Game Mechanics: Archery Diagnosed!!!

[Awsten_Tx]

I have other post discussing primary damage bonus being factored into archery damage, thats not the point being made here.

I am fairly certain I have gotten to the bottom of archery damage being "throttled" on P99.

For history sake, I distinctly remember Ranger Bow DPS coming online and becoming viable in Live during velious era.

However that is just not the case here on P99. Despite having BIS Bows, with double damage bonus a ranger will struggle to maintain DPS in the 40's.

So having said all that I set out to ascertain the problem with archery.

My first theory was that bows were pulling not just the primary damage bonus, but also the primary damage, but that just wasnt the case. The numbers did not line up and the parses did not indicate this.

Then I discovered archery had a higher miss rate in addition to its throttle damage.

Then it dawn on me to take off all weapons except a bow and as simple as it sounds, it hit me in the face.

Archery damage is not using a skill check on each round on archery. So despite having 240 archery skill, my attack, with only a bow, is a mere 948. When I put a 2 hand slasher on in primary it jumps to 1435.

See screenshots below, first is no weapon;
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And now second is with my 2 hand slasher on;
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This explains why a ranger with a War bow of Rallos Zek with 8 damage arrows (51 damage total) will hit a standard shot of around 130 damage max (no bonus), but when equipping a 45 damage 2 hand slasher such as primal axe or claidmore. Will hit for around 280 damage.

I suspect the bug has something to do with the game not recognizing the ranger slot as a weapon. I am not familiar with the code or how its written but this is consistent with other players seeing a melee weapon firing arrows in lieu of a bow.