Just started a ranger...

Bit nooby but ive just started a ranger and i see you can choose between Short and Long bow, what diff is there between them?


Is it where long bow fires slower but further and short fire shorter but faster?

TY

Longbow is much safer and most used presently

It's a toss up between Long and Recurve, though for newer Rangers it's defo longbows.

As for the OP: You've pretty much hit nail head yourself, but it does get a bit more complicated so i suggest you read up on bows at eirthger of the wiki.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bows

recurve bow all the way in my opinion,use long for pulling maybe,shortbow for closer interrupts.

My personal choice is always a longbow. Due to it's range. Shortbows tend to get you killed imo. Recurve bows have a faster fire rate but still slightly less range.

I always use either a Flatbow (with favorable winds) or a shortbow. Longbows are for sissies! (jk)

One reason for using a shortbow is that it gets you into the same range (or closer) as the "squishes" - especially if you are using henchie monks - which helps the team by taking some of the damage. They have the fastest firing rate and can interrupt. (Although, I'd only recommend that in Normal Mode - in Hard Mode you want to stay back a bit )

Edit: If you just want a bow for pulling, a flatbow is better than a longbow. The flatbow has the same range as a longbow, but it's longer flight time makes it easier to start backing up before the arrow hits. This both gives you a head start and keeps your pet from going in.
Also, for barrage, a longbow has too slow a firing rate. Any good barrage group should use flatbows and Favorable Winds.
Longbows are best for wussies who want to stay way back and shoot occasionally while the others up front "take it for the team".

I'ts a good idea to start with a longbow until you get the hang of it. Once you're comfortable, experiment a little and see what you enjoy doing best.

If you like pulling/barraging, longbows are great!
If you're more into interrupts/DPS, shortbows FTW!

Also, [skill=text]Needling Shot[/skill] + shortbows = /pwnface

In part I would sugest getting one of each, short and Flat(my fav) and using them based on your particular build.

If you are runing an interupter you should use the shortbow, though it will draw you into danger range you can bring plenty of defences, whirlwind stance for example, to keep your self alive and active.

For builds like Barrage the longbow/recurve may be best suited.

If you are useing Read the Wind then the Flat bow becomes very deadly as its fast and long range.

Its all down to personal choice really.

There are several articles online about bows giving Range, arc time for arrow to reach target and time to next shot.

Range increases firing from a high point and decreases firing up from a low point.

Shortbow range is just about the "Radar" circle on your circular minimap.

Longest ranges are the flatbow and longbow
Flattest arc and therefore best chance to hit a moving target is the recurve.

I use 4 bows for my ranger
Stinger its my lucky bow "hey im supersticious" and its a hornbow

Shortbow "Vampiric" for close combat situations
Recurve bow "Icy" for interupting enemies
Flatbow "Zealous" for long range.

Guildwiki website will explain all the bow types ranges and types of bowstrings etc to alter damage type.

otherise ask more questions here loads of know it all types hang around these forums

recurve is nice....interrupts fast not many bad points...me liiiiiiiike

Recurve is better than shortbow for interrupts, it has less flight time.

You should know there isn't just short bow and longbow, but also recuve bow, hornbow, and flatbow

I don't have much info on rangers cause I don't play mine much but I do know that you should get everything but hornbow. Shortbows are good when your enemies get way to close, flatbows are good overall and a very good pick since that combines well with certain skills, recurves and longbows are basically your longer range bows, with difff reload/length stats.

P.S. next time post in the ranger build forums

Eventually, as you continue with your ranger (assuming you do), you'll want to get each of the different types of bows. That being said, I use longbows for PvE because I think that's where range matters the most. Especially if you're gonna pull. You wouldn't want to use a shortbow because it makes no sense. You'll already have aggroed them by the time you try to "pull" them. Recurve is the best bow for interrupting because the arrows get to the target very fast. That's why I use them for PvP, because range isn't as important as interrupting ability and recurves fire a little faster than longbows, too.

I usually choose revurce or my nevermore flatbow.

There is a good explanation of Bows on the Wiki:

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Bow

Personally, My primary bow is a longbow.

I swear by the flatbow personally.

Long range and quick to fire. Less accuracy, but that's not as much of a problem as it might seem.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Splinter Shot only do the conditional damage if it's blocked, not dodged/strayed?

Correct. So yeah... that advice isn't helpful.

I've always been a fan of flatbows. The arc is terrible, but the range is fantastic and the fire rate is too. As everyone else has said, it's ultimately up to what build you're playing.

I prefer Longbows... better safe then sorry. since its just pve... theres no real need for hornbows' +10% armor pentration or anything like that.

I would just stick with Longbows.