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Old 01-28-2014, 08:46 AM   #10
vicky_molokh
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Default Re: [DF] Striking ST (only on surprise attack): what's a surprise attack?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nereidalbel View Post
Striking ST doesn't apply to bows/crossbows because a) the weapon has a set ST, and b) you need Lifting ST to draw them. Thus, thrown weapons get Striking ST bonuses, but bows/crossbows don't.

And the Thief in DF isn't exactly "weak."
Err, actually it does, in a way:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kromm View Post
Strongbow lets a ST X person of sufficient skill shoot a ST X+2 bow; this is a property of the person, not of the bow. From an external, black-box perspective, when shooting a bow, this archer is indistinguishable from archers whose ST, Arm ST, and/or Striking ST total X+2. That is, a ST 11 man with Strongbow and a high Bow skill has ST 13 for all purposes as an archer, and can't be distinguished from a natural ST 13 archer.

A ST Y elven bow has damage and range for ST Y+2. That's a property of the bow, not of the archer (and, incidentally, simply a port of the high-tech compound bow rules to the dungeon). A ST Y archer shooting a ST Y elven bow gets the performance of a ST Y+2 bow.

When a ST X man who's ST X+2 with bows chooses a bow, he chooses a ST X+2 bow. If he chooses an elven bow, then he chooses ST Y = X+2, and it looses arrows at ST Y+2 = X+4.

In short, somebow with the right perk and a bow that costs 17 times as much -- call it a $3,400 longbow -- can get +4 ST and thus +2 thrust damage. Or he could not pay 1 point for a perk and 7 points for Signature Gear, use an ordinary bow, and get +2 to skill instead. It's up to the player which is more important.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kromm View Post
A real munchkin would put all 8 points into Striking ST 4 (One Attack, Bow, -60%) [8] and not have to worry about raising Bow above DX or relying on a specific piece of gear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kromm View Post
Bruno has it . . . In combat, strikes for damage = Striking ST and grapples = Lifting ST, and arrows are strikes, just like punches and sword blows. This makes things vastly easier. In any event, it's a continuum, with Lifting ST making some sense at the end where you're taking a long series of Aim and Wait maneuvers, and Striking ST making more sense once you get into Quick-Shooting bows and cocking crossbows with a single sharp jerk when you have a foot in the stirrup. Given such a split, I tend to err on the side of greater point cost.
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Last edited by vicky_molokh; 01-28-2014 at 08:50 AM.
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