Bows and Bow Types: Is there a difference? - Guild Wars Forums

butcherboy · May 11, 2005, 06:11 PM // 18:11

I have had many bows but I can't tell the difference between a long bow and a flat bow. Both can have the exact same damage, bonus', and appearance. Does anyone know of any real differences or is it all just how they look?

Lasher Dragon · May 11, 2005, 06:21 PM // 18:21

The flatbow and longbow are nearly identical - there are small differences, but nothing too substantial. Same with shortbow and half-moon bow. Check out this link for more info.

butcherboy · May 11, 2005, 06:35 PM // 18:35

Ahh... thanks. There is so much info on this site I keep for getting to read.

I don't see "bone bow"(?). I am assuming that the ithus bow is just a long bow with bells and whistles.

In most to least rarity, I believe it would go something like this.

1) short bow
2) composite
3) recurve
4) ivory
5) half moon
6) horn bow
7) dead bow (most seen in catacombs)
8) bone bow (?)
9) flat bow
10) long bow
I've not seen #1-4 ever but I haven't made it out of the post-sear starter area much. #5 was given to me as part of a quest and never a drop. I've only seen #7 in the catacombs and I am unsure about #8's existance other than I also saw that one in the catacombs. #9&10 are my most frequently scrapped bows (once you get that 7-11 bow drop who needs another bow until post-sear?).

Long bows appear to have less flight time to 100' but a longer refire time (+0.5s) over a flat bow. It is nice to see they have trade-offs for bows...

Lewick · May 11, 2005, 06:49 PM // 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by butcherboy

Ahh... thanks. There is so much info on this site I keep for getting to read.

I don't see "bone bow"(?). I am assuming that the ithus bow is just a long bow with bells and whistles.

In most to least rarity, I believe it would go something like this.

1) short bow
2) composite
3) recurve
4) ivory
5) half moon
6) horn bow
7) dead bow (most seen in catacombs)
8) bone bow (?)
9) flat bow
10) long bow
I've not seen #1-4 ever but I haven't made it out of the post-sear starter area much. #5 was given to me as part of a quest and never a drop. I've only seen #7 in the catacombs and I am unsure about #8's existance other than I also saw that one in the catacombs. #9&10 are my most frequently scrapped bows (once you get that 7-11 bow drop who needs another bow until post-sear?).

Long bows appear to have less flight time to 100' but a longer refire time (+0.5s) over a flat bow. It is nice to see they have trade-offs for bows...

I'm pretty close to level 20 now, and based on my experiences from every pre-ascension location, the list (rarest being 1) is more like:

1) ivory
2) horn
3) composite
4) bone
5) half moon
6) recurve
7) dead
8) flat
9) short
10) long (which I believe includes the Ascalon bows from collectors and quests)

Macel · May 11, 2005, 07:16 PM // 19:16

And then there's the shadow bow...

Lasher Dragon · May 11, 2005, 07:24 PM // 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macel

And then there's the shadow bow...

Which IMO is garbage... so slow I wonder if it should be called a shadow crossbow LOL.

Radiick · May 11, 2005, 07:33 PM // 19:33

Thanks for the info on all the bows guys, that info is very useful for me. But saying that, where is the Vampiric Bow in that list? Also, I have added a poison rune (or whatever it is called) to my regualr bow and it seems to add some damage not on the short run but on the long run. Also the Vampiric Bow steals so much health from you that you eventually will die even if your not fired on! Any way around that?

Thanks again for all your helful info!

ZennZero · May 11, 2005, 07:39 PM // 19:39

Any kind of bow can be Vampiric, I believe. So you can have a Vampiric Shortbow, Vampiric Hornbow, etc.

Lasher Dragon · May 11, 2005, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radiick

Thanks for the info on all the bows guys, that info is very useful for me. But saying that, where is the Vampiric Bow in that list? Also, I have added a poison rune (or whatever it is called) to my regualr bow and it seems to add some damage not on the short run but on the long run. Also the Vampiric Bow steals so much health from you that you eventually will die even if your not fired on! Any way around that?

Thanks again for all your helful info!

Vampiric is a bow string that can be added to any bow. Same with Poisoner's String; Poisoner's String adds no damage - it only increases the amount of time a creature poisoned using that bow stays poisoned.
The best way to handle health loss with Vampiric bows is to not equip them unless you are using some kind of attack-speed increase skill. Also, the higher the Life Steal number, the more feasible it is to break even or possibly gain health using Vampirism.

washingwashing · May 11, 2005, 07:45 PM // 19:45

ok, how about adding this information, please?

where to 'loot' all these type of bow/strings/grips?

which mobs drop them? ty

Lasher Dragon · May 11, 2005, 07:54 PM // 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by washingwashing

ok, how about adding this information, please?

where to 'loot' all these type of bow/strings/grips?

which mobs drop them? ty

If I knew that, I wouldn't have a thread in Ventari Sell offering up to 5000 gold for a good Vampiric Bow String.

Lewick · May 11, 2005, 07:55 PM // 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by washingwashing

ok, how about adding this information, please?

where to 'loot' all these type of bow/strings/grips?

which mobs drop them? ty

There is no specific location where this stuff drops. They're unlockable weapon parts, akin to runes, that unlock when you occasionally get a blue/purple/yellow item. If you get an unidentified bow and then identify it and it gives you the Item Unlocked message, then you've got a bow item. It can either be the handle or the string.

It's all random. It's not like Everquest where you could go to mob x in zone y and camp it for 14 hours trying to get its rare drop. I've gotten vampiric bow strings from simple critters before ever hitting the shiverback peaks, for example. I've also gotten handles of defense, etc. from those areas.

Same holds true for bow drops. You will most certainly get better drops the further into the world you go. On average the bows I get around Ventari's Refuge are definitely better than those around the North Wall, for example. Commonly dropped bows around that area are 13-22 of many varieties. However, once you get to the cities, you can simply craft a 13-25 longbow with +5 armor and all these drops are moot.

Keep in mind, I haven't been through the Ascension quests yet, so I don't have any idea what the drops are like in the eastern desert areas or the southern shiverbacks. But I'm sure the same holds true with everything else. It's just a random drop.

Radiick · May 11, 2005, 08:10 PM // 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon

If I knew that, I wouldn't have a thread in Ventari Sell offering up to 5000 gold for a good Vampiric Bow String.

What? You would pay 5000 gold for the Vampiric Bow? I got mine for 650 just watching the chat lines in Ascalon, I was so surprised it was that low that I gave the female toon an extra 50 gold as a tip! She said she got it a a drop and had no use for it!

Thanks again for the info!

Lasher Dragon · May 11, 2005, 08:17 PM // 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radiick

What? You would pay 5000 gold for the Vampiric Bow? I got mine for 650 just watching the chat lines in Ascalon, I was so surprised it was that low that I gave the female toon an extra 50 gold as a tip! She said she got it a a drop and had no use for it!

Thanks again for the info!

No, I would pay that much for a good Vampiric String. Like, 4 or 5 life steal per hit. I wouldn't pay that much for a bow, because of the chance of failure in salvaging it. I already have a max damage vampiric half-moon of fortitude that has the piddly 1 life-steal on it. Most of the time I am losing health even if I am attacking 33% faster. With a 3,4, or 5 life-steal, I will basically be gaining health alot faster than I lose it.

Radiick · May 11, 2005, 08:29 PM // 20:29

Good point! I guess I got confused between Bow and string? But the info on the loss of hp is very good. I am beginning to understand the use of the Vampiric bow.....thanks to you.

Btw, What is the significance of the small titles under our names? Town Dweller, High Council, Town Traveller? What does it mean?

Thanking you in advance for all the info you give me.

Cheers

Lasher Dragon · May 11, 2005, 08:33 PM // 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radiick

Good point! I guess I got confused between Bow and string? But the info on the loss of hp is very good. I am beginning to understand the use of the Vampiric bow.....thanks to you.

Btw, What is the significance of the small titles under our names? Town Dweller, High Council, Town Traveller? What does it mean?

Thanking you in advance for all the info you give me.

Cheers

No problem, I'm at work and can't get my GW fix, so I slither around these forums LOL (BTW I tried to install on my work PC and I kept getting some weird error... I sent it to support though so maybe they can help me lose my job LMAO)

As near as I can tell, the titles are what they use instead of a post-count. That's my guess anyway.

Wow, I'm at like 25 posts per day... as if I needed more proof that GW is crack!

Radiick · May 11, 2005, 08:46 PM // 20:46

Well same here, everyone at the office is gone for a meeting, so I basically got nothing else to do??? Violin.........(and I am getting paid for it!) Violin again.....

I just moved up (or down?) to Quiet Traveller from Town Dweller, so I guess it has something to do with the amounts of posts you submit!!!!

Thanks,

Mariena Feladon · May 11, 2005, 09:45 PM // 21:45

So an Ascalon Bow can be classified as a Long bow? Because I need 4 more ancient eyes to get a 13-25 Ascalon Bow from a collector. I currently have a 13-25 Half Moon but I don't like the short distance at all.

I prefer range over ROF.

PS. I don't participate in PVP.

Lewick · May 11, 2005, 10:08 PM // 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mariena Feladon

So an Ascalon Bow can be classified as a Long bow? Because I need 4 more ancient eyes to get a 13-25 Ascalon Bow from a collector. I currently have a 13-25 Half Moon but I don't like the short distance at all.

I prefer range over ROF.

PS. I don't participate in PVP.

As I remember, it was a longbow. At least that's what it felt like. It's hard to tell at times. There's a longbow you can craft that's 13-25 with +5 armor as I remember. I think the guy was over in Henge of Denravi, but it could have been Riverside Province. One of those towns in that area anyway.

butcherboy · May 12, 2005, 03:35 PM // 15:35

I've also found (as probably with most weapons) area's are capped to what the critters will drop - I've not seen any bow do more than 7-10 damage in pre-searing and in new ashlon I've not seen any bow drop that does more than 9-14 damage. I am assuming that I should send my warrior jetting through the missions to equip my r/e with a better bow lol.

I too prefer Range over ROF as it is nice to park on cliffs and zip Charr. I am left assuming now that I should find a good high damage Half moon bow to for a close range weapon set. Of course, a good shortbow would work, but the half moon looks cooler. If I really wanted to get finite, I would have 3 bows - a long bow for Charr/fast movers, a flat bow for the slow movers, and a short/moon bow for close quarters fighting. From the looks of things, maybe just 2 bows - flat bow (has same RoF as short/moon bow, but slower arrows that really aren't too dodgable at point blank) and a long bow for those fast movers.

May 11, 2005, 06:35 PM // 18:35	#3
butcherboy Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2005	Ahh... thanks. There is so much info on this site I keep for getting to read. I don't see "bone bow"(?). I am assuming that the ithus bow is just a long bow with bells and whistles. In most to least rarity, I believe it would go something like this. 1) short bow 2) composite 3) recurve 4) ivory 5) half moon 6) horn bow 7) dead bow (most seen in catacombs) 8) bone bow (?) 9) flat bow 10) long bow I've not seen #1-4 ever but I haven't made it out of the post-sear starter area much. #5 was given to me as part of a quest and never a drop. I've only seen #7 in the catacombs and I am unsure about #8's existance other than I also saw that one in the catacombs. #9&10 are my most frequently scrapped bows (once you get that 7-11 bow drop who needs another bow until post-sear?). Long bows appear to have less flight time to 100' but a longer refire time (+0.5s) over a flat bow. It is nice to see they have trade-offs for bows... Last edited by butcherboy; May 11, 2005 at 06:43 PM // 18:43..

May 11, 2005, 06:11 PM // 18:11	#1
butcherboy Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2005	Bows and Bow Types: Is there a difference? I have had many bows but I can't tell the difference between a long bow and a flat bow. Both can have the exact same damage, bonus', and appearance. Does anyone know of any real differences or is it all just how they look?

May 11, 2005, 06:21 PM // 18:21	#2
Lasher Dragon Draconic Rage Incarnate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Iowa Guild: Alphahive Profession: R/A	The flatbow and longbow are nearly identical - there are small differences, but nothing too substantial. Same with shortbow and half-moon bow. Check out this link for more info.

May 11, 2005, 07:16 PM // 19:16	#5
Macel Academy Page Join Date: May 2005	And then there's the shadow bow...

May 11, 2005, 07:33 PM // 19:33	#7
Radiick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	Thanks for the info on all the bows guys, that info is very useful for me. But saying that, where is the Vampiric Bow in that list? Also, I have added a poison rune (or whatever it is called) to my regualr bow and it seems to add some damage not on the short run but on the long run. Also the Vampiric Bow steals so much health from you that you eventually will die even if your not fired on! Any way around that? Thanks again for all your helful info!

May 11, 2005, 07:39 PM // 19:39	#8
ZennZero Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2005 Profession: R/	Any kind of bow can be Vampiric, I believe. So you can have a Vampiric Shortbow, Vampiric Hornbow, etc.

May 11, 2005, 07:45 PM // 19:45	#10
washingwashing Academy Page Join Date: May 2005	ok, how about adding this information, please? where to 'loot' all these type of bow/strings/grips? which mobs drop them? ty

May 11, 2005, 08:29 PM // 20:29	#15
Radiick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	Good point! I guess I got confused between Bow and string? But the info on the loss of hp is very good. I am beginning to understand the use of the Vampiric bow.....thanks to you. Btw, What is the significance of the small titles under our names? Town Dweller, High Council, Town Traveller? What does it mean? Thanking you in advance for all the info you give me. Cheers

May 11, 2005, 08:46 PM // 20:46	#17
Radiick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	Well same here, everyone at the office is gone for a meeting, so I basically got nothing else to do??? Violin.........(and I am getting paid for it!) Violin again..... I just moved up (or down?) to Quiet Traveller from Town Dweller, so I guess it has something to do with the amounts of posts you submit!!!! Thanks,

May 11, 2005, 09:45 PM // 21:45	#18
Mariena Feladon Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Location: Netherlands Guild: Silhouette Stars [sil] Profession: Mo/N	So an Ascalon Bow can be classified as a Long bow? Because I need 4 more ancient eyes to get a 13-25 Ascalon Bow from a collector. I currently have a 13-25 Half Moon but I don't like the short distance at all. I prefer range over ROF. PS. I don't participate in PVP.

May 12, 2005, 03:35 PM // 15:35	#20
butcherboy Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2005	I've also found (as probably with most weapons) area's are capped to what the critters will drop - I've not seen any bow do more than 7-10 damage in pre-searing and in new ashlon I've not seen any bow drop that does more than 9-14 damage. I am assuming that I should send my warrior jetting through the missions to equip my r/e with a better bow lol. I too prefer Range over ROF as it is nice to park on cliffs and zip Charr. I am left assuming now that I should find a good high damage Half moon bow to for a close range weapon set. Of course, a good shortbow would work, but the half moon looks cooler. If I really wanted to get finite, I would have 3 bows - a long bow for Charr/fast movers, a flat bow for the slow movers, and a short/moon bow for close quarters fighting. From the looks of things, maybe just 2 bows - flat bow (has same RoF as short/moon bow, but slower arrows that really aren't too dodgable at point blank) and a long bow for those fast movers.