Talk:Archery

Discussion

Archery gives +50% bonus damage, which is significantly more in comparison with expert Offense which only gives +30%. This can give a significant increase in damage dealt by ranged attacks. Tower with Titans and Magi (and Master Gremlins), or Stronghold with Cyclops and Orcs are good examples of towns that may benefit greatly from choosing Archery. However, as the skill only affects ranged attacks, it can be entirely useless if the hero has no creatures capable attacking at range. For example Fortress has only one low tier – although quite powerful – ranged creature (Lizardman and Lizard Warrior), which makes Archery a rather less useful skill for Fortress heroes.

There are also three artifacts that can increase the effect of archery: Bow of Elven Cherrywood, Bowstring of the Unicorn's Mane and Angel Feather Arrows. Although the increase is quite small, it can sometimes be enough to turn the tide of a battle. Golden Bow, as well as Bow of the Sharpshooter (a combination or super artifact found only in the Shadow of Death expansion) do not directly affect Archery skill, but they work well together with it.

Artifact edit war

That back and forth is unproductive. Anon, could you write some details about why you think the artifacts don't behave like previously explained? --Turnam (talk) 10:24, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

Because it clearly doesn't work that way. Firstly, nothing in the game works multiplicatively. All bonuses of the same type are combined, for example, sorcery and orbs. As well as all the other skills and artifacts that enhance this skill: interference, eagle eye, luck and morale, resistance, logistics. Why should archery be an exception and act differently? Secondly, it is very easy to check. Just create a map with those items and a heroes with and without archery. Here users did it before [1]. I can create video showing this in actual HotA version too.

Testing

Orrin. Starting attack of 2. Using Marksmen (Attack 6, dmg 2-3, count 14). Attacking a 14-defense enemy with no skills.

Basic Archery, Bow of Sharpshooter, Level 1 -> 35-53

Basic Archery, no Bow, Level 1 -> 28-42

Advanced Archery, Level 3, total unit attack of 9 (6+3), Bow of Sharpshooter -> 41-61

Advanced archery, level 3, total unit attack of 9 (6+3), no Bow -> 33-50

Expert Archery, level 5, total unit attack of 10 (6+4), bow of sharpshooter -> 47-72

Expert Archery, level 5, total unit attack of 10 (6+4), no bow -> 40-61.

So equipping the bow increased damage floor by about 7-8 points regardless of the archery skill or the archery specialty effect (which is about 28% and may be a result of IEEE-754 double precision adding up to less than 30% and the game rounding it down). Damage ceiling increased regardless of archery skill by ~11 points, again regardless of level or archery proficiency (again, around 28%).

I was using Pumpkin Patch for this but did NOT change the calculation equation for Archery artifacts with it (only removed a conditional jump at 0E43EE). If somebody wants to test it again on a fresh install, they are welcome to do so.