Curse

Don Zardeone · Mar 03, 2011, 04:55 PM // 16:55

Hullooo,

I've been out for several years and noticed all my rangers have random bows.
I know the differences between the 5 but have trouble deciding on a single one. Searched but found nothing.

My rangers mostly go unused unless I need winter. I tried with broad head arrow but decided a more pvp-style concussion shot with prepared shot for energy management works better.
So basically my rangers will often be dazing interrupters.

I'm not sure about b/p heroes

Do beast masters work?

When looking at pvxwiki for inspiration: http://www.gwpvx.com/Build:R/any_Enraged_Volley_Hero
shortbow or recurve seems optimal

So basically I'm asking: what's the most flexible multi-purpose default bow to give a hero?

Hornbow? I think it fires too slow
Flatbow? Arc isn't good, also for interrupting?
Longbow? Middle of everything, good at nothing?
Recurve? Most of my player character bows are recurves with cripple, bleed, poison, daze or whatever. I'm thinking about this for all my heroes too since they seem to fall more into a support and utility, or toolbox category, than damagedealer.
Shortbow? Puts the ranger closer to frontline. I'm thinking this is good for interrupts, refire, good in general.

So I'm thinking mostly recurve or shortbow

Then for prefix I'm thinking either zealous or nothing at all (which would be sundering).

Any ideas?

Recurve or shortbow

Taurean · Mar 03, 2011, 05:05 PM // 17:05

I prefer flatbow and have them use Read the wind. As i am a ranger myself, i usually put Favorable winds also on the hero, so the flatbow's high arc is neglected. This also makes the hero suited for interrupts, also because of the faster fire rate the flatbow has.

Beast master heroes are very useful, an extra 400+ life depending on level will make it harder for your enemies.

pingu666 · Mar 03, 2011, 05:20 PM // 17:20

if your dazing, a pet wailing on the target is a good thing

typicaly i set 1 ranger hero to bha/interupts, one a beast master, and one another random build
assassins can do critical barrage pretty well.

id say short or recurve in general. for barrage a flatbow is good.

MithranArkanere · Mar 03, 2011, 06:00 PM // 18:00

I use Rotwins bow for Margrid, a long or flat bow for jin, and short or recurve for PIt seems to me that they use them better.

turbo234 · Mar 03, 2011, 06:08 PM // 18:08

recurve bow without rtw/favorable winds, flatbow with it. hornbow isnt used too often, longbow is really just for pulling
i just don't like the shortbows range. i like being able to switch targets and not have to move into range all the time.

LifeInfusion · Mar 03, 2011, 07:33 PM // 19:33

recurve ... flatbow for barrage

Longbow has a lower arc than flatbow (and less flight time); shortbow has lowest refire and fastest attack rate (like flatbow) but since Rangers are not DPS shortbows aren't that fantastic either.

Anything but hornbow.

BrettM · Mar 03, 2011, 08:26 PM // 20:26

Recurve. It isn't the optimal bow for everything, but isn't the worst bow for anything, which makes it the most multipurpose bow in the game. It will be at least acceptable for running any hero marksmanship build, so it gives you the flexibility to change hero builds without changing their gear.

Don Zardeone · Mar 05, 2011, 04:01 PM // 16:01

Thanks for all the replies guys.
I'm thinking I'll go with recurves for everyone. It's my favorite bow for pvp for obvious reasons, doesn't look bad (like shortbows do) and it's the most optimal for interrupts, which heroes are good at.

I'm the kind of guy who goes for "strengthen your strengths, manage your weaknesses" which means, if you're good at something, focus on that. Going shortbow for more DPS would mean I'd try to compensate for the already lower DPS of rangers.