Bow question

SoiChelle

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2007

R/Mo

I'm new on GW and I have this R/Mo lvl 9, I was wondering about my damage, I have a 11-18 bow (cant remember name) +20 damage against charr and +15% when health above 50% so.....is this the best bow i can get for now or should i use another? if so where can i get it?

iridescentfyre

iridescentfyre

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/

Well, a max damage bow (which is always 15-28) will have a requirement of at least 8 or 9, and more commonly 10-11. Yours is probably about the best you can get for now. That 15% while health is over 50% mod (we usually call it 15^50 or "15 over 50") is pretty heavily desirable on max-level bows, and will help you out quite a bit. Its unlikely you'll find anything better you can use for a little while.

Also, you should customize your bow at a Weaponsmith NPC for another 20% unconditional damage buff.

SoiChelle

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2007

R/Mo

thanks! so is there another tip to increase my damage? and arond what lvl should i worry about the next bow?

Joker

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

ESS

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by SoiChelle
thanks! so is there another tip to increase my damage? and arond what lvl should i worry about the next bow? When you can put 8 or 9 points in marksman without gimping your build. Look on the GuildWiki for some collectors that give bows. You'll need a flat bow and a short bow for sure.

Flat bow = Slow and Longest range
Short bow = Fast and Shortest Range

lennymon

lennymon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Seattle

Odin's Hammer [OH] - Servant's of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

correction
flatbow and shortbow = fastest attack speed 2.0 secs
recurve/longbow = medium speed @ 2.4 secs
hornbow = slowest @2.7 sec

short is of course short range, horned and recurve at about aggro range depending on altitude and long/flat have greater than aggro range.

Given the description of your bow, you are in prophecies so just keep or grab whatever does more damage when you see it and don't worry too much about upgrading as your skills will do the bulk of the damage. At least until you've gotten to near 20th, it's very worth customizing every bow you are going to use as well.

iridescentfyre

iridescentfyre

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joker
When you can put 8 or 9 points in marksman without gimping your build. Look on the GuildWiki for some collectors that give bows. You'll need a flat bow and a short bow for sure.

Flat bow = Slow and Longest range
Short bow = Fast and Shortest Range A short bow is unnecessary at best, and in my opinion a waste. Rangers don't (shouldn't?) operate on the basis of damage-per-second. For a Ranger, there's a reason behind every shot.. not just to get the most arrows to the target in the shortest time. But I digress.. that's not something the OP needs to be concerned about at level 9 anyway.

However, its a great idea to always have a long-range bow (Flatbow or Longbow) for pulling small groups of enemies from way beyond their sight range.

Washi

Washi

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2007

I always use Recurve bow for any fighting so they don't avoid my arrows and I always have a long bow handy if I need to pull.

Joker

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

ESS

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by lennymon
correction
flatbow and shortbow = fastest attack speed 2.0 secs
recurve/longbow = medium speed @ 2.4 secs
hornbow = slowest @2.7 sec
I really shouldnt post really late at night.

Quote:
Originally Posted by iridescentfyre
A short bow is unnecessary at best, and in my opinion a waste. Rangers don't (shouldn't?) operate on the basis of damage-per-second. Getting the arrows there in the quickest time is not just about damage-per-second. Did you ever consider flight time when interrupting something?

ShortBows have the shortest flight time and make interrupting a lot easier.

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

incorrect. recurve bows have the fastest flight time. a short bow is the second fastest.

some pvp players have switched over to shortbow for general purpose fighting. the logic behind is that the flight time difference between a short bow and a recurve bow doesn't make a whole lot of difference at close range, especially if the ranger essentially plays as a frontline character most of the time.

generally though, a recurve bow is the way to go.

iridescentfyre

iridescentfyre

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joker
Getting the arrows there in the quickest time is not just about damage-per-second. Did you ever consider flight time when interrupting something?

ShortBows have the shortest flight time and make interrupting a lot easier. You may want to give this a read.

SoiChelle

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2007

R/Mo

Thanks for all the help, really apreciatted ^^

Epinephrine

Epinephrine

Master of Beasts

Join Date: Mar 2005

Ottawa, Canada

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

Quote:
Originally Posted by iridescentfyre
A short bow is unnecessary at best, and in my opinion a waste. Rangers don't (shouldn't?) operate on the basis of damage-per-second. For a Ranger, there's a reason behind every shot.. not just to get the most arrows to the target in the shortest time. But I digress.. that's not something the OP needs to be concerned about at level 9 anyway.

However, its a great idea to always have a long-range bow (Flatbow or Longbow) for pulling small groups of enemies from way beyond their sight range. I disagree and agree with iridescentfyre;

DPS may not be a ranger priority in most builds, but there are valid reasons for wanting the higher attack rate of a Short/Flat bow.

1) Faster attack rate = more sklls used per unit time.
2) Use of passive interruption builds (Choking Gas)
3) Spreading of degen (poison a new foe every 2 seconds rather than every 2.4; that's an extra foe per 10 seconds)
(eliminated number 4 as it was false)

Plus you deal more damage, which isn't bad. I have an ebon short bow of enchanting for use with an Ebon Dust Aura build for example, since with 8 seconds (or even 9) blind it makes the difference between being able to maintain blind on 4 targets (4 * 2 seconds) or only managing 3 (3 * 2.4 seconds).

GaladrielMoloch

GaladrielMoloch

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2007

Australia

Oh No Tinkerbell Died

R/

I agree with Epinephrine, each bow has it's place (classic examples on shortbow = prep stance/choking gas, hornbow = spiking, etc.) but to the OP it is best until you have a better grasp of game mechanics to run with a recurve bow as standard and a longbow for helping pull.

lennymon

lennymon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Seattle

Odin's Hammer [OH] - Servant's of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

Why relearn everything later? Most new rangers pick up a recurve or longbow, and only use the one bow. I always suggest that at least 2 or 3 is good right from the start, and try swapping them in fights just to see for yourself how things happen.

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

i'm quite sure the aftercast delay for bow interrupts are fixed.

http://www.wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Aftercast_delay

Epinephrine

Epinephrine

Master of Beasts

Join Date: Mar 2005

Ottawa, Canada

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

Guess I'll have to load FRAPS and check some more, I was basing it off research by another ranger posted on the original wiki.

Epinephrine

Epinephrine

Master of Beasts

Join Date: Mar 2005

Ottawa, Canada

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

Yeah, I used FRAPS and got about 1.25 seconds for all 3 speeds of bows. No noticeable difference, so I guess aftercast is fixed.

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

yay, so i guess i don't have to spend another 19308523048k gold to buy another set of shortbows for all occasions.

thanks

lennymon

lennymon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Seattle

Odin's Hammer [OH] - Servant's of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

You don't 'need' to have anything even with a bow string, that's pretty well established. The fact remains that if you want *both* unbeatable speed and accuracy with a bow however, it's a trade off with the risk of getting in closer and using a short bow. Risk is both exciting and effective.