Strat talk: SM archer (in General)

Single minion archer.

Gigantic ELB, takes up entire Weapon Allowance
EBs for bonus to skill (probably not DBs)
HoE
Beleg's up to around +10 for the extra 6% damage
ToA (almost no need to train ST or DX)

Pour on the exp, training archery up to the level of the ST, and adding HP as needed. Any 'extra' would go into AMF, whici would be crucial against the few mages scattered around. Some DX may want to be added on to get more hits per round, but that is optional. I've also heard that EG's would be used, but I think I, personally, would rather have the extra damage than the bonus to archery/DX. But that's just me...

Melee rounds, no melee weapon means a significant DX penalty.

I'd rather have Tulkas than Belegs... well how high can you get belegs? I notice noone has invested much in them.

I like this. It renders opponents' investment in DM and AMF useless, concentrates your resources, and it's a relatively rare idea.

Obviously, one weakness will be teams with front walls, using big HP/AS/Prot/AC. Luckily, walls are not THAT common, and big AC should not be a problem until you get high up in the ranks.

The other problem is keeping up with the FB/MM mages, but with linear weapon damage this may well be possible, and if not, you could add AMF into the mix.

I do think some investment in DX will be necessary - you are betting everything on the ranged rounds, so just one extra hit might be the difference between winning and losing.

If somebody does survive into melee, you might need to invest in a VB.

archery with a VB == pwnage

the whole point of an archer is to kill the team in 3 rounds or less. A VB, besides limiting the size of the ELB I could have, would mean a whole heck of a lot of money I'd need to invest. And, besides, hitting and opponent up to 12 times in ranged (against Es and DB-less mages) should be plenty. Although, with any 4 minion team I'd have to take the penalties and keep shooting away in melee.

You'll find quickly that using bows in melee is a far greater penalty than you think, even with the ToA. a minimal amount invested in a VB will allow you to take on teams that you otherwise couldn't touch, like everyone wearing a ToE...

That dex penalty in ranged will probably just result in you losing lots of arrows. Up against other tank teams you will lose in melee if you haven't killed the other tank.

You don't need to invest in a huge melee weapon, just get one up to a certain level and use it to mop up what you haven't hit in ranged. I'm working in the opposite direction to this, concentrating all my finances into melee. I'm using tiny rented bows in ranged, but they at least help me do some damage in addition to my main damage. You don't need to spend much to get a half decent weapon - that's what rentals is for. And that won't diminish the integrity of what you are attempting to do.

The char will have to be strong to be effective, it seems a shame to lose the option of using that strength for the entire battle....

The dex penalty for bows in melee is insane it's like 40% not worth it unless you've invested insane amounts in your bow.

Ranger + melee weapon = Basic tank, nothing new under the sun. :)


Ranger - melee weapon = certain doom, sure you might do lots of damage, every other round, though in addition to your 60% DX penalty, you only fire every other round.

If Belegs could do some benefit (which they can't cause other gloves are better), then I might see going without a melee weapon. But really it's totally not worth it.

It would be interesting to see what kind of dmg you get out of a maxed out PR allowance ELB at the high lvls... anyone have any ideas?

Named slayers would be God-like. 15x151... don't need to say more.