Zen Savvij's PvP Archer Templates --------------------------------- These are PvP Archer templates. I have Darktide in mind, though they should be about right anywhere. If you are unsure you want to play an archer on Darktide, turn back now and play a melee or Mage. As things stand right now, Archers are good support units in large clan attacks, but utterly suck one-on-one. Put Alchemy on a Mule, and get him up to a 100 skill. That's all you will ever need in order to make elemental arrows. The hard part is the Fletching, which I sincerely believe you should keep on your main. Race: Go Sho because of UA melee skill, and Race Req Yumis usually Sho. Aluvian is bad because Dagger is bugged, and Assess Person sucks. Gharu? Never heard of anyone doing that... Statistics ---------- Strength: 30 with Fletching 50 - 60 without Fletching With the latest patch reducing arrow-shaft weight, fletching allows archers a reduced starting Strength. Otherwise I would have said 40 w/fletching before. I used to believe that starting statistics weren't all that important because you could compensate so much later on, but now I have seen how just a few points can matter a great deal. I am a firm believer in taking fletching just so you won't have to put so much into strength. Endurance: 10 This is the extreme number, but if you can handle dieing so much at the lower levels, DO IT! If you have someone to help you level, DO IT! You need the points in other statistics too much, and frankly, in this game it seems you're either hit for 5 or hit for 90. No middle ground. And think of it, putting 40 points into this only gives you 15 more Hitpoints. Meaningless later. Though your lack of stamina in the beginning will be difficult. Coordination: 90 - 100 That extra 5 points of Bow can make a surprising difference when you're pushing that skill up to 210 so you can use that Undead Bone Handle. Quickness: 50-70 Run skill is extremely important in PvP, and in Kiting those Banderlings and (later) Drudge Raveners. Focus: 30 - 100 This is the skill that you have been saving up for. Whatever points you shaved off of the other statistics, put here. This is where your fletching, healing, and magic skills will get their might. Self: 10 - 100 Sorry for the range, but it depends on the skills you choose. Also, if you have any points left over after pumping Focus to 100, put them here. 3-School Archer -------------------- This is the most powerful Archer template in the game, but there are some serious disadvantages. With this template you can take on the most powerful creatures in Dereth because you can buff yourself with all the right spells, and debuff the hell out of your target. Nothing can stand up to you as long as you have the time to do all your magic first. The disadvantage is, of course, you are very vulnerable when you do not have your buffs going. And the time it takes to get buffed can be annoying. Start with at least 40 Self to give yourself some good starting Mana. And if you think you can do without Fletching, then forget about focus altogether and put everything into Self. Although Arcane Lore can be useful, the advantages for not taking it are so great that I strongly suggest not taking it. No worry about mana charges. And no worry about death items once you have your no-drop bow. Crossbow + Spec 12 (After Imperil and Vuln, try for one-shots) Life Magic 12 Item Magic 8 Creature Magic 8 Fletching 4 Mana Convert 6 Melee Def 10 at 12th Healing 6 at 26th (You need this for Health to Mana) Missile Def, Lockpick, or Leadership after this. Bow Variant - Heard evidence that Crossbows are worse than I thought in PvP. So here goes... Bow 8 (Do NOT specialize. Not necessary.) Life Magic 20 (Must specialize) Creature Magic 8 (Allows you to buff endurance/stamina/health) Fletching 4 Melee Defense 10 Mana Convert 6 at 7th Item Magic 8 at 18th Healing 6 at 35th (You need this for Health to Mana) Cooking or Leadrshp 4 at 55th 2-School Life/Item/Archer ------------------------- If you are going to be 2-school Archer, take Life magic, not creature. Arcane Lore will make up for your creature magic loss. If you can handle a crossbow in PvP and are totally annoyed by it, then choose this template. Crossbow + Spec 12 Life Magic + Spec 20 Item Magic 8 Arcane Lore + Spec 6 Fletching 4 Melee Def 10 at 12th Mana Convert 6 at 26th Healing 6 at 50th Bow Variant - The slow speed of the crossbow annoys me. This is what I would do if I were to re-roll an Archer. Bow 8 (Once you get to 200 bow, you can hit fine) Life Magic + Spec 20 (The better Vulns and Imperils compensates) Item Magic 8 Fletching 4 Melee Def 10 Mana Convert 6 at 7th Arcane Lore 4 at 12th Healing 6 at 26th Then Leadership or Cooking at 40th or (Cooking!) Lockpick at 50th or Missile Def at 60th 1-School Item/Archer -------------------------------- This is the simplest Template to play. No worries about vulning or imperiling. Just buff up and start shooting until you are out of arrows. I say that Item is more important than Life or Creature on Darktide entirely because of the portal spells and ability to Recall. With this template you can fight Lugians pretty well because of the missile defense, and also can get some good shields that others may not want or cannot use. With this template, forget about going against those level 100+ level monsters out there alone, but then you can always try to find a mage to team up with. Also, you are at a severe disadvantage one-on-one because you cannot debuff someone. You will only be effective in PvP if you catch your quarry by surprise, or if you have someone else debuffing. You will NOT be one-shotting monsters, so there is less point in taking Crossbow. I go with Bow at this point and get a much higher rate of fire, and faster response time to dodge. Bow + Specialize 16 Item + Specialize 16 Fletching 4 Melee Defense 10 Arcane Lore 4 Missile Defense at 9 (Don't take Creature! If you want to be 2-school you should take Life with prior template) Healing at 20 (Damage can be waited off before this) Mana Convert at 40 (Now you're ready to just raid) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Okay, can't help it. Here's a UA guy that I'd do. 100/10/100/50/50/30. UA + Spec 6 (Cuz I'll be Sho) Melee Def 10 Creature 8 Life + Spec 20 Arcane Lore + Spec 6 Mana Convert 6 at 7th Item 8 at 20th Healing 6 at 40th