DEBATE! 15 enchanted, 15 stance, 15^50, 15vs.hexed, 20hexed, 20<50...which is best?

Silent Elvin Ranger

Silent Elvin Ranger

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2006

Ontario, Canada

Alright as the title suggests, i wanna see what you all think about standard bow mods.

15% while health is above 50%
15% while in stance
15% while enchanted
15% vs. hexed foes
20% while hexed
20% while health is below 50%
(i purposely left out the 15 always mods for a fair debate)

What is the best build for you and why?
How does it suit ur playstyle and build?

My vote is with 15% while in stance because I never leave an outpost without my "holy shit" stance. Also i do alot of builds that use the mesmer stane line-ups. I alos love using evasive stance+oath shot for constant evasion.

Argue nicely, no blow below the belt.
GO!

firstwave

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

Since these mods mostly apply to rangers and warriors, I still like the 15^50 because warriors and rangers are usually not targeted first in PVP.

In PVE, it depends on the area. In shiverpeak, I like hex or 20 below 50. If I am using a stance heavy build, I use stance.

15^50 is probably the best though.

Kurow

Kurow

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Seattle

Faces of Death [Tye]

R/W

Well, 15^50 is really nice, and it works weather or not you're hexed or in a stance or enchanted, etc. Yes it doesnt work when youre below 50%, but you are at higher than that for a much longer amount of time in most PvE, and I would hope so in PvP too.

I also like while in a stance also, because if it fits your build, like say if you use TF, then its great, because you get it when you are going on your furious tiger-like rampages.

Wolydarg

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

I Excentrix I [PuNK]

R/

I like 15^50 because if you're below 50 in PvP chances are you're gonna be dead quicker than you can use that 20% weapon boost.

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

15>50 because it is the least conditional and the droknar's crafter has the axes/swords/hammers with it for only 5 plat and some materials.

enchanted/stanced are probably better for those specialized builds that use enchantments and stances.

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

+15% -5 energy! No condition apart from less energy!

Iskrah

Iskrah

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

SsS

R/

It really depends. In PvE missions, I get the feeling 15/-5e may be the best as you will be often dealing with Healing Monk who like to wait for your health to be under 50% (for example in UW²). For solo farming that requires a bow, my vote may go to In Stance as you'll often need one from the Mesmer profession.
In PvP, you just need 32 mana and if the Prot is done properly, your life going under 50% is an alarming sign. So it's 15^50 hands down there, as enchanting and stances are less useful.

Overall, 15^50 wins.

Kurow

Kurow

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Seattle

Faces of Death [Tye]

R/W

Hmm... If the 20v50% is so terrible... maybe they should increase the 20 to 30? I mean it would be quite hard to maintain life below 50%, without going over you know. I think they should atleast increase it to 25%, simply because when you heal, you aim to heal to more than 50%.

Valerius

Valerius

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2005

Canada

R/

15>50% cha

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

15^50 without a doubt.

Enchantments are removed way too easily

Stances don't last long enough, unless your doing FoW forest farming for example using Mantra of Shock and Physical Resistance like mentioned earlier.

Helps to use enchantment/stance if your build relies on Mending/Vic or Stances though. Like with FoW farming you may not always be above 50% health, and when your below your most likely in need of that damage more than ever to kill things to give you the edge.

The Fox

The Fox

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

how about the soon to be released +5 energy rather than damage mod.

Rayne Nightfyre

Rayne Nightfyre

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Acolytes of Lyssa [AL]

Me/A

Why the 'debate'? It all depends on the situation anyway. But for usual fighting purposes, obviously +15% (while health is above 50%) is in effect more often than not.

Avarre

Avarre

Bubblegum Patrol

Join Date: Dec 2005

Singapore Armed Forces

Stance!

Its generally more controllable by you.

Though 15^50 has its merits, as generally you aren't targetted quite as much, and if you aren't running a stance build..

Iskrah

Iskrah

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

SsS

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Fox
how about the soon to be released +5 energy rather than damage mod. Oh man, don't get my expectations up too high. That would be incredible for the Cripshot build...

faction

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2006

Crimson Tears

E/Me

15^50 FTW rangers dont haveany enchantments *correct me if im wrong* so unless your second proffesion uses enchantments i wouldn't recommend it

Sir Mad

Sir Mad

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

Moe's Pub

Pigs Can Fly [Pigs]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Fox
how about the soon to be released +5 energy rather than damage mod. Are you sure about this? I would be surprised they add such bows after having nerfed the bows with an energy boost...

Silent Elvin Ranger

Silent Elvin Ranger

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2006

Ontario, Canada

Hmm lots of ppl use 15^50. Personally i don't like cause im usually soloing and even when im in a group i just take off. Then ppl wonder where i went. Especailly in groups that won't make up there mind. I agree that 15 while enchanted sucks, because they can be forcibly removed. Stance is the best cause of all that stances rangers (especially r/me) have. They can't be forcibly removed and can be leading edge u need to take out ur oponent.

5 energy? u sure? dint they just nerf the shit out of the other energy bows?

Anyways, STANCE FTW!

Reikai

Reikai

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

R/

15>50, because 90% of the time your above 50% HP anyway in PvP, and if your not, your probably dead, and not dealing damage anyway.

therefore 15>50 > all.

Wolydarg

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

I Excentrix I [PuNK]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silent Elvin Ranger
Hmm lots of ppl use 15^50. Personally i don't like cause im usually soloing and even when im in a group i just take off. Then ppl wonder where i went. Especailly in groups that won't make up there mind. I agree that 15 while enchanted sucks, because they can be forcibly removed. Stance is the best cause of all that stances rangers (especially r/me) have. They can't be forcibly removed and can be leading edge u need to take out ur oponent.

5 energy? u sure? dint they just nerf the shit out of the other energy bows?

Anyways, STANCE FTW! Wild Blow

Veron

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

Leather Rebels [LR]

There's really nothing to debate. I wouldn't say that 15^50 is the "best" one, but it definitely is the all-around mod. For pretty much any build, you'll get a pretty decent amount of use from it. You will usually be above 50% health. If you're almost dead, you're more likely to be trying to kite or healing yourself or whatnot, instead of shooting someone.

15-stance and 15-enchanted are both situational. If you have a build where you keep up either a constant stance or a constant enchantment, it would of course has the potential of being better than a 15^50. 15vsHexed may also be useful with some builds, though it would be harder to maintain a hex than maintain a stance or enchantment. These are conditions that you can control fairly easily.

The reason 20v50 and 20-hexed aren't so great because those are situations you really don't want to be in nor are they entirely in your control. Being below 50% is especially hard to do, because you run a very high risk of dying. Your bow won't do you any good while you're dead now, will it? 20-hexed could be useful if you know you're going up against hexers, but it's not a condition that you control. If you're going solo against a warrior, this mod won't help you.

Bottom line is, you can't really go wrong with a 15^50. You spend most of your time above 50% health. It's a condition fairly easy to control, and it's a condition in which you'll generally be trying to fight in. Stance, enchant, and maybe even vsHexed could be useful in specific builds, where you are certain you will be keeping the conditions constantly. I'm really not quite sure why you'd use 20v50 or 20-hexed, but whatever floats you boat.

Wolydarg

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

I Excentrix I [PuNK]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Veron
The reason 20v50 and 20-hexed aren't so great because those are situations you really don't want to be in nor are they entirely in your control. Being below 50% is especially hard to do, because you run a very high risk of dying. Your bow won't do you any good while you're dead now, will it? 20-hexed could be useful if you know you're going up against hexers, but it's not a condition that you control. If you're going solo against a warrior, this mod won't help you. Especially with a hex like ineptitude on you. 20% isn't gonna do much when you're in pain/blind..

Veron

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

Leather Rebels [LR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolydarg
Especially with a hex like ineptitude on you. 20% isn't gonna do much when you're in pain/blind.. I was thinking of potential farming situations where you'll be hexed, but the hexes don't impair you too much. 20-hexed would be pretty useless in PvP. You wouldn't really be attacking too much if someone's really seriously hexing you.

romeo_longsword

romeo_longsword

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

United Kingdom - London, China - Hong Kong

R/

15^50 due to that I would be often have above 50% health then say, stances.

I would not need to "feel" that I am in more control if I used stance based bow or other weapon.

Silent Elvin Ranger

Silent Elvin Ranger

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2006

Ontario, Canada

Well some farming builds (solo) u are constantly below 50% of health. Like the warrior version of the ids farming. If u watch the vid made on it the persons health is maintained below 50% for most of the fighting part. Not saying i would use it but...its not completely useless.

20 hexed is alright but u r hexed and u can't control the damage increase, hense the reason its a 20% and not 15%. I would actually consider this type of mod but it would mainly depend on area.

denshuu

denshuu

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Xen Of Onslaught [XoO]

R/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolydarg
Wild Blow Yeah, 'cause I've never been in a match where my opponents didn't take Wild Blow with them.

dont feel no pain

dont feel no pain

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2005

Uk,Wales

about the name of this thread all i have to say is....... "it depends dammit"

ArianeB

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2006

Arthur

E/Mo

I have 15^50 on all my primary bows, though my soloing bow is a 15 while enchanted, because as a R/Mo I keep enchantments up most of the time.

Bow strings are even more situational to argue about, though I think an interesting discussion on bow grips might be had:

Fortitude adds up to 30 health, but if damage/warding/shelter grips keep you from losing health, are they not better?

If you self heal with Healing Breeze (R/Mo) or Shadow Refuge (R/A), an enchanting grip may actually be better.

sh4ft3d

sh4ft3d

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...

Frank Ought To Monk [FotM]

W/

15%-5 is the best :P