Best solo bow build?

[Bartas]

Hey there, I am wondering if there is some op solo build centered around using bow?
Maybe berserker 13/mage with shortbow pip? I guess it should be worse than melee, but maybe not so far off? xd

Looking for some ideas :D

[rompier02]

Hey. There is a kit under the Ranger class aptly named Archer. Unfortunately I have never played as one. Apart from what I stated I cannot help you more. Sorry. I have played Fighter class with 5 pips on longbows. Finished the game all up to TOB. Perhaps others who have used the Archer kit will give more info. A berserker may not specialise in any range weapon. Good luck.

[a_delo3]

Barbarian can specialize with any ranged weapon and is the best class if need to kite; extra HPs and immunity to backstab are nice to have; I also prefer barbarian rage to berserker's, even if +4 to str is basically useless with a bow build

Multi wizard/thief is always very solid but limited to shortbows so may have to resort more often to backstabbing (may also go for shadowdancer/wizard dual, but miss the awesome thief HLAs and in any case can replace HIPS with the staff of the magi) and therefore lacking the focus on bow you are searching for

Personally have always found the bows quite lackluster in BG2/TOB if compared to slings but have no experience with the archer kit which I reckon was introduced to solve this very issue

[Brevan]

I've played as an Archer kit a few times. It's nice to be able to hide in shadows to ignore some fights, and you use the Amulet of Power for level drain immunity, or dual wield some weapons with some other useful immunity (like that short sword that makes you immune to stun/hold, or one of the sword that makes you immune to charm, etc).

Shortbows works great, but I usually like to go with Crossbows, since it's pretty easy to buy the +4 xBow (Firesomething) in Watcher's Keep early on. Although that xBow doesn't need ammo (strikes as a +4 weapon), if you equip some then it seems to improve the damage. I mostly like to use that xBow to see if I can get in a hit with Bolts of Lightning or Stunning that does over 40 damage. In the end-game you can get the HLA for 10 attacks a round, so the lower attacks of a crossbow becomes less important.

Playing as a fighter/mage sounds like it'd work swell too. Lower damage, but you could still become invisible via potions, rings, or spells to ignore fights, and just summon some tanks when that seems important. Fighter/Mage or Fighter/Thief are exceptional classes for solo.

[The Great Cornholio]

Archer with shortbow and one pip in longsword. Load up on potions to get the boots of speed early.

[luftatmer]

If you have to ask such basic questions playing solo won't bring much fun to you, I am afraid. Other than a gazillion attempts of save scumming. So if that's not your cup of tea: I suggest gathering some chunk of experience before that. I truly hope my words don't hurt you. I just wanted to help you enjoy the game.

[Zotliatlicor]

Originally posted by rompier02:

Hey. There is a kit under the Ranger class aptly named Archer. Unfortunately I have never played as one. Apart from what I stated I cannot help you more. Sorry. I have played Fighter class with 5 pips on longbows. Finished the game all up to TOB. Perhaps others who have used the Archer kit will give more info. A berserker may not specialise in any range weapon. Good luck.

Did you play a Fighter Solo all the way to TOB? Or did he have a party with him....

As to #OP:

Any Fighter that dual class to a mage will be a good character to Solo, even the despised Wizard slayer / Mage.

But the Archer i think is the best "Fighter" to Solo with, an elven Archer is just superb. Archer gets the minor Ranger spells, and most are weak, but some at least useful. Sanctuary lets you get around a lot, Armour Of Faith very potent at higher levels, You can Hide & Move Silently also.

But playing a Figher class solo is a Real Hard Challenge, even on Core rules. Be prepared to run away....

And one needs to carefully plan for the items and weapons you need. There are a lot of weapons & items with useful abilities, and as Archer gets only one * in each, you can have a wide variety. The Dual wield is powerful enough even with just one pip in weapons.

This game sadly favours ShortBows. Both the Tancheron Bow +3 from Trademeet and the Gesen Bow +3 after Underdark are Rapid-firing Machine Guns, that can hit 97 % of all enemies. The X-Bow +4 from WK is the best bow, but has a slower RateOfFire. In a Party my Archer had the most kills because of this bow (Firetooth +4).

I still think a Fighter that Grandmasters in your favoured Bow and then Dual Classes to a Mage is the better choice, as any Mage Class is basically a win win in Solo games. You will then be a Mage with superior fighting skills & Hit Points on top. You can do this at Fighter 9 for Grandmastery and rise your Mage levels with Scrolls. And Mages can basically do anything better & best once they reach some levels. Need to Hide? Invisibility. Need to get away? Shadow Door. Need to kill a ton of enemies in a few seconds? Contingency spells loaded with Pain. Need help from Allies? Summon some allies.... and on and on...

For those that laugh at Wizard Slayer: There is a challenge called Poverty Run. You have no items and no money, except for your Wooden Quarterstave. If you want to deal weapons damage you must cast a Weapons spell (late = Black Blade Of Disaster). This Challenge can solo the game. Wizard slayer Mage fits this playstyle perfecttly, as the Wizard Slayers insane -25% spellcasting debuff is pr hit, including area spells and spells like Magic Missile & Melfs Minute Meteor.

[Velmarg]

Originally posted by luftatmer:

If you have to ask such basic questions playing solo won't bring much fun to you, I am afraid. Other than a gazillion attempts of save scumming. So if that's not your cup of tea: I suggest gathering some chunk of experience before that. I truly hope my words don't hurt you. I just wanted to help you enjoy the game.

Pretty smug to assume this person wouldn't enjoy solo purely off of one question.

[wendigo211]

Probably unkitted Fighter 13/Mage or possibly Wizard Slayer 13/Mage, although soloing with a Wizard Slayer to level 13 isn't fun. Following that, Archer, but Mage spells help a lot when soloing BG2 and ToB. There's no strength bonus with bows and none of the other Fighter kits can get grandmastery in bows.

If by bow, you mean ranged, then thrown weapons are on the table and Berserker and Kensai become options because they can get grandmastery with daggers and axes.

[Wicket W. Warrick]

Originally posted by Bartas:

Hey there, I am wondering if there is some op solo build centered around using bow?
Maybe berserker 13/mage with shortbow pip? I guess it should be worse than melee, but maybe not so far off? xd

Looking for some ideas :D

It depends on how much centered on bow you want to build your PC.
A berserker is limited in bow specialization, so I would discard it.

A Fighter 13 (or 9)/Mage X is probably the best option, also for the combos, with summoning Planetar or Mordekainer's swords as tank, dealing damage with arrows. Or the use of simulacrum. The only problem is that from some point the fact that you are using a bow will lose importance, since the magic will mostly kill your enemy. So you will be a mage using a bow more than a build based on bows. The walkthrough will be quite similar to any other F/M walkthrough.

An archer is the right option based only on bows. But it will be more difficult.

So it's up to you, bt I would choice betwee those 2: F13(9) / M X, or archer.