can someone describe the different types of bow to me ? - Guild Wars Forums

jiggerjay · Sep 04, 2007, 05:41 PM // 17:41

hey all, i am not an expert ranger, i am going for the legendary survivor on my ranger atm, i am on 450k exp.

i use stormbow/platinum longbows. i dont understand what the difference is between the other types, i.e recurve.

Toutatis · Sep 04, 2007, 06:07 PM // 18:07

The descriptions of each of the different bow types can be seen here

As can be seen from the table on that page, each bow type has a different combination of range, attack speed and flight arc (the path the arrow takes and a good measure of accuracy). This gives each bow type a set of characteristics that make them useful in different situations.

The longbow is a fairly reliable bow. It has a long range and reasonable refire rate, along with medium to good accuracy. This doesn't make it the best bow for damage, but it does allow you to deal decent damage at a good range and is exceptional for pulling groups of enemies in PvE.

The shortbow has a fast refire rate, making it good for dealing damage. It is also fairly accurate, although it has the shortest range.

The flatbow has a fast refire rate, making it as good for damage as the shortbow. The flatbow also has a longer range than the shortbow. However, the flatbow's larger flight arc makes it less accurate, though this may prove to be an advantage in some areas as it enables you to fire arrows over most obstructions that might be on the terrain.

The recurve bow has a very low flight arc, that reduces flight time and so increases accuracy considerably; this makes it the ideal bow if you want to focus on interrupts. Its average refire time doesn't make it the best bow for damage, however.

The hornbow has the slowest refire rate, this may seem like it isn't the best bow for damage, but its flight arc gives it reasonably good accuracy and has an inherent 10% armor penetration that is applied to each arrow you fire. I haven't done the calculations to compare the effect of its armor penetration on its average DPS, but my bet is that this would be a reasonably good bow for dealing with high level monsters that have high armor.

Taki · Sep 04, 2007, 06:08 PM // 18:08

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bow

Longbow has good range, average refire rate, and average arc
Flatbow has good range, good refire rate, and poor arc (arrow takes longer to reach)
Shortbow has poor range, good refire rate, and average arc
Recurve bow has average range, average refire rate, and good arc (best for interrupting)
Hornbow has average range, poor refire rate, average arc, and 10% armor penetration

If you go to The Great Temple of Balthazar and head out the portal to the Isle of Nameless you can get more info from a ranger npc. Tehre's also one in the Nightfall trainign area where you choose your secondary on a new character.

Ghengis Kwell · Sep 04, 2007, 06:11 PM // 18:11

Bows have different characteristics,ie. range/time in flight/ reload time i.e
longbow time in flight=0.59 sec. range= 1.35
recurve time in flight=0.40 sec. range= 1.2

for more detail try HERE

Sep 04, 2007, 05:41 PM // 17:41	#1
jiggerjay Krytan Explorer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Guild: Curse of the grail [Cotg] Profession: W/	can someone describe the different types of bow to me ? hey all, i am not an expert ranger, i am going for the legendary survivor on my ranger atm, i am on 450k exp. i use stormbow/platinum longbows. i dont understand what the difference is between the other types, i.e recurve.

Sep 04, 2007, 06:07 PM // 18:07	#2
Toutatis Walking Wiki Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Isle of Medication Guild: Visitors from Aranna [VFA] Profession: Me/E	The descriptions of each of the different bow types can be seen here As can be seen from the table on that page, each bow type has a different combination of range, attack speed and flight arc (the path the arrow takes and a good measure of accuracy). This gives each bow type a set of characteristics that make them useful in different situations. The longbow is a fairly reliable bow. It has a long range and reasonable refire rate, along with medium to good accuracy. This doesn't make it the best bow for damage, but it does allow you to deal decent damage at a good range and is exceptional for pulling groups of enemies in PvE. The shortbow has a fast refire rate, making it good for dealing damage. It is also fairly accurate, although it has the shortest range. The flatbow has a fast refire rate, making it as good for damage as the shortbow. The flatbow also has a longer range than the shortbow. However, the flatbow's larger flight arc makes it less accurate, though this may prove to be an advantage in some areas as it enables you to fire arrows over most obstructions that might be on the terrain. The recurve bow has a very low flight arc, that reduces flight time and so increases accuracy considerably; this makes it the ideal bow if you want to focus on interrupts. Its average refire time doesn't make it the best bow for damage, however. The hornbow has the slowest refire rate, this may seem like it isn't the best bow for damage, but its flight arc gives it reasonably good accuracy and has an inherent 10% armor penetration that is applied to each arrow you fire. I haven't done the calculations to compare the effect of its armor penetration on its average DPS, but my bet is that this would be a reasonably good bow for dealing with high level monsters that have high armor.

Sep 04, 2007, 06:08 PM // 18:08	#3
Taki Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Profession: N/Me	http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bow Longbow has good range, average refire rate, and average arc Flatbow has good range, good refire rate, and poor arc (arrow takes longer to reach) Shortbow has poor range, good refire rate, and average arc Recurve bow has average range, average refire rate, and good arc (best for interrupting) Hornbow has average range, poor refire rate, average arc, and 10% armor penetration If you go to The Great Temple of Balthazar and head out the portal to the Isle of Nameless you can get more info from a ranger npc. Tehre's also one in the Nightfall trainign area where you choose your secondary on a new character.

Sep 04, 2007, 06:11 PM // 18:11	#4
Ghengis Kwell Baby Maker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UK Guild: Sent Fromhell Profession: D/W	Bows have different characteristics,ie. range/time in flight/ reload time i.e longbow time in flight=0.59 sec. range= 1.35 recurve time in flight=0.40 sec. range= 1.2 for more detail try HERE