Range mechanics

[Toxic Toast]

Greetings all,
How does apr work with speed factor on ranged weapons?

How do crossbows stack up with short bows & longbows in game?

Are crossbows a good partner with Mages (fighter/mage).

Thanks

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by Toxic Toast:

Greetings all,
How does apr work with speed factor on ranged weapons?

Long version[baldursgate.fandom.com]

Short version: speed factor doesn't really matter in a real-time game.

How do crossbows stack up with short bows & longbows in game?

They don't. They don't have any bonus APR like bows and you can't add your strength bonus to damage with them (like slings or thrown weapons). Even the enchanted versions aren't that great. There's the Army Scythe (BG2 version, which is different from the BG version), that grants an extra APR, putting it on par with bows. But not much else.

Are crossbows a good partner with Mages?

Go with throwing knives or slings instead.

[ÄmJii]

Originally posted by wendigo211:

They don't. They don't have any bonus APR like bows and you can't add your strength bonus to damage with them (like slings or thrown weapons). Even the enchanted versions aren't that great. There's the Army Scythe (BG2 version, which is different from the BG version), that grants an extra APR, putting it on par with bows. But not much else.

Ermm, Firetooth +5 would like to have a word with you...

I'd also argue Crossbows have the advantage in terms of ammo variety. Cast Enchanted Weapons on your crossbow wielder and now your regular Kua-Toa bolts count as +3 weapons. Ditto for Bolts of Lightning if you need to burst down a certain foe.

I'd say crossbows are bad in BG1, but once you reach SoA they're pretty good. I'd say they rival shortbows in terms of utility and eventually out-DPS shortbows later on.

[AlexMBrennan]

Go with throwing knives or slings instead.

Please provide me with a video of you killing the Ravager with throwing knives.

For killing bosses crossbows and slings are your only option (the +5 shortbow deals 0d6 damage so it's going to take a while to bring down any significant enemy)

[Toxic Toast]

Thinking of switching out from ftr at 9 and going mage, I was hoping going the archer route would provide me with some enhanced utility to complement my spell slinging ways.

Not doing a solo run so I’ll have some competition between characters for slings.

[Godsarm]

Speed factor does matter in the sense of what goes first in a round. The lower the speed factor, the faster the weapon goes off. Its the same with spells and casting time. Each round is divided into 10 segments. A weapon with a speed factor of 1 beats a spell with a casting time of 3 which means that you have a chance with a hit to disrupt the spell.

Now, some stuff goes off instantaneously like Contingencies, Triggers and Sequencers which renders this point moot. But in the case where you are trying to get in a quick hit, speed factor matters.

I'm doing a run with an Archer right now. I've predictably achieved Grand Mastery in Long Bow and with a 19 STR I've been using Strong Arm +3/+3 and get 4 apr, and I'm in the process of attaining Grand Mastery in Crossbow for the day where I'll need Firetooth to hit certain opponents. Also, I've shot up a lot of the magic arrows available in the game. It's not critical yet, but I'm using Army Scythe as a back up against lower level foes where I can use up the plentiful enchanted bolts in the game. I'm only at Specialized and L18 but I get 5/2 apr right now with a negative THACO so it's good enough.

Thanks to the poster who recommended casting Enchanted Weapon, I never in all my years of playing this game thought of that application...I have hundreds of Kuo Toa bolts that I hauled back from the UD not to mention hundreds of bolts of biting that I've stolen or picked up. My guess is it would work with Fire Arrows as well, which I have hundreds of as well.

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by ÄmJii:

Ermm, Firetooth +5 would like to have a word with you...

I'd rather use Gesen's Bow.

I'd say crossbows are bad in BG1, but once you reach SoA they're pretty good.

I'd give you okay in ToB, but they still suck in SoA.

I'd say they rival shortbows in terms of utility and eventually out-DPS shortbows later on.

Sure for an Archer with Whirlwind. For any other character with Whirlwind it's going to be lower than a weapon that can get a strength bonus. And for any non-whirlwind character, it's going to be lower because of the APR.

Edit: I just checked the wiki and Archers get damage bonuses with all "missile" damage weapons, not just bows. So once they get HLAs, either the Sling of Everard or K'logarath will give them the maximum DPR.

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

Please provide me with a video of you killing the Ravager with throwing knives.

Please provide me with a video of a Mage killing the Ravager with a Crossbow or Sling.

You're a Mage... Melf's Minute Meteors, Energy Blades, Simulacrum, Project Image, Summon Planetar, Black Blade of Disaster. If you're using a Crossbow or Sling against the Ravager, how did you get to him?

[Drake]

Please provide me a video of a mage using a crossbow to begin with...

Mages in bg2 are restricted to slings, daggers, darts and staves. Only fighter/mages can use other weapons.

[Toxic Toast]

Suppose I should have put it in the op, guess I’ll fix that, proposed character would be/is a fighter mage.

edit: Enchant weapon spell on bolts matched w/ Firetooth does seem like a interesting combo.