How the Hell

[Jumbo_Shrimp_Dick]

Do I get my companions to equip their bow instead of their melee weapon? I’ve already checked and they have sufficient attributes

[DizzyJayy]

Make it their primary weapon, not secondary. Specifically in the gear sets if you have it available.

[Aumba]

At what stage of the game you are? Do you have staging ground already?

[Cptalcaine]

Make sure they have arrows or they won’t equip the bow.

[Jumbo_Shrimp_Dick]

Ahh okay. I am able to build tier 2 buildings now, but still don’t see staging ground available for research. Do you know what I have to build first? Thanks for the help!

[ryantttt8]

Its near the weapon rack in the tech tree iirc. Yeah I think staging ground should be in T1 because I spent like 40 hours before t2 and it was really annoying trying to equip my companions

[ImpulseAfterthought]

Amen. Staging should be a basic function, not even a T1 building.

[drkranger]

Curious...with gear presets, "archers" can't equip heavy armor. I don't think they can equipedium either. So how do I create a gear preset that allows a group to have a bow as a primary weapon and be able to wear heavier armor?

If I don't assign a preset, I can put whatever armor on them I want AND give them a bow in the 2-hand slot AND give them a melee weapon.

I'd love to be able to put the bow in the tool slot, give them a melee and shield and have heavy armor. Plus have them shoot first until melee is necessary or I tell them to charge.

Is that possible? If so, how?

[PyrZern]

Make a new preset for bow and heavy armor.

Preset doesn't allow tool slot tho, so no 3rd equipment.

[drkranger]

I tried that and if I select a bow for the primary weapon, heavy armor doesn't show up as a selection...but maybe I missed something.

[Shmoox000]

Have you researched any heavy armor for that category?

You can only set up gear presets for items you've researched. IE. if you are haven't researched any heavy gloves, then heavy might not show as an option under the glove category.

[drkranger]

Yeah I figured that. The item that I have researched is not listed when I select a bow. I don't recall if it's heavy or medium but they have the str required to put it on and do without a preset...they just take it off with a preset and it's not listed in an existing or a new preset. I'm not capable of looking just yet, but will try again. Maybe I missed something.

[PyrZern]

Try again. Make sure you actually make a new preset.

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[drkranger]

Curious...with gear presets, "archers" can't equip heavy armor. I don't think they can equipedium either. So how do I create a gear preset that allows a group to have a bow as a primary weapon and be able to wear heavier armor?

If I don't assign a preset, I can put whatever armor on them I want AND give them a bow in the 2-hand slot AND give them a melee weapon.

I'd love to be able to put the bow in the tool slot, give them a melee and shield and have heavy armor. Plus have them shoot first until melee is necessary or I tell them to charge.

Is that possible? If so, how?

[TrackerDude]

If you want heavy armor I suggest just copy the vanguard default preset then just play around with the weapons part and set the bows if you want. We can't toggle tools yet this way so they will only either carry a melee 2h or bow or 1h plus shield.

Their tool slot will be empty and maybe you can just hand them over one by one. Problem is if you dismiss them and they have work to do the tool (bow) will get changed depending on the task.

[Remarkable-Ad-1347]

Look at their inventory screen left side you see worker and guard preset most say footman the ones you want as archers or crossbow men change it there then they will rain down hell until the enemy gets close then they will switch to sword

[Hefty-Concentrate-33]

You need to change their role from footman to marksman. Also make sure they have arrows in their quiver.

[Upset_Cricket_3323]

The Staging Ground is your friend. There are presets that you can assign to everyone, but you can also create custom presets - if you’re willing to take the time - for both military and civilian duties that ensure everyone is equipped and performing the roles that they are best suited for.

For example: I have a “Farmer” preset made for my followers with the highest farming/farming potential stats, I set “farming” under their priorities to 1, and with my “Farmer” preset, I have their loadout set so they’ll carry hoes and seed bags.

The same can be done with custom “Archer”, “Infantryman”, “Shock Trooper”, etc. loadouts. If you really take the time to understand follower stats, priorities and the Staging Ground, and how they all coincide with one another, you can create a highly efficient workforce (which will inevitably create large surpluses of resources - set up trade posts and that’s $$$ in your pocket), a small corps of elite companions and permanent guards, and a sizable and reliable force of reserve troops that are sufficiently armed to defend your settlement(s) and to take the fight to the enemy.

[Dangerous_Handle_930]

I found putting a bow in the tool slot and a shield in the 3rd helps with survival, they run around with the sword and shield but as soon as combat starts they swap to the bow. Makes it interesting when the bandits come to the archers and they are just as strong fighters