I havent played DaoC in a long time, like 2 years. I was wondering, in Uthgard which Archer class is the strongest in RvR. Also I was wondering if they are balanced enough so that even if there is a clear strongest, the other 2 are viable options in end game RvR.

the best archer class here are the ones fighting in melee mode.

Best archer is a BM / MERC when he uses bow to pull mobs.

To answer your questions:

Ranger.

No, the archer classes are not balanced.

But, the other two are still viable in end game RvR. For now.

hybrid rangers are the strongest melee archers, because they have their selfbuffs, if you go hybrid spec, and because they wield 2 weapons and that halves the enemies' evadechance, which is very valuable vs assassins. However, as an archer, you should never try to go 1vs1 with a tank or hybrid unless you have purge+ip+rr5, and some pd up.

However, as an assassin, you could easily go 1vs1 vs any class.... just land PA with desease + lifebane + viper3, and there wont be any unbuffed enemy who would survive this without purge or ip or whatever of that kind.

Dual wield doesn't halve evade chance, only block.

In my opinion all archer classes are valid. As a hunter you can spec high a 2h weapon, as a ranger you can get 2 weapons and as scout you can train shield and slam.

Actually I'd suggest scout or ranger as archer, hunter need some improovement its pet to compete

Satz wrote:hybrid rangers are the strongest melee archers, because they have their selfbuffs, if you go hybrid spec, and because they wield 2 weapons and that halves the enemies' evadechance, which is very valuable vs assassins. However, as an archer, you should never try to go 1vs1 with a tank or hybrid unless you have purge+ip+rr5, and some pd up.

However, as an assassin, you could easily go 1vs1 vs any class.... just land PA with desease + lifebane + viper3, and there wont be any unbuffed enemy who would survive this without purge or ip or whatever of that kind.

If Uthgard changes back to 1.65 and old RA-System you can forget alle Archerclasses. They will be walking RP for any Assasines.

Demiurgo wrote:Dual wield doesn't halve evade chance, only block.

Wait wat

You mean that bug is fixed on Uthgard? On live Dual Wield/CD/LA also halved evade, it's been a know bug/feature for ages, at least up to until I stopped playing live.

what kind of archer do you want ?

sniper -> scout

melee -> ranger

hybrid -> hunter

Ilramingo wrote:what kind of archer do you want ?

sniper -> scout

melee -> ranger

hybrid -> hunter

sniper -> ranger (red self D/Q and best archer-race [luri = 80 dex and 80 qui as startatributes])
i dont think scout is best sniper with the uthgard-patch-cap of 1.80 because missing selfbuffs (if the scout would have selfbuffs i would share your voting)

melee -> Ranger (because of selfbuffs and dual-weapons)

hybrid -> as hybridspec i see hunter and scout equal, but even here a ranger dominate the other 2 archers. sad but true

Imho

Scout is the best sniper.
He doesn't have selfbuffs but he can use dex/quick charge + dex potion (saracen start with 80 dex too)

He has more range, slowest bow -> more demage for hit, and anytime stun for use combo stun-volley.

When you come in melee against a ranger sniper specced in bow/path you must easy kill him, a scout if you don't have purge up stun you and ik you with volley, if you purge -> ra 5l kite, hid and comeback to kill you.

compairing sara scout sniper <-> luri ranger sniper

sara:
80 start dex + 15dex from start points + 45 from levelups + 67 D/Q charge
results in 207 dex + 75 from armour = 283 dex (313 with base dex pot)

60 start qui + 10 from start points + 23 from levelups +67 D/Q charge
results in 160 qui + 75 from armour = 235 qui


luri:
80 start dex + 15 dex from startpoints + 45 from levelups + 90 self D/Q
results in 230 dex + 75 from armour = 305 dex (335 with base dex pot)

80 start qui + 15 from startpoints + 23 from levelups + 90 self D/Q
results in 208 qui + 42 from armour (you dont need more because 250 is qui-cap) = 250 qui

+ a nice goodie: damage add for ranger

result..
luri has more dex = more damage,
and luri has more qui = faster shooting
and both together brings more damage as sniper

both, scout and ranger, have access to the same bow (basalt bow of bedlam or brimstone bow) from DF which have a speed of 5.7

advantages of scout:
200 more range than ranger
and slam + volley/critshot combo

You forgot to tell, that the damage add and the +90 Dex is nor for free for Rangers.
To get the top of the line Buffs, you have to spec Pathfinding to 48.

I agree that a Ranger spec'd 48 in PF is gimp. Those points would be better spent elsewhere.

With that said, excluding the range difference a Ranger is just as good with a bow as a Scout, is much better at melee (not vulnerable to enemies with purge), and has a speed shout. The Scout also has the worst RR5 ability of the archer classes.

I've decided to make A scout because of the absurd range and shield slam. Hopefully they don't change ras and turn archer clAsses into assassin fodder because I'm really enjoying myself so far. Thanks for all the advice guys.