What level would I be at at the end of SOA?
Maybe with the last two swapped around?
Would this be reasonable?
end-BG1 (TOSC): 7 fighter / 7 mage
end -BG2 SOA: 13 fighter/13 fighter
end-TOB: 24 fighter / 20 mage
Am not going to get much use of those halberds with the above build... At roughly what level is dragon slaying required (not too many spoilers, though, please), as there's one that would help with that?
Level 1
Two-handed Swords++
Longbow++
Levels 3 & 6
Two-handed fighting+
Staves +
[Level 7 - 1.5 Base APR]
Levels 9 & 12
Staves++
Crossbow+
[Level 13 - 2.0 Base APR]
Levels 15 & 18
Crossbow++
Two-handed fighting++
Two-handed fighting+
Levels 21 & 24*
Halberd++