On the 'need to be connected' thing. I've been seeing that with the original 1.09n data patch. I simply start up the game with my internet connection open, and once I've loaded the save game or chosen my options for the new game, I use the 'windows' key to get back to the desktop, close my internet connection (I like to know that my computer is secure when I'm not able to see what's going on), click on the Elemental 'program box' along the bottom of the screen to get back into Elemental, and proceed to play the game.
I haven't tried to get these followup patches yet though (I've been waiting for resolution of the downloading issues that have cropped up on the Holiday weekend). I did download a weapons mod, changed the bow stats appropriately and have been testing out the new values. I'm liking the fact that lesser foes take more than one hit to bring down now - it makes soloing with a Sovereign a little more dicey, hence increasing the need for blockers/escorts.
I am concerned that Bows will not be very effective against powerful/late game foes, but am hoping that we will see some tougher bows on the Tech tree at that point to compensate. I'd rather see more bow types, rather than having overly powerful bows in the early game.
