Playing for the first time, is the bow skill mandatory?

[Osku]

It's kinda weird, i mean i have no problem with it cause it's fun to shoot arrows like a machine gun. But from all the skills that are usually mandatory in RPG's to do good, like lockpicking, pickpocketing, disarming traps and repairing, seeing archery be one is rather odd.

Has anyone gone and beaten the game without actually taking bow for anyone? Certainly not on first run i imagine.

[Baleful]

Hello there. I would say that Bow skill is as mandatory as Body Building or Meditation misc skills.
Means that you can finish the game without those, but if you use and hone those skills - this'll make your life much easier.

I hasn't finish the game without bows, it was literally the first skill (after Disarm Traps, ID Items and Mechant skills) I took for all my characters as soon as possible. Bows require no ammo, plus they're additional weapon, you won't have to switch weapons or rearm your char each time you need to shoot enemies. So why not?

[mpnorman10]

Enemies come in large mobs in this game. Many times, when one foe comes in contact with the party, so do many others unless bows have taken them out. I seriously doubt that healing, especially early in the game, could keep up with the damage numerous foes will do at range and up close without bows taking them out at range.

Up close it is not just damage but, for example with spiders it is poison. Normally I try to use bows to avoid melee at all costs whenever possible. To turn it around and use only melee... I doubt it is possible in open areas, not in this game with these mobs. Magic at the beginning is very limited in damage and mana.

Perhaps (and this would be tedious), you could get a few to chase you, then close and take them on in melee when others are still far away. Doing that over and over while healing in between might make it possible, but maybe not so much fun and might involve a few reloads.

Later, magic and melee tend to rule, and patry members can take more damage without problem when closing to melee distance, so a no bow challenge might get easier and less tedious as the game progresses.

I and most other players, recommend you get bows for everyone at the earliest opportunity. I guess to directly answer your question: It is almost mandatory and at best very difficult without.

[Osku]

Originally posted by mpnorman10:

-snip-

Yeah i mean, i'm running a party full of expert bow users atm. No way i'm gonna go without them lol, was just wondering that it's kinda weird how hard the game puts focus on using them. Never seen such a thing in an RPG before.

[KissHUN *;--;*]

Originally posted by Osku:

Originally posted by mpnorman10:

-snip-

Yeah i mean, i'm running a party full of expert bow users atm. No way i'm gonna go without them lol, was just wondering that it's kinda weird how hard the game puts focus on using them. Never seen such a thing in an RPG before.

master the bow skill on everyone and you can shot two times per person... but ultimately magic attacks are the best, master air water and fire attacks on your sorcerer and druid and you can spam 24/7 time meteor shower and starburst all day... and if you run out of magic points you just simply mark your position with lloyd's beacon and town portal back to new sopringal and take a visit near the temple.

[Woofy]

The bow rules in MM6 and MM7. It's just a little strange that you have to leave the first area in MM6 to get it.

[mpnorman10]

Travel is something you can and should do in MM games. In many games, it is smart and prudent to entirely finish one area before going onto the next. This is not at all true in the MM games. There are cheap coaches and ships that allow you to visit other cities and you should.

That is how you collect quests, find trainers you will eventually need and find out where to obtain the novice skills you do not start the game with. In some MM games you cannot leave the first area, but even then, after that first area this advice applies. Most parts of most cities easily reached by coach or ship are safe, but not all. Save first.

In MM6, travel is something you can and should do a lot of early in the game.

[slatingsangan]

Ancient weapons you should get ancient weapons for everyone

[Baleful]

Originally posted by slatingsangan:

Ancient weapons you should get ancient weapons for everyone

They said "playing for the first time", do you think they know about 'em? In any case, you got them near the end of the game, and that really IS a mandatory skill, yes. But for now, the question is about bows.

[jjstraka34]

Bows are not only mandatory if you plan on not pulling your hair out, but the game is practically a version of an FPS when the enemies are at range, at least until your spellcasters get some heat behind them. The first priority should be getting enough money and heading over to get get the bow skill trained and a ranged weapon on every character.