If youre going Warbow stick with the build you just stated.
I'm currently
Strenth=18
Agility=21
IronFlesh=4
Atheltics=6
PowerDraw=6
Weapon Master=7
What it really comes down to is what you want to do and what youre capable of doing.
I feel I can aim really well and so 163 WPF with a Warbow at level 30 is sufficient enough for me to still dominate and land arrows on target. If this isn't you then I suggest a lower level bow which shoots faster and may have better accuracy.
For me I personally enjoy being able to bring down any target, from lightly armored to your heavy armored knights. You just can't do that as easily spamming a Khergit or Strong bow. Where I do have trouble however, is fighting against other archers as a large majority now use Strong or Khergit bows which spam arrows fairly fast, faster than the warbow. I found though if you know how to strafe around you can overcome this and use superior aiming and damage to beat out other archers with faster bows.
So in the end like I stated it comes down to what you want to do, I would recommend you just go Power Draw 6 regardless of what bow you use and test out both the War Bow and Strong Bow as I feel these are the only two bows worth using at this point in time since the patch. Also don't make a set decision until the upper 20's as to which you find most viable. Infact I wouldn't decide on either bow until level 30. From then on you will be able to figure out which bow you would like to use permantly. With your bow selected you can then alter your original build to better fit your playstyle. I hope this at least helps a little bit.
gO WITH POWERDRAW 7 WEAPONMASTER 6 (155 WPF)
While I do agree with some of the things people stated here, I would still recommend trying things out for yourself. Honestly when any of these people top me on the scoreboard I will take advice from them on arching.
Anyway, try the a PD 7 build then a PD 6 build and see what you like. I believe both are very viable and what it really comes down to is how much "skill" as a player you have when it comes to archery.
I was thinking of this build on my archer alt:
Level 30
Strength: 24
Agility: 15
Ironflesh: 0
Power Strike: 6
Shield: 0
Athletics: 4
Riding: 0
Horse Archery: 0
Power Draw: 8
Power Throw: 0
Weapon Master: 5
Two Handed: 104
Archery: 120
What do you guys think? Since now pd gives a slight boost in accuracy and doesn't lower wpf I think having something like this would be good but dunno that's why I post it.
Honestly when any of these people top me on the scoreboard I will take advice from them on arching.
My alt has 116 wpf atm and aim is not bad only problem is arrows not reaching very far away but that is probably because I'm using nomad bow for now.
Btw I can't find the information how much more PD you need over a bow to get the bonus? 2 or 3 more?
Hey gais!
I was planning on building an Archer and was considering this build, any input?
Level 31 (8 892 403 xp)
Strength: 18
Agility: 21
Converted: 6
Power Strike: 6
Athletics: 7
Power Draw: 6
Weapon Master: 7
Archery: 165
(Based on http://infinitum.dyndns.org/crpg/calc.htm)
I just retired with 21/18 build and it worked pretty well with once heirloomed strong bow. Some have said that PD increases accuracy but I didn't notice any real difference between 5 PD and 7 PD (with~150 wpf). I have also tried 15/24 before but the damage was too low and wpf increase from wpm 8 useless. Next build will be the following:
Level 31
Strength: 18
Agility: 21
Hit points: 53
Converted: 6
Power Strike: 6
Athletics: 7
Power Draw: 6
Weapon Master: 7
Archery: 165
** The thing i'm really wondering is if a WPF of 170 will actually give me a higher rate of fire and higher precision. Because although 8 PD deals allot of damage, headshots will do more in the long run. Any tips?? Asking for advice here (Keshian, Gorath, other leet archers?)Of course it will. Higher WPF = higher RoF/accuracy. If you want to win archer duels, this amount of WPF would almost guarantee you a win. Of course you still have to have some footwork to dodge some arrows if you miss your shots. For a HA, this is even more important as your accuracy on a horse is decreased dramatically.
Cheers
I don't really understand the fixation on having a higher powerdraw than required. My damage with a strongbow and only 5 powerdraw is sufficient for the current state of archery in this game, and to get up to 7 or 8 powerdraw would require far more sacrifices in WPF than I'd be willing to give.
On the other hand, my build with a warbow and 10 PD means my long range accuracy is significantly less at 130-ish wp, but on the other hand I can keep the reticule smaller for a significantly longer time, allowing me to hold my shot better. Also hitting like a truck means if I hit you, you feel it regardless of armor.
I honestly don't understand how you claim to have less long-range accuracy and say that your reticule is smaller for longer periods of time. I think the build with the smaller reticule for longer time would necessarily have better long range accuracy. Unless what you're saying is that your reticule is NOT smaller than a high WPF build, yet holds its maximum accuracy for longer... in that case you may be correct.
This is the build I've found to be most effective since the patch:
15 Str
24 Agi
5 Power Strike
5 Athletics
5 Power Draw
8 Weapon master
155 Archery
99 2-hander
I use a Masterwork Strongbow with Bodkins and a Balanced Longsword for melee.
I don't really understand the fixation on having a higher powerdraw than required. My damage with a strongbow and only 5 powerdraw is sufficient for the current state of archery in this game, and to get up to 7 or 8 powerdraw would require far more sacrifices in WPF than I'd be willing to give.
155 WPF with a masterwork strongbow is about as accurate as it can get.. but this gen I'm thinking of going to 165 or so and only having 60ish 2hander WPF, in order to have a longer period of maximum accuracy.
This is the build I've found to be most effective since the patch:
15 Str
24 Agi
5 Power Strike
5 Athletics
5 Power Draw
8 Weapon master
155 Archery
99 2-hander
I use a Masterwork Strongbow with Bodkins and a Balanced Longsword for melee.
I don't really understand the fixation on having a higher powerdraw than required. My damage with a strongbow and only 5 powerdraw is sufficient for the current state of archery in this game, and to get up to 7 or 8 powerdraw would require far more sacrifices in WPF than I'd be willing to give.
155 WPF with a masterwork strongbow is about as accurate as it can get.. but this gen I'm thinking of going to 165 or so and only having 60ish 2hander WPF, in order to have a longer period of maximum accuracy.
This, completely, and thus allows me to react better against unexpected movements by targets (Like those bloody horse archers).
As for the rest of your post, of course you are better in archer duels. In my experience I onyl win if I catch them unaware and get that first "Surprise Shot," or if we are unusually close (say 20 meters or closer, urban fighting).
Your build is much better for general battlefield support, I ust like mine better due to it suiting my playstyle more; traveling with friendlies and providing close support instead of hanging back and sniping.
All in all, builds like yours are better I think as they offer more flexability. My build shines only when I have good covering teammates and if the enemy team is cav-heavy or crossing choke-points. I am really built for taking out armored ground pounders, not enemy archers, heh.
This is the build I've found to be most effective since the patch:
15 Str
24 Agi
5 Power Strike
5 Athletics
5 Power Draw
8 Weapon master
155 Archery
99 2-hander
I use a Masterwork Strongbow with Bodkins and a Balanced Longsword for melee.
I don't really understand the fixation on having a higher powerdraw than required. My damage with a strongbow and only 5 powerdraw is sufficient for the current state of archery in this game, and to get up to 7 or 8 powerdraw would require far more sacrifices in WPF than I'd be willing to give.
155 WPF with a masterwork strongbow is about as accurate as it can get.. but this gen I'm thinking of going to 165 or so and only having 60ish 2hander WPF, in order to have a longer period of maximum accuracy.
Whatever you do, use bodkin arrows as the peirce damage is essential. Also, the msot recent patch made a mistake with the warbow and should just ignore that bow for now as it has Exact same shoot speed as the strong bow with only difference +1 accuracy, +3 cut damage. The cut damage difference is ahrdly noticeable and is definitely not worth the significant tradeoff in draw speed.
Well i got 8 PD and 145 Wpf in archery atm, Pure archer, and i had to convert a hell lot of skillpoints to get a useful archer, i still think archers are slow and inaccurate tho!
If you wanted fast and accuraye why did you go 8pd? and only 145wpf?
try 18/21 with khergit bow
6pd
7wm
7ath
3ps
And who said i wanted to be fast, im a siege archer, going for more Dmg....next time ill go for 21/21 build.
One would just naturally make that assumption when you complain that archers are too slow.
The point Murchad was making was that you chose a build purposely that was designed to give up speed for a benefit. You didn't have to be slow.
Str: 18
Agi: 21
PS: 3
Ath: 7
PD: 6
WM: 7
2h: 87
Arc: 150
My observations since the patch is that 1 point in PD makes a significant difference in your reticule's precision. More so than the wpf you would get from a point in WM. For this reason it seems to me that archery builds are now about a different trade-off than before. If you want really good accuracy and damage, get extra points in PD. If you want more draw speed and a more stable reticule once drawn, get WPF. Haven't yet determined what makes the best balance of the two. Still experimenting. Thoughts?
What about 42/3 with 14 PD and 115 wpf?
Does PD stop affecting accuracy after a certain point?
Thank you EliteDragon for the fast reply!
Although new problems come to mind. Im actually wondering if the trade-off from a 8 PowerDraw build to a 8 WeaponMaster build are actually worth it. My goal is to be both a battle archer; to aid my team mates when the are in combat, and a good medium to long range shooter.
The main goal of this build is to kick ars when Strategus is back online!
Im considering one of the following builds: (Level 31 builds)
Balanced Build:
Strength: 21
Agility: 21
Converted: 12
Athletics: 6
Power Draw: 7
Weapon Master: 7
Archery: 160
Two handed: 63
-------------------------------------------------------
WPF Build
Strength: 18
Agility: 24
Converted: 12
Athletics: 6
Power Draw: 6
Weapon Master: 8
Archery: 170
Two handed: 51
Stopped reading the whole thread to reply to this. If you want to be good in strategus, if chadz has not fixed the old drz exploit/ bug they nicely uncovered (cough*), you should change your build to have lower pd and higher wm. Back in the old days when pd reduced accuracy, drz made 0 pd archers with 200+ wpf. In strategus they can use the warbows that are issued, but they thot them like laser guided munitions because of 0 pd and high wpf. If you were there during those times, you can recall huscarl/ board shields being shot to bits by 20 people tracking you with their bows that fired that machine guns on tripods. After buttoning up everyone, their cavalry arm comes in to sweep away any archer+bodyguard teams we managed to place in good forward firing positions.True story about superior warriors 8-)
Now PD does not reduce accuracy, but it still might be a good idea to keep pd low to stack a bit more on wpf for this bit, as you should be able to use warbows on strategus even if you cannot wield it in battle mode. Out few cav could not even get out of cover without being immediately dismounted.
DRZ has shown that the clan with the best led archer and cavalry arm will win. Who needs hotshot 2 hander duelists with 0 ping when you have organized decent players with badish ping who can pull off combined arms. I saw many greats, ie great and famous duelists with impeccable ping looking silly as they became pin cushions and kebabs. Very eye opening. These same 2 hander hotshots would thrive in the chaotic pub games, but became rightful fodder in organized matches.
I heard PD increases accuracy. If this is true, does wpf only affect speed now?Really? I don't think so. Having a PD higher than required by the bow helps you to HOLD your aim longer (i.e. the reticule stays at the smallest size a bit longer). But it does not improve accuracy in any noticable way. Its main point is POWER, it gives more damage (recently I had a generation with 11PD, was shit slow, and could not hit much in a distance, but armored guys went down with 1-3 Sharp Bodkins at medium range... :)
DRZ has shown that the clan with the best led archer and cavalry arm will win. Who needs hotshot 2 hander duelists with 0 ping when you have organized decent players with badish ping who can pull off combined arms. I saw many greats, ie great and famous duelists with impeccable ping looking silly as they became pin cushions and kebabs. Very eye opening. These same 2 hander hotshots would thrive in the chaotic pub games, but became rightful fodder in organized matches.
:) Before patch most of DRZ archers had PD7 - and could use warbows. Only few had pd0 and it wasn't as effective as having pd7. Because before patch at about level 43 you could have 245 wp in bow and pd7, and i think after 235 aim didn't get any better. And advantages of PD was a lot more then from few more WP's.
So you can say that this wasn't cheating, but more of a down side.
The only thing I've considered as cheating in archery is Retirement, which given +5% bonus to WPF each time. At some point there was archers that had too much PD and too much WPS. Far beyond what you could achive without Retirement. For example at my level 43, some archers could shoot 2x while I'm doing only one shoot - and we both used war bow.
I'm glad archers got nerfed and retirement too.