Curse

Schorny · May 09, 2005, 09:19 AM // 09:19

I looked at: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...ies-id1092.php

And I'm a bit confused about the flight time. What does it actually mean?
Is there a significant difference between an arrow that take 1 sec to hit the target and an arrow that only needs a half second?

The only thing I can think of is for interrupting the target, but are there other reasons why the flight time is important?

thank you very much!

Barnum · May 09, 2005, 10:47 AM // 10:47

The longer the flight time, the more of a chance the arrow has to miss a target.

Akshara · May 09, 2005, 11:52 AM // 11:52

If you're being rushed at, then having a shorter flight time means more strikes before they arrive, depending on the reload time of the bow. If the arrows are prepared with poison for example, then the attacker is poisoned for a half second longer as they rush you, which can make a big difference in melee range.

If you're leading an onrushing attack with arrows, having more flight time gives the party more time to get there, so the enemies aren't alerted too soon. One can also synchronize their fire with the casting time of other party members' spells. In a game like this, timing can make all the difference as to whether a strategy works or not.

Some bows refire faster at the expense of flight time, and then the other way around. It's learning which bow works for each situation. The Half Moon bow has the shortest refire and flight time combo, which means it would be best for quick attacks at shorter ranges, or for disrupting spell casters. The Longbow has the longest combined time, along with the longest range, so it's good for leading an attack, getting the enemies' attention from a distance, or for micromanaging coordinated attacks.

Those are just a few ideas, and I'm sure we'll discover more as time goes on.

Jackell · May 09, 2005, 12:45 PM // 12:45

Barnum, your making me proud.

Yeah, arrow flight time is how long the arrow has spent from travelling from your bow to your target. A shorter flight time gives your target less time to avoid your arrow, since when the arrow is release, you character can't guide it anymore.

Twilight Doll · May 09, 2005, 02:18 PM // 14:18

Not that it's been much of a problem but there have been times where I've used a flat bow just because it has a much higher arch to avoid obstruction. I tend to use bows with less airtime to hit moving targets.

Xphile · May 09, 2005, 05:00 PM // 17:00

Aye, this is very important vs moving targets. One example is using hunters shot, which makes a target bleed if its moving or knocked down. Moving targets are rather hard to hit, and knocked down targets don't stay knocked down for long. If your arrow moves 2x or 3x the normal speed though, usually it has plenty of time then to do its bleeding special attack.

Schorny · May 10, 2005, 08:47 AM // 08:47

Thank you very much.
You opened up my eyes on weapon tactics!

May 10, 2005, 09:34 AM // 09:34

The guide is kind of outdated as we didn't include Bow Archs. Meh, maybe one day.

Raiddinn Beatdropper · May 10, 2005, 12:35 PM // 12:35

I am not a ranger and I havent tested this - but theory wise, lower flight time seems like it would affect DPS.

Is bow reload constant? Allowing you to possibly have more than one arrow in the air at the same time? Or do you shoot again as soon as the first arrow strikes the target?

Assuming the second case, lower flight time would mean higher DPS.

I havent actually seen anyone with 2 arrows in the air at the same time, which is why I made this assumption.

Tsunamii Starshine

avnos · May 10, 2005, 12:45 PM // 12:45

Lower flight times will make it affect dps. I am currently using a flat bow, and it is by far one of my favorites. (Have went through many bows). You just cant be the range on it. The key to using a bow with high flight times is using favorable winds which slices the time in half. Lots of guides say use read the winds, but in my opinion read the winds doeslast near long enough for it to be useful. Sure favorable winds takes a little longer to cast, but lasts 10x longer, for only 2x the cast time. Definately my pick.

Pharalon · May 10, 2005, 01:22 PM // 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiddinn Beatdropper

I am not a ranger and I havent tested this - but theory wise, lower flight time seems like it would affect DPS.

No, refire rate is the only thing that affects DPS. Flight time is totally independant of the rate at which you fire arrows. Say you were using a flatbow, and somehow got 100%IAS. You'd fire your bow once per second, so you'd actually be firing your arrow while the last one was still in the air.

Macel · May 10, 2005, 02:48 PM // 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharalon

No, refire rate is the only thing that affects DPS. Flight time is totally independant of the rate at which you fire arrows. Say you were using a flatbow, and somehow got 100%IAS. You'd fire your bow once per second, so you'd actually be firing your arrow while the last one was still in the air.

Actually, it does affect DPS.. Faster arrows hit more often.. A lot more often.. Especially against moving targets, but against stationary ones as well.

I tried a flatbow after having been used to a recurve for some levels and it was horrible. Even though it had a higher damage, I was having trouble soloing with it where I had no trouble at all with the recurve. I ended up switching back to the recurve.

It depends on what you're doing but if I were you I'd stick to faster, lower arc bows. Large arc, long range, high damage, slow bows like the longbow are good for shooting over ledges etc. but that's about it - and those situations are rare enough to warrant having one only as an alternate weapon, maybe.

I personally will have all shortbows/half moons, one for each element in my weapon slots. However this is mainly just my play style. I don't rely on physical damage from my bow anymore, I've found it to be too puny against the more advanced armors. I rely on refire rate and arrow speed so my poisons have more of an effect...

Lasher Dragon · May 10, 2005, 03:10 PM // 15:10

One very important note that I think may have been missed (at work, kinda skimmed the thread, so sorry if it was me that missed it) is that the longer the flight time is, the harder it is to interrupt. I interrupt on a dime with a shortbow/half-moon bow, but interrupts with say a longbow are sketchy.

My style is I always carry a longbow or flatbow, AND a shortbow or half-moon bow. The longbows/flatbows are for pulling or initiating certain skills at extreme range (ie pindown), then I switch to the shortbow/half-moon bow for the refire rate. The long-range bows also see use when someone is at extreme range and they have no viable path to close in on me.

Keep in mind also that Power Shot increases the range at which you can fire, so initial contact with a mob for me is usually something along the lines of select target, then Power Attack, then Pin Down, followed by Hunter's Shot to get them bleeding. THEN I hit a stance while switching to a faster bow.

Or Ignite Arrows, Power Shot, Hunter's Shot, (insert stance that increases attack speed here), switch bows, watch for interrupt opportunities.

Dreamsmith · May 10, 2005, 06:53 PM // 18:53

One positive of longer flight times: it makes it easier to do the "shoot and run" trick for pulling monsters. You get a bit longer of a head start. I always keep a flatbow on F4 just for that purpose.