So in Morrowind I had Umbra and was a Nord, Redguard and Imperial.
In Oblivion I was a Nord, Redguard and then a Breton Mage.

Now in Skyrim I've played a Nord 4 times. All my characters are active, but I've noticed something.
I have fallen madly deeply in love with Archery.

I have NEVER done this before. Well maybe tried a crossbow in MW, but never in OB.

I love this skill, but I can't move too well and it's not with my race so to speak. Trying to be close to lore.

So. my questions are: Better race for using Archery? and wearing light armor? Do archers wear light armor?

any hints or expert advice you want to share would be helpful as I just started using a bow exclusively and my character seems to be a bit disoriented. So I'm going to start over.

Thanks ahead of time.

I tend to play either a wood elf or Dark Elf when playing a archer, and yes light armor is the way to go as you want to be as sneaky as possible as you dont want your prey to see you or your arrows coming until its to late! Archery is one of the slower to level skills so it can be worth it to spend some gold on training points, there is a elf in Riverwood that will help you out if you help him out. Other tricks are to find targets you can shoot that cant reach you. Oh and Draugr are great for a cheap supply of arrows.

Thanks! I was thinking Wood elf, but wasn't too thrilled with that option, Dark Elf is though I'm still mad at them from Morrowind. And I was wondering? How do the draugr get their arrows if they never leave the cave/dungeons?

Glad to know I can still do my light armor. I just prefer it.

Best advice? Stay at range

I am trying!!! Sometimes they surprise me! and they are RIGHT there in back of me cuz I wasn't paying attention! Boy do I jump!
Guess it's going to take a lot of trial and error cuz I don't sneak well either? Is that useful too? Sneak skill? SIGH. sorry. I guess I'm asking alot!

Save your good arrows for hard targets, and use lower grade for most foes.

thanks, I really have to go into my inventory and see what "good" ones are left. And then when I create my archer try to get those. It's fun though doing this. I really honestly am surprised how much fun I was having. Felt like a whole new game.

Sorry rambling again.

What race are you currently playing? Also what do you mean by "better race" for archery? One that has a higher starting Archery skill or a character or race that better fits the standard fantasy archer type character? For both questions Wood Elf would seem to be the best pick however over time the initial stat bonuses each race recieves means little and any race can be whatever you want them to be, Bretons dont have to stick to magic, Nords dont need to stick to 2 handed weapons and Bosmer dont have to stick to Archery, if you are worried that Nords dont fit the typical archer type there are plenty of Nords in this game who are archers such as Aela the Huntress and what not, it is all up to your imagination.


Just a tip with the Archer in Riverwood, you dont need to help him in order to train you but if you do help him you can add him as a follower, if you have him as a follower and ask him to train you you can simply ask him to share his gear and take whatever money you payed for the training back resulting in free training.

With good sneak and archery you won't even need to perk light armor.

I meant better race as in what to start with so my archery skill is better enhanced. I also want to stick a little bit with lore, but I did meet a Nord Archer! I really didn't know that after time it doesn't matter, but I guess that makes sense since in the other ES games I really did some screwy stuff with my Breton. LOL
Ok. I think I can almost do this now. Just was wondering and needed some help. Thanks so much.

Light armor is preferable for a sneaky archer, heavy armor is better for a battle archer. Neither armor type affects archery directly, it's really just a matter of whether you want more stealth or more durability.

Because you don't have to get close to your target, you can rack up sneak attacks easier with your bow, and bows do a LOT of damage per shot, which means a lot of sneak attack damage. At high levels of sneak, you won't even be fully revealed when you hit the target with an arrow, which means you can hit them for a sneak attack, wait a few seconds (the target doesn't need to go completely back to passive), and hit them again for another sneak attack.

Fus Ro Dah.* Know it, love it. You're an archer, which means you get hit rarely (so low armor skill) and you can't block, so you need to keep the enemy off you. The bash attack with a bow (secondary fire with no arrow notched) only buys you enough time to turn around and run, not enough to fire another arrow. Fire/Ice breath are also handy as they stagger the enemy more than just Fus does, but once you get Ro and Dah they're no longer your best disruption choice.

The faster rate of fire perk is a bit broken at the moment. Although it's true you can NOTCH another arrow 30% faster, you need to wait until a normal arrow would be fully drawn or the shot won't travel its full distance. Makes it a bit useless sadly, but it's on the way to the paralyze perk so you'll need to get it.

Even so, I'd say don't bother with the right-hand path of Archery perks. They can't hold a candle to zoom and stagger, and frankly aren't that good even when taken on their own. Even critical shot's damage is only to the base damage of the bow, not the damage it deals in YOUR hands, which means the bonus damage is pathetic. Use enchanted equipment, alchemy, and the base damage boost perk if you need more damage from your bows.

If you're on PC, http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=874 will allow you to break down the tons of low-grade arrows you'll find to craft useful, high-grade arrows. No more firing mere iron arrows from a daedric bow.

Summoning or companions are VERY handy. True, they can get in the way of your shots, but at least they're someone to draw aggro that isn't you. If you're trying to be sneaky, summoning is easier since you can wait to summon until you need the extra protection, rather than having clumsy back there always revealing you, but even companions can just be told to wait a couple rooms back and brought forward every so often, then retreated back to as needed.

*Fus Ro Dah acquisition spoiler

Thats what I was getting at just didnt want to give it all away not everyone likes to use exploits, I for one take advantage of it everytime I roll, same with pickpocket training then on to sneak training.

If you're on PC, I'd suggest doing the ini file tweak to adjust the range as the default range is seriously broken (and annoyingly short, all things considered). The tweak will also realign the arrow to start from the crosshair rather than your waist (what was Beth thinking? I have no idea).

Sneak will be your important support skill, plus probably Alchemy. All three are in the Stealth school, so all are easy to level as long as you use the Thief stone and the Well Rested perk.

if your on PC, you should change the ini file so that long range archery is viable and your arrows aren't gong through targets, or disappearing.

wow that was alot of WIN in a reply. Thanks for the advice on the fire perk. I haven't gotten there yet with any of my characters. . Not being able to run with my bow really really stinks tho. I will make sure I level there.
I will go run off and check out that mod after I'm done replying here.

Am aware of Fus do rah, but I avoided the main quest with my last character. I will do it again with my next one. I did it with the other 3.

So I still need to collect wood? (for smithing). That's a given I assume.

wow, it's amazing when I think of all of you and you all do things so different from each other and how your collective knowledge can really help out at times. I really wish the forums would reflect this more than the hate.

Thank you Maktaka

I've never bothered with the right-hand perks, but I've sometimes wondered if the perk to recover extra arrows is worth it. The other two seem like a waste.

ok what tweak? you both said it. LOL

is it the MOD that Maktaka said?

Or do I need to go somewhere to find this?

I've played with archery a few times as my main Nord-warrior, and then I made a minor Imperial archer (I'm really only using him for the Imperial questline).

Of course, there are no laws on what constitutes an archer; you may very well be a heavy-armor wearing archer. Still, I'd think it's best for an archer to wear light armor (but probably leather, imperial, stormcloak, etc... don't wear robes; you won't need to magick bonus). Wood Elves are best, iirc?

You go into your files and just change a number, which ups the overall range of archery. There's a description exactly how to do it somewhere around here, or google it. Ill post it in a while if nobody else does. Its easy to do and doesnt mess anything up.

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMMTJta_fPs its in the description, how to do it. Dudes accent is awesome as well.

If you haven't already done so, get the Steady Hands perk as soon as possible. This one is a game changer.

If you ignore Health and put all your level-up points into Stamina, you can take down as many as a dozen advancing enemies with Steady Hands before they even get close to you. Combined with Power Shot and Deadly Aim it is tremendously powerful.

K! I will try and find that thing.
I know what my INI file is. Thankfully.
thanks



That is an awesome thing to know. I usually put ALL my points into Stamina cuz I loot like I have OCD. Thanks for the advice guys/girls. I literally have written this down. I know I sound so silly, but I really really want to do this thing.

Sneak, sneak, and more sneak. The sneak bonus for archery is just great.

Try a little enchanting - learn some damage spells and put them on your bow - more damage = dead enemies before they can get close to you.

Light armor is great, although there are heavy armor pieces that add damage to your archery. I have some heave armor gauntlets that increase bow damage by 25%, and a helmet that increases bow damage by 30% (and a ring for another 25%). So, give up the light armor bonus for increased damage is well worth it IMO. You probably won't see this till later in the game though.

Keep an eye out for dropped bows, bows found in chests, etc. Compare them to what you have and swap if their damage is higher (don't forgot the enchant). Arrows have their own damage, swap to the next higher damage level ASAP. Do the same for your follower, if you have one. Also increase your and your follower's armor/gear when possible.

Last thing, your sneak level will only increase if there's someone/something (NPCs, animals, etc.) that can see you. Sneaking through a half-empty dungeon to go sell loot in town doesn't do anything for your sneak level.

Don't power-level alchemy, enchanting, and smithing. You'll end up a god who can one-shot everything - which results in a very boring game.

Good luck.

I've been concentrating on my magic skills and taking most perks for those but I've also fallen in love with the archery skill in Skyrim and didn't neglect it completely. At Level 41 now, I want to put some focus on archery again. Sneak is at skill level 85 with only the first perk and Archery is at skill level 56 but I've only taken the first perk on that also so thanks for the advice on those and on choosing stamina. Great thread, thanks!

Ok got the youtube thing done. Thanks Erandur!



Thanks Eagle15. I don't like to Power level anything. And thanks for the tips on Sneak. I NEVER sneak, so was unsure how to do any of that. I will grudgingly try Hvy Armor. LOL
and Enchanting! Geesh I haven't enchanted since way back when OB came out!

But I DO like to make potions! It's just a thing with me. Smithing I like to make my armor/weapons better, but I don't make useless stuff to sell unless I'm really short of cash to buy potions!
I don't make 100 iron daggers to make money. I do try to balance the game somewhat.

Thanks again all you have all been awesome.

No problemo.