deer are coded to dodge projectiles

[HashSlingingSlasher]

now don't get me wrong, with a bow its harder for them to do that, but I've been playing long enough to notice that they are very much coded to dodge projectiles. how do I know? I will be sneaking, undetected, throw a spear, still undetected, then, while the spear is flying, the deer will straight up juke it. even if it didnt know the spear was flying at it. now I don't hunt irl so I do not know if deer have evolved to the point where their deer brains can understand advanced projectile warfare and how to dodge incoming projectiles.... but my goodness is it so annoying.

[Gavener]

ya got to lead them or just hope they zig and not zag, after a while you will be a deer sniper

[HashSlingingSlasher]

the advice is appreciated but I already do that when they already know I'm there and I'm chasing. this post is me attempting to plant the seed of a small, not important, quality of life detail change. I really hope the devs see it. deer don't dodge projectiles, so why they dodging projectiles perfectly when they don't know I'm there

[Horemvore]

Made me chuckle.

Valheim AI is not that advanced, fact.

[Macdallan]

Short answer: It's not the deer. You're doing something wrong.

Long answer: The deer are absolutely *NOT* coded to dodge projectiles. They either saw you, or heard you, and it's just a coincidence that they moved as your projectile got close. I've pulled off hundreds of stealth kills on deer with bows and they simply do not dodge at the last second. If they were coded to do that I'd have seen it at least a few times and it just doesn't occur.

Deer are ridiculously easy to kill in the game once you understand how to properly hunt. Once you get the hang of it you'll rarely miss and you can actually get close enough to melee them if you know how.

[HashSlingingSlasher]

don't get me wrong, I've told myself that a lot. but I also took half a year learning to code in highschool in a program. I've witnessed it enough times to know whats going on lol to add a script to dodge incoming projectiles isnt as hard as you'd think. if-projectile incoming=then-input dodge command

[Polonius Ulf]

No they aren't. I can shoot deer as fast as I can equip the bow and fire.

(BTW, it is faster to first-equip the bow than to re-equip the bow. In the latter case, there is a pause before you can draw. So shoulder your melee weapons, not your bow. Keep it on #1)

[HashSlingingSlasher]

when your bowskill is high enough, it's to fast for the command to respond. which is great, but my suspicion of a dodging code being present is still definitely there.

[kaypy]

I think the issue may be that throwing a spear is coded to be ludicrously loud. I actually spend as much time with the spear as a pay-attention-to-me tool as an actual hunting implement... (great for hunting boar and wolves, anything in earshot comes right to you)

[Polonius Ulf]

I got plenty of deer with a crude bow by sneaking up on them. Bows are not silent, so I aim the crosshairs before beginning the draw and loose the moment it reaches full extension. It took some practice to get it all in one motion. I could do better with a crude bow now than I did when I started Valheim.

[blprice61]

Based on seagulls, I suspect there may be some directional parameter to the sounds as well. Just as an experiment, next time you have a crude bow on a starting character; try aiming away from a seagull, drawing back to full, and only then turn and release. It seems more effective than aiming and drawing. Deer aren't quite as flighty.

[HashSlingingSlasher]

Originally posted by kaypy:

I think the issue may be that throwing a spear is coded to be ludicrously loud. I actually spend as much time with the spear as a pay-attention-to-me tool as an actual hunting implement... (great for hunting boar and wolves, anything in earshot comes right to you)

now THIS might be the problem

[HashSlingingSlasher]

Originally posted by blprice61:

Based on seagulls, I suspect there may be some directional parameter to the sounds as well. Just as an experiment, next time you have a crude bow on a starting character; try aiming away from a seagull, drawing back to full, and only then turn and release. It seems more effective than aiming and drawing. Deer aren't quite as flighty.

I shall experiment!

[Jitatha]

The terrain is also a factor, if the deer is on flat ground then it is much different than on bumpy ground or near rocks. I use the Fenris armour and claws to run the deer down and whack em. Even when chased they periodically slow down and turn towards you, especially when near rocks and trees. Also all those little bushes and stuff get in the way when you shoot.
Anyway, it could be what you are seeing is a reaction to the terrain and it is coincidental to you shooting the arrow. Dear also tend to path back to spawn points when frightened, most animals do. I once dragged a boar a very long way, and when his pen got trashed before being tamed, the thing ran off at warp speed in the direction I gathered it from.

[Horemvore]

Meh caught by the troll again :-/

[Humpenstilzchen]

Not much experience with spears though I´m pretty sure they don´t jump the shot when using bows. Maybe it got spooked by you or something else.