Ranged Attackers, help me settle the argument

[The Ozzman]

a friend of mine who is maybe a 3rd of the way through the game loves to talk about his ranger(archer class) who on 12th or 13th level has a THACO of -10. I was complimenting him seeing as how i have just started out, but a friend of my who has played through SoA and who is now in ToB says that ranged characters are a waste and that when you fight high level enemies later in the game they are useless and won't be able to hit anything. I'd like to read some of your guys thoughts.

[Jerr Conner]

Originally posted by The Ozzman: a friend of mine who is maybe a 3rd of the way through the game loves to talk about his ranger(archer class) who on 12th or 13th level has a THACO of -10. I was complimenting him seeing as how i have just started out, but a friend of my who has played through SoA and who is now in ToB says that ranged characters are a waste and that when you fight high level enemies later in the game they are useless and won't be able to hit anything. I'd like to read some of your guys thoughts.

They're only a waste if you don't use them effectively.

For instance, it's not going to do you good to keep a ranged character unprotected.

The best thing to do is keep them in the back, and have someone guarding them. Not only that, but there's that proficiency slot anyone can use.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Archers rock, especially in a party. Grandmaster either in Longbows and Shortbows, or both.

Good longbows: Strongarm, Heartseeker, Elven Court Bow.

Good shortbows: Tuigan Bow, Tansheron Bow, Gesen Bow.

Stick to using normal arrows, use enchanted arrows only when necessary. +1 enchanted for things like Shadows, Shadow Fiends, Skeleton Warriors, etc... +2 enchanted for Stone Golems, etc... +3 enchanted for Balors, etc... +4 enchanted for Demi-Liches, etc... ...

Note, SoA only has up to +2 enchanted arrows, but Tansheron Bow fires +3 enchanted phantom arrows, while the Gesen Bow fire +4 enchanted phantom arrows.

Tip: Cast Improved Haste on your Archer.

[Barlik Longbeard]

Archer can pull of the most cinematic moves ever, where as the mages cast slowly and fighters hack and slash. Its easier being a fighter, but Archers kick. If you run into a bunch of goblins, or kobolts then the Archer is your guy/gal. He/she can take em down no prob and when they are hasted....... ohhh they are great fun.

[Ar-Cunin]

The problem with characters with missile weapons is that they don't do a lot of damage (1d6 as standard) whereas close combat weapons benefit from STR bonus and can deal large amounts of damage.

[Sir Exxon]

Ranged characters are good characters, IMO. If I can, I always spend a profeciency point at Long Bow. Cause it is good to have the ability to shoot distance enemies, and deal some good damage. But as Ar-Cunin said, the arrows usually has very little damage-points. That is a clear disadvantage.
But to say it like this, if your friend had said to me that Ranged characters are bad, I would probably just laugh at him, as he is taking so wrong.

But all this is only MHO, though... [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs]

I am currently playing an archer. Very fun. Here is my current party.

Me (Elven Archer, 18 str, 19 dex, heartseeker)
Mazzy (Tasheron's -> Gesen)
Valygar (Elven Court)
Jaheira (romance, Sling of Everard)
Nalia -> Imoen (Tuigan -> Tasheron's)
Jan (Firetooth)

With all of that, it is rare that an enemy even gets close. After stopping by the first level of the Watcher's Keep in Chapter 2 for the Case and Quiver of Plenty and the Ammo Belt, the only people who actually use ammo are Nalia and Valygar. Most people, even nigh-bosses, are quite full of arrows before they even get close enough to hit my main char, and mages' stoneskins last less than a round.

Effective use of archers can counteract the lack of a strength bonus. You get more attacks per round than with melee weapons, and a whole party firing at one person at a time kills the whole group much faster than dividing up your melee forces.

However, i have found that using pure ranged tactics and pure melee tactics get boring after a while. Both are fun in different ways, but you need to have some variety. Good luck.

[Jerr Conner]

Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: The problem with characters with missile weapons is that they don't do a lot of damage (1d6 as standard) whereas close combat weapons benefit from STR bonus and can deal large amounts of damage.

That's weird though.

I was doing 26-28 damage per arrow with the Tuigan Bow with my archer. He had 17 strength though. I didn't have any problems killing.

[Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs]

Originally posted by Jerr Conner: quote: Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: The problem with characters with missile weapons is that they don't do a lot of damage (1d6 as standard) whereas close combat weapons benefit from STR bonus and can deal large amounts of damage.

That's weird though.

I was doing 26-28 damage per arrow with the Tuigan Bow with my archer. He had 17 strength though. I didn't have any problems killing.[/QUOTE]Archers get +1 to hit and +1 to damage every 3 levels. Also, the Missile attack modifier by dexterity adds to damage too, not just THAC0.

[Helspanth]

In normal PnP Dex adj doesn't add to damage.
As for the "low damage" issue think on this.
A High level archer usually has 7/2 attacks improved haste makes that 7!!!With his low thaco that means 7d6+kit bonus+arrow bonus+bow bonus.
I don't think that a fighter can do this!
Archers rock!!!!!!