Are bows viable?

[CrapAttackah]

Is it possible to focus on ranged bow combat while still being as effective as a magic or sword user?

[Stormsong]

Yep.

[jreese46]

Absolutely, especially from sneak. You'll get double damage if you hit from sneak, without being detected, triple if you use the sneak perk for it. Between that, smithing, and enchanting, you can do some serious damage with a bow. I find it works much better, offensively and from distance, though. Once they discover you, you lose a lot of that bonus, and tend to be better off with a melee weapon. If not, make sure you take the power shot, to stagger them when you shoot them.

[Brandybuck]

Yes. Killing stuff before they get into sword range is usually a sensible tactic.

[IrationalFear]

Note that any enchantments on bows apply both to arrows shot and when using a bow bash. You may need a meat shield follower to keep the heat off of you, but it's just as viable as the other main playstyles.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Stormsong the Fallen:

Yep.

Bearing in mind that beating everything to death with your fists is also "viable"...

Heck, I've been known to fight my battles by running up close to enemies and sending arrows at them with minimum draw - just so I can get off as many shots as possible and so powerlevel my archery skill.

[Incunabulum]

Originally posted by Honey, I nosc0ped the kids!:

Is it possible to focus on ranged bow combat while still being as effective as a magic or sword user?

Ranged combat is probably the most powerful in the game - especially coupled with stealth.

Scenario: Come across 6 guys sitting around a campfire. Drop two before anyone knows what's going on, drop the third as they finally figure out where you are, drop the 4th as they run towards you, take out the last two with some quick sword work.

And Stealth is stupid broken at medium levels. Sneak, kill somone with a ranged attack, alert the whole room, sit in the corner for 30 seconds and they all go back passive, rinse, repeat.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

Scenario: Come across 6 guys sitting around a campfire. Drop two before anyone knows what's going on, drop the third as they finally figure out where you are, drop the 4th as they run towards you, take out the last two with some quick sword work.

Assuming the game doesn't magically decide to slide your unaware targets out of the path of your arrows...

[Incunabulum]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

Scenario: Come across 6 guys sitting around a campfire. Drop two before anyone knows what's going on, drop the third as they finally figure out where you are, drop the 4th as they run towards you, take out the last two with some quick sword work.

Assuming the game doesn't magically decide to slide your unaware targets out of the path of your arrows...

I've never had that happen. I've seen plenty of *aware* targets pull some Matrix level ♥♥♥♥ juuuuuuust as you release the arrow - but not unaware mobs.

[DrSuperEvil]

Once had a dragur deathlord do an evasive slide right off an edge so he was dead either way. Combine the bow with paralysis poisons from alchemy to allow for multiple consecutive sneak attacks on the same target. On legendary a bow is recommended because melee is fatal.

[Saelune]

Bows are OP. Its certainly better than melee and magic. Dragons ya know...

Add in stealth, conjuration and bound bow, and the game is done.

You will want the slow down when zoomed-in perk as soon as possible.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Incunabulum:

I've never had that happen. I've seen plenty of *aware* targets pull some Matrix level ♥♥♥♥ juuuuuuust as you release the arrow - but not unaware mobs.

I can believe they might have to be "aware" (in which case I'd argue that the game is giving them unfair forewarning), but I've had them zip sideways (without moving their legs) from near maximum range while facing away from me.

Not saying it's common, mind you, but the whole "moving without animating" thing makes it pretty obvious the game's pulling a fast one on you.

Then there's the Bullseye perk, which causes your targets to dodge by making them fall over before your arrows reach them...

[76561198034396398]

combine alchemy with bows, critical shot and stagger perk, i can one shot kill sneak attack a Legendy dragon on Master.....cause i'm so damn good.....mind you if the thing gets me out in the open i usually end up on fire

[DrSuperEvil]

If you are a breton and have the magic resist perks from the alteration tree then dragonbreath is hardly high damage especially with the lord stone. I never use the zoom even for max range shots. I would not say that bows are superior to melee weapons (especially with the sneak attack bonuses for daggers) but they are a good way to open a fight assuming thunderbolt is not on the table.