I'm confused about Take Aim

[Absinth]

<DIV> <DIV>I posted this in the Spells forum, but maybe it's not so much a bug but just something I don't understand.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Steady Aim is a ranger skill. It buffs your ranged skill for 15 minutes. Since this skill increases with use, I suspect it is a component in determining if you hit with a ranged attack</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Take aim is a ranger skill. It buffs your bow skill for a short time. "Bow" is a skill that automatically goes up 5 points per level and it determines what kind of bow you can equip.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So I'm forced to wonder why I'd want to buff that skill. Can I then equip a bow that I otherwise could not? Is that what was intended? Is there more to the "bow" skill and does it effect my ability to hit? The buff is very short duration, so what's the point?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If TA is supposed to be an upgrade to SA, then why does it only raise the skill one more point? (37 vs 38 for an Adept I) and why is TA such a short duration?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What's the point of buffing your bow skill?</DIV></DIV>

[Jay]

<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2></FONT> <HR> Absinthe_ wrote:<BR> <DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I posted this in the Spells forum, but maybe it's not so much a bug but just something I don't understand.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Steady Aim is a ranger skill. It buffs your ranged skill for 15 minutes. Since this skill increases with use, I suspect it is a component in determining if you hit with a ranged attack </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Take aim is a ranger skill. It buffs your bow skill for a short time. "Bow" is a skill that automatically goes up 5 points per level and it determines what kind of bow you can equip.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>So I'm forced to wonder why I'd want to buff that skill. Can I then equip a bow that I otherwise could not? Is that what was intended? Is there more to the "bow" skill and does it effect my ability to hit? The buff is very short duration, so what's the point?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>If TA is supposed to be an upgrade to SA, then why does it only raise the skill one more point? (37 vs 38 for an Adept I) and why is TA such a short duration?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>What's the point of buffing your bow skill?</FONT></DIV></DIV><BR><FONT size=2></FONT> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2>You're right that Steady Aim augments your ranged skill, which in turn increases your chance to hit with a ranged attack. I don't have Take Aim, but I think you have a very good point - why increase a skill that (A) is only used to determine whether you can wield a weapon, and (B) is automatically maxed with each level? In case you're carrying around the Bloodlet Bow to use for a minute or two in the middle of battle? <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></FONT><BR>

[Trei]

<div></div>Just a guess here, but the Bow skill's function might not be <i>only </i>for determining what level bow you can equip. Maybe it also increases just how much you can get out of a weapon of that particular level (ie:turns a yellow con bow into a virtual white one by increasing YOUR weapon skill) . Ranged skill could be : -hit rates vs target lvl -frequency and ability to hit for the higher spectrum of weapon damage range Bow skill might be : -tightening of damage range you get out of the weapon at your skill level -increase max damage Combat arts have a min skill level and a max one yes? Maybe this works the same too. <div></div><p>Message Edited by Trei49 on <span class=date_text>03-29-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:35 AM</span>

[Gaspode6]

<DIV>As you say, Trei49, that's just a guess. It's just as likely that SOE has implemented the skill effects incorrectly, including duration. They might even fix it someday <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Jay]

<FONT size=2>Just a guess, but a very good guess nonetheless. Trei's points make a lot of sense. Not that SOE and EQ are known for making a lot of sense... <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></FONT>

[Artr]

<div></div><span><blockquote><hr>Trei49 wrote:<div></div>Just a guess here, but the Bow skill's function might not be <i>only </i>for determining what level bow you can equip. Maybe it also increases just how much you can get out of a weapon of that particular level (ie:turns a yellow con bow into a virtual white one by increasing YOUR weapon skill) . Ranged skill could be : -hit rates vs target lvl -frequency and ability to hit for the higher spectrum of weapon damage range Bow skill might be : -tightening of damage range you get out of the weapon at your skill level -increase max damage Combat arts have a min skill level and a max one yes? Maybe this works the same too. <div></div><p>Message Edited by Trei49 on <span class="date_text">03-29-2005</span> <span class="time_text">03:35 AM</span></p><hr></blockquote>Well let's look at a few things here: 1)  I hope you are right <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> 2)  If you are right then you have to view the skill as say, the number of dice you can roll for each attack.  The more dice you have (ie the more skill) the better your chance of hitting.  This is similar to an attack rating with your melee weapons.  If i am suddenly better skilled with bow, then I'm using it more efficiently.  Therefore I can make better aimed shots thus increasing my chances at max damage and, as you said, tightening the distance on the damage range. 3)  However, I think somethign very important is being over-looked with these skills (Take Aim, and Steady Aim).  As with your normal CAs, the damage and effectiveness of a bow CA is not determine by the bow, bow skill, or ranged skill.  It's determined by the Archery skill (if you examine the CAs you'll notice Archery).  The skills of Take Aim and Steady Aim only apply to using the bow as an autoattack in place of your normal weapons.  Who does that?  The DPS, I don't know if it's better or worse, but I go through arrows fast just using my bow-CAs, let alone in standard combat too.  These skills, in my opinion are useless.</span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Artrus on <span class=date_text>03-29-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:59 PM</span>

[Caltros]

I am lvl 39.7 and have a imbued cedar LB in my pack, I will use Take Aim tonight and see if I can equip it and post back to this.....

[Caltros]

I could not use my cedar imbued LB with Take Aim at 39.9 as an FYI.....

[Absinth]

<P>Thanks for checking. Well that kills that idea.</P> <P> </P>