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[Bowcraft/Fletching] Aleena's Bowcraft/Fletching FAQ--Revised for 2008

  • Thread starter Aleena of Scots
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A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
Welcome to the Bowcrafting FAQ


Credits:
Thanks to all the fine people of the Archery Forums prior to the merger. Your input is always appreciated. A special thanks goes to Aleena, Jimmy Pop, Bort of Atlantic, putzi, Alyssia, and Croaker. And thanks to Sigfied McGreed for offering extra advice and critiques.
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
Bowcraft is the craft of creating bows from woods either harvested from trees or from purchasing wood from NPC vendors. The types of bows you can craft are as follows-

Basic types:

Bow
Composite Bow
Yumi


Crossbow
Heavy Crossbow
Repeating Crossbow



Elven Types:
Elven Composite Longbow
Magical Shortbow



Special Craftable types with additional magical powers are available for the Elven types. These are:

Special Longbows:


Barbed Longbow
Frozen Longbow
Longbow of Might
Slayer Longbow

Special Shortbows:


Assassin's Shortbow
Lightweight Shortbow
Mystical Shortbow
Ranger's Shortbow


In addition to these, there are the following craftable Artifact Bows:

Blight Gripped Longbow

Faerie Fire

Mischief Maker

The Night Reaper

Sylvani's Feywood Bow



Fletching is the other half of the skill. Literally, it means "to feather an arrow," but it encompasses a few other noteworthy items including:

Arrows (Bow Ammunition)

Bolts (Crossbow Ammunition)

Fukiya Darts (ammunition for the Fukiya Blowgun creatable by carpenters)
Shafts
(the raw item used to make arrows and bolts, through combination with feathers)
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
Cutting, Carving, and Creating(by The Bear - edited by Basara to include the Heartwood information)
In order to use the lumberjack skill you must double click on an equipped axe. That means your character has to be holding the axe in his hand to use it on a tree. You will get a crosshair which you will use to select the tree you wish to cut. Depending on the availability of wood, your skill and the weight and item limit of your backpack you will get one of the following messages:

  • "You hack away at the tree but are left with nothing to show for it."
  • "You put some logs in your backpack."
  • "You have no more room in your backpack"
  • "There is no wood left to be harvested."
Once you have your logs you can use fletcher's tools to engage the bowcraft skill. You will be given a menu to select the type of item you wish to try to create. The items get more difficult as you move right through the menu. You will not have the option to make all of the items until you have sufficient skill.

At the minimum skill level required to create the item in question, you will have a 50% chance to succeed. To become a grandmaster, you will need time, patience, and a lot of boards or logs.

It is in your best interest to do ALL of your training of the skill in Heartwood. Every step of the way, from 30 skill (Which you will buy your skill up to, or set it to at least that high if creating an advanced character), to Grandmaster, is one that you can earn Quest rewards from. The Heartwood quests give the recipes for the special and artifact Bows (at random), talismans for boosting crafting skills, as well as a slight chance for a Runic Fletching Tool.

In fact, you will probably continue to do these quests long after you reach Grandmaster, even after you get all the recipes (which you should get most or all of them by Grandmaster, through training in Heartwood with quests), specifically to get the Runic tools that are needed to craft weapons with greater bonuses than the base or special weapons!

If you are not immediately offered the quest for your desired step, continue clicking on the Bowcrafter NPCs until they offer the right one, for you to accept.

Step 1: Bows (the "A Simple Bow" Quest)
30-59.9
Uses 7 boards or logs per bow, for 10 Bows (70 per quest)

Step 2: Crossbows (the "Ingenious Archery 1" Quest)
60-79.9
Uses 7 boards or logs per crossbow, for 10 crossbows (70 per quest)

Step 3: Heavy Crossbow (the "Ingenious Archery II" Quest)
80-89.9
Uses 10 boards or logs, for 8 Heavy Crossbows (80 per quest)

Step 4: Repeating Crossbow (the "Ingenious Archery III" Quest)
90-100
Uses 10 boards or logs, for 10 Repeating Crossbows (100 per quest)


Often, it is easiest to train lumberjacking and bowcraft/fletching simultaneously so that the crafter can supply his own supply of wood. If you want your crafter to be able to turn the various new woods into boards, you will need to GM carpentry as well. See the Carpentry FAQ elsewhere in this forum for advice on Carpentry & lumberjacking (though as of August 2008, the FAQ is severely out of date)

Arms Lore Skill:

You may ask, "Do I really NEED Arms Lore?"

Well, if you plan to make any armor or weapons, the answer is probably YES. A couple years ago, Arms Lore was given a real purpose again. It is now an enhancer to crafting skills. When one crafts an exceptional weapon or armor item, one gets an additional bonus to the Exceptional bonus for that item type, for each 20 points of crafting skill. For weapons, this bonus is +1% Damage Increase per 20 points of Arms Lore skill, in additional to the Exceptional Damage Increase amount (or to the runic DI property value, if crafted with a fletching runic as exceptional quality, with a DI bonus higher than the base DI for exceptional quality). This is cumulative with the wood and item properties, when applicable - so long as the item is exceptionally crafted.

The Following Charts are a more visible breakdown of the skill's benefits for weapons.

Arms Lore Skill / Race / Exceptional Weapon DI
0-19.9 / Elves / 35%
0-39.9 / Human / 36%
20.0-39.9 / Elves / 36%
40.0-59.9 / Both / 37%
60.0-79.9 / Both / 38%
80.0-99.9 / Both / 39%
100.0 / Both / 40%

Because of the cumulative numbers, it is conceivably possible, with a Heartwood Runic, to craft an exceptional item with Frostwood, that has 67% Damage increase (50% from runic property, 12% from Frostwood, 5% from Grandmaster Arms Lore).
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
Here you'll find the bare bones basic information on lumberjacking.

Lumberjacking the chopping of wood from trees using an axe. Make sure you have the proper strength to hold the axe you've chosen. Find a tree. Voila! You're a lumberjack! The harvested wood can be used for many purposes, but the most common are bowcrafting and carpentry. The focus will be on bowcrafting, since you're on the bowcrafting FAQ. There is no magic way to train up lumberjackingfor a non-combat player, with the most effective way to train being just finding trees to chop. Swordsmen can also gain Lumberjacking skill, by using axes in combat (including the method known as "golem training" - but that's a different FAQ).

Types of wood and what skill level needed to harvest it: The same level of skill in Bowcraft is ALSO needed to use the wood type to make or enhance Bows/crossbows. Wood type has NO effect on ammunition (other than wasting special woods better used for something else).


Plain wood
No skill needed to harvest
Necessary Bowcraft: 0
Weapon Effects: N/A



Oak
65 Lumberjacking skill level needed to harvest
Necessary Bowcraft: 65
Weapon Effects:
+40 Luck
Damage Increase 5%



Ash
80 Lumberjacking skill needed to harvest
Necessary Bowcraft: 75
Weapon Effects:
Swing Speed Increase 10%
Lower Requirements 20%



Yew
95 Lumberjacking skill needed to harvest
Necessary Bowcraft: 85
Weapon Effects:
Hit Chance Increase 5%
Damage Increase 10%



Heartwood
100 Lumberjacking skill needed to harvest
Necessary Bowcraft: 95
Weapon Effects:
Random property:
Durability 50%
Lower Weight 75%
Hit Life Leech (variable)
Swing Speed Increase 10%
Damage Increase 10%
Hit Chance Increase 5%
Luck 40 or Luck 10
Lower Requirements 20%



Bloodwood
100 Lumberjacking skill needed to harvest
Necessary Bowcraft: 95
Weapon Effects:
Hit Life Leech 16%
(doesn't add if the weapon already has HLL)
Hit Point Regeneration +2



Frostwood
100 Lumberjacking skill needed to harvest
Necessary Bowcraft: 95
Damage Increase 12%
Cold Damage 40% (converts existing physical damage to cold, if available, up to 40%)


Other tree-gathered resources:



Bark Fragments
Used in creating elvish wood armor
100 skill needed to harvest



Luminescent Fungi
Used for Darkglow potion
100 skill needed to harvest



Parasitic Plant
Used in Parasitic Potion
100 skill needed to harvest



Switch
Used to make Acid resistant rope and enchanted switch (which is used to make a runed switch)
100 skill needed to harvest



Brillant Amber
Used in the making of the Slayer Longbow
100 skill needed to harvest
This is rare to find.

As of late March 2009, there was a change in how to convert logs to boards: it is now done with an axe, not a carpentry tool, by chopping the logs (and can be done by Lumberjacks or Carpenters). It uses the same skill level for either (the "Harvest" number)
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
There are 2 ways to gather resources without using the lumberjacking skill:



Kill'em-Hunt the creatures that give wood as loot:
  • Bog Thing-give 10 boards or logs
  • Bogling-gives 4 logs
  • Corpser-gives 10 logs or boards
  • Reaper-gives 10 boards or logs
  • Treefellow-gives 20-35 logs
To find a creatures whereabouts in UO, go to UO Hunter's Guide.

Buy 'em-Any number of vendor run shops carry boards and resources. It pays to comparison shop. Also, you can buy plain boards from NPC carpenters and tinkers. While this is the most expensive method, if price isn't an object, your supply will be unlimited.



If you have the survival skills to venture into Ilshenar, look for the type of Gypsy camp that spawns randomly in a number of locations:
  • 3 of the possible locations are in the Compassion area (there are also two large permanent camps; don't bother with those)
  • 2 locations are in the Spirituality region, along the road from Lakeshire/Mireg to the spider woods
  • 1 location is between Lakeshire/Mireg (sacrifice region) and the Healer Grove.
  • 1 (very dangerous) location is in the Justice region, at the dock where the water elementals spawn.
  • 1 (semi-dangerous) location is just outside the Juka occupied city at Honesty; another (more dangerous) location is along the road that heads north towards the Honor gate.
  • The last location confirmed to still have the gypsy camp is a clearing between the Honor moongate and the Humility Champion Spawn, on one of the road fragments.
  • There are at least two other locations where they are SUPPOSED to spawn but I have yet to find a spawned camp there.
If the camp has a "Vagabond" NPC, that character is effectively a tinker/jeweler NPC. He starts out selling boards at 3 GP each, for the first 1000 boards, at each camp. 3-5 camps will be active at any given time, and there is no guarantee that any camp will have more than a banker and a "fortune Teller" (Healer/Mage) present. However, as these camps spawn and despawn every few hours (wandering the land), each time the camp spawns anew, the prices reset back to the base prices (Note: The Vagabond and the Iron Worker NPCs are also good places for ingots for your smith & tinker - starting at 8 GP each for the first 1000). Of course, the Gypsy Maiden NPC can be your bane, as she sells arrows and bolts at the base price - or save you a LOT of time chopping wood & killing for feathers, if you buy a bunch of her ammunition and resell in bulk to archers from your own vendor!

Note: a third way came in with Publish 55, for persons with accounts aged 84 months or more. There is now a veteran reward tree stump that can be placed in a home, that generates 10 random logs per day. this will not be the fastest way to do so, but it can be used to supplement one's lumberjacking or other sources.
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
Bow
Skill needed: 30
Weapon Damage 16-18
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirements 30
Special Moves:




Composite Bow
Skill needed: 70
Weapon Damage 15-17
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirements 45
Special Moves:




Crossbow
Skill needed: 60
Weapon Damage 18-20
Weapon Speed 24
Range 8
Strength Requirements 35
Special Moves:




Elven Composite Longbow
Skill needed: 95
Weapon Damage 19-22
Weapon Speed 27
Range 10
Strength Requirements 45
Special Moves:





Heavy Crossbow
Skill needed: 80
Weapon Damage 19-20
Weapon Speed 22
Range 8
Strength Requirements 80
Special Moves:





Magical Shortbow
Skill needed: 85
Weapon Damage 14-16
Weapon Speed 38
Range 10
Strength Requirements 45
Special Moves:





Repeating Crossbow
Skill needed- 90
Weapon Damage 10-12
Weapon Speed 41
Range 7
Strength Requirements 30
Special Moves:





Yumi
Skill needed- 90
Weapon Damage 18-20
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirements 35
Special Moves:

 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
Artifact Recipe Bows-note that all special artifact bows require the person making it to have 75 skill in bowcraft, as well as the recipe which can be obtained in the bowcraft quests in Heartwood & Sanctuary. They ONLY give the listed properties, and do not gain any additional properties from the tool used (so are best made using normal tools, as making with a runic only wastes the charge). These are rare, in comparison to the "magic" bow recipes (about 1 artifact-level recipe per 20-25 magic-item-level recipes)



Blight Gripped Longbow

Ingredients:
20 Boards
1 Lard of Paroxysmus
10 Blight
10 Corruption

Properties:
Hit Poison Area 20%
Stamina Regeneration 3
Night Sight
Swing Speed Increase 20%
Damage Increase 35%
Poison Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 19-22
Weapon Speed 27
Range 10
Strength Requirement 45



Faerie Fire

Ingredients:
20 Boards
1 Lard of Paroxysmus
10 Putrefaction
10 Taint

Properties:
Hit Fireball 25%
Balanced
Dexterity Bonus 3
Swing Speed Increase 20%
Damage Increase 60%
Fire Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 19-22
Weapon Speed 27
Range 10
Strength Requirement 45



Mischief Maker

Ingredients:
15 Boards
1 Dread Horn Mane
10 Corruption
10 Putrefaction

Properties:
Undead Slayer
Balanced
Swing Speed Increase 35%
Damage Increase 45%
Cold Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 14-16
Weapon Speed 38
Range 10
Strength Requirement 45



Silvani's Feywood Bow

Ingredients:
20 Boards
1 Lard of Paroxysmus
10 Scourge
10 Muculent

Properties:
Spell Channelling
Hit Chance Increase 12%
Swing Speed Increase 30%
Damage Increase 35%
Energy Damage 100%
Weapon speed 27



The Night Reaper

Ingredients:
10 Boards
1 Dread Horn Mane
10 Blight
10 Scourge

Properties:
Demon Slayer
Night Sight
Swing Speed Increase 25%
Damage Increase 55%
Physical Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 10-12
Weapon Speed 41
Range 7
Strength Requirement 30



Magic Bow Recipes:
As with the Craftable Artifact bow recipes, these come from the Bowcrafting Quests in Heartwood and Sanctuary. Unlike those recipes, the properties they give are cumulative with those from wood type, exceptional quality, and use of a runic tool. All craftable Shortbows, of course, are variations of the Mondain's Legacy Magical Shortbow. All the "Longbows" below are variations of the Mondain's Legacy Elven Composite Longbow.

Assassin's Shortbow

Ingredients:
15 Boards
1 Dark Sapphire
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Hit Chance Increase 3%
Damage Increase 4%



Barbed Longbow

Ingredients:
20 Boards
1 Fire Ruby
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Reflect Physical Damage 12%



Frozen Longbow

Ingredients:
20 Boards
1 Turquoise
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Swing Speed Increase 5%
Damage Increase 10%



Lightweight Shortbow

Ingredients:
15 Boards
1 White Pearl
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Balanced



Longbow of Might

Ingredients:
20 Boards
1 Blue Diamond
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Damage Increase 5%



Mystical Shortbow

Ingredients:
15 Boards
1 Ecru Citrine
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Spell Channeling
Faster Casting -1



Ranger's Shortbow

Ingredients:
15 Boards
1 Perfect Emerald
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Swing Speed Increase 5%



Slayer Longbow

Ingredients:
20 Boards
1 Brilliant Amber
Additional Properties (cumulative with runics):
Random Slayer.
An additional Slayer property is possible when crafted with a runic, or at least was prior to February 2008. There are conflicting reports as to whether it is still possible to do so.
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
There are two elves who give bowcrafting quests. They can both be found in Heartwood. Their names are Cillitha The Bowcrafter and Jusae The Bowcrafter . After going through Heartwood gate, go straight down, then turn immediately right. There will be a platform with various bowcrafting items on display and Cillitha and Jusae wandering around. They offer several quests. The loot you can expect will be any combination of rings, bracelets, elven bows, talismen, runic fletching kits, or recipes to craft rare/artifact bows. The quests are:

A Simple Bow
Obtain 10 Bows

Ingenious Archery (part I)
Obtain 10 Crossbow

Ingenious Archery (part II)
Obtain 8 Heavy Crossbow

Ingenious Archery (part III)
Obtain 10 Repeating Crossbow

Lethal Darts
Obtain 10 Crossbow Bolts

They also give one CARPENTRY recipe

Stop Harping on Me
Obtain 20 Harp
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
These are Bows that can (or have in the past) dropped from paragons in Ilshenar (and some event creatures elsewhere), named creatures in the Mondain's Legacy, or as part of the Treasures of Tokuno event (the latter no longer drop). These items are NOT enhancable.


Ilshenar Paragon Artifacts-These bows can only be obtained by successfully killing a paragon creature in Ilshenar. These are rewards and are completely random. Generally speaking though, the harder the creature, the more likely you are to get one of these.



Bow of the Juka King
Reptile Slayer
Hit Magic Arrow 25%
Hit Chance Increase 15%
Damage Increase 40%
Physical Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 16-18
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirement 30
Two-Handed Weapon
Weapon Skill: Archery
Durability 255


Nox Ranger's Heavy Crossbow
Spell Channeling
Hit Stamina Leech 40%
Swing Speed Increase 30%
Damage Increase 20%
Poison Resist 10%
Physical Damage 50%
Poison Damage 50%
Weapon Damage 19-20
Weapon Speed 22
Range 8
Strength Requirement 80
Two-Handed Weapon
Weapon Skill: Archery
Durability 255


Treasures of Tokuno Bows-These bows were available during the "Treasures of Tokuno" promotion. Hanzo's Bow was one of the Tokuno minor artifacts" That could randomly drop into your pack from by fighting creatures in Tokuno. These were point-system based rewards, though when the points triggered the award was completely random. One can, if one acquires 10 Tokuno minors of any type, still exchange them for a major artifact. Hanzo's Bow is one of the Tokuno Majors.


Hanzo's Bow
Ninjitsu +10
Self Repair 3
Hit Life Leech 40%
Damage Increase 50%
Physical Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 18-20
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirement 35
Two-Handed Weapon
Weapon Skill: Archery
Durability 255


Mondain's Legacy Minors-These items can be obtained randomly when killing a Peerless Boss or Named Creature in one of the Peerless dungeons.


Wildfire Bow
Archery +10
Velocity 15%
Fire Resist 25%
Fire Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 19-22
Weapon Speed 27
Range 10
Strength Requirement 45


Windsong
Velocity 25%
+3 Self Repair
Damage Increase 35%
Physical Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 14-16
Weapon Speed 38
Range 10
Strength Requirement 45
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
Doom Artifacts-These artifacts can only be obtained from fighting a Doom boss. This is a reward and is completely random.


Frostbringer
Artifact Rarity 11
Hit Dispel 50%
Stamina Regeneration 10
Damage Increase 50%
Cold Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 16-18
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirement 30
Two-Handed Weapon
Weapon Skill: Archery
Durability 255


The Dryad Bow
Random Skill +5 or +10
Artifact Rarity 11
Self Repair 5
Swing Speed Increase 50%
Damage Increase 35%
Poison Resist 15%
Physical Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 16-18
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirement 30
Two-Handed Weapon
Weapon Skill: Archery
Durability 255

Treasures of Tokuno Bows-These bows were available during the "Treasures of Tokuno" promotion. Hanzo's Bow was one of the Tokuno minor artifacts" That could randomly drop into your pack from by fighting creatures in Tokuno. These were point-system based rewards, though when the points triggered the award was completely random. One can, if one acquires 10 Tokuno minors of any type, still exchange them for a major artifact. The Horselord, below, is one of the Tokuno Majors.


The Horselord
Elemental Slayer
Reptile Slayer
Dexterity Bonus 5
Mana Regeneration 1
Luck 125
Damage Increase 50%
Physical Damage 100%
Weapon Damage 18-20
Weapon Speed 25
Range 10
Strength Requirement 35
Two-Handed Weapon
Weapon Skill: Archery
Durability 255
 
A

Aleena of Scots

Guest
RUNIC FLETCHER'S TOOLS

The following is a re-arrangement of the information from EA's own page on runics.

Note that wood & runic bonuses do NOT apply when making Artifact-level recipe bows, so only use them for the standard types of bows/crossbows. or the ones listed as "magic item" recipes (as opposed to "Artifact-level")



Oak Runic Fletching Tool
Minimum Intensity: 1%
Maximum Intensity: 50%
Properties: 1-2 (plus any from recipe & wood type, for the non-artifact level recipes)
Charges: 45​




Ash Runic Fletching Tool
Minimum Intensity: 35%
Maximum Intensity: 75%
Properties: 2-3 (plus any from recipe & wood type, for the non-artifact level recipes)
Charges: 35​




Yew Runic Fletching Tool
Minimum Intensity: 40%
Maximum Intensity: 90%
Properties: 3 (plus any from recipe & wood type, for the non-artifact level recipes)
Charges: 25​





Heartwood Runic Fletching Tool
Minimum Intensity: 50%
Maximum Intensity: 100%
Properties: 4 (plus any from recipe & wood type, for the non-artifact level recipes)
Charges: 15​


Properties that Can be added:
As Smith Runics (see the Blacksmith FAQ), with the following additions/modifications -​

Balanced: This property allows the user to drink potions without removing the weapon from their hand
Velocity: Adds a bonus to damage based on the distance between the archer and his target. The bonus damage is equal to the number of tiles between them, times three, with a max of 30. The damage is Physical. The property has 10% as its minimum intensity, and 50% at its maximum intensity.
(Unconfirmed: This should indicate a range of 10-30% on bows crafted with an Oak Runic, 24%-40% on an Ash Runic, 26%-46% with a Yew runic, 30%-50% on a Heartwood Runic, if 10% is considered the 0% intensity line - if it is 0% for the runic determination roll, then the ranges would be determined by dividing the rolled intensity by 2, with the values under 10% rounded up to 10%)​





Higher property ranges: All Bows created with Runic kits have the following special property ranges:​

  • Luck intensity: max 120 (usually 100)
  • HCI: max 25 (usually 15)
  • DCI: max 25 (usually 15)
  • Elemental Resists (fire, cold, poison, energy): max 18 (usually 15)
 

Basara

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WANTED FOR THE REVISION:

The Current Swing Speed numbers for all Bows

Note that the Imbuing uses of Lumberjack resources can be found in the Carpenter FAQ version of the Lumberjack data above. I only had the temporary ability to edit Aleena's posts for the day or so it took to do the above changes, and can no longer update them without doing the FAQ completely over from scratch.

The most important thing for archers in that regard is that Amber is used for one of the ranged weapon only versions of the properties that has different caps for melee & ranged (DCI, IIRC).
 
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