Curse

Valdis · Dec 07, 2005, 10:33 PM // 22:33

Im going to be creating a Ranger soon and I'm wanting to know what is the best RARE Bow.

Mursaat Horn
Eternal
Storm
Ivory
Shadow
Feathered Longbow
and any others I may have missed

I want the bow to look awesome and at the same time be productive. I've heard slams on Shadow Bows....heard they are pretty crappy. If they are not crappy please let me know.

Also im wanting to know about what damage mods work the best for a ranger, >50, <50, enchanted, stance, always...........

Also, range, I know the different ranges of all the bows but im needing suggestions on what range is the best for a ranger. Should I be up close at the risk of aggroing the bad guys or should I stay far back.

Basically Im wanting to know everyones theorys about bows, ranges, damage mods, strings, grips..... heck even armors

Pardoz · Dec 07, 2005, 10:49 PM // 22:49

Looks are entirely a matter of taste, or lack thereof, so I won't really address them. As for what damage mods/range to go for, what kind of build? PvP or PvE? These things are a whole lot more important than what skin your bow uses...

My advice would be to grab a handful of max collector's bows (one of each of the five basic types), and play around with some different builds and mods; see what suits your personal style, and then go skin-hunting from there.

chris_nin00 · Dec 07, 2005, 10:51 PM // 22:51

Storm bow has the fastest fire rate out of that list, I believe.
I got rid of all my other 'rare' ones. Storm bow does just about any job.

Former Ruling · Dec 07, 2005, 11:05 PM // 23:05

Well - Everyone will tell you those ugly FlatBow skin Collectors bows own just about any bow you can get inherent mod wise.

What plagues alot of the "one place only" bows is that they aren't the best bows really...Whether because of their Refire rates, or arch.

thejasonpham · Dec 07, 2005, 11:10 PM // 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_nin00

Storm bow has the fastest fire rate out of that list, I believe.
I got rid of all my other 'rare' ones. Storm bow does just about any job.

If I recall correctly, Storm Bows have an average refire rate of 2.4s, as it is only a skinned Long Bow. The fastest refire rate of a bow is 2.0s shared by the Short, Half Moon, and Flat Bows.

My favorite bows to use are my Fiery Storm Bow of Defense(Long Bow) with Tigers Fury or Dragos Flat Bow with Favorable Winds for a PvE Barragier build. Or a Zealous Horn Bow of Defense for my PvP/E Quickshot Spiker.

Apple · Dec 07, 2005, 11:11 PM // 23:11

I hate storm bows. Eternals FTW!

4runner · Dec 07, 2005, 11:12 PM // 23:12

I use a halfmoon and a recurve, and flatbow! These are my favorites used just about all of them on your list, these just seem better to me!

1.halfmoon for rate of fire (Sundering)
2.recurve for range to target(zealous)
3.flat bow for increased attack speed(zealous)

I have a large collection of bows all max damage gold and green ones, need to make room in my storage let me know if you would like to chk em out!!

Anything zealous is the mod you want, dont bother with anything else!!

IGN:Maximus Aragonist

thejasonpham · Dec 07, 2005, 11:30 PM // 23:30

Eternal for the average.

(Sans interupt)

Valdis · Dec 07, 2005, 11:31 PM // 23:31

An Eternal is equal to what type of bow?

Valdis · Dec 07, 2005, 11:33 PM // 23:33

NVM = to : Deadbow, Composite, and Recurve

I would love to get my hands on a pimped out but not too expensive Eternal or Deadbow

LaserLight · Dec 08, 2005, 04:20 AM // 04:20

Back to the original post...

Most competent Rangers I've seen keep several bows on them, Valdis. Because there are such massive performance shifts, it makes a lot of sense to keep at least two equipped to your weapons slots (F1-F4) at all times. Shot Bows/Half Moons are great for when the enemy has closed with your group and your chief concern is slaughtering things. I usually use a Zealous Short Bow of Sheltering in this circumstance, and it's served me splendidly.

For pulling enemies and long-distance opening shots, I recommend a Horn Bow-family for damage, or a Long Bow-family for maximum range. A Sundering Horn type will, supposedly, give you a good deal of armor penetration, especially with penetrating Attack, but if you're just going for range, then go for a Long Bow type. My Ivory uses Sundering and Warding mods, to protect me from long-range elemental strikes and add to my single-hit damage. These bows have really slow refire rates though, which makes them unsuitable for close-in work.

Thirdly, I keep a Recurve with me as well, since they have a good range and the shortest arrow flight time. These are good for when you need to back off and play the interrupt game, if you bother with the interrupt game. This one can likely be done without, but the Recurve's zippy little arrow shots have saved more than my bacon in the past. Mods are less important on this one since it's not really a damage bow so much as a tecH bow, but I'd think about an Ebon string, to give you something interesting to beat on Warriors with. Which, come to think of it, could be an idea for the Short as well.

Most other Rangers swear by Flatbows for the combination of huge range and fast refire, but they have a full second's flight time at that max range. Given that enemies are going to quite quickly close on you anyways, and that hitting something at a Flatbow's maximum range is basically only possible with use of Read the Wind or the Favorable Winds spirit, I'd think long and hard before I put my money on a Flatbow in the middle of a fight. It could probably substitute just fine for a Shortbow in close-range combat, where its flight time is drastically reduced, but I'd still take my Short anyday.

Well, hope all that long-winded crap helps, man :P

chris_nin00 · Dec 08, 2005, 04:24 AM // 04:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejasonpham

If I recall correctly, Storm Bows have an average refire rate of 2.4s, as it is only a skinned Long Bow. The fastest refire rate of a bow is 2.0s shared by the Short, Half Moon, and Flat Bows.

I know that!

If I recall correctly, I said out of the rare bow list.

Storm Bows have the highest refire rate ON THE LIST and it looks cool.

Good Day,
P-to-da-king!

Rajamic · Dec 08, 2005, 08:46 AM // 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaserLight

A Sundering Horn type will, supposedly, give you a good deal of armor penetration, especially with penetrating Attack...

Penetrating Attack and Horn Bow AP don't stack.

M3lk0r · Dec 08, 2005, 11:34 AM // 11:34

In PvE I always keep 4 bows with me.

The 1st one is a Vampiric Halfmoon Of Fortitude with a 14>50% dmg mod, 5/1 vamp and +25hp. This is my main heavy duty bow I use with QS/TF + Prep builds. People worry about the short range but in PvE most mobs compose of melee enemies anyway.

The 2nd is also a Shortbow of Defence, except it has a 20<15%dmg mod and +5 AL. General backup bow if something gows wrong and I'm stuck with half a healthbar.

The 3rd varies between a composite bow or a +energy staff. The short flight time is great for interrupting, but refire is the only issue. I used to keep a +15energy staff for trapping but I rarely had to use it unless I was heavily DP'd.

4th one is a Poisoner's Stormbow of Enchanting which extends poison duration and +14% enchantment duration. In PUGs people generaly prefer the rangers to draw aggro due to their bow's long range (unless there are loladins present). The poison is nice as it gives me the ability to poison the whole mob even before they reach me and then I switch to my Short Bows. The +ench is for when I play with my smiting beastmaster builds.
As someone pointed out Flatbows are terrible without a speed boost or unless you're standing right next to the target. *Points and laughs at Drago's users*

Shadowspawn X · Dec 08, 2005, 02:50 PM // 14:50

The bows stack up like this:

Horn/Ivory/Shadow = 2.7 refire rate , 142 feet range and 10% armor penitration
Longbow/Stormbow = 2.5 refire rate, 167 feet range
Composite/Recurve/External/Dead = 2.5 refire rate, 142 feet range
Flatbow = 2.0 refire rate, 167 feet range
Shortbow/Half Moon = 2.0 refire rate , 112 feet range

I don't know flight time info off the top of my head but the lower arc makes the composite/recurve family of bows most accurate)

nine6nine · Dec 08, 2005, 08:23 PM // 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowspawn X

lower arc makes the composite/recurve family of bows most accurate)

on that theory female rangers are more acurate because of the way thay shot make it go straiter if so PPL DONT USE MALE RANGERS

LaserLight · Dec 08, 2005, 08:46 PM // 20:46

Apologies on the Horn/Penetrating biff. I've had the game for a month, sue me :-P. Does that mean Sundering string's don't stack either?

Anyways, as far as M3lk0r's bow mix goes, looks great for the most part. Offensive shortbow, defensive shortbow, pulling bow, interrupt bow. Shoulda thought of that myself. 'Course, a 5/1 Vampiric of 25 Fortitude would cost me...oh, about two hundred times my current supply of gold XP. Still, perhaps I could use an Ebon of Something-or-other instead, get around Warrior armor's boost to physical AL. At least, until I get the roughly 150K I'd need for a 5/1 Vampiric of Sheltering

unienaule · Dec 08, 2005, 08:56 PM // 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajamic

Penetrating Attack and Horn Bow AP don't stack.

I'd like to see some evidence of this, as I was unable to find any by using Search. Something for testing, perhaps?

4runner · Dec 08, 2005, 09:20 PM // 21:20

ZEALOUS HALFMOON OF SUNDERING(gold)
ZEALOUS RECURVE GARGASHS(green)
HORN BOW OF SHELTER (green) Gargash??
COMPOSITE BOW OF FORTITUDE (gold)

THese are my bows for pve & pvp

I actually have about 15 gold max bows of various mods but these are my favorites!!

2 golds and 2 greens

jesh · Dec 08, 2005, 09:27 PM // 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by unienaule

I'd like to see some evidence of this, as I was unable to find any by using Search. Something for testing, perhaps?

I really doubt there is any. People like to pull things out of their butts.

The only AP stacking issue that I'm aware of is JI and Weaken Armor, they won't stack.