Anyone know a guide?

[jchaosmaster]

Hello, me again looking for new info on a new questions. Hoping this amazing community can help.

Currently I am playing a archer and was wondering how do I know what armor to get. Like does Ac more important then say a slightly high stat buff.


Second can you do stealth archer build? Like skyrim. I found the hide but it never seems to make my damage go up in compaire to say BG3. Do I need a thief class for sneak attack or did I not get a feat. I ask because with my animal I can get attack opertunity well bit nothing for really beginning a fight.

[Ninja]

For armor/AC it sort of depends on how you're playing and if you're soloing or with other players or henchmen/companions. You don't necessarily need more AC if you're not planning to be in the front lines, but if you find yourself needing to switch back and forth between ranged and melee then it might be good to invest in AC. The actual armor (clothing, light, medium, or heavy) doesn't really have an impact on ranged weapons. It's only dexterity-based skills like hide/move silently and arcane spellcasting that's affected the heavier armor you use, and I guess the weight if you dont have much carrying capacity.

For stealth archer builds you'd probably need rogue or assassin levels for the sneak/death attacks. You can also try the Shadowdancer class, which doesnt have sneak/death attack, but they are the only class that can get Hide in Plain Sight which allows you to use stealth mid-fight. Also note that sneak attacks and death attacks have a certain range limit, so for them to trigger you have to be within like 30 feet from the target and the enemy cant be immune. As an example, Undead are immune to sneak/death attacks so it would never trigger against them by default.

I'm not much of a character builder but If you want an archer/stealth archer build you probably shouldn't be going full Ranger. Arcane Archer is an option with less stealth, Rogue gives you sneak attack damage, Assassin gives you death attack, and Shadowdancer gives you the "most stealth" with Hide in Plain Sight. So you could mix and match a couple of those classes for a build that suits you. I'm sure other people have specific builds they can suggest. Just keep in mind the 3 class limit.

What I normally do is look through the NWN wiki and see at what level certain classes get abilities/feats and figure out the prerequisites for prestige classes I want. Let's say I want to make a stealth archer as a rogue and I want Hide in Plain Sight, you only need 1 level of Shadowdancer to get that. And if I want that ASAP then plan to get the prerequisites so you can take it as soon as it's available (which I think would be level 8). Then if I want more damage for my bow I could try taking 4 levels of Fighter for weapon focus/specialization longbow which will give me +1AB and +2 damage. Then maybe I could take rogue the rest of the way, which would end up being like 7 rogue levels to start, then 1 SD for level 8, then 9-12 for Fighter, and another 8 rogue to 20. I get extra damage and attack bonus with my longbow because of Fighter, better sneak attack damage with high rogue levels, and the ability to hide/re-use sneak attack with SD's HIPS.

[jchaosmaster]

I might try that in my next module. Right now I just got in the final act of undertide and I think I'm 6 or 7 archer and just got my animal companion. Thanks for the tips. Normally my allie I try to get the best armor the NPC can wear to help compensate for stupid AI.

Currently in running two modules at once. A pally is mobile and archer on deck to see just who I likes more. So that gives me a bit to think about with armor.

Also thanks for the tip with the class ans experience with the classes. I know archer is weak which is why I wanted to fine how fo juice it other then arcane archer

[Wizard of Woz]

Usually the best way to determine what armor to wear is look at the Dex restriction on the armor. If you have +3 Dex modifier, then go for armor that allows max +3 Dex.

[normalredux]

Remember that if you're using bows, having the "Mighty" property on them will add your strength modifier to damage. Dex does nothing to increase your bow damage, only your attack.
So if you want to maximize bow damage, you want to do it with class features like Sneak Attack, spells or pumping up your Str and using a Mighty bow.

[jchaosmaster]

OK my current armor is

Base 2
Max dex 6
Armor bonus 2
Damage resistance piecing/slash 5

Where something like hide plus 4 is
Base class 3
Max dex bonus 4
Armor check minus -1

Armor bonu +4

[Wizard of Woz]

Originally posted by jchaosmaster:

OK my current armor is

Base 2
Max dex 6
Armor bonus 2
Damage resistance piecing/slash 5

Where something like hide plus 4 is
Base class 3
Max dex bonus 4
Armor check minus -1

Armor bonu +4

What is your Dex?

[jchaosmaster]

Currently 23 and plus 6? I didn't know where to put stats.

[normalredux]

Your positive ability score bonus is your stat minus 10 divided by 2 rounded down.
So your current armor is the best you could have in terms of base AC. Total AC gained from it is 10. With the magical armor bonus, the +4 hide armor gives you +11 AC, at the cost of -1 to skill checks.
However, if you equip a different item that grants an armor bonus like a ring with a bigger bonus than +2, you can wear even a basic set of the lighter armor and have more total AC.
With enough Dex, technically wearing no armor will give you an even bigger AC bonus than wearing any, since you're not limited.

Endgame armor will typically give you such big bonuses though that going naked is pointless.

[Ninja]

Originally posted by normalredux:

Your positive ability score bonus is your stat minus 10 divided by 2 rounded down.
So your current armor is the best you could have in terms of base AC. Total AC gained from it is 10. With the magical armor bonus, the +4 hide armor gives you +11 AC, at the cost of -1 to skill checks.
However, if you equip a different item that grants an armor bonus like a ring with a bigger bonus than +2, you can wear even a basic set of the lighter armor and have more total AC.
With enough Dex, technically wearing no armor will give you an even bigger AC bonus than wearing any, since you're not limited.

Endgame armor will typically give you such big bonuses though that going naked is pointless.

Just a quick note, rings don't typically share the same AC bonus as armor unless there's some custom work done on the module. But the idea is correct in that similar AC types don't stack, only the highest value is taken.

Armor AC - Armor and Bracers
Shield AC - Shields
Deflection AC - Weapons, Gloves, Cloaks, Rings, Helmets
Dodge AC - Boots
Natural AC - Amulets

[wendigo211]

Rogue archers were never really as popular in NWN as they were in NWN2, probably because there's no Epic Precision feat that lets you 1/2 sneak attack critical hit immune enemies. Ninja, covered it. You can sneak attack with a bow, but you have to be close, 30 feet (the game uses meters so 9.14 m, or about 1 tile). The wiki[nwn.fandom.com] has some more details on Sneak Attack. You also generally need some way of generating Sneak Attack conditions, due to the limitations of NWN henchmen, companions and summons, Hide in Plain Sight is the usual route. So you end up with Rogue x/Shadowdancer 1 and something else like: Monk (fast movement), Barbarian (also fast movement), Fighter/CoT (feats and BAB) or Cleric (Buff spells). Since the latest patch opened up the possibility of more than 3 classes (with a bit of file editing), you could do something like a Rogue/Shadowdancer/Bard/AA.

As for AC, there are 5 types of AC and your 10 Base AC, which is untyped. They don't stack with other AC bonuses of the same type other than Dodge AC (which stacks to a max of 20), and natural AC from feats (E.g. PM AC bonus, RDD AC bonus, Monk AC bonus, Armor Skin). The different types of AC also apply against different types of attacks. So the different types are:

• Armor- Armor and Bracers- good vs. normal and flat-footed attacks.
  Shield- Shields- good vs. normal and flat-footed attacks.
  Deflection- Weapons, Gloves, Cloaks, Rings, Helmets- good vs. all attacks.
  Dodge- Boots- good vs. normal and touch attacks
  Natural- Amulets- good vs. normal and flat-footed attacks.
  Base 10-good vs. all attacks.

Against a flat-footed attack (e.g. attacked from stealth or while paralyzed), you lose your Dodge, Tumble AC and dex bonus to AC.
Against a touch attack (from certain spells), you lose your Armor, Shield, and Natural AC bonuses.

For SoU, I'm pretty sure the Greanleaf Armor which is +5 leather? is a guaranteed drop in act 3, so that's probably the best armor for you.

[jchaosmaster]

Wow! So much good info! Yea I own NWN 2 but never played it. I am honestly in love with NWN I have not felt pleasure from a game since my first play though of skyrim.

But I was semi right then a plus 2 stat should make up for a plus 1 in AC. Yea on my pally I'm working on getting heavy armor but the module is low loot and low gold affair. Undertide has been more balanced as what I lack in class DPS I managed to pick up with some magic rings and cloak to give me access som outside magic.

[Drascalicus]

Originally posted by jchaosmaster:

Hello, me again looking for new info on a new questions. Hoping this amazing community can help.

Currently I am playing a archer and was wondering how do I know what armor to get. Like does Ac more important then say a slightly high stat buff.


Second can you do stealth archer build? Like skyrim. I found the hide but it never seems to make my damage go up in compaire to say BG3. Do I need a thief class for sneak attack or did I not get a feat. I ask because with my animal I can get attack opertunity well bit nothing for really beginning a fight.

Most archery is run off of dexterity, so you want armor that will allow for the max amount of that to come through without impeding AC. For example, heavy armors limit you to a max DEX modifier of 1 or 2 depending on type.

That said, your DEX modifier gives Dodge AC, thus to maximize your character you need to do the math in order to get the highest AC. More than likely with a high DEX modifier, you'll want to run medium to start and downgrade to light and then to cloth. You also will want to spec into tumble (if you can) as every 5 points into tumble gives +1 Dodge AC, not including DEX modifier.

As for stealth archer, it will be a PAIN to get, but Shadow Dancer will "technically" allow it. Shadow Dancers get a hide in plain sight feat which allows you to stealth in the middle of combat. If your opponent isn't aided by magic sight (true sight) or has low spot/listen scores, you can effectively turn invisible to strike again from the shadows.

Sneak attack does require points into rogue to achieve. Attacks of opportunity are free attacks due to one of three actions: forced move, spellcasting / using a bow in melee, using and item/potion. They offer no extra damage like a sneak attack, just an extra combat role.

[Chaosolous]

There this: https://nwn.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page

It's not very comprehensive though.

[jchaosmaster]

Originally posted by Drascalicus:

Originally posted by jchaosmaster:

Hello, me again looking for new info on a new questions. Hoping this amazing community can help.

Currently I am playing a archer and was wondering how do I know what armor to get. Like does Ac more important then say a slightly high stat buff.


Second can you do stealth archer build? Like skyrim. I found the hide but it never seems to make my damage go up in compaire to say BG3. Do I need a thief class for sneak attack or did I not get a feat. I ask because with my animal I can get attack opertunity well bit nothing for really beginning a fight.

Most archery is run off of dexterity, so you want armor that will allow for the max amount of that to come through without impeding AC. For example, heavy armors limit you to a max DEX modifier of 1 or 2 depending on type.

That said, your DEX modifier gives Dodge AC, thus to maximize your character you need to do the math in order to get the highest AC. More than likely with a high DEX modifier, you'll want to run medium to start and downgrade to light and then to cloth. You also will want to spec into tumble (if you can) as every 5 points into tumble gives +1 Dodge AC, not including DEX modifier.

As for stealth archer, it will be a PAIN to get, but Shadow Dancer will "technically" allow it. Shadow Dancers get a hide in plain sight feat which allows you to stealth in the middle of combat. If your opponent isn't aided by magic sight (true sight) or has low spot/listen scores, you can effectively turn invisible to strike again from the shadows.

Sneak attack does require points into rogue to achieve. Attacks of opportunity are free attacks due to one of three actions: forced move, spellcasting / using a bow in melee, using and item/potion. They offer no extra damage like a sneak attack, just an extra combat role.

My current idea idea has been look for/keep a eye out for enchanted gear. Like a piece of gear that provides me like say a extra spell. A great example was my cape of the manticor gives men four charges of manticor spike per rest. It's a decent nuke but does great single target damage. I figured that's better then some cape that just gives +2 dex. I has been fun finding little upgrades/items that turn out to be useful once I fully understand them.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by jchaosmaster:

My current idea idea has been look for/keep a eye out for enchanted gear. Like a piece of gear that provides me like say a extra spell. A great example was my cape of the manticor gives men four charges of manticor spike per rest. It's a decent nuke but does great single target damage. I figured that's better then some cape that just gives +2 dex. I has been fun finding little upgrades/items that turn out to be useful once I fully understand them.

As a long-time D&D player, especially with the ruleset that's the basis for this game, my immediate reaction to giving up a Dex bonus is "Ooh, bad idea". Dexterity is one of the most important Ability scores in the game. Not only does it contribute to your AC, it also contributes to one of your saving throws, and those are important for avoiding damage from any attack that has an AOE. A +2 Dex bonus is another +1 to you Reflex and possible AC, and every little bit helps, no matter how minor it may seem. That one bonus may mean the difference between diving out of the way of an incoming Fireball spell, or getting cooked by it.