Ultimate Archer??

[toriuxik]

Gesen Bow does more damage by far than any other bow, especially if you use actual arrows anyway. HUGE damage then. boy, that was one MEAN archer...

For your single handed, if you don't use Belm, I'm gonna jump in the screen to slap you. That is, unless your up against a punk that is protected from +2 weapons... That extra attack is really needed for your archer. Of course, you can just Whirlwind once your in ToB, and nothing is gonna get near you when your doing some 1d6+2 piercing and 1-8 electric per hit... Thats without profiency and huge damage bonuses.

If you REALLY want the best ranged character possible, you need to use Kensai and equip one with Firetooth in SoA ('rang dagger before that which is easy enough to get) and K'lagroth tossing axe (bad sp) that knocks people away and does tons of damage... THIS is when you get mean. Strength bonus is in their too. VERY sick.

For armour, whip out the ol' Grandmaster Plate (this is seriously one of the best suits of armour in the game)... Then, you can use any boots you want.

Vhailor's Helm is an old fav of mine, especailly for soloing. AC bonus AND similacrum (make sure you have a good version of SoA though.... I hated when my character saved against that... Oh, that was so useless that dam helm... )

[SixOfSpades]

Strength IS important for an Archer, as all Composite Longbows require a STR of 18. Sure, you can use a Girdle, but the requirements for Archers (DEX, CON) are so lax that you might as well roll them an 18 from the beginning, you've got points to spare.

I would actually NOT suggest Montolio's Cloak for an Archer, because when you switch from your Bow to a melee weapon, you can't suddenly start dual-wielding unless you do the cheese of going into your Inventory to juggle weapons around.

Hmmm......Shadow Dragon armor & Boots of Speed, or Grandmaster's Armor & Boots of Avoidance? Your call.

That Dragon's Breath halberd kicks butt....I haven't found that +6 one yet, but the Dragon's Breath with its +4 enchantment & 5 points of elemental damage will hurt damn near anything.

Again, there is no reason to be anything but an Elf.

[Dundee Slaytern]

I have a solo Human Archer, screw the Elves. [img]tongue.gif[/img] I know Elves get bonuses to Longbows, but darn it all, I just cannot bear to play as one.

Anyway... ...

STR: 15-18/~~ ( possible to have it lower until you can afford a STR girdle, but life will be difficult until then, since most good bows have high STR requirements)
CON: 17-1 depends on your race, just go for the maximum)
DEX: 18-19( depends on your race as well, go for the maximum)
INT: 10
WIS: 13
CHA: 8-18

SoA:
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Armour: Aeger's Hide( screw the better AC of Shadow Dragon Scale Armour, this armour grants immunity to Confusion and blesses you with 15% resistance to Fire, Acid and Cold. SDSA is base AC 1, while AH is base AC 3)
Gauntlets: Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise( as an Archer, your THACO with ranged weapons will be extraordinary, so you should strive to improve your melee skills)
Helmet: Helm of Balduran( Helmet of Defence)
Amulet: Amulet of Power
Rings: Ring of Gaxx, Ring of Earth Control( Ring of Free Action)
Cloak: Cloak of Mirroring
Boots: Boots of Speed
Belt: Girdle of Stone Giant Strength

Weapons to Consider: Strongarm( your main weapon, deals the most physical damage)
Tansheron Bow( for the +3 arrows, which you cannot get in SoA)
Gesen's Bow( the upgrade from Tansheron Bow)

Crom Faeyr( mainly for bashing locks)
Staff of the Ram +4( kickass and for Clay Golems)
The Ravager +4( more powerful but not so much kickass as the SotR)
Mace of Disruption +2( for dealing with those pesky undead)

Proficiencies to Have by the Time I Hit Level 34( opinions will differ):

Longbow: *****
Shortbow: *****
Quarterstaff: *
Halberd: *
Two-Handed Weapon Style: *
Warhammer: *
Mace: *

ToB:
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Changes where necessary.

Armour: Grandmaster Armour( your saving throws should be superb by now, so Confusion is less of an issue)
Gauntlets: Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialisation
Boots: Boots of Avoidance
Belt: Girdle of Fire Giant Strength

Weapons: Staff of the Ram +6
The Ravager +6

[Downunda]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern:
screw the Elves.

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Only if they are female, single and they are in complete agreement

[Dundee Slaytern]

quote:

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Originally posted by Downunda:
Only if they are female, single and they are in complete agreement

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Haha... ... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Lord Ludtke]

Does no one like the bracers of archery? +2 to Thaco can be very helpful, especially post boots of speed, you can run to get space to whack em a couple more times, and be sure to hit im.

Just my 2 cents....

[Dundee Slaytern]

quote:

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Originally posted by Lord Ludtke:
Does no one like the bracers of archery? +2 to Thaco can be very helpful, especially post boots of speed, you can run to get space to whack em a couple more times, and be sure to hit im.
Just my 2 cents....

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I am not even maxed yet( in terms of level), and my Archer is already hitting anything and everything so long as it is not a critical miss. Bracers of Archery are better suited for others who do not get the Archer's bonuses. Mazzy Fenton is one example who will benefit.

[Zillo]

Thanks everyone.
Just one more question though, is it better to go with the Ranger / Archer kit or just a regular fighter with a grandmastery in the bows?
Thanks again.

[Barlik Longbeard]

As an archer I would say that it would be VERY difficult to go through the whole game as just an archer, by him/her self. You can't kill half of the monsters with the really good stuff like Kengax, Dragons, and other good stuff carrying things!
But I would say:

Strength: 19
Dexterity: 19
Constitution: 18
rest doesn't matter

Strongarm Bow (needs strength 19 to use!) or Heart seeker (with its +7 THAC0 bonus)
Shadow Dragon Armour
Bracers of Archery
Spear of the Unicorn
Ring of the Gaxx
Ring of Human Influence/Regenration
Boots of Speed
Your choice of Ion stones/helmets
Cloak of the Sewers/Reflection
Arrows (duhh)

other stuff you can pick up in ToB cuz I haven't finished it yet.

[toriuxik]

I wouldn't even waste the proficiency on Longbow. The Tuigan bow is better during SOA until you get Gesen Bow, and NOTHING beats 1-8 extra electric damage. Also, you can get away with lower strength. Tuigan Bow is also free.