Vamp short or half moon?

My friend said I should make a short bow or half moon bow modded with a vamp string 5/1 and a +30 health mod if I want the fastest shooting bow for close up attacks in combat.

Is this a correct statement? Would I be better off with something other than +30 on it?

I already have a bow for long distance pulling...but would like to build something for fast shooting in your face close up combat when the time calls for it.

Thanks for any suggestions/opinions.

GuildWiki has this chart on Bow stats: (Half Moons count as Shortbows)

Weapon Refire Rate Range Flight Time Arc Size Special Feature
Longbow 2.4 seconds 1.6 0.59 seconds Normal None
Flatbow 2.0 seconds 1.6 0.88 seconds Large None
Hornbow 2.7 seconds 1.4 0.59 seconds Normal 10% Armor penetration
Recurve Bow 2.4 seconds 1.4 0.40 seconds Small None
Shortbow 2.0 seconds 1.05 0.59 seconds Normal None

In other words, Longbows have a medium refire rate and long range; Flatbows have a fast rate and long range, but slow shots, Hornbows have a slow firing rate and average range but a chance of armor penetration, Recurve Bows have medium fire rate and range but fast arrows, and Shortbows have short range but a fast refire rate. So yes, the Shortbow/Half Moon is best for firing quickly at short range. (Although if you use Favorable Winds/Read the Wind a Flatbow is best) The mods don't really affect the Shortbow's performance at fast, close shots; use whichever ones you like.

+5 defense will most likely allow you to live longer (except for degen - which is why rangers have troll ungent) than +30 health, and at a significant savings. Kinda like the 20/20 sundering string being the most expensive, doesn't really mean its the best.

Absolutely right Lennymon. Say you have 530hp with a +30 Fortitude mod. Get hit one time and you're down to 500hp. At that point the fortitude mod is no longer helping. But no matter what your heath is the +5 defense mod will continue helping.

The decreased damage you receive with a +5 defense mod will end up saving much more than 30 health.

Are there such things as a req.8 +5 energy short or half moon bow?

go with +1 marksmanship, you shouldn't be getting hit till last anyway