I svck at stealth archery since I never use the stealth skill. I prefer using point blank archery with a crossbow, preferably using one of the special bolts.

I'm going to have to give this a try... Sounds like fun! Now, if only a shovel could be used...

Thanks for the "patience" comment. I like to challenge myself at times and figure out what's what. That was one of those times

I have yet to get an "arrow to the face" killcam. I think I may have "blocked" an opponent with a bow twice. I try to be quick about dual wielding when melee happens

Don't some of those explode?

Follow Up Question:

Bows or Crossbows?

That is my Shotty build the S-Mart special

Crossbow all the way baby.

I like crossbows a lot, but I haven't gotten too into them. I've read they have a damage-scaling knockback effect on the killing blow, but I'm not actually sure if that's true.


There was a thread a while back on overpowering a crossbow to maximum damage and causing enemies to fly across the room upon death.

Np. Things get real crazy with those two weapons when you use the Elemental Fury shout.

I actually prefer the regular draw bows. With my current 2hand melee warrior though, I'm considering trying the crossbows.

The archery skill has been one of my slower skills to advance, but that might be due to using stealth archery mostly

Also you can use alchemy to create poisons that can be added to the bow before firing.

Arrows not hitting targets at distance is a Skyrim.ini setting increase the navmesh target range

Stealth archery is not overpowered think of it as long range assasination, instead of a dagger in the back think arrow instead.

I don't have a secondary weapon other than another bow! Fire, duck and weave, fire, duck and weave and keep your distance. If they get too close Fus do Rah!

If they're crossing your field of view they're hard to hit as its difficult to calculate distance and movement across your field of view.

If they're rushing directly towards or fleeing away they're much easier to hit as you only have to calculate one movement axis and not two

Bows. Unless you want to dispose of an enemy really quickly (or if you're fighting a legendary dragon on legendary settings)

Awesome! Thanks

I wish I had a vid of the 3rd person bow headshot I made on a guy who was ducking begin a rock. The arrow just skimmed over the rock. It was weird - I had never been any good at 3rd person archery, but with that character I suddenly had a knack for it. Or she did.


Same character had a running battle with the hired thugs in the middle of Falreath, which is when I learned that the guards will NOT help. Literally running; she was only level 1 or 2, and had no armor. Getting hit twice was a death sentence. Killed all 3, two of them with bow bashes. It was the first time I had tried staying pure archer. Stick-and-move is the only way. If you stand still you die.


I've started using a mod that makes sneaking much harder. No more hiding in the open in broad daylight. Enemies also come running from adjacent rooms instead of waiting for you to take them out with sneak shots one at a time. Lots of fun for my archers.

It seems that most people don't like Barbas. My chars don't want to have any watch-dog around, when they are out for a Bulgar-Job.

On the other side, he is the perfect tank for archers!

As a dog, you can shoot over his had, and he is lorefriedly undyingly.

Awesome.

Stealth archery is only semi-broken, because enemies that aren't looking at you like to just "coincidentally" side-step while your arrow is in flight.


Spidey-sense, maybe...?

I only just read this properly.....the art drawrings made me think it was just some cut n paste from the Oblivion game guide.


Then I actually read it......OMG...hilarious!

Same here! Once I really read it, I was

I tiptoed around the whole stealth archery meme in making this thread. Good to know my hardwork 'didn't' pay off lol.

Arrow in the knee https://youtu.be/mTRmAhu08pA

Archery's super important to ES games for me. Some people play them for the roleplaying or the laughs. I play them for the adventure and the toxophily (love of archery.)


I've been thinking of ways to enhance that experience, and this thread was the initial result of that brainstorming.


Now I'd like to issue regular challenges for all the archers out there, and I'd like to hear some challenges put forth by all of you. The one that gets the most press will be put on the front page, and we can post about completing the challenge, or even submit video of our epic, Odyssean feats.


Carry on, fellow toxophilites. May your arrows always strike the knee.

I just hope I hit them after awhile.

My most memorable and pleasing encounter in Skyrim was with a stealth archer but totally non-stealth.


Galethia was crossing a bridge when a bandit called from the far side "Never should have come here". Three other bandits run at her, Galethia backs away. Knock, aim, loose, head shot, one down. Knock, aim, loose, head shot, two down. Knock, aim - bandit raises war hammer - loose, head shot, bandit flies back half way across the bridge, three down. The fourth bandit, the one that first called out, called again. "Is that all you've got?". "No" Galethia replies, "I've got one more arrow" . Knock, aim, loose, head shot. Game over (for the bandits).


I think I'll remember that encounter forever.

Negodil, this made my day.

I usually do not start as a stealth archer and don't do it often, but it's good when you are not in mood for a messy fight. I change my fighting style a lot to level up different skills. Variety is nice sometimes.

I find it much easier and more cost effective to not smith or enchant your bow as your main means of damage-enhancing, but simply get familiar with every poisonous ingredient under the sun. Poison is really underrated in this game. A good alchemist can make poisons that do hundreds of points' worth of damage. Want to make your enemy collapse in one hit? Poison. Want to make them stay still until the return of the Magna Ge? Poison. Want to burn them to a crisp without having to go find a soul gem every so often? Poison. Poison all the way.

One other thing occurs to me: horses. The biggest drawback to archery is enemies getting too close and getting overwhelmed as a result its not much use in a melee fight. Keep backing away, fus do rah or even better ride a horse away until you can gain some distance again. (not much use in a dungeon though)

Not a bad idea, any suggestions as to what might make a good fight?

I have done archery in real life and I loved it

I remember doing archery at a school camp years ago, was quite fun.