Curse

ruffenredie · Apr 17, 2008, 08:56 PM // 20:56

yeah sorry CB, not sure why I didn't notice it had already gone to two pages, so hadn't seen your comment about sundering. Is that the general consensus for sundering or is it build dependent?

Ju-On · Apr 17, 2008, 11:55 PM // 23:55

Nope, I very much doubt that its not the consensus. I prefer a sundering mod because it goes well with some of my builds. And that is what matters when you are trying to work out which mod you want. What bows are you going to use, what build are you going to use, and most importantly what type of foes are you going to face. If you have a good idea on an answer for each of those questions, you will know which mod is best for you.

Personaly, I have collected most of the bows and mods and have specific bows for specific areas. Try not to limit yourself by saying X string or bow is useless. Instead try and collect them all and work on your builds to suit each one. All of them have there good points and bad points its just a matter of working what works best when. Limiting yourself to only one bow defeats one of the purposes of having four weapons slots.

Vexed · Apr 18, 2008, 03:01 AM // 03:01

The math has been done on the Sundering string, and I'm pretty sure it showed that a vamp string was better DPS wise in almost any situation. Non-conditional +5 damage on every single arrow is tough to beat. Sundering is a mod that has been overrated for a very long time and stays overrated because some people just refuse to believe it's not the be-all end-all.

This is not to say Vamp is the best, but it's better than sundering. That said, carry multiple bow types but don't go overboard. I've never had more than 4 or 5 bows in rotation and that has been more than I can consistently use (PvE of course).

Washi · Apr 18, 2008, 01:51 PM // 13:51

vampiric is better than sundering on a bow anytime. People don't like it cause you need to switch weapons when not in combat. And swapping is to hard and bothersome for most players.

Elder III · Apr 18, 2008, 02:08 PM // 14:08

I like a to use a Longbow with a Silencing string to neutralize some of those nasty bosses before I'm within range, and for pulling of course.
I like a Hornbow with 20/20 for some good spike damage against armored foes.
I like a Recurve bow for almost all of my general purpose useage (mods vary according to what I need to do)
I don't care for Flatbow due to the slow, high arc and so many misses against mobile foes.
I don't like Shortbow, primarily due it's small range.

There is a viable build for just about any weapon in GW, but (without any mods) I "think" most people would rank them as follows:

Recurve
Longbow
Hornbow
Shortbow
Flatbow

Cebe · Apr 18, 2008, 02:08 PM // 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Washi

vampiric is better than sundering on a bow anytime.

There it is.

Bows have the slowest attack speed of any weapon. This is why Sundering is partcularly bad on bows, since at least with other weapons, such as Axes, you can argue that they attack faster, or with Scythes you can argue that they have a higher base-damage so it's more worthwhile...sometimes...on those weapons.

Ju-On, purely because you use a build which you claim Sundering is useful for, does not validate Sundering bow mods.

All Sundering bow mods are good for is making a bow easier to sell...imo, outside a very limited selection of builds.

Adja1005 · Apr 18, 2008, 02:30 PM // 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

All Sundering bow mods are good for is making a bow easier to sell...

QFT...people in Losers Arch and Scamadan will snap up bows with a 20/20 on them without really realising its a redundant mod to have on a bow. Even with IAS skills to speed up attack rates it still doesn't make up for use of a 20/20 on a bow.

Vampiric or Zealous mods are probably the most usefull mods on a bow for general PvE use. The others (except 20/20's) are more usefull for specialised builds.

shru · Apr 18, 2008, 06:43 PM // 18:43

For my main bow I slapped on a poisonous mod because it's used in just so many damn builds, then I had my typical zealous/vamp swaps, my silencing for BHA, my crippling for CS, my ebon for EDA/warrior sniping, and a Zealous Longbow for pulling and splinter barrage/volley. (All my bows besides splinter set are recurve btw)
20/20 is just so damn useless for rangers that It just hasn't found it's way onto any of my bows.

SnipiousMax · Apr 18, 2008, 08:10 PM // 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elder III

Recurve
Longbow
Hornbow
Shortbow
Flatbow

?!?

I tend to rank them:

Recurve (best all around bow works with all preps)
Longbow (pulling only)
Flatbow (under read the wind, use for everything)
Flatbow (without read the wind, basically a shortbow you can pull with)
Shortbow
Hornbow

The absolute worst worst bow is the Hornbow. There is a big gap between the usefulness of a long bow and the Flatbow w/rtw. There is an even bigger gap between Shortbow and a Hornbow.

And while on the subject. I wouldn't recommend either sundering OR Vampiric. I like the +20% condition duration mods better.

pumpkin pie · Apr 18, 2008, 08:16 PM // 20:16

hehe, the one I have, the stormbow. i don't know what category it falls into, its a sundering stormbow of fortitude. it is good because you can shoot without getting your agro circle touching the tiny red dots. pretty safe for pulling mobs away and such. I guess the rest is up to what skill you are using.

SnipiousMax · Apr 18, 2008, 08:17 PM // 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

hehe, the one I have, the stormbow. i don't know what category it falls into, its a sundering stormbow of fortitude. it is good because you can shoot without getting your agro circle touching the tiny red dots. pretty safe for pulling mobs away and such.

Stormbow = Longbow with funky skin.

Wenspire · Apr 18, 2008, 08:33 PM // 20:33

I prefer using a flatbow for pulling. It's extra high flight-arch allows you to sometimes overcome terrain obstacles (usually due to elevation differences), as well as it gives you more time to back up after firing the arrow. I also believe the range of the bow is the same as a longbow.

SnipiousMax · Apr 18, 2008, 09:06 PM // 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wenspire

I prefer using a flatbow for pulling. It's extra high flight-arch allows you to sometimes overcome terrain obstacles (usually due to elevation differences), as well as it gives you more time to back up after firing the arrow. I also believe the range of the bow is the same as a longbow.

That's actually a really good point. That easily drops longbow right down with the shortbow.

So revised personal ranking:

Recurve (everything but pulling)
Flatbow (pulling or when using RtW)
Long (still useful for pulling)
Short
Hornbow

StormDragonZ · Apr 18, 2008, 09:10 PM // 21:10

My personal choice of order from best to least:

Longbow
Flatbow
Shortbow
Recurve

I'm not sure where to put Hornbow though...

Zydonis · Apr 18, 2008, 09:38 PM // 21:38

Almost always use a Silencing Recurve.. Second best would have to be longbow imo.

Grammar · Apr 18, 2008, 09:50 PM // 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by samcobra

Flatbows are terrible except against stationary foes. Last time I looked, lots of foes in PvE actually DO move.

When not using Read the Wind, you are correct. Without RtW, it is the worst bow in the game.
But if you happen to be using Read the Wind in your build, then the flatbow becomes the best possible bow you can use, as it becomes #1 in every single category for bows.
Funny how that works, I know, but it's true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Washi

Yeah but why would you use RtW when you can use preparation that actually does something?

I'm not here to discuss builds/skills/preperations, that's not what this thread is about. I'm just giving the simple facts about bows, nothing more. And the simple fact is that the flatbow is indisputably the best bow in the game if you happen to be using Read the Wind, while the recurve bow is usually (almost always, I'd argue) the best bow in the game if you are not using Read the Wind. In no way am I advocating or denouncing RtW, I'm just answering the OP's question.

Kiluna · Apr 19, 2008, 05:56 AM // 05:56

Recurve is best all around bow you can get, though i like my vampiric shortbow with IAS

poasiods · May 14, 2008, 02:36 AM // 02:36

Hm, does the attackspeed of your bow affect how long your ranger will 'pause' after using a 1/4 second attack? That is, you know how rangers tend to pause for a sec after using interrupt skills? Is that period any shorter if you use bows with faster attack speed? If it doesn't, I really fail to see the point of interrupting with shortbows.

Edit: Oops, didn't realize the horrendous bump.

the savage nornbear · May 14, 2008, 02:42 AM // 02:42

you dont interupt with shortbows. you interupt with recurve bows. in fact you should be using a short bow anyways...

credit · May 14, 2008, 02:57 AM // 02:57

I generally use a recurve bow in most situations for PvE.