Pure archer builds?

[mrbunnyban]

So I've gotten used to using hybrid archer builds which switch to pole arms once enemies start closing in before the latest change which allowed archers to shoot over the heads of bros they are directly behind. I've considered using archer builds which do not allocate stat points into melee attack. Has anyone tried it? What are your experiences?

[76561198074709395]

Here's a guide I wrote recently; it has a huge section on dedicated ranged builds.

It should tell you everything you need to know (just scroll down to the MARKSMEN section)

http://steamcommunity.com/app/365360/discussions/0/135513549090901828/

Feel free to leave feedback if you want :)

[Balavaeros]

I don't put any points into melee on my archers. If they become engaged by something I use footwork to get away. IMO any points put into melee are taking away from your survivability.

[mrbunnyban]

Originally posted by Fritz:

Here's a guide I wrote recently; it has a huge section on dedicated ranged builds.

It should tell you everything you need to know (just scroll down to the MARKSMEN section)

http://steamcommunity.com/app/365360/discussions/0/135513549090901828/

Feel free to leave feedback if you want :)

Interesting, thanks for the link!

"Crossbowman: 75 HP, 70 Fatigue, 50 Resolve, 85 Initiative, 90 Ranged Skill, 30 Ranged Defense, 15 Melee Defense

Longbowman: 55 HP, 100 Fatigue, 50 Resolve, 110 Initiative, 105 Ranged Skill, 45 Ranged Defense, 0 Melee Defense"

...Whoa. Your thresholds for stats are crazy high. I have difficulty reaching 20 ranged defence by level 20 for my archers, yet you've asked players to get 30/45. On top of that you ask for 50 resolve, 110/85 initiative, 90/105 ranged skill... I don't think I have a single brother who comes close to these stats. Your bros have something like 100 stats more than mine in relevant stats at level 11?

...it's because I push up melee attack?

[=]

Originally posted by mrbunnyban:

...it's because I push up melee attack?

It's because your archers are probably poachers and militia; his are probably sellswords. More expensive backgrounds generally have higher starting stats.

I used to make hybrid archers but there is now no reason to.

[Whatever100500]

Originally posted by mrbunnyban:

"Crossbowman: 75 HP, 70 Fatigue, 50 Resolve, 85 Initiative, 90 Ranged Skill, 30 Ranged Defense, 15 Melee Defense

Longbowman: 55 HP, 100 Fatigue, 50 Resolve, 110 Initiative, 105 Ranged Skill, 45 Ranged Defense, 0 Melee Defense"

This looks more like something to serve as goal deep into veterancy.

As lv 11 stats these are unreachable.
My best archer had 102 at lv 11. That is after savescum-checking all potential recruits.
And that is only one stat in long list.

[76561198074709395]

Originally posted by mrbunnyban:

Originally posted by Fritz:

Here's a guide I wrote recently; it has a huge section on dedicated ranged builds.

It should tell you everything you need to know (just scroll down to the MARKSMEN section)

http://steamcommunity.com/app/365360/discussions/0/135513549090901828/

Feel free to leave feedback if you want :)

Interesting, thanks for the link!

"Crossbowman: 75 HP, 70 Fatigue, 50 Resolve, 85 Initiative, 90 Ranged Skill, 30 Ranged Defense, 15 Melee Defense

Longbowman: 55 HP, 100 Fatigue, 50 Resolve, 110 Initiative, 105 Ranged Skill, 45 Ranged Defense, 0 Melee Defense"

...Whoa. Your thresholds for stats are crazy high. I have difficulty reaching 20 ranged defence by level 20 for my archers, yet you've asked players to get 30/45. On top of that you ask for 50 resolve, 110/85 initiative, 90/105 ranged skill... I don't think I have a single brother who comes close to these stats. Your bros have something like 100 stats more than mine in relevant stats at level 11?

...it's because I push up melee attack?

That's late game with perfect min/max and high tier backgrounds (Hunters, Sellswords). And yes, you can save quite a few points if you skip Melee Attack (I think I made a good case as to why hybridization doesn't work well with dedicated ranged characters).

Also, I don't even attempt to build an end-game marksman unless I find a recruit with at least 6 stars in total (distributed among the important stats).

P.S.
By 'late game', I mean day 300+, not 150 after you're done with 1 crisis.

[nightworg]

I don't care much about people who provide unreal stats based on save scumming and filtering out super elite brothers like that. I don't want to play my game that way, so that is just useless statements you don't come across in a game played with ironman.

Brothers close to 45 ranged defense and 105 ranged attack at level 11 are insanely rare to come across even for sellswords.

[76561198074709395]

@nightworg
You seem perturbed, friend.

What vexes thee? :)

[calmnesss13]

Fritz, actually you should rewrite yout thresholds, they are unrealistic and misleading. Better change them to what you expect to get by level 11. What is beyoud level 11 might be set as ideal ones.

[76561198074709395]

Originally posted by calmnesss13:

Fritz, actually you should rewrite yout thresholds, they are unrealistic and misleading. Better change them to what you expect to get by level 11. What is beyoud level 11 might be set as ideal ones.

They're not thresholds, nor are they labeled as such.

They're end-game goals to aim for, of which you probably won't hit most - or any.

All of this is in the guide. The same guide that clearly specifies what to level and how much, and that flexibility is just as important as build orders and party composition :)

[Barahur]

I don't like pure archer builds. After experimenting a lot, I vastly prefer hybrids. It's not always possible to get out of an "oh crap" situation with just Footwork.

[76561198074709395]

Originally posted by Barahur:

I don't like pure archer builds. After experimenting a lot, I vastly prefer hybrids. It's not always possible to get out of an "oh crap" situation with just Footwork.

Fair enough.

There's no 'wrong' way to play BB; all builds are viable. Mostly ;)

[Balavaeros]

There's going to be "oh crap" situations regardless of how you spec your guys. I've used hybrids but I find they die even easier because I spent pts in melee instead of life and defense.

[MYSTIC]

Pure archers goooood.

[Barahur]

Originally posted by Ichabod:

There's going to be "oh crap" situations regardless of how you spec your guys. I've used hybrids but I find they die even easier because I spent pts in melee instead of life and defense.

If I get a max roll for Melee vs a +1 for something else, I take it. Otherwise, I build primarily for archery. That gives me the option of actually using a polearm with some degree of proficiency if I choose. It gives you more flexibility, especially when situations get dicey. To each their own.

In the case where I got a Hunter with multple stars in Melee, I made him a hybrid since he was guaranteed to have high ranged and melee attack skills when all was said and done. I gave him a War Bow and a Warscythe and he has Overwhelm. He is extremely useful fighting Ancient Dead, and in the big noble house battles.