Ranged attack survey

[Zakia]

You know, I've been wondering if my approach to the game as a ranger is abnormal. I always have a shortage of ammo halfway-1/3 through and I'm wondering: How can I better conserve my ammunition? It just dosn't drop as often as I'd hope to continue my style through a game.

So, I'd have a quick survey for all players. Please post your answers as a reply to this thread.

Code: Select all

1) Do you use ranged weapons for your main attack?

2) Do you feel an ammunition shortage? How long have you gone on a single set of ammo (12 sets of any ammo)

3) Do you switch to melee weapons, or do you use bows as melee too?

4) Would you like to find a projectile weapon with unlimited ammo, at a cost of crappy stats?

5) Would you like to trade unused or incompatible ammo with stores for a different ammo?

6) Do you purposely enchant ammunition?

7) Are you more likely to use your bow & Ammo, or sell it in a store?

8) Do you use your mace when you start a game or your bow?

9) Are you satisfied with ranged combat's ammo and range?

My answers. I'm obviously a fan of it, but I've made this mainly to question how much people use ranged attacks.

1) Do you use ranged weapons for your main attack?
Whenever I have the option.
2) Do you feel an ammunition shortage? How long have you gone on a single set of ammo (12 sets of any ammo)
5ish.
3) Do you switch to melee weapons, or do you use bows as melee too?
Usualy bows early game, although I coulf go all-melle if I find a good melee weapon.
4) Would you like to find a projectile weapon with unlimited ammo, at a cost of crappy stats?
Yeah.
5) Would you like to trade unused or incompatible ammo with stores for a different ammo?
Definitely. Crossbow bolts are annoying without crossbows, and I'd love to take advantage of a +'d bow's stats instead of flicking unbuffed daggers.
6) Do you purposely enchant ammunition?
No.
7) Are you more likely to use your bow & Ammo, or sell it in a store?
I might sell my bow if it's weaker than my mace & I'm out of ammo.
8) Do you use your mace when you start a game or your bow?
Bow. Regeneration takes to long early, so I like to keep my distance.
9) Are you satisfied with ranged combat's ammo and range?
Ammo: I don't get enough to whet my appetite after level 20ish.
Range: Great if you need room, or have rusted/cursed armor.

[Zyxt]

So I'm not alone in being a ranger!

1) Do you use ranged weapons for your main attack?
Yes.

2) Do you feel an ammunition shortage? How long have you gone on a single set of ammo (12 sets of any ammo)
With daggers, I've gone the entire game. Arrows and bolts, about 5.

3) Do you switch to melee weapons, or do you use bows as melee too?
I use my ranged weapon as my melee weapon.

4) Would you like to find a projectile weapon with unlimited ammo, at a cost of crappy stats?
Depends on how crappy they are.

5) Would you like to trade unused or incompatible ammo with stores for a different ammo?
Absolutely.

6) Do you purposely enchant ammunition?
No, except for daggers.

7) Are you more likely to use your bow & Ammo, or sell it in a store?
I'm more likely to keep it, unless I get a better ranged weapon.

8) Do you use your mace when you start a game or your bow?
Bow.

9) Are you satisfied with ranged combat's ammo and range?
I am satisfied, but if there were more ammo, I'd be happier.

[Zakia]

Daggers don't dissapear? That's awesome!, just need to find some.

Freezing daggers... *Droll*

[Zyxt]

That's how it seems. Same with shuriken, and I believe darts. Honestly though, I just love throwin' knives, and daggers is close enough.

[Zakia]

D: I need one! =D

Seriously though, all throwables/ammmo need a huge drop rate increase.

[Pugachov]

1) Do you use ranged weapons for your main attack?

No, not unless I am weak, in cursed a/o rusted armor or similar. I will use them more often if I know what I am shooting at or if I find some cool ranged weapons. Mostly I use ranged weapons to make things come to me, to take out a helpless xeroc or venus flytrap, or to wear down a troll or similar nasty that I just paralyzed and ran away from across the room

2) Do you feel an ammunition shortage? How long have you gone on a single set of ammo (12 sets of any ammo)

I do not feel there is a shortage of ranged weapons but I do think there is an ammo shortage. It is frustrating to get a +2/+2 flaming crossbow and have no bolts to put in it. Since I can typically recover arrows I have had them throughout the game (for me down to level 23).

3) Do you switch to melee weapons, or do you use bows as melee too?

I switch, this is part of my D&D conditioning so I am not sure I have to. Also based on the weapons damage indicated in the Weapons FAQ --- most melee weapons do more damage.

4) Would you like to find a projectile weapon with unlimited ammo, at a cost of crappy stats?

Sure, it would be an option and just provide some variety in game play.

5) Would you like to trade unused or incompatible ammo with stores for a different ammo?

Absolutely, this is a non purist approach but variety in game play is mostly good thing. I do not consider this an essential feature request and understand that the resource limitations are part of the challange.

6) Do you purposely enchant ammunition?

Not when I can enchant the Bow or ranged weapon. I made vorpal shruikens once, that was cool.

7) Are you more likely to use your bow & Ammo, or sell it in a store?

I like having at least 1 good ranged weapon, I tend to hang onto my bow because the ammo is more plentiful. I would sell it in a store if I thought I had a good tank character (Rustproof armor) or another good ranged weapon.

8) Do you use your mace when you start a game or your bow?

Both- mostly mace as I am impatient and I like to kill things on the way to the next room or item. I will use my bow to determine the dimensions of a dark room and what critters are in it; I will also use my bow to make monsters come to me and then finish them off with my mace if they make it.

9) Are you satisfied with ranged combat's ammo and range?

I have yet to notice a range limitation? I would like it if the game knew I had a crossbow to make crossbow bolts more common.

[jhawk]

Not sure how it worked but I had an icy bow shooting flaming arrows... I chucked em both cause I needed the room but I thought that was an amusing combination

[kennfusion]

1) Do you use ranged weapons for your main attack?
Since most monsters surprise me in the dark, I don't have much of a choice usually. When given the option to use ranged I do, unless I know it is an easy fight (like I don't bother against fly traps)

2) Do you feel an ammunition shortage? How long have you gone on a single set of ammo (12 sets of any ammo)
I usually start off a ranged fight with any non-normal throwing weapons, like a spear, hammer or even the start mace. Since I usually have a few weapons to throw before I even get to ammo, I usually don't have shortages.

3) Do you switch to melee weapons, or do you use bows as melee too?
wait, people equip bows? really? Just throw the ammo imho

4) Would you like to find a projectile weapon with unlimited ammo, at a cost of crappy stats?
wait, people equip bows? really? hehe

5) Would you like to trade unused or incompatible ammo with stores for a different ammo?
can I just have stacks of hammers to throw?

6) Do you purposely enchant ammunition?
no

7) Are you more likely to use your bow & Ammo, or sell it in a store?
well no stores, but I just drop bows when I get full

8) Do you use your mace when you start a game or your bow?
mace, below floor 10 that starting mace will kill just about anything.

9) Are you satisfied with ranged combat's ammo and range?
sure

[preuve]

Sorry, I'm a little bit late to this thread... I'd like to use ranged attacks more often but I almost find no opportunity after the first couple of floors. Perhaps, you could give me some tips.

Unless I have a wand of light, I almost always see a monster when it is adjacent to me. How do you rangers get an opportunity to fire the bows at a range or do you still use the bow whilst the monster is next to you?

It also takes turns to swap between a melee or ranged weapon (unless you're throwing darts or shurikens).

Between these reasons, I don't use ranged weapons. Any tips would be appreciated!

[Jessica]

Sorry, I'm a little bit late to this thread... I'd like to use ranged attacks more often but I almost find no opportunity after the first couple of floors. Perhaps, you could give me some tips.

Unless I have a wand of light, I almost always see a monster when it is adjacent to me. How do you rangers get an opportunity to fire the bows at a range or do you still use the bow whilst the monster is next to you?

It also takes turns to swap between a melee or ranged weapon (unless you're throwing darts or shurikens).

Between these reasons, I don't use ranged weapons. Any tips would be appreciated!

Since I'm lurking this morning I might as well chime in

Darkness is the big enemy. Wands of light are important, but you might not have one available. Potions of clairvoyance are great too, but they only last for a single floor.

One trick I use: checking out the edge wall of a new room that I just entered (immediately around the door). Once I know the orientation (is it wide and squat, or tall and narrow) I take some shots in the dark toward the longer directions to see if I hit anything. If you do make contact, don't wait until it gets in your field of view. Keep shooting and ask questions later