Ranged Combats in Combination - Really That bad? // RC + LC/HC

[Dr.Ogen]

Why is RC hated so much?

Iam really wondering.

This Post is about a Combat only Avatar. (No Mental Ranger)

Charbuild

In this example we want to skill RC with Bows OR Cross Bows too 20 at first.

1. Skill Points

In total u have 100 Skillpoints.
By spending 20 for RC and 20 for Bows or Crossbows u need in total:
20 + 20 = 40
The rest of ur Skillpoints then is:
100 - 40 = 60

2. Attributes

For Skilllevel 20 in RC stats of STR at 87 and DEX at 110 r required. Therefore u have to invest:
87-25 = 52 in STR and 110 - 25 = 85 in DEX.
The total ammount of points u have to spent is:
52 + 85 = 137
If u did that, u would have, the ammount of the rest is:
285 - 137 = 148

a) Combination with HC:

For Skill lvl 20 in HC u need 112 in STR and STA.
We got 87 in STR and 25 in STA now.
Too reach they required amount, we have to spent:
112 - 87 = 25 in STR and 112 - 25 = 87 in STA
Which is in total: 87 + 25 = 112 (lol)

The Rest of ur Att points then is:
148 - 112 = 36

U can decide, what u want to do with them.
In this example we just invest 12 in each of STR STA & DEX.
Or 18 in STR and STA.

So we got: Or
112 + 12 = 124 in STR & STA 112+18 = 130
110 + 12 = 122 in DEX 110 DEX

Rest of 60 Skill Points
20 for HC
20 for Armor
20 for Blades


b) Combination with LC

For Skill level 20 in LC u need 102 DEX and 101 AGI.

We have to spent in total
0 for DEX and 101-25 = 74

Rest off Att is then:
148 - 74 = 74

At this point we can feel free what to do with them.
In this Example Iam going to boost STA and STR.
in the End we have:

87 + 24 = 111 STR
25 + 50= 75 STA
110 DEX
101 AGI

Rest of Skillpoints
20 for LC
20 for Light Armour
20 for any Kind of Weapon


The Result is a strong hybrid, which can adjust to many situations.
I personally like the Combo with HC more, but i guess with LC its also not that bad.

U deal big Damage in both of Range and close combat, bc of ur high STR and DEX.
U also are a tank, especially with HC.

U got ur Skill points at 20, which means u can use the best weapons and armour.
U can use an bigger aresenal of weapons.

U r strong allone with ur heroes, and also with an army.

I see so many advantages in this kind of allrounder Hybrid Avatar.

So why is everyone hating RC?


There r some critic points I can relate.
We have a closer look and then I will show some solutions.


Critics
I. Speed & Range

Because of the Reloading animation a big chunk of the Speed and Range is taken away.
In generall I think, that both should be raised. I don't know how high the factors should be, when talking about the balance. Could be the same for every weapon or varriate.
[Maybe the Damage too]

Solution
Install Range Efficency Mod and additionally increase Speed and Range [and Damage] via GameData Editor.

II. Skills/Spells

However, this point might be the hardest critic. The afford for changes would require a mod or GameData changings.

There really could be better ones or should be adjusted. Some r just rubbish or have nothing to do with RRC
Let's have a look at every Skill.


1. Trueshoot
Standard is 300% DMG for 15 seconds. Guess this Should be Increased.
Maybe 400%/500% and for 20/30 secs. Less Cooldown maybe.

2. Boons
Nice to have. Could arguee about bc of other skill combinations. (Magic)
a) keep it.
b) However, its not a Range Skill. Thereforee swap it too a Speed Buff.
c) keep it and implement another skill like b).

3. Steelskin
In my eyes this is useless.
a) Throw it away. Transform for a Range Buff instead.

4. Salvo
Didnt remember if Damage is splitted. If not, just keep it. If yes, put the split away.

5. Shiftlife
Nice to have, but no Range skill. Arguements just like for Boons.
a) keep it.
b) Transform to a temporary DEX Buff.

6. Critical Hit
a) Increase propability and lower how wounded an enemy has to bee. As I remembering it to be pretty useless.
b) Replace to a Buff for DMG, Range, Speed and DEX at the same time.
c) Ideas like 7 or 8 below.

Ideas for Added/Replaced skills:

7. A Skill, that slows enimies Walkspeed rapidly for a short time when hitten.
8. A Skill, that pushs hitten enemies backwards.



So what do u think?

[Crypto Gamer]

RC was even more useless due to low/zero avatar "auto AI",and too much apm required to micro.... avatar archer just to simply defend himself......

I never used RC because of that reason alone.Skeletons and many undead..... also take reduced dmg from piercing weapons......

I agree that some ranged combat skills need about double their duration like salvo or less CD like trueshot.
Steelskin should be AOE like HC ones,so it has nieche use when closing in with rune army againts enemy archers.

Critical hit is useless 95% of the time in every build,it is rng based instakill on already low % hp units.I would simply give it chance to do 2x dmg with auto attacks,so it always useful with longer duration.

A hybrid aka mage melee/ranged will always be better and more versitale(but more apm intensive) than a pure melee or ranged char post mid game,If you go LC or HC you always needs some dex,str just to deal auto dmg in reliable fashion unless you go for more mage side mode.
All pure physical dmg only builds will suck againts"mummy"type enemies in SOTPS.

Boons tree in general even if you use only lvl 6 boons at lvl 50 offer decent stats bonuses to others and army,at low stats investment cost.
Boons 1 alone with fast fighting 1 and HC 19 might out dps HC 20 and can also affect others.
High boons with decent charisma basically caps out at 200% speed and 200% current stats.

Imo player should only chose 1 weapon like crossbow or bow,to save on skill points.

That said an archer can easily go cast spells and forgo close combat weapons or use spells like iceshield to get melee protection.

RC deals less dps than HC or LC,but it is range therefore safer.

Also there is 1 missing set piece due to developer error gimping ranged set bonuses in SOTPS:(......

[Dragon_Hunter7]

Range combat without magic is too hard and not fun,although it is a good option if u are pro
player and you want some challenge.
Imo best compo is rc+wm+mm you use miror image+aura eternity+aura strength
and thats a badass ranger....rc15 (crossbows)-wm13(boons-life)-mm13(enchantment)

[Krampus]

Not considering mirror image, there's nothing that comes close to a paladin when you play solo. It's basically the only build that can solo the game given some obvious exceptions like a big preset enemy army. HC armor and two hander + LM - life for str/stam aura and god heal. Can basically solo the game if you never activate the enemy spawners.

[Dr.Ogen]

Originally posted by Crypto Gamer:

RC was even more useless due to low/zero avatar "auto AI",and too much apm required to micro.... avatar archer just to simply defend himself......

(My 1st run when i was 9, had been a RC and LC Hybrid, with piercings and swowrd.
He also had MM OFF on 4. Dont ask me how i managed to finish StoP wirh this char)

I never used RC because of that reason alone.Skeletons and many undead..... also take reduced dmg from piercing weapons......

(IDEA: different bows shot different kind of arrows. Or u could change)

I agree that some ranged combat skills need about double their duration like salvo or less CD like trueshot.
Steelskin should be AOE like HC ones,so it has nieche use when closing in with rune army againts enemy archers.

(Good Idea)

Critical hit is useless 95% of the time in every build,it is rng based instakill on already low % hp units.I would simply give it chance to do 2x dmg with auto attacks,so it always useful with longer duration.

(SO WE NEED TO CHANGE)

A hybrid aka mage melee/ranged will always be better and more versitale(but more apm intensive) than a pure melee or ranged char post mid game,If you go LC or HC you always needs some dex,str just to deal auto dmg in reliable fashion unless you go for more mage side mode.
All pure physical dmg only builds will suck againts"mummy"type enemies in SOTPS.

(Oh i remeber these b* If it werent for mage, could a dead-rotten body absorb TONS of physical DMG. Maybe the wear an armoer we cant see ))

Boons tree in general even if you use only lvl 6 boons at lvl 50 offer decent stats bonuses to others and army,at low stats investment cost.
Boons 1 alone with fast fighting 1 and HC 19 might out dps HC 20 and can also affect others.
High boons with decent charisma basically caps out at 200% speed and 200% current stats.

(I meant the instant healing)

Imo player should only chose 1 weapon like crossbow or bow,to save on skill points.

(i stated this, but u r right anway :))

That said an archer can easily go cast spells and forgo close combat weapons or use spells like iceshield to get melee protection.

RC deals less dps than HC or LC,but it is range therefore safer.

Also there is 1 missing set piece due to developer error gimping ranged set bonuses in SOTPS

(we just replace it in the gamedata...)

:(......

[Dr.Ogen]

Originally posted by Krampus:

Not considering mirror image, there's nothing that comes close to a paladin when you play solo. It's basically the only build that can solo the game given some obvious exceptions like a big preset enemy army. HC armor and two hander + LM - life for str/stam aura and god heal. Can basically solo the game if you never activate the enemy spawners.

about mirrage: They keep wearing the armour u weard, when u casted then.
u could a mixture of shooters and fighter.

Paladin is also superior.

anothe imba combo ist EM, Fire Ice and DM Curse

[Dr.Ogen]

Originally posted by postiga:

Range combat without magic is too hard and not fun,although it is a good option if u are pro
player and you want some challenge.
Imo best compo is rc+wm+mm you use miror image+aura eternity+aura strength
and thats a badass ranger....rc15 (crossbows)-wm13(boons-life)-mm13(enchantment)

Just need to teach lvl 31, then its gonna be wild hahah