I hope you were slotting three SO's or equivalent for damage.
The three upsides, in ascending order:
1) The accuracy bonus. This will help you out pretty much only in your teens, as beginner's luck wears off and before you get SO's. Compared to most secondary effects like -To hit, Knockback or even -Def, this is really a downside.
2) Blazing Arrow does extra DoT and has longer range than Energy Burst and other comparable powers. This is definitely a good plus to the set.
3) Rain of Arrows. I've never got this far with the set, but I hear its absolutely awesome, and makes up for the 37 levels before it's acquired.
The downsides I found were:
1) Lethal damage. Its not as bad as its often made out, but its there, dropping your damage maybe 5-10% overall?
2) Stunning Shot - for whatever reason, blast sets stuns have twice the recharge of blast set holds. Go figure.
3) Lack of secondary effects means no extra IO tricks like some sets get - no damage procs or -Res procs or whatever.
From what I've read, Rain of Arrows is the big sell for this set.
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This. Both Archery and Assault Rifle are rather weak compared to other blast sets until you factor in the T9. RoA and Full Auto have a huge advantage over other nukes in that they don't have any form of end crash and have a short enough recharge that with slotting you can use them every spawn (or every other if you're on a very fast team). For defenders the lack of an end crash is particuarly nice since it means you don't have to worry about endurance for buffs/debuffs after using your "nuke".
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Originally Posted by DrMike2000
From what I've read, Rain of Arrows is the big sell for this set.
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My Kin/Arch was my first character, and I found Archery to be 'okay' until I understood Frankenslotting. She is far from being IO'd out, but a friend recommended that I place some Proc's in the quickly cycling attacks.
Procs can make a big difference in the fun factor of Archery. Such as...
Devastation: Chance for Hold in Snap Shot
Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: Chance for Build Up in Aim or
Decimation: Chance for Build Up in Snap Shot or Aimed Shot
There's more, but it really depends on if you want to maximize damage or gain a few seconds against your opponent.
But really, it comes down to what you get out of the set yourself.
well, if you rolled a -resist debuff Def......
i believe that Archery has a higher to-hit bonus in their powers than other AT's, that'll help some. I would max up your single target damage attacks. Though its lethal, which is a common resist to have, it does pretty good damage, Blazing Arrow has a nasty fire DoT which starts adding up if you got serious recharge going. I'd stick in a damage proc in your Tier1...
Your aoe/cone attack is on the low end of damage really. The only time you're gonna see respectful damage from them is when another char throw down some -resists. With this thought, i'd highly suggest slotting Damage procs in them....
make sure you're chaining Rain of Arrow + Explosive Arrow together for the best 1-2 bang
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Close. Archery's "secondary effect" is having extra ACC in its attacks. Even more than other weapon sets.|
Originally Posted by PHlRE
i believe that Archery has a higher to-hit bonus in their powers than other AT's, that'll help some.
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Normal ACC is 1.0.
Weapon Set ACC is 1.05.
Archery's is 1.15.
Head of TRICK, the all Trick Arrow and Traps SG
Part of the Repeat Offenders
Still waiting for his Official BackAlleyBrawler No-Prize
RoA is the big seller.
I'm a big advocate of pushing emps to the solo limit, as I've proven with my Emp/Energy. That being said, Emp/Arch is probably the worst choice for soloing, it's really an AoE set and Emp soloing really wants to lean toward ST. I suppose in the 38+ world you could push your difficulty to level -1, enemies x 6 and do pretty well, but you'll be waiting for RoA to recharge.
Emp/Arch can bring a lot to a team, just from RoA and Fistful you'll bring a lot of mitigation to the team via kills, but solo, you're better off re-rolling
No
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
I think you underestimate our fools, sir.
Why /duel is a bad idea
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Rain of Arrows. Crashless "Nova"? That should be enough for ANYONE.
| Can you make me love archery? |
Fulcrum Shift + Rain of Arrrows... *giggles*
Shucks! Now I have to play my kinetic archer again! 
If it has eyes, you can blind it, if it has blood, you can make it bleed, if it has a mouth, you can make it scream.
I have an Emp/arch fender who I really enjoyed playing untill I tried an ITF with a tank that insisted my sole job was to keep them alive. The complaints and attitude of the tank ruined the fun I had with him. But I did almost exclusivly team with him as I found the attacks weren't sufficient at lower levels.
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My highest defender (lvl 43) is Kin/Arch and Ive loved playing him. I will agree that some of the Archery attacks feel a bit weak when you're not buffed (or the enemy isn't debuffed) but with my Kin I generally working with a damage buff of 150% to 300% depending on whether Im teaming or solo, and you really notice them packing a punch! |
Originally Posted by Sitriel
Fulcrum Shift + Rain of Arrrows... *giggles*
Shucks! Now I have to play my kinetic archer again! |
And now I have gotten to epic pools I am loving the solo combo of:
Stealth (SS and Proc) + Mass Hypnosis + buffs and Fulcrum Shift + Rain of Arrows
hehe
Member of GGRRR, a SG on Defiant - check out our website - GGRRR
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
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My first and favorite 50 is an emp/archer.
Soloing took some work, but I figured out a way to make it work. Now I can solo her through mishes fine, albeit a little slower than maybe a scrapper or blaster. Because archery is a ranged-type power, you have to play it that way. Stay out of melee, kite around, and, for me personally, stealth +LoTG set and Celerity +stealth in Super Speed.
The snipe power in Archery is one of the best that I've encountered. It's only downfall is the very very long activation time (a prob with the whole powerset). I'll usually single out a troublesome boss or lts. and kill it with the snipe. then Rain of Arrows, exploding arrow, and flaming arrow = all dead.
Epic powers also help. Rain of Arrows + power boost = awesome.
Rain of Arrows + power boost + buffs from others = moar awesome.
The best times are when you see a mob of ten get hit by "300 300 300 300"
luv it!
my second 50 was a fire/fire blaster. When I started playing her, I got frustrated at the lack of accuracy. I grew so used to the inherent acc in Archery.
Triumph Lurker: mintmiki 50 emp/archer
basically, if you see a miki on Triumph, it's probably cute and it's probably me.
Huge thanks to cuppamanga and all the folks in the mac help forum for prolonging my borrowed time on this game.
Thanks for all the responses. It's just a few more levels to RoA - I guess we'll see then...
I'm new-ish. Again.
@Kahzi. Pinnacle, mostly.
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Originally Posted by Fulmens
The plural of anecdote is not data.
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I like, and recommend, ranged Shot (the snipe). But my Blaster doesn't "single out a troublesome boss or lts. and kill it with the snipe." At least, not without cycling a bunch of other attacks. And you're killing bosses with the Defender-strength snipe? Is this by using Fulcrum Shift?
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Originally Posted by mintmiki
The snipe power in Archery is one of the best that I've encountered. It's only downfall is the very very long activation time (a prob with the whole powerset). I'll usually single out a troublesome boss or lts. and kill it with the snipe.
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If we are to die, let us die like men. -- Patrick Cleburne
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The rule is that they must be loved. --Jayne Fynes-Clinton, Death of an Abandoned Dog
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No, forgive me. I usually bring them down to half life then finish them off with snapshot (slotted for distance) or a flaming arrow.
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Originally Posted by Sailboat
I like, and recommend, ranged Shot (the snipe). But my Blaster doesn't "single out a troublesome boss or lts. and kill it with the snipe." At least, not without cycling a bunch of other attacks. And you're killing bosses with the Defender-strength snipe? Is this by using Fulcrum Shift?
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Triumph Lurker: mintmiki 50 emp/archer
basically, if you see a miki on Triumph, it's probably cute and it's probably me.
Huge thanks to cuppamanga and all the folks in the mac help forum for prolonging my borrowed time on this game.
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Originally Posted by Kahzi
The first character I created was an Empathy/Archery Defender... And I really regret that stupid bow & arrow. I have no debuffs, just mediocre damage. Soloing is painful. My damage contribution to a group seems lacking. So what is the upside of Archery? Or am I perhaps just not slotting heavily enough for damage?
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Honestly, no, we can't. It is what it is. Leathel damage, on a defender damage scale. Your secondary is going to be little to no real help solo. No debuffs, nothing to make the light damage stronger. This is a team support build. It's going to solo painfully and it's damage controbution will be light. But if you play it well, you can keep any team alive and chugging along, and that's where you get your satatisfaction from.
And by play it well, i'm not talking about rocking the aura. Buffs are the key to good empathy play. Buff eairly, buff often, and shoot stuff in your free time.
As for the up side to archery, it's much more accurate then almost any other secondary, and it's 9th tear is GREAT AoE damage for a defender, and won't crash your endurance, detoggle any toggles you may have, and allowing you to still defend without chocking down some blues. I love it on my FF/Archer. Between the 3 big aoes i do respecatable aoe damage for a defender with no debuffs.
I'm no blaster but i don't expect to be. Have you made it to RoA level yet? Maybe that'll help ya out.
@KingSnake - Triumph Server
@PrinceSnake
My common sense is tingling... ~ Deadpool
If you can't learn to do something well... learn to enjoy doing it poorly...
OP said
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Well, this could be a REAL problem. | Or am I perhaps just not slotting heavily enough for damage? |
Defender, 3-slotted for damage: 65% of Blaster numbers.
Defender, 0-slotted for damage: 32.5% of Blaster numbers.
You're never going to have the room clearing power of a Fire/Mental blaster, and Empathy's direct damage is roughly tied for "weakest in Defenderdom", but if you don't slot what you DO have, you're going to be at half damage.
To see whether your damage is still miserable, go to Wents and buy a couple of red inspirations. If you're slotted for 50% damage, buy big reds, if you're slotted for 66% or 33% damage buy mediums.
Take enough reds to get yourself to about 100% damage. (and a couple purples- wear your protective equipment when experimenting!) Shoot some typical badguys. The damage may seem more acceptable, in which case you know what you have to do. If not, it's a lot harder fix.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
The first character I created was an Empathy/Archery Defender... And I really regret that stupid bow & arrow. I have no debuffs, just mediocre damage. Soloing is painful. My damage contribution to a group seems lacking. So what is the upside of Archery? Or am I perhaps just not slotting heavily enough for damage?
I'm new-ish. Again.
@Kahzi. Pinnacle, mostly.