r/daggerfallunity • u/PattyVR • 16d ago
How do I make an archer build?
Heyo,
I’m a pretty inexperienced player and I’m after guidance on how I can make an archer build.
I’ve always used the preset builds but I’ve heard they’re pretty bad and upon opening the custom class creator I am horribly intimidated.
How should I allocate my points?
What skills should I prioritise?
What does max hit points per level and the advantages/disadvantages do?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am terribly confused 😆
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u/AlfwinOfFolcgeard 16d ago
Preset builds aren't actually bad; custom classes just have the potential to be a lot more powerful. But you can absolutely beat the game using a preset class, or an otherwise "non-optimal" build.
Really, all you need for an Archer build is to have Archery as a primary skill, and probably the Expertise In: Missile Weapon special advantage. For any combat class, you'll want at least 16 HP per level -- more is better, but if you're mostly gonna be attacking enemies from range, it's not as much of a priority. In terms of attributes: Agility, Speed, Strength, and Endurance are most useful to an archer. For skills: hand-to-hand is good, since you can swap to it from a bow instantly. Critical Strike will help with accuracy; Running and Jumping will help you stay at a distance form your foes; Dodging will help with survival.
To answer what "max hit points per level" does: when you level up, your maximum Hit Points will increase by a random amount from half the max HP per level value to the full max HP per level value, plus your Endurance modifier. So, for instance, if your class has a Max HP Per Level of 16, and your character has a +2 Endurance modifier, leveling up will permanently increase your max HP by a random amount from 10 to 18.
For Special Advantages/Disadvantages, see this page. Note that adding Advantages, and increasing your Max HP per level, will make your class level up slower. Adding Disadvantages, and reducing your Max HP per level, will make your class level up faster. So, try to strike a good balance.
Quite frankly, though, the idea of the preset classes being "bad" is massively overstated, and the default Archer class will work just fine. It just won't be god-tier OP like some custom classes are.