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Lately I've been pondering my hunting strategy with my gnome since he's starting to get into the upper levels of the game and, from everything I've read, will have to be taking more into account in hunting areas he's going to be moving into.
Anyway, I've been wondering if the extra second of RT he gets with his longbow is worth it or if he'd be better off switching to a composite bow. I've always used longbows because of the higher DF they get and have never had any glaring problems with them despite the 9 second RT I get for sniping with them (6 seconds if I can find a wizard to cast strength on me), unless I'm forced from hiding AND something wanders into the room immediately after I fire... even then I'm more likely to be injured to the point it ends my hunt then to die.
Are there any other differences between the two I should be taking into account? Since I got CMAN VANISH the long RT isn't as painful as it used to be, but I don't always have the stamina to use it (esp if I get forced from hiding 5-6 times in quick succession as sometimes happens around perceptive critters).
Starchitin
A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.
Wait, your RT is 9??? That is waaaayyyy too high for an archer. Definitely switch to a small bow and invest in some strength enhancives.
Droit
Speaking to you, the ghostly voice of Kaedra asks, "Have I ever told you, I think you're crazy?"
>
The ghostly voice of Kaedra says, "That was an insane rescue."
Droit
Speaking to you, the ghostly voice of Kaedra asks, "Have I ever told you, I think you're crazy?"
>
The ghostly voice of Kaedra says, "That was an insane rescue."
Are you a Burghal Gnome? They get some sort of bonus with crossbows. My burghal gnome archer is 3 seconds for both cocking and firing a crossbow self spelled only and strength set to hit 100 at cap.
-- Robert
Much to your horror, a devastating inferno of flaming rocks ignite the entire sky and smite the area!
-- Robert
Much to your horror, a devastating inferno of flaming rocks ignite the entire sky and smite the area!
<Are you a Burghal Gnome? They get some sort of bonus with crossbows. My burghal gnome archer is 3 seconds for both cocking and firing a crossbow self spelled only and strength set to hit 100 at cap.>
Forest Gnome, and I have zero interest in crossbows. I experimented with them when Star was young and there's just too many steps to be messing with.
<Wait, your RT is 9??? That is waaaayyyy too high for an archer. Definitely switch to a small bow and invest in some strength enhancives.>
7 seconds just for firing the arrow, add 1 for aiming, and add another for firing from hiding, but for the last 4 levels I've only seen that RT at the end of a hunt when a white crystal wears off.
I made it to level 54 with that 9 second RT. The only reason I've been hunting with Strength (either cast by a wizard or white crystals) since then was because flesh golems have a nasty habit of wandering in the second I shoot my arrow at a tomb troll. Before that I'd occasionally use SURGE to speed up my hunts, but between sniping from hiding and 9 out of 10 of my shots either being one shot kills or stunning what I'm shooting, I've never had a problem with the 9 second RT. Since I picked up divert and vanish, the only time anything gets to swing or cast at me is when something ultra-perceptive (like flesh golems) comes in and keeps me from popping back into the shadows if I fall out or searches me out and immediately swings.
If I can reduce my RT without significantly harming my ability to deal death crits I will, but in all honesty... not being able to take something down quickly would be more dangerous to me then being stuck in a 9 second RT in front of a dead or stunned critter while I'm hidden. Luckly, in the next couple levels my STR bonus will hit 10 and I'll be down to 8 seconds without strength.
A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.
Forest Gnome, and I have zero interest in crossbows. I experimented with them when Star was young and there's just too many steps to be messing with.
<Wait, your RT is 9??? That is waaaayyyy too high for an archer. Definitely switch to a small bow and invest in some strength enhancives.>
7 seconds just for firing the arrow, add 1 for aiming, and add another for firing from hiding, but for the last 4 levels I've only seen that RT at the end of a hunt when a white crystal wears off.
I made it to level 54 with that 9 second RT. The only reason I've been hunting with Strength (either cast by a wizard or white crystals) since then was because flesh golems have a nasty habit of wandering in the second I shoot my arrow at a tomb troll. Before that I'd occasionally use SURGE to speed up my hunts, but between sniping from hiding and 9 out of 10 of my shots either being one shot kills or stunning what I'm shooting, I've never had a problem with the 9 second RT. Since I picked up divert and vanish, the only time anything gets to swing or cast at me is when something ultra-perceptive (like flesh golems) comes in and keeps me from popping back into the shadows if I fall out or searches me out and immediately swings.
If I can reduce my RT without significantly harming my ability to deal death crits I will, but in all honesty... not being able to take something down quickly would be more dangerous to me then being stuck in a 9 second RT in front of a dead or stunned critter while I'm hidden. Luckly, in the next couple levels my STR bonus will hit 10 and I'll be down to 8 seconds without strength.
A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.
You're doing fine. Don't let the speed racer crowd talk you out of where you are.
A composite bow will very likely stay within your current 'kill ratio' plan, unless you track stats over weeks and weeks of play. I'd question whether or not a short bow would, but I'll tell you this -- you should get one, and you should give it a try.
I don't know how you feel about 'steps' given your crossbow comment, but -- the ability to switch to shave those precious seconds where absolutely critical is a great thing.
For my GoS war-camping experience I opted for an elven wizard archer that refused to cast haste (back story reason), and he hunted fine with composite bows and infrequently short bows. I was especially fond of the temporary masterful sighted short bow. . . yum. For the archer mage, my tried and true technique is leg first, then eye. Sounds like you don't need to do that, but keep it handy. :) Sometimes plate and short bow don't play quite as well as one might hope.
Doug
A composite bow will very likely stay within your current 'kill ratio' plan, unless you track stats over weeks and weeks of play. I'd question whether or not a short bow would, but I'll tell you this -- you should get one, and you should give it a try.
I don't know how you feel about 'steps' given your crossbow comment, but -- the ability to switch to shave those precious seconds where absolutely critical is a great thing.
For my GoS war-camping experience I opted for an elven wizard archer that refused to cast haste (back story reason), and he hunted fine with composite bows and infrequently short bows. I was especially fond of the temporary masterful sighted short bow. . . yum. For the archer mage, my tried and true technique is leg first, then eye. Sounds like you don't need to do that, but keep it handy. :) Sometimes plate and short bow don't play quite as well as one might hope.
Doug
Ah, cool. I'll definately have to track down a composite bow and give it a try then. I'm not too keen on carrying more then one bow though, when I hunt I'm looking for boxes and every extra thing I'm carrying means that many fewer boxes I can carry back (my DS in defensive routinely drops from 400+ at the beginning of a hunt to around 200 at the end). More of my hunts end because I can't find a spot other then my hands to store the last box I found then because my mind is full.
Starchitin
A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.
Starchitin
A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.
Do what you want, I guess, but for me 9 second RT would be unacceptable for any weapon style--even polearms--let alone the fastest weapon style in the game. Beg, borrow or steal strength enhancives ASAP. Don't forget to put some in your AdG badge.
Droit
Speaking to you, the ghostly voice of Kaedra asks, "Have I ever told you, I think you're crazy?"
>
The ghostly voice of Kaedra says, "That was an insane rescue."
Droit
Speaking to you, the ghostly voice of Kaedra asks, "Have I ever told you, I think you're crazy?"
>
The ghostly voice of Kaedra says, "That was an insane rescue."
<I've always used longbows because of the higher DF they get and have never had any glaring problems with them despite the 9 second RT I get for sniping with them >
When I get back to RR in a couple days, if your still having RT's like that I may have a couple suggestions we can test. They should help at least shave a couple seconds off without adding any magic.
