The Neutral Archer (PvD - Player Versus DRAGONS)
Originally Created To Do Battle With Dragons
Archery
[100.0]
Tactics
[100.0]
Necromancy
[100.0]
Chivalry
[100.0]
Battle Focus / Meditation
[100.0]
Anatomy
[100.0]
Magical Resistance
[100.0]
One might ask, "What's the point of having both Necromancy and Chivalry on the same character?" Yes, I understand that with Necromancy, the lower your karma the better, and with Chivalry, the higher is best. This template is really based around your Chivalry though. The point of having Necromancy is souly for Vampiric Embrace. I know what you're thinking - That form lowers your fire resistance by 25%! So what? Whats some fire resistance to all the added bonuses? When in Vampyre form, you gain a 20% Life Drain ability, your Stamina & Mana Regeneration is increased, and you're immune to Poison up to 4th level! One doesn't have to worry about the 25% extra damage from Silver Weapons when fighting monsters, because none actually use a Silver weapon. Also, since you have [100.0](GM) Magical Resistance, the lowest your Fire Resist can be is 15 - 20 while you have this one (which is better then nothing). Ontop of this, I don't think anyone is stupid enough (other then myself) to go out without wearing some type of armor, espcially since they're going to be fighting pretty strong monsters. Even the most basic of armor should make up for the Fire Resist lost using the Vampyre form. The Chivalry is used for everything else. Use Close Wounds to heal yourself ( 7 - 39 points, depending on your Karma ), Remove Curse to regain your skills when needed ( chance dependant on Karma ), Consecrate Weapon to deal extra damage ( 3 - 11 duration, depending on Karma ), and Enemy of One to deal 50% more damage to the enemy ( 1.5 - 3.5 minute duration, based on Karma ). With the Chivalry spell of Sacred Journy, you can easily get from one location to another, and Noble Sacrifice lets you resurrect your fallen friends. The Cleanse by Fire spell will allow you to cure your friends, but since you have Vampiric Embrace on, you won't be needing it. Since you're only using Necromancy for Vampiric Embrace, and you're fighting Dragons, your Karma will stay high enough to give you the best added bonuses with all of the Chivaly spells.
I know, I know - "Why not just drop the Necromancy and put in a different, more useful skill?" - Because with Necromancy, you have the option to use all the Death-Dealing spells that come with it. With the ability to cast Pain Spike (even though not effectively without Spirit Speak) you can deal off that last bit of damage to the enemy quickly, and then gain the Karma you lost back right after. If you had healing instead, you give the opponent (be it Dragon or Titan, Terethian or Gazer) an opportunity to deal a massive amount of damage in its last bit of health. I've watched people get their arse kicked by a Dragon with little more then 30 hp, while the fighter had full health. But seriously, who doesn't want the extra added bonus that Vampiric Embrace gives you?
Some people might argue that having Magery with Archery is best, but I beg to differ. With Magery, you have to buy a crap-load of Reagents ontop of your Arrows, and if you're simply using Magery as a means to heal and travel, you might as well give it up for Healing, or better yet, Chivalry. With Chivalry, you don't have to worry about 'regging up'. With the Tithing Points, they're constantly in your Chivalry Book, so you don't need to run to the Bank to get more Reagents!
I recommend taking Battle Focus instead of Meditation. With Meditation, according to Stratics, you've got to be wearing armor that allows you to use this skill to gain the maximum Mana Regeneration bonus. With Focus, though, you get a Mana Regeneration bonus (though not as good as Meditation) along with a Stamina Regeneration bonus. I'm sure if you're wearing the right type of armor, and can drag a Dragon off to fight it alone, Meditation would be the ideal skill to choose - but I have trouble getting them off alone, and its hard to find a nice suit of medable armor without being a Multi-Billioniare. Therefore, I suggest going with Battle Focus.
Like I said earlier, this template was designed to do battle with Dragons, and most of the time alone. If you can get a nice Dragon Slayer - do it. It'll help more then you think. With this template, using a Dragon Slayer Bow and the tactics said above ( Vampiric Embrace, Enemy of One, and Consecrate Weapon ) I can take a White Wyrm down in 3 - 4 shots. I suggest you not use Divine Fury - it may give you some pretty groovie (yes, groovie) pluses, but the flaw of taking more damage, in my opinion, isn't worth it.
Don't know what to do with your Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence? The only help I can offer to you there with this template is to balance them as best you can. I use 95 str, 85 dex, and 75 int. With these Stats, you have a nice amount of Mana to use on your Spells, a fairly nice amount of Health, and good enough Stamina to run around and attack quite fast. Though its not as good as someone who has 125 dex, or 125 strength, it works (espcially since it was designed to fight alone). Just do what you think will work best.
I'd love to see what people can do with the Necromancy skill in an Archer template. Come on people! Get creative! Use your imagination, and have some fun with the game - its not all about the money! I hope someone uses this template, or at least tries it out - I had a time typing all this up. =P Peace guys.
) i'd have 5 years right now! 