What mods would you put on a longbow/flatbow?

byobodybag

byobodybag

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

[SoB]

R/

I was thinking of having a longbow and a flatbow... what do you usually have in mind to put on them as mods for use in either PVE/PVP?

I know it'll end up as user preference but I just wanted to find out what you'd have...

and if there was such a bow a sundering string would complement what do you think it would be?

Thanks guys.

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

The only mod that has no use at all, and you'll end up the worse for putting it on your bow is a Zealous string.

Defense or Fortitude usually for your Grip

String depends on what kind of role you expect to be filling. Most damage dealers like Vampiric for the added 5 armor ignoring damage.

byobodybag

byobodybag

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

[SoB]

R/

exactly one of the things i had in mind, a vampiric flatbow of fortitude...

khangaroo

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2006

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnipiousMax
The only mod that has no use at all, and you'll end up the worse for putting it on your bow is a Zealous string.

Defense or Fortitude usually for your Grip

String depends on what kind of role you expect to be filling. Most damage dealers like Vampiric for the added 5 armor ignoring damage. how come zealous has no use?

Reikai

Reikai

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

R/

search about the zealous, I've made an entire post reguarding the math of all that.

anyway, it really depends if its a longbow or a flatbow.

if its a longbow, sundering/foritutde for ranger spike
if its a flatbow, merch it.

Reikai

Reikai

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

R/

search about the zealous, I've made an entire post reguarding the math of all that.

anyway, it really depends if its a longbow or a flatbow.

if its a longbow, sundering/foritutde for ranger spike
if its a flatbow, merch it.

Katari

Katari

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Upstate

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reikai
search about the zealous, I've made an entire post reguarding the math of all that.

anyway, it really depends if its a longbow or a flatbow.

if its a longbow, sundering/foritutde for ranger spike
if its a flatbow, merch it. Sundering is only slightly better than no string at all, It's certainly not what you want for R-Spike. If you're looking for damage, you'll want Vamp.

ubrikkean

ubrikkean

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

E/

@Katari
You want a non-vampiric bow as well for RSpike, so you have no degen while attacking. The standard is a Vampiric Horn Bow of Fortitude for the actual spiking.

As for PvE, zealous is the best mod for the flatbow if you run a build with Dual Shot, or even better, Barrage. Also, if you're a R/E you could consider using a Conjure [Element] spell and putting an [Element] bow string on. I'm not a fan of longbows in PvE... slower refire rate than flatbows, same range, and the lower arc doesn't matter because PvE enemies don't know to dodge them. Also if you use a build that involves a condition you might want to get the bow string for that condition, such as a Poisonous Bow String if you use Apply Poison.

4runner

4runner

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

Cali!!!

cdxx/the420th.com

Mo/N

or have a bow for each:

1.Vampiric Horn Bow Of Fort
2.zealous short bow of shelter
3.Poisoners Recurve bow Fort
4.Vampiric Recurve Bow shelter
5.Zealous Eternal bow of Frot
6.Shocking Eternal Bow of Fort

Valkyries

Valkyries

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

AoM

I had a very similar question actually and didn't want to open up another post.

Im using a Longbow (because Zodiacs are longbows and Anet apparently secretly hates me) And I was also wondering what strings/grip to put on

I bought a Vamp 5/-1 and a Marks +1 (20%) because I got them VERY cheap (like 6k total)... but Im not really sure if they should go for a longbow or if its better for a different type of bow.

A lot of people tell me to use Sundering but Im sorry I just don't know if its really that good. Maybe Im wrong?!? Can someone please give me some insight on what is best to use?

Thanks and sorry for hijacking your post. I just thought it was better to ask here than start a new thread.

Nestaron

Nestaron

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

Glasgow, Scotland

Banished Dragons

A/

If my understanding is correct then Sundering is crap as theres only 20% chance of it actually making a diference... That means 80% of the time you're as good as firing with no mod.

As for Zealous isn't that a 1:-1 mod? This is where i'm not exactly sure with the times but you lose 1 energy every second yeah? Average time between arrows is 2.something seconds so it would seem you are constantly losing energy regardless of gaining 1pip on hit. Can only see Zealous being useful if you're planning on being a barrage spammer in which case you have no need for Zealous, as with decent expertise Barrage will only cost 2 energy and by the time it recharges you should have full energy back.

Poison strings are nice... The drawback with them though is enemies without flesh as they can't be poisoned. But when that comes across my path i just focus on interupting them.

Cyan The Archer

Cyan The Archer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

Denmark

R/

I would put a Poison mod on, and a 5+ defense.

M3lk0r

M3lk0r

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

R/Mo

Yes, nicely put Nestaron except for one thing.

In PvE if I'm going for damage, I almost always use Tiger's Fury these days. At 14 expertise TF (and most other actual-damage attacks) cost 4e only. Combined with a Shortbow, zelaous and vamp are very powerful.

My bow setup includes (for PvE) -

Main offensive Halfmoon = 14>50 5/1 Vamp and +25hp.

Slightly more defensive Shortbow = 20<50 1/1 Zealous and +5AL

Interrupting Composite = 15>50 Elemental +20hp

Pulling/Poison/JI Storm = 15>50 Posion Ench20%

For PvP you'll mostly be spiking or playing crip shot. As was mentioned before, spiking needs a 5/1 vamp on a horn bow and crip shot needs a poison composite.