Why is ranged so bad?

[canis74]

Ok... now I finally learned to make QL20 ammo for my rifle. The damage seems pretty fair actually, and considering I have a short range rifle I'd say the range is acceptable...

Now I have 30 skill points and I saw only one stanza I could buy (increased hit rate +1). Then there was a lot of aiming for specific body parts stanzas which was only 5 points each.

My question is this: What should I use my 30 points on to be effective with my rifle (and hopefully a rifle with longer range later). I'd like to be able to slow my opponent, but also have the option of doing good damage. I saw the aiming for the human body parts, kitin parts and four legged animals. But what does it all mean and are those aiming stanzas useable with my rifle?

[jmadison]

so how effective, and exactly effective at what, can a Primarily Pistol character be?

[kuroari]

so how effective, and exactly effective at what, can a Primarily Pistol character be?

first off - i'm definatly no Ranged Expert but i have played with it a lot and far as i can tell, pistols have been very fun to play with, but dont expect them to do much in the way of damage.. its more like the daggers - the only problem is you can't dual wield pistols

Pistol uses lots of hp/stamina b/c it shoots so fast - not sure about the ranged (first time i played with pistols they had infinite range i think -Beta1- )

but, a pistol with the Aim at Head action, can interrupt a mage VERY well - and even stun said mage. (crit-hit at head)

so alone, the pistol is probably near-impossible to use (under 'normal' conditions.. i'm not talking a lvl 250 AoD solo-ing with lvl 50 range...)

but with the right combo of ppl, someone with a pistol can help much in interrupting a spell-caster or providing 'cover fire' as it draws attention of mobs much easier since its so quick - (much lik daggers)

..infact a team with 'aim at head' Dual Daggers and a Pistoleer would probably be able to take out a mage very interestingly it wont be the crazy damage a 2 handed mace or a nuke might do, but itll render the caster near useless

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Gallows - increase firing rate - very important, you'll love this one - Aiming - i'd say get the aim at head options (they replace 'accurate attack')

[sehracii]

If you hunt something that runs slower then you, pistol can solo fairly easy.
You don't need to max the fire rate stanza, use something that drains your stam at a reasonable rate. Then just run circles around your prey shooting until its dead.

With the right stanza set up and never getting hit, you can keep going without ever stopping to regen. More then most other skills can say for solo hunt.

[malikg]

If you can only hold 40 autolauncher ammo or 12 launcher ammo, why is it used?

Wouldn't you have to go back and get more ammo after like 5 kills? That sounds like it'd be completely useless.

[cloudy97]

The launchers was originally designed to be THE siege weapon to soften up a horde of kitins before entering melee. As I understand it, magic has become more powerful since then and taking over the launcher's role.

Under optimal circumstances a launcher can kill 6 mobs at a time, doing serious damage. Taking down one mob at a time with a launcher is a waste of resources. You can bring a packer to carry several more rounds of ammo, so you don't have to run back to town too often.

[malikg]

Ah, I forgot about pack animals.

[mehanson]

<snip>...You can bring a packer to carry several more rounds of ammo, so you don't have to run back to town too often.

Actually, more effective to carry the raw materials for crafting more ammo as they have a lower bulk than the finished ammo, allowing you to effectively have access to more ammo. Also carry your ammo crafting tool, then craft the ammo as you need it.

[diogynes]

1
4: No need to use the stanza, as critical effects depend solely on the ammunition used and the body part hit. You can use aim stanzas to increase your chances of hitting eg. the legs, thus slowing your opponent more often, or head to stun etc.

Wait really? I've never heard of this before, and as a level 65 ranged I'd like to know more! What are all the effects possible depending on where you hit the mob and does ammo type matter?

[grimjim]

Wait really? I've never heard of this before, and as a level 65 ranged I'd like to know more! What are all the effects possible depending on where you hit the mob and does ammo type matter?

Torso hits don't do anything to mobs, against players they drain stamina.
Head hits cause a temporary stun, maybe making it miss 1-2 attacks.
Leg hits slow them down.

Arms and hands I don't know.