Are Bows Useless? : V

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:50 pm

So I'm only like 10 hours into my first character/game and already I've decided to start over with a new character. mainly because I really rushed through everything and missed a lot so I wanna start fresh and experience the game proper. I want my character to stricly use bows for everything but it seems like they are a very weak weapon of choice.

If I chose to just use a bow for most of the time, would my chances of dyeing 100 times increase greatly? lol

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:59 pm

What else are you gonna fire arrows with?

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:34 am

So I'm only like 10 hours into my first character/game and already I've decided to start over with a new character. mainly because I really rushed through everything and missed a lot so I wanna start fresh and experience the game proper. I want my character to stricly use bows for everything but it seems like they are a very weak weapon of choice.

If I chose to just use a bow for most of the time, would my chances of dyeing 100 times increase greatly? lol

get a bound bow and then come back to me...oh and get your archery up

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:41 pm

Bows are great for everything except Melee Combat.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:46 pm

archery is beast mode.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:20 pm

So I'm only like 10 hours into my first character/game and already I've decided to start over with a new character. mainly because I really rushed through everything and missed a lot so I wanna start fresh and experience the game proper. I want my character to stricly use bows for everything but it seems like they are a very weak weapon of choice.

If I chose to just use a bow for most of the time, would my chances of dyeing 100 times increase greatly? lol

Sigh. There are no useless skills or weapons in the game. Just look at all the threads [censored]ing about how archery/smithing/illusion/alchemy/two-handed/whatever you happened to pick makes you godlike at higher levels.

If you put in the time and effort to train with any weapon or skill you will become very powerful with it. I use the bow all the time and giants and frost trolls die with just 3-4 arrows, and that's if I DON'T sneak up on them for the sneak attack bonus.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:07 pm

Archery is BEAST. Why not use S&B and Archery if you are worried? That's what I do.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:45 am

bows are extremely awesome!

If you are worried about enemies getting close then you get a follower who uses heavy melee attacks and blocking. Lydia, your free follower is perfectly fine. You can slow down time when you zoom in, you can increase the damage, criticals, etc. You can even make it so that you don't slow down when your bow is drawn which is amazing

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:37 pm

I'm using bows with sneak, talk about overkill. Your going to need to use a sword sometimes early on, or lower the diffuculty, but once you get bows to the 30-40 you'll be fine.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:47 pm

NO! You just have to build up the skill and find yourself a kick-ass bow. In a successful sneak attack they are of great use.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:02 pm

ive never even played a Elder Scrolls game before Skyrim and even i know Archery is a awesome mode! dude sort it out!

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:42 pm

On my sword+shield guy Ive killed several bosses using just archery.

Its in no way weak and very good at taking out a handful of critters before they get too involved. I havent even got it too a high level and dont use the best bow Ive found.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:34 am

Bow is best used by Stealthy Rangers, so Light Armor. Attacking with a bow while stealthed = 2X damage and there is a Sneak perk that ramps that up to 3X, add a little poison or enchant and you beat a melee weapon per hit damage easily. Just depends on how fast you to aim are because the Bow is very slow. However, the Bow does damage, the arrow does damage, then any extras. It's very effective.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:17 am

Honestly even melee characters have a hard time against dragons when they start breathing fire on you.. Bows and magic are the best two things to take a dragon and with Bows you don't have to worry about Magicka regeneration problems. Bows ftw.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:18 am

Honestly even melee characters have a hard time against dragons when they start breathing fire on you.. Bows and magic are the best two things to take a dragon and with Bows you don't have to worry about Magicka regeneration problems. Bows ftw.

Pretty sure they just stunlock the dragon indefinitely...

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:57 pm

Bows plus the slow time perk = Best combat aspect possible.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:50 pm

I'm an archer and I manage just fine.
Some enemies can be horrible to be faced with, but then we have poisons, shouts and 'peek-a-boo' shots.
Facing a dragon and some kind of undead priest at the same time was dreadful but that's what made it fun.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:36 pm

I'm an archer and I manage just fine.
Some enemies can be horrible to be faced with, but then we have poisons, shouts and 'peek-a-boo' shots.
Facing a dragon and some kind of undead priest at the same time was dreadful but that's what made it fun.

HAHA! I fought that duo today! Good news is I saw the dragon perched on the dragon wall when I came up from behind and launched fire balls at his rear end and killed the dragon before even realizing that there was also a dragon priest at the top

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:22 pm

Make sure to check every bow against the one you have, and also the arrows. Both the bow and arrows have certain damage levels, so make sure to swap them out as you level.

Also, my level 6 mage going to the Jarl, did a few more dungeons and found one bow that damages mana and health, and another that did an additional 20 points damage to health. Sweet.

Enchanting is probably something that also would help to add certain spells to your weapons and increase the damage.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:25 am

Use bows... Forget about melee... Use illusion to stop aggro and conjuration for the minions and bound bow... U won't regret it. Always have a pet summoned, the on seeing the enemy use calm or fury depending on the situation, the kill everything with a bow...

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:13 pm

Archery can take some work, but when you get it up there, damn it it a beast.

I just stood on the otherside of a small room from a Dreugr Deathlord and put him full of arrows until he died, he didn't even make it across the room to attack me. I'm primarily a Sword and shield guy, I just use a bow to get the fight started.

That said have melee weapon for when you enemies get close, the punch to get with bows does not help that much.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:56 pm

"Destruction svcks" threads? Check.
"Archery svcks" threads? None.

Based on how people have been comparing destruction to archery,i think archery would be pretty decent.

» Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:39 pm

Actually man I think bows in Skyrim are a big improvement over Oblivion. If my character was not a mage I would probably specialize in bows. They are definitely a viable weapon in Skyrim.

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:57 am

Actually, to tell you the truth, Going back to Morrowind and Oblivion, Skyrim is the first TES game in which archery is actually a viable stand alone combat style!

» Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:13 am

Definitely good, especially when sneaking.

Also the best way to take down dragons.

Bows. Kick. Major. Ass.