Ranging without commiting suicide

[1verymadman]

I am a melee player. Sometimes it feels better to use ranging than melee.

 

I get out trusty bow/crossbow etc plus arrows/bolts and try and slay the enemy.

 

I position myself behind some obstacle like a crate/chair/table and aim for the target.

 

The target is close. I should be safe (provide the target is not a ranger or a mage). I aim and fire.

 

But my character leaps out from behind safety and runs up to the target and starts shooting. :o

 

I then have to try and run to safety again. This has gotten me killed a few times. :cry:

 

 

 

Why does this idiotic behaviour happen I ask myself. Why don't I stick to melee.

 

I see others using range but without the suicidal urge to present oneself as an easy target.

 

 

 

Is there a trick to this. :wall:

 

Could someone please give me some advice on how one is supposed to remain protected and suppress the urge to give the target every opportunity to kill me.

[forestfrolic]

Ah, make sure target is close so you don't go running after it. It just takes practice.

[RayOxide]

Make sure the obstacle in question isnt too high to shoot over.

 

Some of them are obvious and some are just stupid.

 

Maybe look up some guides for certain monsters to see if there are any safes?

[ovorette]

This guide http://forum.tip.it/viewtopic.php?t=373132, while it may be a bit out of date, will give you an excellent overview of safespotting for various monsters.

 

 

 

You will find your own methods as well once you get the hang of it.

[1verymadman]

Ok thanks for the replies.

 

I am slaying Scabaras in the Temple Dungeon.

 

There are some crates that look like they should be good to hide behind.

 

The scabaras lancer is in front of the crate and I am behind it.

 

I aim and click. Out I wizz right right onto the lance. If I position myself on one side and the scabaras is one the other side I can shoot them ok (sometimes).

 

 

 

     -----

me  |     |  Scabaras 

    -----

 

 

 

In the above situation (using code section to try and suggest a crate) I race out to get impaled. :roll:

 

 

 

       -----

     |     |  me

      -----

    Scabaras

 

 

 

In the above situation, I seem to be able to shoot ok without committing suicide (at least not all the time).

 

 

 

Maybe the crates by game logic are too high to shoot over. They look low enough but maybe they arent . :shock:

 

They must be placed there to fool mugs like me. :x

[PlzPuddngPlz]

There's a safespotting guide somewhere in the Aow/ general guides section, I'll try to find it for you.

 

 

 

Aha! I found it buried deep in the old AOW index! Behold! http://forum.tip.it/viewtopic.php?t=608702

[Sire_Mark_II]

Ok thanks for the replies.

 

I am slaying Scabaras in the Temple Dungeon.

 

There are some crates that look like they should be good to hide behind.

 

The scabaras lancer is in front of the crate and I am behind it.

 

I aim and click. Out I wizz right right onto the lance. If I position myself on one side and the scabaras is one the other side I can shoot them ok (sometimes).

 

 

 

     -----

me  |     |  Scabaras 

    -----

 

 

 

In the above situation (using code section to try and suggest a crate) I race out to get impaled. :roll:

 

 

 

       -----

     |     |  me

      -----

    Scabaras

 

 

 

In the above situation, I seem to be able to shoot ok without committing suicide (at least not all the time).

 

 

 

Maybe the crates by game logic are too high to shoot over. They look low enough but maybe they arent . :shock:

 

They must be placed there to fool mugs like me. :x

 

 

 

Yup, you can't fire over crates. Lame much, you bet! Your second situation should work sometimes, especially against big creatures that don't squeeze so well.

 

 

 

I *think* the only things you can fire from behind are small rocks, tables, barred fences. Safe spots usually require space management and angles rather than just plain barricades.