Higher arrow damage - worth it?

[PTcruiser95]

Let me start out by saying I play almost exclusively infantry on multi. However if I am doing badly or am a bit bored, I will play as an archer (I hate playing as cavalry with a passion, so don't get me started there). I wondered if any of you all had opinions on whether or not to go ahead and get upgraded arrows. I normally get a slightly better bow/x-bow and then spend the rest of my money on armor and my secondary weapon (still an infantry player at heart). Unless I have money left over, I rarely get upgraded arrows. An extra +2 or +3 damage just does not seem worth it for the money. Is it? You archers out there who can snipe me across the map, do you use the free arrows or the upgraded?

 

[Fehnor]

Two bags of the best arrows. One lucky shot.

 

[findecanno]

I find It can make a difference in the number of shots it takes to kill someone.

 

[PTcruiser95]

I find It can make a difference in the number of shots it takes to kill someone.

I'm sure it can make a difference - but is it worth it for the amount of money you have to spend, and lack of better armor? Because I like to have a lot of arrows (call it a habit from playing FPS's... an eternal fear of running out of ammo), so I always get two stacks.

 

[crazyboy11]

I usually choose better armour/weapons over arrow/bolt upgrades. I find staying alive longer tends to be more beneficial that 1 or 2 points of damage, if I'm still alive I can fire another 20 odd points of damage.

It all depends on how confident you are at dodging and what kind of role you intend to play. If you're sitting behind the fight trying to snipe, take the better arrows. If you're trying to shoot in the thick of things, opt for the better armour.

Bodkin and khergit arrows are a rip off, they're not worth it.
Get a better crossbow rather than steel bolts, steel bolts are usually the last thing I buy (after maxing my armour).

 

[Illusive Man]

I personally leave upgraded arrows for the end.

 

[Stuboi0]

I'm not so sure on this one. My guess would be the damage stated is the bonus damager done, per damage dealt, but I'm really uncertain of that.

 

[ClockWise]

I usually don't bother with upgrading arrows unless I have money to throw around. But do whatever makes you comfortable/whatever you feel works the best for you. What works the best for you might not be the same for another player.

 

[Orion]

Bodkin and khergit arrows are a rip off, they're not worth it.
Get a better crossbow rather than steel bolts, steel bolts are usually the last thing I buy (after maxing my armour).

This.

Barbed arrows are cheap, but still not really worth it. I'll upgrade them after one round as a Vaegir archer, merely because I can. The minute difference in damage isn't noteworthy.

Now, if the arrows actually had different damage types (cutting for barbed and normal arrows, piercing for bodkins), maybe I'd upgrade to bodkin arrows ASAP. They would have to be more proliferated though, rather than Nord-only.

 

[PTcruiser95]

Bodkin and khergit arrows are a rip off, they're not worth it.
Get a better crossbow rather than steel bolts, steel bolts are usually the last thing I buy (after maxing my armour).

This.

Barbed arrows are cheap, but still not really worth it. I'll upgrade them after one round as a Vaegir archer, merely because I can. The minute difference in damage isn't noteworthy.

Now, if the arrows actually had different damage types (cutting for barbed and normal arrows, piercing for bodkins), maybe I'd upgrade to bodkin arrows ASAP. They would have to be more proliferated though, rather than Nord-only.

That's kind of what I do, but I wondered what other people thought since I see a lot of upgraded arrows flying around, especially on Siege (which is what I normally play). Even when playing as an archer, I like to get in the thick of things, so if enemies get close, I don't run, but pull out my weapon and attack. People aren't used to archers who can melee, I've found. In that situation, I feel that armor or a good second weapon is much more valuable to me than some extra damaging arrows. I guess if I was sniping from some tower with a warbow, but...

Edit: So I just tried out the siege crossbow in multiplayer... WOW. I still remain an infantry player, but that weapon alone might make me seriously consider going archer-infantry cross on factions with crossbows. There is just something about headshotting somebody for a one hit kill with that thing... It's like the M-95 in Battlefield Bad Company 2. So freaking powerful. Good feeling...

 

[Baron Conrad]

It seems like upgrading arrows makes just as much sense as upgrading bows.

As a Vaegir:

For 124 you can get 1 more damage if you get the barbed arrows.

Khergit bow: 269 for 1 extra damage and a 4 point loss is speed rating.

Strong bow: 437 for 3 extra damage and a 6 point speed loss.

War bow: 728 for 5 extra damage and 10 point speed loss.

The arrows are more efficient for getting damage and they do not lower your speed rating like the better bows do. The better bows get better arrow speed by 1 per step but that seems negligible.

 

[findecanno]

It seems like upgrading arrows makes just as much sense as upgrading bows.

As a Vaegir:

For 124 you can get 1 more damage if you get the barbed arrows.

Khergit bow: 269 for 1 extra damage and a 4 point loss is speed rating.

Strong bow: 437 for 3 extra damage and a 6 point speed loss.

War bow: 728 for 5 extra damage and 10 point speed loss.

The arrows are more efficient for getting damage and they do not lower your speed rating like the better bows do. The better bows get better arrow speed by 1 per step but that seems negligible.

Also, the weaker bows are more accurate.

 

[Orion]

Velocity. I get a Khergit bow first round as a Vaegir archer because of the increase in velocity over the Nomad bow. There is a speed modifier for projectile damage. That's why at the same range with a War Bow and a Khergit Bow you get a difference in damage greater than 4. Interestingly enough, the Longbow has the greatest velocity (which means flattest trajectory and highest down-range damage retention).

 

[captain lust]

Velocity. I get a Khergit bow first round as a Vaegir archer because of the increase in velocity over the Nomad bow. There is a speed modifier for projectile damage. That's why at the same range with a War Bow and a Khergit Bow you get a difference in damage greater than 4. Interestingly enough, the Longbow has the greatest velocity (which means flattest trajectory and highest down-range damage retention).

Actually the module system states the Long Bow has a "shoot speed", which I think determines the projectile velocity, of 56. This puts it equal with the Nomad Bow and lower than the Kherghit Bow (57), Strong Bow (5 and War Bow (59).

I always bought the better arrows because I was told they don't dip as much but I have a strong feeling that's dud information.

In any case, I still buy them. Strong bow on open maps, Nomad on closed. Always Nomad with Sarranid, almost always Short with Nord.

 

[PTcruiser95]

Well, I also rarely use bows. If I go archer, I go crossbow. With crossbow, it definitely seems more worth it to get the better bow as opposed to the better bolts. On the rare occasion I do use bows, I get the small, fast draw, cheap ones, because I like to be up near the action, not off in a tower sniping. I guess in that situation, maybe I will see how better arrows help me. Being that close to battle, it is doubtful that I will generally survive long enough to need two stacks of arrows.

 

[Orion]

Velocity. I get a Khergit bow first round as a Vaegir archer because of the increase in velocity over the Nomad bow. There is a speed modifier for projectile damage. That's why at the same range with a War Bow and a Khergit Bow you get a difference in damage greater than 4. Interestingly enough, the Longbow has the greatest velocity (which means flattest trajectory and highest down-range damage retention).

Actually the module system states the Long Bow has a "shoot speed", which I think determines the projectile velocity, of 56. This puts it equal with the Nomad Bow and lower than the Kherghit Bow (57), Strong Bow (5 and War Bow (59).

I always bought the better arrows because I was told they don't dip as much but I have a strong feeling that's dud information.

In any case, I still buy them. Strong bow on open maps, Nomad on closed. Always Nomad with Sarranid, almost always Short with Nord.

Must not affect trajectory, then. The long bow has the flattest trajectory in my experience. If that's the case, then maybe that explains why the long bow's damage always leaves something to be desired.

 

[Laszlo]

I'm no expert but wouldn't trajectory be solely a function of shoot speed?

Gravity is a constant in Warband right?

I always thought it was the really slow draw/release speed of the longbow that gave it the illusion of being high velocity and powerful.

 

[KoA John]

Yes gravity and speed apply to everything

Even on a cav that's jumping off a hill and coming down on someone with his lance he still gets the gravity and speed bonus damage from the large jump

As for arrows I always buy the best bolts and best arrows I can and I do just fine ^^