Ranged Weapons - effect of range on THAC0 / damage? Also spotting?
Oxford_Guy
Member Posts: 3,729
Hi, I've been looking a bit more into the mechanics of ranged weapons recently, and am unsure about some aspects. In a previous thread (this one: http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/6468/str-damage-bonus-for-thrown-weapons#latest) I've asked about the effects of strength on thrown weapon damage.
I'm also unsure of the effect of range on THAC0 (and perhaps damage, for some?). Many ranged weapons have a range greater than sight, so I was wondering if there is a bonus THAC0 for some ranged weapons when used quite close to an enemy - e.g does firing a composite or longbow at, say, range 10, give you a better THAC0 than firing at maximum sight range (it should, I shoot a bow IRL and its a damn sight easier to hit something at 20m than 60m...) or once you reach sight range or maximum range (whichever is less) of a ranged weapon, does THAC0 remain constant? Does damage also remain constant?
Lastly, most bows have a range or 100, which is more than sight range, is it possible to fire them at this range with a "spotter" (e.g. a hidden familiar)? I've not got this to work, but perhaps its possible?
Just trying to think of some ways to maximise effectives of ranged weapons...
I'm also unsure of the effect of range on THAC0 (and perhaps damage, for some?). Many ranged weapons have a range greater than sight, so I was wondering if there is a bonus THAC0 for some ranged weapons when used quite close to an enemy - e.g does firing a composite or longbow at, say, range 10, give you a better THAC0 than firing at maximum sight range (it should, I shoot a bow IRL and its a damn sight easier to hit something at 20m than 60m...) or once you reach sight range or maximum range (whichever is less) of a ranged weapon, does THAC0 remain constant? Does damage also remain constant?
Lastly, most bows have a range or 100, which is more than sight range, is it possible to fire them at this range with a "spotter" (e.g. a hidden familiar)? I've not got this to work, but perhaps its possible?
Just trying to think of some ways to maximise effectives of ranged weapons...
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Comments
a) range makes no difference to THAC0 (nor damage)
b) the max range of everything which has a range >=60 is 60 (i.e. all bows and crossbows)
c) range really only affects weapons with a range <60 i.e. sling (40), throwing dagger (30), darts (20)
d) you can't use another character or familiar to "spot" for you (at least not for ranged weapons, I think you might be able to do this for some spells)
BTW does anyone know what the range of Melf's Minute Meteors are? The spell description gives "self" as range, because they're created items, but they must have a range. I'd guess similar to daggers or darts. Also, is there any proficiency for using Melf's Minute Meteors? If not what's their THAC0 compared to normal?
Haven't experimented with this, but it's possible that if you change the target of a ranged weapon from "living actor" to "any point within range" you would be able to utilize the full range of it (such as with the un-nerfed dimension door spell). But then, you would also miss targets if they moved while you fired.
They should be great for fighter/mages, as the weight is less of an issue because you will usually have higher strength than a straight mage and your THAC0 will likely be good too.
Items without proficiency (such as MMM) have no non-proficiency penalties, so your fighter-mage (or mage, cleric-mage, etc.) would get a straight +5 to hit.