VC: Longbows.

[Vara]

Why does it feel like longbows and type of bows (Basically just longbows with different names) hit like wet noodles?

I've a fully upgraded rare longbow (the best bow in the game) with the best arrows and ten power draw and yet I still am unable to kill an unarmoured serf with one arrow.

Even worse, archers are completely useless compared to skirmishers who do more damage, have a shield (most of the time) and have the means to defend themselves in close combat. Archers really don't do what they were meant to do.

Most enemy Lords I've fought against don't even use archers, like as if the archer troop isn't in the game.

[Tuidjy]

My most powerful character in Viking Conquest is an archer. This is an old screenshot, he is a lot more powerful now, and can definitely kill unarmored people with one shot.

The bows are as good as they historically should be. Why aren't they working for you?

Does your bow require at least power draw 6? If not, your character's power draw is wasted.

Is you bow proficiency at least over 200? That's 15% bonus damage. At 500, that's 60% bonus damage, multiplicative with power draw.

A good archer is godly. If you are not getting good results, you're doing something wrong.

[White Knight]

Originally posted by Vara:

I've a fully upgraded rare longbow (the best bow in the game) with the best arrows and ten power draw and yet I still am unable to kill an unarmoured serf with one arrow.

I don't believe you.

It's true that Viking Conquest is notorious for nerfing archery. That is clear and undeniable.

Better skills and better equipment will make all the difference. In the early game, archery can seem almost pointless. By the time you get a character anywhere close to what you described in the quote above, archery would become deadly...possibly even "overpowered" according to the people who nerfed archery in the first place.

If what you wrote is true, then I'm guessing that you cheated to give yourself the best equipment and a ridiculously high number of power draw points. What you didn't do was also give yourself skill proficiency in archery, which is why your arrows aren't doing much. Without cheating, there would be no way to get 10 in power draw without also getting your proficiency up higher. I've never seen Power Draw 10 and I've been playing archers for years.

The truth is that VC hates archers. A determined player can make it work after dedicating themselves to improve their skills, proficiency and equipment, however.

Players like Tuidgy, can do things with archers that sound like magic to me but even with my non-optimal playstyle, I can do a lot of damage with my bow, by around level thirty or so.

Archers as troops are another story. Using them effectively is the key. Archers do not do so well when facing an enemy with shields and armour...obviously. They are best used to fire upon unarmoured opponents or at the flanks and rear of better equipped troops.

They are also weak in melee combat. Compared to knights and other men-at-arms, the lightly armoured bowmen are squishy targets that are easily wiped out, if you can get to them. This was true historically and it is also a feature of every video game ever made. Having troops who can dominate from long range and close quarters is too overpowered. Everyone would be an archer...just like everyone would be a wizard in other games. Building in these limitations makes the player have to make choices. It's also a more realistic depiction of combat since there is no such thing as a God of War who can do everything, all by themself.

Skirmishers are different again. These are troops who are expected to move quickly, engage the enemy and retreat again. They harass the enemy and keep them off balance. They have less effective ranged attacks but an increased ability with hand to hand combat.