Archery...say what?!

[Enuch]

I am curious how long could archery be viable or if anyone has ever tried it. I see sanct arrows in the cleric shop and naturally assume those are for Pallies. Any thoughts or stories would be a plus. I have points that I could throw into ranged and percept as I have moved from 2x lores to 1-.5x lores as this guy is slowly becoming my "side piece". Was thinking of experimenting with something unique and wondered what other brave souls may have tried this.

[BriarFox]

You can do it in early mid-levels (20-40) or so, banking mostly on your spells to give you AS and relying on it mainly as a backup, but eventually it'll be a massive waste of your time.

[Fallen]

You can do it in early mid-levels (20-40) or so, banking mostly on your spells to give you AS and relying on it mainly as a backup, but eventually it'll be a massive waste of your time.

Sounds a lot like the majority of mutant builds. Good to see you poking around, B.

[Enuch]

So for a backup character, or for fun (knowing this guy will not ever reach 40) could be doable, good to hear. Has anyone ever had experience actually doing it, and there thoughts? I understand it will be difficult, but I am hoping for fun / challenge.

[Fallen]

So for a backup character, or for fun (knowing this guy will not ever reach 40) could be doable, good to hear. Has anyone ever had experience actually doing it, and there thoughts? I understand it will be difficult, but I am hoping for fun / challenge.

If you can provide him enough toys you could make a good go of it. You'd want a nice sighted bow (something like a 6x Sephwir) and constant access to certain outside spells which help with AS and Aiming (613 comes to mind). You'd also want to max out advantages from fletching so that you have max enchant possibly flaring arrows. You could also use your disabling spells in order to lower your target's DS. I suppose Spirit strike (117) embeds would also help set up shots too. A constant stream of charged blue crystals, for instance. Those items that let you wear blue crystals would be nice.

[gs4-PauperSid]

My cleric trained poles, bows, and spell aim until 60th or so. It was no problem. I only fixskilled to the more conventional "pure cleric" path within the last year or so. Low levels for archery is cake. I'd swing until encumbered, then just shoot for 3 sec rt's with a longbow, then go unload. Spells compliment it really well. Bind, 301 the undead, 117, web bolt, etc. I was really dismayed when I came back and learned that damn paladins stole zealot. Note, I also wore heavier armor than is traditional but I do that for most of my characters. (chain mail).

I never aimed the bow. Accuracy by volume, and relied on 3sec rt and stuns. I was only 2x on spells so my warding was crap compared to pures and I wanted to see how easy the more traditional route has it.

Also, now you get soul ward too. (hah) He's 75th training now, and I've entertained the thought of going back to poles and bows but the novelty of being a pure hasn't worn off yet. I do miss the looks I'd used to get tho during group hunts. "swing swing swing old school cleric hmm?" yep! bow bow bow what the. . ..cast cast. ! how the hell do you train all that?

[Jeril]

So for a backup character, or for fun (knowing this guy will not ever reach 40) could be doable, good to hear. Has anyone ever had experience actually doing it, and there thoughts? I understand it will be difficult, but I am hoping for fun / challenge.

Ranged is kind of annoying if you start at 0. I know even at 25 it isn't as easy as some people try to make it sound and the general take is that it doesn't become good until around 40. Years ago I knew a guy who had a ranged cleric and in his late 30s and early 40s he had no issues and roughly the same AS as a rogue or ranger would. Between 307, 211, and 215 you have 55 AS and you get it all pretty early which can carry you a good ways. You get high enough and you start to fall behind in AS but then you just start using disabling spells. As a cleric you can take your pick basically, 100s, 200s, or 300s even. Good arguments can be made for any of them. In the 100s you have unbalance, web, and call lightning. The 200s have interference, silence, and bind. 300s have 301 for undead, 316 for most everything else, and overtraining here lets you use your offensive spells almost on par with a pure casting cleric.

Training ranged for a cleric is only 9/3(same cost as 2x spell aim) and then you'd also want to double perception for an additional 0/6. Giving you a total of 9/9 spent to train in ranged which isn't too horrible, especially when compared to training for other weapon types.

[Tenlaar]

Ranged is kind of annoying if you start at 0. I know even at 25 it isn't as easy as some people try to make it sound and the general take is that it doesn't become good until around 40.

I've never had a problem with ranged at low levels. If I start a high agidex race it's claids, if I start a high strength race it's a long bow for me.

[Jeril]

I've never had a problem with ranged at low levels. If I start a high agidex race it's claids, if I start a high strength race it's a long bow for me.

I said annoying, not that it can't be done. As often as arrows fly off into the distance, ect, its annoying. If one is just looking to gain exp as fast as they can, swing a claid. Even if your rt with a claid is 6 seconds you are going to kill faster using it then a longbow in most cases.

[Tenlaar]

Well I don't worry about arrows, I just buy new ones every few hunts. From my experience, I think that your kill speed estimates are skewed by your personal preference. It often takes 2 or 3 hits to kill with a claid and a long bow is just as fast against things with light or no armor.

[Jeril]

Well I don't worry about arrows, I just buy new ones every few hunts. From my experience, I think that your kill speed estimates are skewed by your personal preference. It often takes 2 or 3 hits to kill with a claid and a long bow is just as fast against things with light or no armor.

You'd be wrong. I've only ever done claid hunting once, because I generally prefer to play my characters how I am going to play them. And arrows flying off into the distance is more about how often you miss vs hit your target. I think it is more your viewed that is skewed.

[Enuch]

a great deal of handy insights from all you folks. I'll give it a try, since this toon compliments another it won't kill me to have the archery, and I don't plan on sacrificing a ton so that I can keep the 2x spells and although may not have an astounding CS, should be able to manage to a decent degree. And i forgot about all the 100 disables, once I get 215 I will probably swing over that way!

[Brad]

I don't have experience with Archery, but for lance stabbin' I've found that casting 301 is amazing in the 30s and low 40s thus far. That may be something to keep in mind, too.

[Tgo01]

I did a ranged cleric once, think I got him up to level 25 or so. It wasn't bad at all up until then, no idea how much more difficult or easier it gets after that.

[Lady Sylvan]

My cleric used an ohe and shield until 35ish. Since I made her an elven cleric I thought about archery, but decided against it. Now she is a smiter/pure and I absolutely love it. The whole idea of archery gives me a headache because its to much work to secure a kill.

I toyed with an sylvan archery empth for a few days, getting her to level 5. I guess it is a fun hunting style if you get the macro's right.