Bows: are they underpowered?

Theres a reason why bow rangers don't actually exist in PvP... they suck for damage. Try observing some GvG matches.....you might find it shocking when you see a ranger in almost ever match

Most people will agree with you that bows do "suck" for damage. They also know that bows arn't really used for damage but instead they're often used for utility.

Most people will agree with you that bows do "suck" for damage. They also know that bows arn't really used for damage but instead they're often used for utility. I think this point hits the nail on the head. No one is going to lie and say that a bow is a good damage dealing weapon (at least I hope they don't), but that doesn't make them underpowered weapons. Don't get me wrong, if they did buff bow damage, I'd be happy since I consider the ranger class my favorite and primary, but I just don't think it's really needed.

If someone wants to make the argument that some bow skills need to be buffed, I'd agree there. Power Shot, Point Blank Shot, etc are just sad.

I don't think bows are underpowered as people say over at GWO and since nobody made this type of thread here I will link to it.

http://guildwars.incgamers.com/forum...d.php?t=454958
Thread title: "[Rangers need another look at?!]: Decrease Refire Rate / Add more Base Dmg..."

The discussion has really picked up since it started. Bad Idea™

More base damage = Ranger Spike

Try observing some GvG matches.....you might find it shocking when you see a ranger in almost ever match

Most people will agree with you that bows do "suck" for damage. They also know that bows arn't really used for damage but instead they're often used for utility. I really need to define bow rangers more often to not 'A non-Burning Arrow build that is almost always identical' or 'A non-BHA build' or 'A non-Glass Arrows/Conjure spike build'. Rangers excel at spiking, we already know that. Theres damage skills in general suck. The only reason they're good at spiking is that they can stack as much as possible into a Dual Shot/Savage Shot to make it as strong as possible. But i'm still waiting on a Rangers bar to actually involve the rest of the Marksmanship line...

That point really is getting old now... people don't use bows for damage. They use them for utility. Thats because people know they suck for damage. Why use them for damage when you know it won't work! Is it THAT hard to understand!

I really need to define bow rangers more often to not 'A non-Burning Arrow build that is almost always identical' or 'A non-BHA build' or 'A non-Glass Arrows/Conjure spike build'. Rangers excel at spiking, we already know that. Theres damage skills in general suck. The only reason they're good at spiking is that they can stack as much as possible into a Dual Shot/Savage Shot to make it as strong as possible. But i'm still waiting on a Rangers bar to actually involve the rest of the Marksmanship line...

That point really is getting old now... people don't use bows for damage. They use them for utility. Thats because people know they suck for damage. Why use them for damage when you know it won't work! Is it THAT hard to understand! I really don't see a way that you can have rangers deal marksmanship damage without it either being about flare spamming like usage of attack skills, or spiking, it is likely that without any additional functionality added to bow skills any big buff would create a new form of rspike.
If they are going to something like that they might as well drop the recharge on dual shot back to seven seconds instead because at least that way we know what that build is capable of and don't have another ritspike like balance screwup.

I really need to define bow rangers more often to not 'A non-Burning Arrow build that is almost always identical' or 'A non-BHA build' or 'A non-Glass Arrows/Conjure spike build'. Rangers excel at spiking, we already know that. Theres damage skills in general suck. The only reason they're good at spiking is that they can stack as much as possible into a Dual Shot/Savage Shot to make it as strong as possible. But i'm still waiting on a Rangers bar to actually involve the rest of the Marksmanship line...

That point really is getting old now... people don't use bows for damage. They use them for utility. Thats because people know they suck for damage. Why use them for damage when you know it won't work! Is it THAT hard to understand! So, you admit that a bow ranger is good for utility and spiking, but because it's not a great pressure weapon on the same level as something like an axe or scythe it sucks? What do you honestly want out of the weapon? Your complaints are really leaning towards something that would outclass otherweapons hands down. You also keep discounting bow buffs like preparations as if they are a bad thing or like a bow is weak because of them, but that's completely wrong. Bows are stronger because of their diversity in skills, not weaker. Preparations allow a bow to become something that deals damage, unleashes conditions, or assists in interuption. If a bow could pack out big damage without skills, then combining it with skills would make it overpowered. If you nerf the skills and buff the bow, the game just gets boring. C-space attacking ftl.

If you have complaints with the marksmanship line, I can understand, but don't blame the bow.

bows are just fine, rangers are fine, people that complain should go play WoW and pick one of the overpowered classes so they can have the obvious ingame advantage to compensate for their lack of actual playerskill. You shouldn't talk about WoW if you haven't played it.

Anyways, bows are good enough. They have disruption, condition pressure, and they have utility. What more could you want?

Rangers deal aren't supposed to be on the same level as Warriors and Dervish because they are utility characters. And this is what has been wrong in the game since day one.

The fact that rangers cannot inflict Deep Wound on a target or break its stance, not to mention lack of knock-down, is what made rangers utility characters. Which they shouldn't have become because it's not logical that an arrow hit cannot knock a target down or break the stance its in. Obviously, not all bows give enough kinetic energy for KD arrows and ranger KD skills should be made to work only with long and flat bows. Same goes for Deep Wound and stance breakers.

There's a reason you see rangers in almost all groups, they're a good class. Wow, your simple logic has won this thread (not sarcasim)

And this is what has been wrong in the game since day one.

The fact that rangers cannot inflict Deep Wound on a target or break its stance, not to mention lack of knock-down, is what made rangers utility characters. Which they shouldn't have become because it's not logical that an arrow hit cannot knock a target down or break the stance its in. Obviously, not all bows give enough kinetic energy for KD arrows and ranger KD skills should be made to work only with long and flat bows. Same goes for Deep Wound and stance breakers. KD from any type of bow is ridiculous. If rangers want to do KD, they have traps. A stance breaking skill isn't a bad idea. Deep wound isn't really utility, but more of a form of damage.