Just started a ranger...

Pure Trex

Pure Trex

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2007

United Kingdom

MNM

W/E

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

Croco Clouds

Croco Clouds

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2007

Montreal, QC, Canada

Divine Illumination [LaZy]

E/A

Longbow is much safer and most used presently

Nestaron

Nestaron

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

Glasgow, Scotland

Banished Dragons

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Croco Clouds
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

Elri

Elri

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

Liverpool

Vm

Mo/Me

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

Divinity Sword

Divinity Sword

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2007

Washington

Dragons of the Rose

R/

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.

Quaker

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

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".

Shadow Spirit

Shadow Spirit

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

Chicago

your cat eats dog food [pup]

N/E

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

Crom The Pale

Crom The Pale

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

Ageis Ascending

W/

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.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

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

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

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

anonymous

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elri
recurve bow all the way in my opinion,use long for pulling maybe,shortbow for closer interrupts.
Recurve is better than shortbow for interrupts, it has less flight time.

Dante the Warlord

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

W/R

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

RPGmaniac

RPGmaniac

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

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.

Moonlit Azure

Moonlit Azure

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2007

R/

I usually choose revurce or my nevermore flatbow.

Winston

Winston

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

Melbourne, Australia

There is a good explanation of Bows on the Wiki:

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

Personally, My primary bow is a longbow.

arcady

arcady

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

San Francisco native

Mo/P

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.

RPGmaniac

RPGmaniac

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by arcady
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 - especially with skills like [skill=text]splinter shot[/skill].
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Splinter Shot only do the conditional damage if it's blocked, not dodged/strayed?

HawkofStorms

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by RPGmaniac
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.

Fury Incarnate

Fury Incarnate

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2006

Connecticut, USA

R/

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.

sagilltwins

sagilltwins

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2006

Your Mom's House

香港,poke, mad, BECK, nH

A/W

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.

Linteo

Linteo

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2007

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pure Trex
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
nah, its not nooby that you started a new char I played as ranger most of time, and the best bow is Recurve size, both in pve and pvp. Fast and not a bad range.
When you need in pve to pull something use longbow or flatbow - it has the biggest range.
And longbows are my 2nd favourites, especially they have nice skins, like zodiac ..
you will find it by yourself, which bow is the best for you, it depends on build you use, or what area you are..

Yanman.be

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

A/

There's nothing as beatiful as Kindle Arrows + Broadhead Arrow + Flatbow........it's like shooting fireworks in the air.