Curse

XvArchonvX · Apr 19, 2006, 02:24 PM // 14:24

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't understand the rave over Elswyth's Recurve. Don't get me wrong, I love the mods, but I don't see why anyone would want a vamp mod on a recurve bow. To me a recurve bow is best suited for an interupt build due to it's flight time. I don't think it's the worst choice for such a mod, but to me these mods would suite a longbow, flatbow, or a horn bow. I say this because imo, a vamp mod is really best when used in a barrage or high refire rate build.

Longbow: Same refire rate time as a recurve, but the greater distance allows more control of the situation and more safety from harm. Good bow for a barrage build, even though a flatbow would have a better refire rate.

Flatbow: Faster refire rate and increased distance. FW used with a barrage build would a +15%^50 vamp flatbow of fortitude an excellent damage build. Even if barrage isn't used, Tiger's Fury along with RTW or FW would make the damage output very worthwhile.

Hornbow: Proven to be able to do the most damage when using barrage with Tiger's Fury. If range is going to be sacrificed, a hornbow would be a better choice if damage is the intention.

Admittedly the choice of these bows is based largely on the use of barrage or tiger's fury, but imo, a vamp mod isn't really worth it if you don't increase the amount of arrows fired per period of time.

Thanks to SnipiousMax and Jenosavel for there barrage based research found in the following links:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...d.php?t=136832
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...d.php?t=136832

ArianeB · Apr 19, 2006, 05:31 PM // 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by R A C

I bought Elswyth's recurve while it was still 10-15k. Best money I've ever spent in this game. It's exactly the type of bow I wanted. I was thinking to myself, if I could only have one bow, what would it be? Answer: Vampiric recurve of fortitude. Then when I saw the prices of perfect vampiric and fortitude mods, I bought Elswyth's in seconds.
As long as we are listing weapon sets:
Elswyth's recurve
Firey Ascalon(long) of Fortitude
Icy Ascalon(long) of Fortitude
Poisonous Longbow of Fortitude

Ok, well, I'm a little short on fortitude mods, and the poisonous longbow, but I'll get those shortly.

Elswyths Longbow = Poisonous Longbow of Fortitude BTW

As to Archon's question above. I think that it is a playstyle issue. No right or wrong answer. I dont do much PvP, so the hornbow has no interest to me. If you are going to spike or interrupt, why not have +5 damage per arrow too?

Also in PvE, elemental bows are often better than vampire bows. All the creatures in Tyria are either neutral to elemental damage (in which case elem string = normal string) or resistant to certain kinds (-20%) or vulnerable to certain kinds (+20%). In vulnerable situations, ele > vampiric, and in resistant situations, switching to any other ele string bow often changes it to vulnerable.

These are not hard and fast rules, and vary from creature to creature, but if you PvE and dont like the health degen of vampiric bows, having a couple of bows with differing ele strings is a very viable alternative.

Craze Horse · Apr 20, 2006, 03:14 AM // 03:14

I've decided that Ebon is probably the most useful bow string in pvp. I came up with this by looking at simple things like the armor people use. There is no armor for rangers that further negate earth damage so that is one benefit and secondly you run into alot of Fire and Air elementalists in pvp that use the armor of attribute and many female ele's that use Water type armor for the looks. This leaves Ebon most dangerous in pvp in my opinion. In the chance that you do run into someone with a earth defence just keep an extra bow handy. Its not likely that most people switch their armor midbattle like I do. =P

Maria The Princess · Apr 20, 2006, 07:12 AM // 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craze Horse

I've decided that Ebon is probably the most useful bow string in pvp. I came up with this by looking at simple things like the armor people use. There is no armor for rangers that further negate earth damage so that is one benefit and secondly you run into alot of Fire and Air elementalists in pvp that use the armor of attribute and many female ele's that use Water type armor for the looks. This leaves Ebon most dangerous in pvp in my opinion. In the chance that you do run into someone with a earth defence just keep an extra bow handy. Its not likely that most people switch their armor midbattle like I do. =P

^^ i just started a thread about how rangers shoud have armor vs earth as well...
the only problem is for spikers, with an orders necro... cuz elemental bow strings ignores orders (correct me if im wrong) and does same damage as normal....

Francis Demeules · Apr 20, 2006, 12:15 PM // 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craze Horse

I've decided that Ebon is probably the most useful bow string in pvp. I came up with this by looking at simple things like the armor people use. There is no armor for rangers that further negate earth damage so that is one benefit and secondly you run into alot of Fire and Air elementalists in pvp that use the armor of attribute and many female ele's that use Water type armor for the looks. This leaves Ebon most dangerous in pvp in my opinion. In the chance that you do run into someone with a earth defence just keep an extra bow handy. Its not likely that most people switch their armor midbattle like I do. =P

Note: Theirs no Conjure Earth in ele spells

XvArchonvX · Apr 20, 2006, 01:19 PM // 13:19

I can see where a ebon string would be a better choice in PvP than a fiery or shocking one, but since rangers have an inherent +30 AL to ele dmg and a lot of monks have armor with +5 AL to ele dmg, it seems like physical damage would be best unless you are confronting a tank mesmer in rogue armor or necro in bonelace. To me it seems like whether you go with ele or physical damage, it still depends greatly on who your target is as to which one is better for PvP as well as PvE. The only difference I can see is that in PvE there are creatures with a distinct lowered AL to certain ele dmg (i.e. fire vs. Ice Golem).

Francis Demeules · Apr 20, 2006, 02:59 PM // 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by XvArchonvX

I can see where a ebon string would be a better choice in PvP than a fiery or shocking one, but since rangers have an inherent +30 AL to ele dmg and a lot of monks have armor with +5 AL to ele dmg, it seems like physical damage would be best unless you are confronting a tank mesmer in rogue armor or necro in bonelace. To me it seems like whether you go with ele or physical damage, it still depends greatly on who your target is as to which one is better for PvP as well as PvE. The only difference I can see is that in PvE there are creatures with a distinct lowered AL to certain ele dmg (i.e. fire vs. Ice Golem).

In that case, do the same thing I do. Bring one with Ele damage and another with Physical so you can switch them between Ele and Physical depends abour your targets.

Farmermancer · Apr 22, 2006, 08:30 PM // 20:30

Drago's Flat bow is the worst of all green bows... its a Sundering (worst prefix) Flat bow (highest arc, long flight time). It's only good as a pulling bow, but then again so is any 3-15 damage flat bow and after that its pretty much the worst green bow in the game.

People just see it and think "wow its sundering and fort! this has gotta be good!"

Elswyth's Recurve is the best bow in the game, Vampiric (highest damage prefix) Recurve (shortest flight time). Drago's bow is pure trash, just good for selling to new players who dont know better.

Jack Valmont · Apr 22, 2006, 08:40 PM // 20:40

In your humble opinion, I assume.

Valerius · Apr 22, 2006, 11:58 PM // 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Valmont

In your humble opinion, I assume.

well... it's true... the only thing good about the Drago Flatbow is the +30HP and 15>50% part... but due to Sundering the bow becomes crap and having it be a Flatbow pretty much forces you to bring RtW or be under FW most of the time

i agree Elswyth's Recurve bow is the best green bow in the game

winkgood · Apr 26, 2006, 07:34 PM // 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by XvArchonvX

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't understand the rave over Elswyth's Recurve. Don't get me wrong, I love the mods, but I don't see why anyone would want a vamp mod on a recurve bow. To me a recurve bow is best suited for an interupt build due to it's flight time. I don't think it's the worst choice for such a mod, but to me these mods would suite a longbow, flatbow, or a horn bow. I say this because imo, a vamp mod is really best when used in a barrage or high refire rate build.

True, composite doesn't have the range of a longbow or the refire rate of the flatbow or shortbow. It is however, an accurate bow (without having to use FW), has decent range, and a decent refire rate. If it were possible to have a 15^50 vamp horn bow, 15^50 vamp flatbow (with FW), and a 15^50 vamp longbow all at the same time, then perhaps Elswyths wouldn't be near as appealing. Elswyths is an all around good bow with awesome mods. Until they make a bow for every situation possible, Elswyths will still be one of the best all around bows. I do have a 15^50 vamp shadow bow which I use for spiking, but in tombs, the elswyths is a much better choice with its refire rate. The small difference in time to fire a shot can mean the difference of interrupting a nasty spell or hex or getting hammered by it.

Silent Elvin Ranger · Apr 27, 2006, 01:07 AM // 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farmermancer

Drago's Flat bow is the worst of all green bows... its a Sundering (worst prefix) Flat bow (highest arc, long flight time). It's only good as a pulling bow, but then again so is any 3-15 damage flat bow and after that its pretty much the worst green bow in the game.

I agree 100%. Dragos sucks. Very wierd how it's so expensive. I don't really like greens. I do use some...but i hate them. My bow is the droks crafter
Longbow with 15 while in stance...Im working on getting a 15stance longbow with poison string and +7 armor physical and the same mods but with a +7 armor elemental. (im not 1 for fortitude...its not bad...just rather have armor)