Range of Archers

[Marquis of Roland]

Seems like a lot of people have questions on just exactly how far different archer units can shoot. Do pavise arbs shoot as far as longbows? If anyone knows the ranges of archer units can you make a list from furthest range to shortest range archers?

[Beirut]

I think if you look in the "projectile stats" folder in the game files, you will see the comparitive data. Which you can also change to suit your needs.

[katank]

6k for longbows and arbs

5k for regular archers (shortbow) and x-bows

note: these are threshold fire range. actual range is also dependent upon velocity to see whether they can hit.

for comparison:

arqs 4k

handguns 2k

javs 1.5k

naptha 1.3k

all arty are 24k or more

[Marquis of Roland]

Thanks, katank, didn't know about the projectile stats folder.

[ichi]

The file gives the distance in some odd computer units, which convert (according to the file) at a rate of 5000 = 100 metres, so vanilla archers and Xbows have about a 100 meter range, Naptha about 20, almost as much as a javelin

ichi.

[Servius]

A dev posted here back in the day about the range variables, though I don't know where to find it. I think he said that the Range variable determines how far from the unit the bow-and-arrow icon switches from a red X to a green arrow, and also marked the target range. However, it was the Velocity variable that affected shot power, and thus range too.

So, if the Range variable is too high and the Velocity variable too low, your archers will think they can shoot a mile but their arrows will only travel half that distance. If your Velocity is too high and your Range is too short, you just increase the speed and lower the trajectory of the projectile.

So X-bows and Arbs have very high Velocity but short range, which is why their projectiles move so quickly AND have a relatively flat trajectory. This as opposed to Longbows who have a longer Range but relatively less (but still enough) Velocity, which results in an arched shot. Also, Longbows, as opposed to X-bows, have an ability called Try-High or something which allows the computer to try for a higher-angle shot if a lower-angle one is blocked, like by a wall or something.

[katank]

arbs have equal range to longbows and in practice a bit higher since their velocity is high.

however, longbows can arch their fire over a shield wall and also shoot faster, making them the superior missile IMHO.

be wary of this in modding as I once had super high velocity units which cannot hit anything as it shot almost horizontal and never got a chance to explode on the ground.

arb velocity is about the highest sane velocity you would want for modding.