How do Beleg's work? (in General)

Base AC 3 -2% magic. Grants Archery. Unforgeable.

Do they give a bonus to the archery skill, or do they simply add more damage along with the archery already trained?

they add a static amount of archery resulting in 15% additional damage in ranged rounds when using bows and a small better chance at firing in 2nd round of ranged.

(don't know the 15% for sure)

I was under the impression they give 0.2 to your archery skill or 0.2 even if you dont have it. Even if you use a COBF you still get the 0.2. Which would give you about 8% more damage and 20% chance to fire in round 2 of missle. The 0.2 does not show up on your character though.

I get the 8% more damage from the fact that 1.0 archery is 40% more damage so 20% of 40% is 8%.

Hope I am right about this.

if its 0.2 archery then you are correct Ranger, i wasnt sure about the precice numbers :)

What happens if you already have archery at 1.0? Do you get extra damage?

I'm not sure everyone is on the same page, I personally know that when I had archery at .97 when I equipped belegs it didn't change. I think it just does 15% extra archery damage and allows for multiple shots. I could be wrong though.

+ 15% damage to bows. Thats what happens when i use them so......

oh yeah...and lump-bot agrees with me. but does that evil fem-bot have any cred?? HA!

If you have archery it does give you extra damage-8% as it boost your archery to 1.2. However, as stated before you will not see the .2 boost. It "hidden" sort of like the Bloodlust you get from a TSA.

It does not have anything to do with getting extra hits. That is soley based on your dex vs their dex and the pth (plus to hit) on your weapon.

So, a "natural" archery of 0.8 plus Beleg's is exactly equivalent to an archery of 1.0 (namely, you get 100% probability of firing on the 2nd round, plus 40% damage increase).
If instead you start with 1.0 archery, the Beleg's will give you only a 8% damage increase.
In both cases, the difference will not show up on your character.

Is this correct?

Spaceman[ObsessedForger] that number doesn't show up on your screen...

and Manta yes your right, .08 becomes 1.0 and 1.0 becomes 1.2 even though it doesn't show.

same applies with the VA bonus of BTh and MH