Range vs. Magic vs. Melee: most challenging, most fun, most effective.

[Woobie :3]

Which one do you personally prefer, and which one do you think is
a.) most challenging to use,
b.) most fun to play with, or
c.) most effective overall?

[Lucky Thirteen]

I play as a mage (or rather, a witch ) and I really enjoy it. It's really fun and I think it's challenging too (at leat until you get the endgame gear, which I haven't got myself yet).

On my next playthrough, I might try being a ranger. All those bows and guns look quite fun.

[JTShadow]

A) I think melee is the most challenging, you need to get in there and hit and I feel you do less damage overall compared to Ranged or Magic.
B)Ranged, you can fly around and use heat seeking bullets, it doesn't get any easier.
C)Melee, although i feel you do less damage, you have greater survivability, though I do wish some of the melee sets were better.

[Batabii • Suikoden I&II HD]

Originally posted by JTShadow:

B)Ranged, you can fly around and use heat seeking bullets, it doesn't get any easier.

Possessed Hatchet
Scourge of the Corruptor
Spectre Staff
Bat Scepter

[Granger]

Oh so the stake gun does bonus damage against vampires?

I didnt know that, i dont own one...

[Venrez]

Magic : Most Fun
Magic : Most Effective
Magic : Most versatile, offensive, defensive or utility
Magic : Easiest to use, Hardest to master. Some spells work together extremely well, but most are effective on their own.

Melee : Average all rounder.

Ranged : Never really bothered with it except in specific circumstances or simply for the sake of it. It seems pointless to spend money to make money (on ammunition) when Magic does the job better, faster, easier and costs nothing, since Mana regenerates. Ranged also does pitiful damage in comparison to both Melee and Magic and serves no utility or other purpose other than direct damage. The 'only' potential upside is the spammability of explosive ranged ammunition, such as rockets, but versus Monsters, you never need that much - and versus players, I never play PvP myself. Besides, again I say, you're wasting money on ammunition when quite literally free alternatives are everywhere, which are more, or just as, effective.

% to not consume ammo is irrelevant. You're still expending ammo, even if its 1 in 3 shots.

[Emmote]

Originally posted by Venrez:

Besides, again I say, you're wasting money on ammunition when quite literally free alternatives are everywhere, which are more, or just as, effective.

Money should never be a reason not to use ranged weapons. It is literally the easiest thing to get in Terraria. I mean, my piggy bank has over 400 platinum in it. I couldn't spend that much on ammo even if I tried and stopped picking up money.

Even with Golden Bullets, the most expensive bullets you can make with only vendor materials, it's 18s50c per 50. That means, even with just 1 Platinum you could make 27 stacks of the stuff. With most sets providing at least 20% chance not to consume ammo, it'd take you ages to use that much.

Ammo is as good as free in the grand scheme of things.

Originally posted by Venrez:

% to not consume ammo is irrelevant. You're still expending ammo, even if its 1 in 3 shots.

I don't think you quite understand how the chance not to consume ammo works. With 20% free shots, it actually works out at (roughly) 25% more ammo. Because the 20% of shots that don't get used, can also possibly not get used again, 20% of the time.
With 50% chance not to consume ammo, 1000 bullets effectively becomes 2000. With 90% chance (Megashark + Chlorophyte Helmet + Shroomite Breastplate), 1000 ammo will effectively become 9000 ammo.

Now imagine your 27 stacks of Golden Bullets worth 1 platinum at 70% chance (assuming you don't want to mix-and-match armour). That would effectively become 63,000 ammo, instead of the actual 27,000.
So you've gone from 1 platinum worth, to ~2.3 platinum worth. Now try and tell me % not to consume ammo is irrelevant.

[MushuRat]

I've just started off, but I find magic is the most challenging and yet fun to play with. However as far as effective goes, I love a melee with a tad of range on it, thus my spear is my next best friend. That and the knockback on it can be quite amazing against some mobs.

[Newb]

Ranged with Chlorophyte bullets aims for you. Used right, Tactical Shotgun can do over 800 damage per shot with ranged gear.

[Megative]

I play as a ranger and in my opinion, ranger has best damage but lowest survival ability while playing alone thanks for the shroomite armour and range don't have life-steal ability like melee and magic does(vampire knifes and spectre robes). For example, I use Tactical shotgun with chlolophyte bullets so all pellets (6 per shot) hits your target.

[FÆROÜS]

i like using a combo of all of them when fighting (although i LOVE the sniper rifle)

[Venrez]

Originally posted by Emmote:

Originally posted by Venrez:

Besides, again I say, you're wasting money on ammunition when quite literally free alternatives are everywhere, which are more, or just as, effective.

Money should never be a reason not to use ranged weapons. It is literally the easiest thing to get in Terraria. I mean, my piggy bank has over 400 platinum in it. I couldn't spend that much on ammo even if I tried and stopped picking up money.

Even with Golden Bullets, the most expensive bullets you can make with only vendor materials, it's 18s50c per 50. That means, even with just 1 Platinum you could make 27 stacks of the stuff. With most sets providing at least 20% chance not to consume ammo, it'd take you ages to use that much.

Ammo is as good as free in the grand scheme of things.

Originally posted by Venrez:

% to not consume ammo is irrelevant. You're still expending ammo, even if its 1 in 3 shots.

I don't think you quite understand how the chance not to consume ammo works. With 20% free shots, it actually works out at (roughly) 25% more ammo. Because the 20% of shots that don't get used, can also possibly not get used again, 20% of the time.
With 50% chance not to consume ammo, 1000 bullets effectively becomes 2000. With 90% chance (Megashark + Chlorophyte Helmet + Shroomite Breastplate), 1000 ammo will effectively become 9000 ammo.

Now imagine your 27 stacks of Golden Bullets worth 1 platinum at 70% chance (assuming you don't want to mix-and-match armour). That would effectively become 63,000 ammo, instead of the actual 27,000.
So you've gone from 1 platinum worth, to ~2.3 platinum worth. Now try and tell me % not to consume ammo is irrelevant.

Notice how I did not say a specific percentage to not consume ammo, then 'even if its 1 out of 3'. Please, adhere to context and pay attention.

The % to not consume ammo, 1 out of 3 shots was simply an example, I know how percentages work. Maybe someone who didnt go through school doesnt know, but most of us do. You are still consuming ammunition, bought or manufactured, thus requiring resources or money when there are free alternatives, melee or magic, readily on hand.

Its a matter of personal preference in this regard, but I just 'feel' that ranged combat is wasteful given the materials involved and ~boring~ considering you're not a mighty, strong powerhouse of melee spankdown, or a wise wizard of the nine planes hurling fireballs every time you blink or think about a toasted cheese sandvich.

The 'easiest thing to get' in Terraria is a matter of debate. How about the copper pickaxe you start with, technically being a melee weapon? You didnt even have to work for it. Ranged weapons are an option for many players, sure, but I was simply stating that Magic and Melee is often far more useful, does more damage or has more utility, such as the Crimson Rod / Nimbus Rod providing stationary defence along with the Frost Hydra Staff, or the rapidly-firing but mobile Magnet Sphere, or various penetrating 'machine-gun' type spells like the Crystal Storm, Magical Harp or Golden Shower.

Melee examples. 'Dagger' type weapons, like the Shortswords. 'Overhead' swinging ones, such as normal swords and axes or tools. Flails, such as the Ball and Chain. 'Ranged' melee weapons such as the Paladin Hammer. Spears. Harpoon or Golem fist.

For ranged combat. Point. Hold left mouse. Wait. Zzz.
Doesnt matter if its an arrow, a bullet or a rocket. The only inherent differences outside of specific function, such as explosion or penetration, being the speed of the projectile or the arc of an arrow. How dull, in my opinion.

[naptalie]

The mage where it stands right now, is BRAINLESSLY easy, ranger is hardest since no lifesteal, and melee well is still fairly easy with vampire knives.

[Emmote]

You said % not to consume ammo was irellevant. I told you how it's not. You can defend yourself all you like on that point, you're still wrong. It really isn't irellevant. With a high enough % you more than double your value for money on ammo.

Also, you call being a ranger wasteful because of ammo, but I could say the exact same thing about magic, spamming Mana Potions to keep full mana. You have to buy them too, the best ones, and they're more expensive than ammo at 10s per potion.
And yes, I know you can retain full mana by casting and waiting for full mana again because mana regens faster the more you have. That reduces your overall damage by a great deal though, so that's not viable.

But either way, wastage really is irellevant because money is the easiest item to find in the game because nearly every single mob in the game drops it and most items can be sold to get more too.

I suppose you're right though about the projectiles being very - samey. But that's hardly avoidable. Everyone expects bullets from guns, arrows from bows, etc..

[ToastedTyler]

I prefer mage couse whith spectre armor and the shadow beam staff or spectre staff you are kinda GOD. Male clas has over 100 DF and strong atack but you have to go near your enemy to hit it. Ranged has the best crit so if you like crits than do ranged class.

[Ionizer]

Originally posted by Emmote:

Also, you call being a ranger wasteful because of ammo, but I could say the exact same thing about magic, spamming Mana Potions to keep full mana. You have to buy them too, the best ones, and they're more expensive than ammo at 10s per potion.

You are forgetting Magic Cuffs which retore mana when you get hit. Put that together with Spectre Armor and you can fire as long and fast as you want and never use mana potions at all.

Never used magic before 1.2 though. Spectre Armor and Magic Cuffs make all the difference for me. I use it for boss fights but do like a sword or mele for general use just because it's more fun.

And I guess the Rocket Launcher is considered ranged. So much fun clearcutting forests and mining with that thing. I spent 20 Platinum on a chest full of ammo the last Solar Eclipse to stock up!

So I use all three, lots of fun to be had with each.