Long Distance Killing (archery)

[Ironclad]

Do my arrows count for nothing when the red spot does not appear?
I was having hassle with a giant as a mammoth kept charging my blind-side, the giant took off but I could still see its outline. I aimed for the shape and was certain most hit it. But eventually I had to advance on the thing to draw it & it's red spot into the fight, there I noticed its health was still high.
What's going on?

 

[Rayven]

I have killed enemies before they show up as the red spot. You may be just shy of the range your arrow can reach, however. I play with the distances turned down because I'm on an old computer. I've had plenty of times where the enemy can obviously see and hit me but I can't "see" them. I wonder if your sight distance outpaces the distance your arrow can actually reach.

 

[tragik]

I have noticed with archery, the really far items you have to give for the drop of the arrow. Now, I do know when I hit something VERY far away it will give me a health bar at the top of the screen when I hit it.. If I miss I can see the threat turn twards me or get alerted at least..

Unsure of the exact distance is the "max" but I have had to really give height lead on items before, to counter the fall of the arrow.

 

[Kaymindless]

I tend to have to lead like Tragik. If they're far off I aim at the head so they have room to drop. Though I've never noticed the red dot being required, the dragur tend to leap to the side for some strange reason though so that may have been what the giant was doing.

 

[The Barefoot Nord]

Don't know if this counts, but there is a YouTube vid of trick shots and they shoot from WAY far away and still kill.

 

[3v3r]

I've also noticed enemies do dodge to the side even if they don't notice me,they just seem to slide out of the way.

 

[Necromis]

yeah, you probably never actually hit. Again before red dot I have one hit killed wolves. You do have to treat your bow like a bow and arch it high to hit distant targets, even sometimes aiming over their head so it *lobs* in.

 

[Gemini Sierra]

from what I've seen (I'm on a PC setting at HIGH), I have had to shoot high to get VERY long distance targets (no red dot). More often than not my first shot is a miss and the target is alerted and turns towards the arrow fall. Most times this gives me a chance to slightly correct and hit them as they stand there and look around.

The magic slide/dodge some enemies (I've seen bandits, mages, skeletons, drueger, falmer and forsworn do it) is annoying. They can't see me (No sneaky eye and no red dots) and my shot will be dead on, but at the last second they ZIP to the side and I miss. So annoying. Like they develop radar and missile avoidance all of a sudden.

 

[Necromis]

one side question on this line of thought. Anyone know how they do that quick dodge to the side, because even when I hold down the run button and right/left walk key it just *runs* side ways instead.

 

[The Barefoot Nord]

one side question on this line of thought. Anyone know how they do that quick dodge to the side, because even when I hold down the run button and right/left walk key it just *runs* side ways instead.

No, but this would be very useful so I hope we get a response.

 

[Kaymindless]

Hmm, I don't remember if I've ever seen them do the side leap when I'm actually detected just when I'm hidden or they're looking. I don't think it's something we can do, unfortunately.

 

[Ironclad]

I see the swines dodge too, it's after they've already taken damage mind, so maybe this is simply intelligent play for our enemy. After all, who wants to be killed by the unseen?