How to get good at archery?

[Private Homestead]

I'm trying to train up marksmanship with a bow so that in later conflicts I will be able to use a crossbow or even an explode-o-matic to delete people. Unlike KCD1 where wild animals were kind of brain dead, in KCD2 they actually run away pretty well. Is there a way to get good at archery without just obsessively opening every fight with a bow shot?

[Four-Orce]

Originally posted by Private Homestead:

I'm trying to train up marksmanship with a bow so that in later conflicts I will be able to use a crossbow or even an explode-o-matic to delete people. Unlike KCD1 where wild animals were kind of brain dead, in KCD2 they actually run away pretty well. Is there a way to get good at archery without just obsessively opening every fight with a bow shot?

Longbow/Crossbow contests.

[Tenchuu Khan]

Originally posted by Four-Orce:

Originally posted by Private Homestead:

I'm trying to train up marksmanship with a bow so that in later conflicts I will be able to use a crossbow or even an explode-o-matic to delete people. Unlike KCD1 where wild animals were kind of brain dead, in KCD2 they actually run away pretty well. Is there a way to get good at archery without just obsessively opening every fight with a bow shot?

Archery/Crossbow contests.

Yup - that pretty much.

Just enter every archery contest you find and it rakes up the skill rather fast.

Since poaching isn't even a real option in KCD2, that's where it's at.

[Colmaniac]

Best place is at the start afer the into, you have to find the drunk gamekeeper, after rescuing him, you can ask I think its his son for the archery contest, 3 levels easy med and hard, do the easy first as only costs 5g keep doing that and the skill will rise quickly, after 20 mins or so you should have a good skill level. Using the bow and x-bow in 2 is much easier than the first game.

[Private Homestead]

Originally posted by Colmaniac:

Using the bow and x-bow in 2 is much easier than the first game.

Absolutely. Henry actually seems like he knows that he needs to look where the arrow is going. I am (at best) a below average archer in real life and bow shooting in game 1 hurt me.

[Tenchuu Khan]

Originally posted by Private Homestead:

Originally posted by Colmaniac:

Using the bow and x-bow in 2 is much easier than the first game.

Absolutely. Henry actually seems like he knows that he needs to look where the arrow is going. I am (at best) a below average archer in real life and bow shooting in game 1 hurt me.

I think the archery system is pretty good in both games. Just needs a lot of practice and it REALLY differentiates, depending on the skill and the bow one is using.

Gunnery is arse though.

PS: as for RL archery, that's me ;)
https://i.imgur.com/mugO8ok.jpeg

[Cigarette]

Contests and practicing at archery ranges (often found in castles) can help raise up your skills.

As for aiming, Theirs no way to add a "reticle" to your UI, so ultimately you have to gain some player-skill too, much like games as rust. Given some time, you'll know where the arrow/bolt will hit.

[Private Homestead]

Originally posted by Tenchuu Khan:

Originally posted by Private Homestead:

Absolutely. Henry actually seems like he knows that he needs to look where the arrow is going. I am (at best) a below average archer in real life and bow shooting in game 1 hurt me.

I think the archery system is pretty good in both games. Just needs a lot of practice and it REALLY differentiates, depending on the skill and the bow one is using.

Gunnery is arse though.

PS: as for RL archery, that's me ;)
https://i.imgur.com/mugO8ok.jpeg

Nice on the pic.
Also, in the first game, once I was used to it, it was functional (don't think I ever scored a headshot but did open a fight with a successful chest shot kill once). I'm glad they improved it.
Gunnery being a pizzle puller, sadly, is a sad fact of life. Pike and shot era of Europe when, fellow black powder friends?

[DylanCut]

Also fair warning there is a perk that adds more ballistic arrow trajectory this will screw with your long range shots if you have gotten used to the drop.

[Tenchuu Khan]

Originally posted by DylanCut:

Also fair warning there is a perk that adds more ballistic arrow trajectory this will screw with your long range shots if you have gotten used to the drop.

That - it's like in RL when using a 24 pound bow and then switching to a 30 pound bow. You gotta learn how it behaves all over again

[Colmaniac]

Originally posted by Tenchuu Khan:

Originally posted by Private Homestead:

Absolutely. Henry actually seems like he knows that he needs to look where the arrow is going. I am (at best) a below average archer in real life and bow shooting in game 1 hurt me.

I think the archery system is pretty good in both games. Just needs a lot of practice and it REALLY differentiates, depending on the skill and the bow one is using.

Gunnery is arse though.

PS: as for RL archery, that's me ;)
https://i.imgur.com/mugO8ok.jpeg

Agree on both counts, tbh never really fired a bow except making one as kids, nicking mums string and making some stick arrows lol. But the first game seemed to be more realistic as no target sight and practice where to aim and aim alterations on distance, sad fist didnt have x-bows, as you rightly said Henry got better with it and the aim position is better, but still even with maxed out skills its still a more realistic game action on aiming and firing, also much harder at longer distance. X-bow is a more favoured weapon for me as with you can almost eye up the shot, but again its the games realistic way of altering the aiming over distance vs the power of the weapon type used. I honestly cant fault the game system for this and makes one of the favorate part of the game, unless there is a seasoned real life archer than can give their insights to both? And for the hand cannons? Yea awful cant hit a barn door at 10 paces lol.

[Baron01]

Originally posted by Private Homestead:

I'm trying to train up marksmanship with a bow so that in later conflicts I will be able to use a crossbow or even an explode-o-matic to delete people. Unlike KCD1 where wild animals were kind of brain dead, in KCD2 they actually run away pretty well. Is there a way to get good at archery without just obsessively opening every fight with a bow shot?

As it was already mentioned, you need to spend a lot of time at archery range and participate in the contests there. It is decent way to level up not only your Marksmanship skill but also Strength and Agility.
Few notes about archery ranges & contests:
1. different ranges (spots) have different distance to targets, some are easier and some are harder. One thing to keep in mind is that amount of experience gained per shot is also depending on the distance to target, ie. longer and harder to hit targets will grant more experience.
2. you want to train a lot on beginner difficulty to make some money and to receive the bonus for winning the contest as often as possible. Only move to intermediate when you your marksmanship level is above 17-18.
3. if you are able to craft Henry's Fox potion, drink it before spending time at the archery range as it greatly helps with leveling speed.
4. Avoid archery ranges where contest is to hit those birds, training at targets is much easier and faster.

[Kedrick7]

Actually, you don't need to enter the Contest... just go to a Contest Location (the 3 targets) and shoot the target, this will train the skill without the need for competition.
Stay clear of the Attendant (or do at night) or they will get pissy about you having your weapon out.

[Po2_Yukari]

When sneaking in bandit camps or alike, I do point blank headshots for stealth kills instead of a dagger.

[Tenchuu Khan]

Originally posted by Colmaniac:

Originally posted by Tenchuu Khan:

I think the archery system is pretty good in both games. Just needs a lot of practice and it REALLY differentiates, depending on the skill and the bow one is using.

Gunnery is arse though.

PS: as for RL archery, that's me ;)
https://i.imgur.com/mugO8ok.jpeg

Agree on both counts, tbh never really fired a bow except making one as kids, nicking mums string and making some stick arrows lol. But the first game seemed to be more realistic as no target sight and practice where to aim and aim alterations on distance, sad fist didnt have x-bows, as you rightly said Henry got better with it and the aim position is better, but still even with maxed out skills its still a more realistic game action on aiming and firing, also much harder at longer distance. X-bow is a more favoured weapon for me as with you can almost eye up the shot, but again its the games realistic way of altering the aiming over distance vs the power of the weapon type used. I honestly cant fault the game system for this and makes one of the favorate part of the game, unless there is a seasoned real life archer than can give their insights to both? And for the hand cannons? Yea awful cant hit a barn door at 10 paces lol.

Pretty sure you can try out some actual archery at wherever you live. There's always an archery range.

Once you try it for real, trust me - you'll understand what KCD's system is all about.

[YoFaceoff]

Shooting targets anywhere you find them will raise a bunch of your skills. The further you are away from target the faster your skills go up.