«It is not the mountains that we conquer, but ourselves.»
Crossbowery: basics and tricks
by DaveUKR
Chapter 1. Prologue
Greetings my friend! You have decided to be a crossbowman, the one who can show his enemies the shortest path to the hell. In this guide I'll try to teach you how to show this path by killing, not by dying. I support your choice but want to warn you about a big amount of difficulties you will face, some of them are easy to solve but the majority is not. You will need a lot of patience and hard work to improve, be ready for that. This guide is written for the classic sniper builds mainly, but it will be useful for other classes as well since it has cross-class useful information. Enjoy reading!
Small Dictionary of a Crossbowman.
You might face some new words while playing cRPG. Here are some of them which might be useful for crossbowmen first of all. I didn't add the most of other abbreviates because they are the names of weapons, like DGS - Danish Great Sword, NCS - Nordic Champion Sword etc.
Agi - agility attribute.
Arba - Arbalest.
DTV - Defend The Virgin. cRPG gamemode.
FOV - Field Of View.
HA - Horse Archer or Horse Archery skill.
HC/HX - Horse Crossbowman/Xbowman.
IF - Iron Flesh skill.
Leecher - someone who plays the game for getting more gold. Most of the time such players stay idle without gear at all or with very cheap one.
Loom/loompoint/LP - looms (heirlooms) are items that got enchanted by special points (loompoints). These items are often called with their level like +3 Arbalest or +1 Crossbow.
MW - masterwork, equals to +3 level of the item.
PD - Power Draw skill.
PS - Power Strike skill.
PT - Power Throw skill.
QML - the sequence of pressing buttons Q, M and L. These are standard keys for reporting a leecher via cRPG ingame menu.
Rageball, RB - cRPG gamemode.
Respec - feature that allows you to reassign attributes and skills. Costs 50% of your current experience. You can also try to win an auction to get the XP saving respec but it will cost a lot of gold.
Retire - feature that allows you to get loompoints. You can retire only on lvl31 and beyond. It gives you 1 LP at 31, 2 LP at 32, 3 LP at 33, 5 LP at 34, 8 LP at 35. You can also get special ranks retiring after lvl33 (Veteran at 33, Master on 34, Grandmaster on 35, Legendary on 36 etc). After retiring you get your character down to lvl1, you can also change the name/sex with this.
Siege - cRPG gamemode.
STF - Skip The Fun. A feature that allows you to create a lvl30 character with 10.000 of gold. You don't get any experience, but you don't lose any experience while making respec neither. You can respec without time delay. Good for testing builds.
STR - strength.
Strategus, Strat - cRPG gamemode with global map on the website (some kind of the multiplayer version of Warband single player).
Tincan - heavy armoured person.
Valour/Valor - special text which appears in game after the end of the round to the most valuable players of both teams. For the losing side it gives +1 to multiplier, for the winning it gives +2. In order to get valour you need to achieve twice more points than the average amount of points per player in that particular round.
WPF/WPP - weapon proficiency and weapon proficiency points.
Xbow - Crossbow.
Chapter 2. Game settings
Before making a character make sure that you've adjusted your game settings.
Video settings:
Run your game and open "Options". You'll find there Video Options. If you're using WSE2 - you'll have much more options.
Screen Resolution - bigger resolution you have more you can see. I recommend you to set the maximum screen resolution your display can show.
Monitor Gamma - it's better to use the maximum 2.50 since sometimes you will be forced to play at night (in-game) where maximum gamma helps you to see enemies.
HDR mode - recommend you to turn off since it messes your screen sometimes.
Grass density - set it to 0, because grass is useless and it only makes it more difficult to find bolts on the ground.
Number of Corpses - set it to 10-20. More corpses will make useless piles of dead players (you can shoot/hit through corpses, they have no hitboxes), less corpses will limit your battle awareness. Sometimes fresh corpses may indicate a nearby enemy.
Shadows - character shadows are useful, shadows of environment are not. Read about it in Chapter 6: Tips of a sniper, tip #5.
Blood Stains - useful indicator.
Particle Systems - turn on. You don't see rain when you turn this off and this is very important for a crossbowman.
The rest you can adjust according to your PC.
Audio settings:
Turn off Music, it's really useless and it only disorients you.
Control settings:
Standard control settings are quite comfortable, though something can be changed according to you preferences.
I recommend you to use:
"Q" for rotating camera because you will have to do it very often;
"R" for changing camera mode, so you can do it very fast if you play first-person;
"Shift" for zoom;
"Space" for jump;
"W A S D" for movement;
"F" for Use;
"X" for changing weapon mode.
As for mouse, I use inverted Y axis (so as I move my mouse closer to me my camera looks higher), it's more comfortable to me to aim. Also I would recommend you to set "Next Weapon" function to your middle button of the mouse and I recommend you to remove everything from scrolling up/down, especially next/previous weapons because it might switch weapons in the middle of the fight when you touch the scrolling unintentionally (or it happens sometimes when the scrolling moves by itself).
Chapter 3. Making a character
Aim at lvl30 build because you will need lots of heirloom points and you obviously won't be able to play at lvl31 that much. There are some typical builds made by me (which are the most effective as for me), but feel free to experiment. There are also builds for lvl31-33 (I don't think I have to recommend builds to those who can reach lvl33+ because they are experienced enough to decide it themselves).
Before making a character you have to decide what type of crossbowman you want to be. It is very important that you decide your playstyle before making the actual character. I recommend you to try all of them as I consider you having no or not a lot of loomed items. This can allow you to get the needed masterworks (as some items will be used by you no matter what type of crossbowman you're playing, you can also use marketplace to get the needed item).
Shielder
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Build #1 (Classical)
Crossbow/Light Crossbow, bolts/steel bolts, medium/heavy armour (total amount of weight for all the armour pieces should be more than 15), 1/0 slot onehander, 0/1 slot shield.
+ Durable (65 hitpoints, shield and medium/heavy armour make you a hard target)
+ Balanced (you can be dangerous against all classes, you're good both in melee and ranged, your stats fit requirements of the majority of weapons and shields)
+ Lonely wolf (you can make ambushes or just play alone without being afraid of other players killing you fast)
+ Arrowproof (your shield makes you a hard target for ranged)
+ Easy to play (this build forgives your mistakes, shield helps you to block all the attacks and protects you from other ranged)
+ Shieldwall (you can be an effective part of the shieldwall)
+ Valourous (It's much easier to get valour with this build, you can take part in big clashes that will bring you a lot of points)
+ Teamplayer (it's a good build to play with a buddy)
- Slow (you can't really escape from a difficult situation or get the escaping enemy, you have to face it; your equipment and your stats make you slow)
- Expensive (with this build you can barely earn something)
- Close/medium ranged shots (the amount of your WPF and the capabilities of your crossbow don't allow you to make longshots)
- Hybrid (you have an equal amount of wpf in melee and ranged skills, this makes you good in both of them and excellent in none of them, will be harder to get in Strategus battles)
Level30:
Strength: 18
Agility: 18
Hit points: 65
Power Strike: 6
Iron Flesh: 6
Shield: 5
Athletics: 6
Weapon Master: 6
Crossbow: 120
One Handed: 117
Level31->32->33:
Strength: 18
Agility: ->19->20->21
Hit points: 65
Power Strike: 6
Iron Flesh: 6
Shield: 5->6
Athletics: 6->6->7
Weapon Master: 6->6->7
Crossbow: 120->135
One Handed: 117->120
Build #2 (Scout)
Heavy Crossbow, light armour (total amount of weight for all the armour pieces should be lower than 12), steel bolts, 0slot shield, 1slot onehanded weapon (preferably blunt/pierce or swords with high thrust damage).
+ Fast (you can run faster than the majority of other players, it helps you run over others or escape from dangerous situations)
+ Lonely wolf (you can make ambushes or just play alone without being afraid of other players killing you fast)
+ Ganker (Movement speed, reliable shield and a powerful crossbow make you a good ganker, this build is great for making ambushes and flanking)
+ Arrowproof (your shield makes you a hard target for ranged)
+ All ranges (you can be effective in all ranges)
+ Versatile (your character is made to change positions and distract enemies)
+ Sniper (With this build you have enough of effective wpf and a good crossbow to make accurate longshots)
+ One shot, one kill (heavy crossbow is powerful and in some certain circumstances it will kill some players with only 1 body shot, the majority of enemies will die from a headshot)
- Weak (you have only 12 strength so you're forced to use blunt/pierce weapons or thrusty 1handed swords, with cut weapons your hits will glance from wellarmoured enemies and you will need more hits to kill with melee weapons than usual)
- Unbalanced (Your stats make you impossible to fit the requirements of the majority of weapons/armours, you also can't use Arbalest)
Level30:
Strength: 12
Agility: 24
Hit points: 55
Power Strike: 4
Iron Flesh: 4
Shield: 5
Athletics: 8
Weapon Master: 8
Crossbow: 160
One Handed: 86
Level31->32->33:
Strength: 12
Agility: ->25->26->27
Hit points: 55
Power Strike: 4
Iron Flesh: 4
Shield: 5->6
Athletics: 8->8->9
Weapon Master: 8->8->9
Crossbow: 160->169
One Handed: 86->97
Horse Crossbowman
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Build #1 (Classic Horse Crossbowman)
Light crossbow, 2 stacks of steel bolts/bolts, light armour, 0 slot weapon, Destrier or heavier.
+ One shot, one kill (even though your crossbow is not powerful, speed bonus can make your bolt fly like a rocket and in some certain circumstances it will kill some players with only 1 body shot, the majority of enemies will die from a headshot)
+ Fast rider (your riding skills will be higher than anyone's else so even having a slower horse you will still manage to move at the same speed if not faster)
+ Kiter (your stats make you a good kiter, it's actually what you'll be doing all the time - get a speed, shoot, escape and reload)
+ Lonely wolf (you can make ambushes or just play alone without being afraid of other players killing you fast)
+ Versatile (your character is made to change positions and distract enemies)
+ Teamplayer (good HX can help their team a lot, bumping enemies is very important and can be useful)
+ Powerful horseman (Your horse can deal a good damage bumping enemies and can survive more hits than usual, in some circumstances and at higher levels you can even try looting couching weapons or use your 1hander, speed bonus makes it hit harder)
+ Valourous (It's much easier to get valour with this build, you can take off enemy horses that will give you a lot of points plus in the majority of rounds you'll be one of last men alive)
- Close/medium ranged shots (the capabilities of your crossbow don't allow you to make longshots)
- Weak without horse (you lack strength, your capabilities in melee fights without horse are doubtful and should be used only as the last stand measures)
- Fragile (your extremely low amount of HP and the lightest armour don't forgive you any mistakes)
- Unbalanced (Your stats make you impossible to fit the requirements of the majority of weapons/armours)
- Expensive (with this build you can barely earn something)
Strength: 7
Agility: 30
Hit points: 42
Power Strike: 2
Riding: 10
Horse Archery: 5
Weapon Master: 10
Crossbow: 189
Level31->32->33:
Strength: ->8->9
Agility: 30
Hit points: 42->44->48
Power Strike: ->3
Riding: 10
Horse Archery: 5
Iron Flesh: 0->1->3
Athletics: 0->0->1
Weapon Master: 10
Crossbow: 189->191
Build #2 (Full ranged cavalry)
Hunting crossbow, 3 stacks of steel bolts/bolts, light armour, arabian warhorse (or any other horse with high maneuver).
+ One shot, one kill (even though your crossbow is not powerful, speed bonus can make your bolt fly like a rocket and in some certain circumstances it will kill some players with only 1 body shot, the majority of enemies will die from a headshot)
+ Fast rider (your riding skills will be higher than anyone's else so even having a slower horse you will still manage to move at the same speed if not faster)
+ Kiter (your stats make you a good kiter, it's actually what you'll be doing all the time - get a speed, shoot, escape and reload)
+ Lonely wolf (you can make ambushes or just play alone without being afraid of other players killing you fast)
+ Versatile (your character is made to change positions and distract enemies)
+ Teamplayer (good HX can help their team a lot, bumping enemies is very important and can be useful)
+ Neverending projectiles (you have 3 stacks of bolts and in the majority of rounds you won't have the possibility to use all of them)
+ Valourous (It's much easier to get valour with this build, you can take off enemy horses that will give you a lot of points plus in the majority of rounds you'll be one of last men alive)
- Close/medium ranged shots (the capabilities of your crossbow don't allow you to make longshots)
- Weak without horse (you lack strength, your capabilities in melee fights without horse are absent)
- Fragile (your extremely low amount of HP and the lightest armour don't forgive you any mistakes)
- Unbalanced (Your stats make you impossible to fit the requirements of the majority of weapons/armours)
Strength: 7
Agility: 30
Hit points: 46
Iron Flesh: 2
Riding: 10
Horse Archery: 5
Weapon Master: 10
Crossbow: 189
Level31->32->33:
Strength: 7
Agility: ->31->32->33
Hit points: 46
Iron Flesh: 2
Riding: 10->10->11
Athletics: 0->0->1
Horse Archery: 5
Weapon Master: 10->10->11
Crossbow: 189->199
Slasher
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Hunting Crossbow, medium/heavy armour, steel bolts, any 2slots weapon.
+ Durable (Your stats and armour allows you to survive more hits)
+ Balanced (Your stats fit requirements of the majority of weapons and shields)
+ Valourous (It's much easier to get valour with this build, you can take part in big clashes that will bring you a lot of points)
+ Teamplayer (it's a good build to play with a buddy)
+ Melee capable (this build is basically a full melee build with some small ranged capabilities)
+ Versatile (your character is made to change positions, you can easily drop your crossbow when you don't need it)
- Expensive (with this build you can barely earn something)
- Close ranged shots (the amount of your WPF and the capabilities of your crossbow don't allow you to make longshots)
- Slow (you can't really escape from a difficult situation or get all of the escaping enemies; your equipment and your stats make you slow)
Strength: 18
Agility: 21
Hit points: 59
Iron Flesh: 3
Power Strike: 6
Athletics: 7
Weapon Master: 7
Crossbow: 87
Melee: 150
Level31->32->33:
Strength: ->19->20->21
Agility: 21
Hit points: 62->65->66
Iron Flesh: ->4->5
Power Strike: 6->6->7
Athletics: 7
Weapon Master: 7
Crossbow: 95
Melee: 150
Sniper
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Build #1 (Classic Sniper)
Arbalest, medium armour, steel bolts, 1 slot weapon.
+ Fast (you can run faster than the majority of other players, it helps you run over others or escape from dangerous situations)
+ All ranges (you can be effective in all ranges)
+ Versatile (your character is made to change positions)
+ Balanced (Your stats fit requirements of the majority of weapons and armours, you can effectively use all crossbows)
+ Sniper (With this build you have enough of effective wpf and a good crossbow to make accurate longshots)
+ Shield pierce (the power of Arbalest allows it to penetrate some certain shields in certain circumstances, read about it below)
+ One shot, one kill (Arbalest is the most powerful crossbow and in some certain circumstances it will kill some players with only 1 body shot, the majority of enemies will die from a headshot)
- Perfect target (time to reload Arbalest makes you a good target for pretty much everyone, you always need a place where to hide and you will have troubles surviving on the open field)
- Difficult to play (in order to have success you need a good team, perfect aim, good battle awareness and decent melee skills)
- Expensive (with this build you can barely earn something)
Strength: 15
Agility: 24
Hit points: 54
Iron Flesh: 2
Power Strike: 5
Athletics: 8
Weapon Master: 8
Crossbow: 168
Melee: 49
Level31->32->33:
Strength: 15
Agility: ->25->26->27
Hit points: 54->56
Iron Flesh: 2->3
Power Strike: 5
Athletics: 8->8->9
Weapon Master: 8->8->9
Crossbow: 168->169
Melee: 49->97
Build #2 (Kiting Sniper)
Heavy Crossbow, light armour (total amount of weight for all the armour pieces should be lower than 12), steel bolts, 1slot weapon.
+ Fast (you can run faster than the majority of other players, it helps you run over others or escape from dangerous situations)
+ Lonely wolf (you can make ambushes or just play alone)
+ Ganker (Movement speed and a powerful crossbow make you a good ganker, this build is great for making ambushes)
+ All ranges (you can be effective in all ranges)
+ Kiter (your stats make you a good kiter)
+ Versatile (your character is made to change positions and distract enemies)
+ Sniper (With this build you have enough of effective wpf and a good crossbow to make accurate longshots)
+ One shot, one kill (heavy crossbow is powerful and in some certain circumstances it will kill some players with only 1 body shot, the majority of enemies will die from a headshot)
- Weak (you have only 12 strength so you're forced to use blunt/pierce weapons or thrusty 1handed swords, with cut weapons your hits will glance from wellarmoured enemies and you will need more hits to kill with melee weapons than usual)
- Fragile (your low amount of HP and the lightest armour don't forgive you any mistakes, you have to be really careful)
- Difficult to play (in order to have success you need a good team, perfect aim, good battle awareness and decent melee skills)
- Unbalanced (Your stats make you impossible to fit the requirements of the majority of weapons/armours, you also can't use Arbalest)
Level30:
Strength: 12
Agility: 27
Hit points: 49
Power Strike: 4
Iron Flesh: 1
Athletics: 9
Weapon Master: 9
Crossbow: 170
One Handed: 85
Level31->32->33:
Strength: 12
Agility: ->28->29->30
Hit points: 51
Power Strike: 4
Iron Flesh: ->2
Athletics: 9->9->10
Weapon Master: 9->9->10
Crossbow: 170->178
One Handed: 85->99
Build #3 (Stationary Sniper)
Arbalest, light armour (total amount of weight for all the armour pieces should be lower than 12), 2 stacks of steel bolts, 0 slot weapon.
+ Balanced (Your stats fit requirements of the majority of weapons and armours, you can effectively use all crossbows)
+ Pinpoint accuracy (With this build you have the extraordinary accuracy and higher reloading speed)
+ Shield pierce (the power of Arbalest allows it to penetrate some certain shields in certain circumstances, read about it below)
+ Teamplayer (it's a good build to play with a buddy)
+ All ranges (you can be effective in all ranges)
+ Born for camping (you have 2 stacks of bolts, enormous amount of wpf, you are the best option for Strategus fights)
+ One shot, one kill (Arbalest is the most powerful crossbow and in some certain circumstances it will kill some players with only 1 body shot, the majority of enemies will die from a headshot)
- Perfect target (time to reload Arbalest makes you a good target for pretty much everyone, you always need a place where to hide and you will have troubles surviving on the open field)
- Stationary (most of the time you need a cover to hide and teammates to protect you)
- Ranged only (your capabilities in melee fights are doubtful and should be used only as the last stand measures)
Level30:
Strength: 15
Agility: 30
Hit points: 52
Iron Flesh: 1
Weapon Master: 10
Crossbow: 189
Level31->32->33:
Strength: 15
Agility: ->31->32->33
Hit points: ->54->56
Iron Flesh: ->2->3
Weapon Master: 10->10->11
Crossbow: 189->199
Chapter 4. Gear.
After you have decided the class you're going to play you have to know something about gear. There are 5 types of crossbows and 2 types of bolts in cRPG.
Hunting Crossbow:
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+ Very cheap
+ Low strength requirements
+ Very fast
+ Can be reloaded on the horseback
+ 1 slot
- Extremely low damage
- Low missile speed
- Low accuracy
It's difficult to aim with this, it's viable only against weak targets at close ranges. It's the only 1slot crossbow, so it's the only crossbow you can carry 3 stacks of bolts with and it also can be used as a side weapon in some situations.
Usage: HX, low level, side weapon.
Strategus: It's almost useless in Strategus because it costs a lot in comparison with more effective bows. Nomad Bow, the 3rd bow, has the same price but the experience of battles showed that an archer with Nomad Bow can be significantly more effective than a crossbowman with Hunting Crossbow. Crossbowman with it loses to an Archer in any situation. The only way it can be used in Strategus battles is giving it to your infantry with 0 wpf when you're defending your castle and collecting/bringing bolts.
Light Crossbow:
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+ Cheap
+ Low strength requirements
+ Fast
+ Can be reloaded on the horseback
- Low damage
- Low missile speed
- Low accuracy
Viable crossbow for Horse Crossbowers. It's fast and has a decent damage.
Usage: HX, low level.
Strategus: Horse Crossbowers are not welcome on Strategus battles and there is no sense to buy this Crossbow for infantry. Like it's mentioned above, it costs a lot in comparison with more effective bows.
Crossbow:
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+ Low strength requirements
- Can't be reloaded on horseback
A compromise between heavy and light crossbows.
Usage: low wpf, low level.
Strategus: This crossbow I would recommend to buy for your infantry and semi-crossbowmen (hybrid builds) if you have extra money and you lack tickets. I would not recommend to buy this for dedicated crossbowmen because they're used to Heavy Crossbow or Arbalest (and most of them have Masterwork Arbalest so the difference in ballistic is significant) and you can't snipe with this crossbow.
Heavy Crossbow:
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+ High damage
+ High accuracy
+ High missile speed
- 2 slots
- Can't be reloaded on horseback
- Expensive
- Slow
If you ask me I'd say that this crossbow is not the best choice for a sniper. But it has the best balanced stats. It's not as fast as a Crossbow and not as deadly as an Arbalest, but still it can be better than both of them in some situations, it still can deal oneshot kills (not that often as an Arbalest though) and it's still more versatile than an Arbalest. And of course don't forget about big price difference: Heavy Crossbow is much cheaper than an Arbalest. Heavy Crossbow has 12 strength requirement that makes it possible to be used by 12str builds (watch suggested builds) in other cases I'd say Heavy Crossbow is a good option for those who want to be faster than an Arbalest user.
Usage: sniping.
Strategus: This Crossbow is a good alternative for an Arbalest in Strategus battles.
Arbalest:
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+ Deadly damage
+ Longest range
+ High accuracy
+ High missile speed
- 2 slots
- Can't be reloaded on horseback
- Very expensive
- Very slow
- High strength requirements
The best choice of a dedicated Sniper. Nothing to add.
Usage: sniping.
Strategus: Very useful thing on the battlefield. You can buy a few of Arbalests for your snipers and they will definitely say "thanks" for that. They will take care about them and won't lose it probably. Very good anti-archer solution. Best on defending side, though irreplaceable on attacking side while big battles too.
Bolts:
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+ Very cheap
+ Bigger amount of ammo
Usage: high upkeep, HX.
Strategus: Wise choice for Strategus battles.
Steel Bolts:
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+ Better damage
Usage: all the cases.
Strategus: Ineffective in Strategus due to the price.
Armour. Pay attention on the armour you use. Remember, that the weight of your armour defines the wpf penalty (x2 for each weight point of Head armour, x4 for each weight point of gloves and x1 for each weight point of body and leg armour. If your armour's total weight is less than 5 you won't have a penalty. Remember, that there is no exact formula for WPF penalty, it's not linear and developers will keep it in secret. The existing formula doesn't show the real penalty.). The wisest choice will be a medium armour, because light armour won't protect you from archers and heavy armour will make you very slow with a huge wpf penalty and big upkeep expenses. For classic snipers I recommend a body armour with 9.5-16.0 weight, helmet 1-3 weight, boots 1.5-3 weight and gloves up to 0.6 weight. With such armour you will be the most effective. If you have a possibility - get heirloomed gear.
Weapons. Most of crossbow users don't have a big variety of weapons to choose because of only 1 free slot. Remember that onehanded weapons in Secondary Mode use the wpf of twohanded. Everything can be good in the hands of a good manual blocker. I don't recommend to use:
A) Shortened Spear and Military Fork, they can be effective only using thrusts and this limits you in duels. They don't rear horses like some other polearms;
B) Staff, it is too weak;
Most of twohanded weapons have a longer reach than onehanded or polearms with the same length (7 out of 8 animations are longer, only the right swing of onehanded weapons is a bit longer) due to their attack's animation. You can see the length bonuses in the spoiler;
1handed weapons
Overhead = +0
Left-to-right = +0
Right-to-left = +19
Thrust = +61
2handed weapons
Overhead = +15
Left-to-right = +17
Right-to-left = +13
Thrust = +80
Polearms
Overhead = -15
Left-to-right = -7
Right-to-left = -2
Thrust = +19
Here is the graphic of how much damage you deal using different weapon types to a different armoured players. The weapon is set to 28 damage, 15 STR, 5 PS and 60 WPF.
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Mace:
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+ Blunt damage
+ Knockdown chance
+ Cheap
+ High weight
+ Low strength requirements
+ Can be used with a shield
- Short
- No thrust
- No speed gain on heirlooms
Knockdown can be a gift of fortune and lead to the victory even against a very good melee fighter. High weight makes a chance of being stunned while blocking an attack lower and a chance to stun your enemy while attacking higher. Remember that the weight of the weapon (among with raw damage) also defines the chance of knockdown. The colour of this weapon may disorient your enemy, this works fine if you're fighting at night and your armour is dark. This weapon is ultra short and it causes lots of problem while fighting against long weapon users. Also it doesn't have speed bonuses when you heirloom it, this mace only gets weight and damage. In overall this is a good weapon and can be very effective in many situations. Remember that short range of the weapon can be an advantage when you fight in structures or anywhere where it's easy to hit elements of the environment. You can also use this weapon with the shield.
Langes Messer:
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+ Fast
+ Has a thrust
+ Decent damage
+ Secondary mode
+ Can be used with a shield
- Expensive
- High strength requirements
- Cut damage
- Twohanded mode is secondary
The only 1slot sword with twohanded mode. This is a good sword and it has a thrust but it uses the polearm thrust animation (so called half-sword thrust), which makes you unable to hold the range but it's effective in close fights. I find this weapon as a good choice against light/medium armoured enemies, especially against kiting archers, it can't be very effective against heavy armoured players because of its cut damage, which is ineffective against heavy armour. This weapon can always serve you in different situations but it's twice expensive if you compare it to most of weapons listed here. It can be also used with a shield.
Fighting Axe:
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+ Bonus against shields
+ Decent damage
+ Cheap
+ Secondary mode
+ Can be used with a shield
- Cut damage
- Slow
- No thrust
- Short
- Twohanded mode is secondary
The only 1slot axe with twohanded mode and the only balanced axe using twohanded animation/WPF. Bonus against shields makes you very effective against shielders, especially against bearers of steel shields and bucklers, because bonus against shield gives your weapon an ability to almost ignore shield's armour (double damage) so those shields that have low initial health points will be destroyed faster (even if they have high armour, shields with high armour and low HP are the most vulnerable to axes). This weapon is a good choice against light/medium armoured enemies, especially against so called agi-shielders (light armoured shielders with high agility+athletics+shield skill and low strength). Due to its onehanded origin this weapon can be naturally used with a shield.
Military Sickle:
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+ Pierce damage
+ Very fast
+ Difficult animation (sometimes it's difficult to block attacks of this weapon because of its unusual look)
+ Cheap
+ Secondary mode
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Low strength requirements
- No thrust
- Short
- Twohanded mode is secondary
This weapon is the best choice against heavy armoured enemies. It has an enormous speed, strange look and a pierce damage. Combining those with your high agility and athletics this weapon may become a real tincan opener. You can just run around an enemy and make confusing attacks so in the end your slow confused enemy will be dead. Due to warband mechanics this weapon may confuse not only your opponent but you too. You'll have to get used to new style if you want to use this weapon. All weapons have an invisible core which is used to define a collision between your weapon and something else including other players. This core (or "rod" if you want) is always linear and straight, so curved weapons and weapons like Military Sickle will have "dead" or "blind" parts. Green is the part with which you hit, red is the part which you see but doesn't deal any damage upon collision.
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Quarter Staff:
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+ Fast
+ Blunt damage
+ Long
+ Knockdown
+ Low strength requirements
+ Has a thrust
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Very cheap
- Low damage
- Polearm animation
- Will ruin your disguise
This weapon is a very good choice for those who want to control the range between them and their enemy. This weapon requires a very different and unusual style, it has a long reach and a good speed so with your high athletics and agility you can control pretty much everyone. It has a knockdown chance which is also a good thing (but due to low damage and weight of this weapon it will occur not that often), blunt type of damage will make you able to kill even with such low damage though it will require more hits. It will waste your disguise because of its length, enemies will see some kind of antenna sticking out of bushes or wherever you'll try to hide. First-person crossbowmen will suffer because of this weapon's animation. If you block the right direction with this weapon then your hands will fill 60% of the screen which makes you vulnerable to feints.
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Military Hammer:
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+ Blunt damage
+ Knockdown
+ High weight
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Different nudges
- Slow
- Short
- No thrust
- High strength requirements
Spathovaklion:
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+ Blunt damage
+ Knockdown
+ High weight
+ Fast
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Different nudges
- No thrust
- Short
- Expensive
- High strength requirements
Warhammer:
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+ Blunt damage
+ Knockdown
+ High weight
+ High damage
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Different nudges
+ Secondary mode
- Very short
- Expensive
- High strength requirements
Espada Eslavona, Long Espada Eslavona, Side Sword:
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+ High thrust damage
+ Fast
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Different nudges
+ Low strength requirements
- Expensive
- Cut damage
- Low weight
Steel Pick:
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+ Pierce damage
+ High weight
+ High damage
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Different nudges
- Very short
- Expensive
- High strength requirements
Elite Scimitar:
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+ Fast
+ Can be used with a shield
+ Different nudges
+ Low strength requirements
- No thrust
- Expensive
- Cut damage
- Low weight
Knightly Arming Sword, Nordic Champion's Sword, Spathion, Paramerion:
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+ Can be used with a shield
+ Different nudges
+ Nudge-hit combination
- Expensive
- Cut damage
- Low weight
- High strength requirements
Chapter 5. Mechanics
There are some facts that you should know about crossbows.
1. Crossbows have static damage. No skill or attribute can increase or decrease it. This doesn't mean that crossbows always deal the same damage, there is a random factor which makes +/- range of the damage.
2. WPF improves only reload speed and the size of the crosshair.
3. There is no specified skill for crossbows, only weapon proficiency. That's why you only need strength to fit crossbow's requirements.
4. Bolt speed defines the damage of the crossbow and a trajectory with the maximum flight range of the bolt.
5. Rain/Snow affects the bolt speed of crossbows by decreasing it for 25% (respectively it reduces: damage and trajectory with the maximum flight range of the bolt). Fog doesn't affect, it's only a visual effect.
6. Bolt loses its speed with each meter it flies (air friction), so further you shoot less damage you deal and faster your bolt drops on the ground. Remember, that air friction is 1.5 times bigger than in native, so your projectile loses its speed faster than in native.
7. More powerful shot you make more chance to penetrate the shield you have (the shield penetration also depends on the spot you shoot, you can miss through the shield or the damage can be "swallowed" by the resistance of the shield+armour. Of course, the best option is to shoot in the head). There is an information that the damage you deal to the bearer of the shield is "Damage - (Resistance of the shield x 3)". Also, the bolt will penetrate the shield if it will have more power than 30 + (shield resistance x 3).
8. If enemy runs towards you then the bolt speed relatively him is bigger. This means that he gets damaged more than if he stands. Respectively if he runs away from you he takes less damage.
9. You have to precise your enemy movements to make a successful shot. The precision depends on: the distance and the angle between you and your enemy, his movement/maneuvers speed and direction, your crossbow's projectile speed.
10. Your bolt starts to fly not from your crossbow but from the center of your model (which may cause hitting someone who is too close behind you, i.e. reloading xbowman, or hitting the wall/tree behind you. It happens rarely but still you should know about it). Same for throwing weapons and arrows.
11. Bolt's collision with something is calculated using the invisible hitboxes, which almost never fit the visible model. This causes lots of problems known as "invisible walls".
12. Shield on the back reduces the damage you deal to its bearer if you shoot at his back. It gives 10 + (Resistance of the shield) body armour to the back.
13. The crosshair size depends on the amount of WPF, damage of the crossbow and the accuracy of it. Weaker crossbows have a smaller crosshair than an Arbalest if you have low effective wpf, even though it has the best accuracy. But if you have more than ~120 effective wpf the crosshair is smaller while using an Arbalest.
Example on 110 effective wpf (Crossbow and Masterwork Arbalest). You can see that MW Arbalest is slightly less accurate.
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14. You can't move while reloading, it interrupts your reload. But actually there is a possibility to move while your crossbow is almost loaded.
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(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DTuPTm7Yz8)
15. Damage of your shot depends on the angle between you and your enemy. It is defined by the gravity, so higher/lower enemy stands less/more damage you deal. You should also consider it while aiming, making less or more prediction to calculate correct trajectory.
16. Crossbows can jam. It happens when you got hit/shot while shooting.
17. You can't shoot whenever an enemy comes too close to you.
18. You always hear a sound, indicating that your bolt (or any other projectile) reaches a flesh of the target (even if you deal 0 damage). You don't hear this sound when you bolt sticks in the shield without penetrating it.
19. Crosshair's size increases significantly when you move or jump.
20. Horse Archery skill increases your accuracy when you are using the horse.
21. You can shoot using every crossbow from the horseback (even with those which have "Can't reload on horseback" tag).
Chapter 6. Tips of a sniper
Reloading a crossbow takes time, reloading an Arbalest takes a long time. In a couple with a low amount of bolts it forces you to aim better. If you don't aim properly you'll remain your kills counter on the 0 position.
1. I play in the first-person mode and I recommend you to play the same mode.
Advantages of First-person mode:
+ You see the correct position of the crosshair (because it will fire exactly there).
+ You're able to use holes in buildings, window in the siege shield to aim.
+ It's easier to shoot from the woods.
+ Your camera is a bit closer to your enemy and FOV is smaller, so it's easier to calculate the distance.
+ You can hide in a hay watching your enemies.
+ You can see through the walls in some cases. Watch the tip "X-Ray vision"
Disadvantages:
- FOV is smaller (and it's good from one side)
- You have to change camera modes to fight in melee if you can't fight using first-person (I use FP both for melee and ranged)
- You have to rotate your camera more often if you don't want to die from a backstab.
- Arrows/bolts/throwing weapons can mess your vision when they're stuck in your hand/upper body.
- Polearms will be difficult to use.
Feel the difference between 2 modes (Aiming on the same spot).
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2. Find a safe place. It's not a big problem to find a safe place on a city map, but open field is the different story.
Siege shields. If your teammates are doing well they will probably bring some siege shields.
Advantages of standing behind a Siege shield:
+ It is wide and high, so you have a good protection against ranged enemies and you can reload without problems.
+ It has a small window so you can shoot almost in safety (because it's very hard to shot someone who is standing behind the siege shield through this small window)
+ There are lots of teammates close to you (often) and some of them are Crossbowmen. This means that you can ask them to give you bolts (if you're out of them) or loot some from a corpse. Besides crossbowmen you will probably have melee support which also makes you happier and safe.
+ Siege shields are placed manually, so they're placed in the good position almost always.
Disadvantages:
- The window is really small, so your field of view is very limited. You can't see all your enemies while your enemies know where you are.
- There are lots of teammates close to you and some of them really mess your sniping.
- Siege shield is breakable and it's very easy to destroy using a melee weapon. So a signle enemy can destroy your defence and leave you for archers to tear to pieces on the open field.
- It's almost impossible to use third-person mode. Very small field of view. - Enemies can hit you through the siege shield with their melee weapons if you stand too close to it.
Trees. There are different types of trees. All of them have different hitboxes, some of them are thin, some of them are really big. Some of these trees have such big invisible hitboxes that you have to show your full body to become possible to shoot. Always try to find a thick tree, so you won't be visible when you reload. And remember to reload facing a tree, this makes impossible to headshot you, because your head is inside the tree.
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Meat shields. Even without a shield your teammate can save you and bring a victory to your team being a meatshield. The best position of your defender is when he stands in front of you, blocking with his melee weapon (he covers you better when he stands that way) but the regular position without doing anything will be suitable as well. The top of the mastery is to force your enemy to become your meatshield, this can be easily done with inexperienced or aggressive enemy, who charges towards you between you and your ranged enemies, try to hold the best position and reload as fast as it is possible. This works better when you use something faster than an Arbalest. Remember to reload turning around on 180 degrees when all your enemies are in front of you and your meatshield, this will prevent undesirable headshots.
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Shielders. A shielder is the best friend of the sniper after the other snipers. He can save you from almost everything, holding a shield in front of you and fighting incoming enemies. 1h+shield can save a time for you holding melee fighters, spear+shield can save you from a cavalry. Even a melee player without any shield skill can help you since he can use shields that have no requirements. If you're behind a dedicated shielder - reload looking on your enemies without rotating on 180 degrees, this will reduce the vision of you and prevent random headshots from sides. If you're behind a 0-skilled shielder - rotate 180 degrees like if you're behind a meat shield.
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3. Use your enemy's disadvantages and mistakes as your own advantage. Patience and calmness are two friends of a sniper, let your enemy to make a mistake and use it. The only situation when you have to hurry up is when you're fighting against a crossbowman or an archer on the mid range and a melee fighter on close range.
Jumping enemy. Some enemies really think that jumping allows to disorient a crossbowman. Particularly they're right, but it's not the case of the experienced sniper. Jumper is not able to change the direction or the place where he lands. And even after he lands on an easy predictable place he's not able to move fast instantly. Use it.
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Enemy with weak shield. Whenever an enemy with a weak shield is approaching to you or your teammate - just shoot at him and don't waste time on excessive aiming. Sometimes there are situations when you're far away from your teammate (pike user i.e.) and there is a enemy shielder trying to flank him. The best solution will be to headshot this shielder, but it's not that easy on that range and it's not desirable to risk your teammate's life. So the wisest solution is to destroy the shield and to damage your enemy, this can be done only by aiming right in his hand (shields have invisible forcefields, so you'll hit the shield in any way). You will destroy a shield of your enemy, you will damage him and your teammate will hear the loud sound of destroyed shield.
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Unaware crossbowman. You should realise that crossbowmen are your best friends and worst enemies at the same time. But not all of them read my guide, that's why you can kill some of them easily. Unlike archers, crossbowmen need to stand still in most situations (aiming, reloading, hiding) and the best moment to shoot the crossbowman is the moment when he reloads his crossbow. He is weak but he might see you, so don't hurry and wait a bit because he can trick you and evade your shot right after he made a fake reloading movement. Or shoot him right after he stops to reload, but not between these 2 periods, especially if he has a faster crossbow than yours.
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Enemy running away from you. There are some situations when an enemy tries to run away from you instead of attacking you. This can happen in case of: your enemy is the last man standing, your enemy is almost dead, your enemy is a crossbowman with an empty crossbow, your enemy has no shield (or his shield is weak/almost destroyed), your enemy is scared by you... etc. He becomes an easy target if he runs straight. This shielder is smart, he put his shield on his back to reduce damage in case of being shot but he didn't think about a headshot and was running straight.
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(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtiM0Utxhd0)
Read the 2nd part below!