Curse

Jackell · Apr 25, 2005, 10:40 PM // 22:40

Every bow has different re-fire rates and flight times. Which kind of bow do you think is the best to use?

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...ies-id1092.php
Here's a table of em. Discuss.

JeshterDaggerfury · Apr 25, 2005, 10:42 PM // 22:42

I'm very interested in seeing people discuss this as well. I don't know enough about Bows to make the selection for myself, and need the insight of others to figure out what a decent bow is for different builds of rangers. Any insight would be great.

tektonik · Apr 25, 2005, 11:25 PM // 23:25

Short or the copy of it. Range doesn't mean that much IMO as long as you can be outa PBAOE range.

BladeX3I · Apr 25, 2005, 11:36 PM // 23:36

I think as a Ranger I will have a few bows at my side. I will have one for the most damage i can do, one for longest range - so I can pull or pick off mobs from a distance. I will probably carry one for different stats (like + to enegy) Just in case it would be more benificial for a team tactic.

As a warrior I would carry a bow with the longest range. I would only use it when in an elevated area to take out mobs with ease or to pull them switch back to my melee weapon.

I think finding a bow with fastest fire rate + fastest flight time + good damage + good stats is really going to be impossible.

tektonik · Apr 25, 2005, 11:40 PM // 23:40

They all do the same base damage,.....Thats why I say short bow

Jackell · Apr 26, 2005, 12:37 AM // 00:37

I did the math and combined the refire rate and Flight time stats, so, according to that, here's the table of how fast you can do damage:

Every:
2.65 seconds: Half moon, Short bow
3 seconds: Composite, Deadbow, Flatbow
3.25 second: Long bow, Recurve bow
3.45 seconds: Horn Bow, Ivory Bow

So, in the end, the Horn and Ivory take almost an entire second longer for damage than the half moon and short. And the rates don't coincide with the range, as the Flatbow has the same range as the Longbow but has less time, while the Composite and Deadbow have less range but the same time as the Flatbow.

In the end, it looks as if Short bow and Half moon win with a serious time advantage, while Flatbow wins the range game, and still almost wins the damage rate game.

If there's a flaw in my thinking, let me know, but I think this is accurate.

Valerius · Apr 26, 2005, 12:44 AM // 00:44

would u guys take speed over range? ...or do u think range would be better then speed??

Ensign · Apr 26, 2005, 12:48 AM // 00:48

Well, the flight time doesn't have any effect on how much damage you do over time - refire rate controls that. You start to fire your next arrow as soon as one is let loose, you don't wait until one arrow lands to fire the next.

Flight time does affect a couple key things, though. First and foremost, it controls how easy it is to hit a moving target. A bow like the Horn Bow is going to nail moving targets easily, while the Flat Bow is going to miss more often than not. Second, the flight time is important for timing interrupts - bows with faster arrows are much easier to land Concussion Shots with.

My personal preference is to carry a couple of combat short / half moon bows for use once the battle is joined, and a longbow for skirmishing / sniping / picking off retreating targets. Shortbows are the standard for engaged combat - range is less of an issue, you care about damage and accuracy, and shorts excel at both. When you're firing that first arrow, though, or when trying to hit a fleeing target, accuracy and range become the most important factors, which brings the longbow to the fore.

Flatbows are a reasonable compromise if shortbows are not available, but you'll rarely get to take advantage of the added range - it's nearly impossible to hit a moving target with a flatbow, and you'll end up using it at shortbow range to ensure hits once engaged anyway.

Peace,
-CxE

Jackell · Apr 26, 2005, 12:49 AM // 00:49

I would say speed. Personally, I think it's not that common that that extra range will come into play, as compared to the need to do faster damage. Two attacks with a short bow would come at 5.3 seconds, while the Flatbow takes six seconds, or 4 attacks with the short bow taking one second longer than the Flatbow would shoot three.

4 Short bow attacks - 10.6 seconds
3 Flatbow attacks - 9 seconds

*edit* I was posting this as Ensign was posting his, so I didn't see the info about flight time. So, in the end it seems Shortbow wins.

Nyte · Apr 26, 2005, 12:52 AM // 00:52

I would say it depends on what situation you are in. If you are just walking around trying to find some new armor stuff or w/e you may be doing I would take a distance.

But if you were going to be constantly in battle I would say speed. But I would one of each!

But I don't have much experience with these types of games so.. And I didn't see the 2 post above mine which each bring something different to talk about.

Valerius · Apr 26, 2005, 12:55 AM // 00:55

so ... the Short Bow or the HalfMoon Bow are the best type of bows eh?

Iain ap Cuilleain · Apr 26, 2005, 02:23 AM // 02:23

While I agree with most of Ensign's post, I think one also has to consider arc. Some of the available longer range bows have a flat trajectory, others a high arc. I've found that the high arc can be useful in hilly terrain, keeping me out of the line of sight while still allowing me to draw and strike a target. Once they close, of course, it's time to switch to a Short Bow for the increased rate of fire.

I've been carrying three bows, a Longbow, Flatbow and Short Bow, all with as much damage as possible. I'm looking forward to my first Half-Moon.

Nyte · Apr 26, 2005, 02:32 AM // 02:32

From the looks I am going to try and carry:

LongBow
Recurve
Flatbow

But that is my opinion and I havn't played the game yet but from what I see that is what I want. But I have a question:

Do the bows with the longets range have higher arc?

Weezer_Blue · Apr 26, 2005, 02:32 AM // 02:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackell

Every bow has different re-fire rates and flight times. Which kind of bow do you think is the best to use?

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...ies-id1092.php
Here's a table of em. Discuss.

An experienced ranger always takes more than one bow.

This is my personal preferance, but should not be a guideline:

I use a composite bow for long range (because it has fairly long range and a very flat trajectory)

And a shortbow for close ranger (cause of the RoF)

You always want a long range and a fast firing bow with you.

Eejit · Apr 26, 2005, 03:26 AM // 03:26

I use a longbow for dealing raw damage. This keeps me at a safe distance with a good of fire.

I use a shortbow when I'm interrupting casters so that I fire more often and that the abilities I use to interrupt them hit them while they're still casting the damn spell.

Davion · Apr 26, 2005, 04:11 AM // 04:11

When I run, I usually go with a Flatbow for sniping..(it's a little better on refire than longbow yet same range..even with a greater chance of missing at long range, having the chance to pop an extra shot off can't hurt )

If things start to come in close; which they usually do; I'll switch over to either a shortbow or halfmoon bow. It just depends on which one of the two I have on hand at the time that runs the highest base damage.

Most times when I run, I continually change out my bows as the damage goes up on finds, (even if it is only a couple points, I still want to maintain as high a base as possible) and I always make the trip to the weaponsmith as soon as possible to make that extra 20% available to me.

Xelthus · Apr 26, 2005, 04:21 AM // 04:21

I will probably carry a shortbow and longbow.

Best of both worlds.

TwinRaven · Apr 26, 2005, 04:37 AM // 04:37

Sometimes firing rate doesn't really matter if the other attributes of the bow make it worth using...this is the best bow I found, so I used it...Reality of the situation is this...Any bow will work, but don't let the type of bow dictate wether you salvage it or use it or sell it...Let the bows attributes dictate its usage...now if this had been a flatbow instead...I'd be jazzed about the range...I like to stay away from agro when I can.

Scaphism · Apr 26, 2005, 10:15 AM // 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinRaven

Sometimes firing rate doesn't really matter if the other attributes of the bow make it worth using

Until you find the perfect shortbow and perfect longbow, use the best available. That's just common sense.
But we're dealing in the hypothetical here. In an ideal situation- all other modifiers being equal, which bow do you choose?

Rate of fire dictates how fast you can do damage.
Flight time determines accuracy and interrupts.
Range is...range.

Pick accordingly.

Flame · Apr 26, 2005, 10:21 AM // 10:21

I would probably go for a Flatbow or Longbow, because range lets you keep out of the fray, and hit important targets more easily. With Preparation skills, you can easily hit more players with Poison using a bow with longer range. Though the refire rate of the Flatbow is lower, I tend to find more powerful Longbows, so that's what I generally end up using.