My last build was 8 PD, i use a +2 loomed longbow and I had 3 ath
Strongly disagree with #8 too. Like Ylca said dodging horses, get out of thight situations. 8 PD gives very comfortable missile speed although its a bit inaccurate with a longbow. I can imagine it works well with a loomed rus.
Also when you see friendly inf fighting, dont shoot into their fight if you are not sure you wont hit your teammate. If you do theyll cry and blame you for dying, regardless they would have gotten owned anyway. Just wait for them to die so you can get a clean shot.
I like the debate, it comes down to playstyle preference. I used to be a heavy athletics user as well. But I found that 75% of the time, I would have lived longer with the extra IF and Athletics didn't save me. Also, I have a very fast build, so I don't have to run fast when I can constantly stun the melee trying to catch me. 0 Athletics > stunned 6 athletics meleer. You guys that use a slower bow, or not enough WPF with the Horn or Rus won't have as much time, nor the accuracy to perhaps to use that style.
Again, 0 athletics is more than adequate for dodging horses, but then again, I've spent my career walking out into the middle of an open field and challenging cavalry to come and get me, so I probably have as much or more experience in getting out of their way than anyone.
On the PD/WM power vs accuracy debate, I shoot at range. When I talk about being accurate, I mean at the 90%-max range of the bow, ie around where the arrow drops. I'm not talking about short or even mid-range where most Rus and even Horn bow users shoot. I mean being able to shoot that horse all the way across the map while it is running 2-3 times in a row. And when I say accurate, I mean that the reticule randomness is gone, (or pinpoint as some might say). That's my idea of accurate, and I mean doing it on purpose. If you go to 8 PD, even with the Tatar Bow, you introduce that extra random element of chance in those shots because it will vary a bit inside the reticule. It is about personal taste. Some people can't stand hitting someone without doing 50% of their health. Me, I don't mind putting 5 arrows into someone because I enjoy chain stunning them and if one of my teammates run up during that time and get the kill on the stunned enemy, I still win. I don't care about K/D, just multiplier. (But I have lobbied for damage added to the scoreboard. I really want to see if I do up to 25-35% more Damage Over Time than any of the 8 or 9 PD Rus users like I think that I do)
When I spot another archer at range and start shooting them, 95% of them give up and find somewhere to hide out of my LOS. (Except for Ploop or WarKittenz
) That's because they usually PD stack and can't compete at range.
On firing into melee:
My motto is "Always take the shot, always."
But let's talk about what that means. Your job in that situation isn't to get the kill. It is to get the enemy killed. Your job in that situation is the same as a sheep dog. Herd the enemy. Keep them from controlling the skirmish by not allowing them to go where they want. When the melee is close enough to spin around each other, keep your shots just
behind the enemy. If they back up, they will back into your arrows. If they spin and switch places, you won't hit your teammate and he won't move far enough to get into your "herding" arrows. When they get seperation, then hit them for the stun (or kill). Backpedalers will die quickly. Shielders facing your teammate will get stunned and become open to a hit from your melee. If they face you, same thing. Always try to keep the 90 degree angle.
If your teamates back is to you, fire a couple arrows wide so he knows you are there helping. If they don't adjust to take advantage of having an archer helping them, just disengage and get as much distance as you can so that when your teammate dies from being stupid, you will have enough range to kill the enemy before he can close the distance.
As you get better, the amount of leeway you need will become less. Until then, give your teammate a good cushion of space. But still take the shot. Always