Check out my Longbow!

[Jim]

Hello everyone.

I've just been messing around making custom items. My archer noticed that good longbows are a little thin on the ground in both SoA and ToB, and although there are a few that grant good THAC0 bonuses, damage is severely lacking so I decided to make my bow: "The Archers Finest +4" . I made it so it couldn't be obtained until after chapter 6 due to the location of a certain belt and I've restricted its use to elven/human archers only. I've tried to keep it a balanced item i.e. not applied strength bonus, use moderate attack bonuses and it doesn't grant all stats 25 or something daft like that. I have however tried to counter-act the fact that characters using missile weapons suffer a -4 AC penalty when in close quarter combat by making use of some defensive abilities. Tell me what you think: (Hope these images will work.......)









I've got a few ideas for some other weapon that I might create (e.g. a massive, heavy 2-handed sword that deals something like 2D8+6 damage but has THAC0 and AC penalties - good weapon for a kensai that has a crap AC anyway ). I'll add them to this later.

If anyone has some weapon/armour ideas, place them in this post and I'll make them if I have the time. Keep the items balanced, e.g. if a weapon is supremely powerful, give it multiple pentalities.

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Jim ]

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Jim ]

[Redblueflare]

Hi. I think you're bow is cool. It's balanced not completely overpowered, and you can only use it after you've got the girdle of frost giant strength. I have a question for you though. How did you make it?

[Sir Exxon]

Hey, cool bow!
Maybe a little overpowered, if you ask me, but very cool, indeed!


see ya!

[Jim]

Thanks Redblueflare and Sir Exxon [img]smile.gif[/img]

quote:

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How did you make it?

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I made it by extracting a normal long bow using shadow keeper and placed the item file in the overide folder. I then used the Infinity Engine Editor PRO which really is a cool app, and set certain fields appropriately. You have control over everything using this, you can even make items conversable!

It probably is a little powerful but I figured by applying heavy restrictions to it, it could be the perfect archers companion. Carsomyr is too powerful IMO, but balance was aquired by making useable by one class (hence one alignment and race) to prevent other classes abusing it.

Jim.

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Jim ]

[Morgan_Corbesant]

there are two items im looking for for my bladesinger. i want a moonblade. its a +2 to hit and damage (+5 to determine what it can hit) it gives a +2 bonus to ac, and allows +1 spell per level. it can only be used by elven fighter/mages, and they must be of good alignment. my actual bladesinger has one of these, but it has a few other abilities too. i just made it this simple because it should be found early on, like in Irenicuses Dungeon. the reason is because i cant get decent armor for a fighter/mage until late in the game. im trying to make a bladesinger based off of my actuall PNP character. i may just have to test this IEEP out though.......

[Morgan_Corbesant]

ummmm.....where do i get IEE PRO!!!!????

[Glorfindel]

From TeamBG of Course!!!

And btw Jim.. there is a way to get around the fact that u dont want it usuable until after the underdark

Just cast Draw upon holy might (the innate ability) and if ur going solo it shouldnt take long to reach lvl. 15

though other wise its quite a good idea at not making it usuable until later lvls [img]smile.gif[/img]

Morgan U like Bladesingers 2 do you??? I wish I could make the kit... but 4 some reason I cant get the files needed for it to work even though i got the 1's it told me i needed ne1 got some help 4 me there??
The blade u want to make wouldnt be very hard to make... but I cant think on exactly how you would make it only +2 in Thac0 but +5 in determining what it can hit.... possibly the enchantment variable ??? thats just some help 4 u in making the item once uve got it IEEP [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Glorfindel ]

[Jim]

quote:

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Just cast Draw upon holy might

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This would work, as temporarily increasing the strength leaves items (armour, weapons) in use after the effects have worn off, however, each time the archer selects a melee weapon (quite often, especially if surrounded), I don't think you'll be able to re-select the bow until you increase the strength again, so you could draw upon holy might again, or quaff a potion, but this would be an annoyance every time you want to change weapons.

Enchantment to hit, THAC0 and damage are all different modifier variables are can all be set independantly (staff of the Magi = 1D6+1, THAC0+1, but strikes as a +5 weapon).

It took me a while to find and download the program as teambg only allows 100 downloads per day, and by lunch time there had already been 160 requests for it, so download early [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Morgalas Everhate]

Very good idea, I like the concept. Here is some suggestion to tweak it a little. I'd say put the STR & DEX requirement both to 18 and drop the CON al together. Reason: If your playing an Archer (*sub Ranger Class) STR, DEX and CON tend to be high anyways. Your idea for reducing the +4 to hit penalty you mentioned, adding +5 hitpoints would compliment the 10% resistance and the AC bonus you did a little better than +1 Con ( really +1 Con when your level 15 don't help much. And since you say you find it chapter 6 you will be probably 15th level or more anyways by then so I don't think the level restriction would be applicable. Even 5% Magic Resistance might be not too overpowering, in terms of a little defense for your non-metal armored Archer.

But to enhance the Ranger aspect perhaps have the bow do +4 THAC0 and +4 DAMAGE as you did , but add +2 damage to Ranger's Racial Enemy. This way you can portray your Archer as a Vampire Hunter for example or whatever type of hunter you want.

Just a few thoughts....

[Jim]

Morgalas,

I've chosen a high STR in relation to the Strong Arm bow which you can buy from Ribald. This bow needs 19 STR and has +3 damage, so I've increased the required strength and damage delt by 2. CON probably could be dropped since archers are not known for their toughness, but I suppose the bow might need a reasonably high degree of hardship from the user in order to generate the defensive bonuses. +1 CON will pretty much guarantee an aditional 9 HP for elves (max CON 17) and humans (max 18) so I think makes up for elven archers initial loss of HP due to this CON so I'm leaving this in.

I don't intend it to be found in chapter 6, in fact, it could be obtained as soon as chapter 2 begins, that is why I've placed the strength and level limitations to prevent low level characters from becoming over powerful. I should have probably re-phrased my original message with regards to obtaining it after chapter 6 to being able to use it effectively only after the underdark.

I'm not sure how to increase the damage for the racial enemy. Damage can be increased against certain creatures, but I can't think of how to manipulate this damage against the racial enemy, as that is a seperate variable. The best I could probably do is add bonus damage for dragons (my archer' racial enemy) which would have the same effect, but using a new char with a different enemy would involve editing the item again. No a big problem really.
Thanx for the input [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Jim ]