Ranger Bow Debate

Im asking fellow rangers if they use their bow in PvE builds-I myselef love the Ranger class(only 1 so far in GW, well Im also waiting for Assassin), but absolutely hate the Bow weapon-I do my damage with traps, they are far more usefull and efficient then the bows, and I carry with me a staff for an EN bonus)+15 Handsmasher).So what do the other Rangers think about the Bow as a weapon?

The (long)bow is the weapon with the longest range. You can hit the enemy before they can hit you. Not-counting another longbow-ranger, but then you can take the higher ground. Base-damage is 15-28 compared to axe, sword, staff or rod it is not under-classed. You have to use skills, preps or spirits.
About range again; range is essential in real-world-combat, so imo, it should also be essential in guildwars. An all ranger-bowmen team should be able to dominate everything and only to be counterd by another bowmen-team with better tactics. Tactics are, f.i. hit-and-run, fall back in succesive rows, take the high ground etc. It can only work when everybody works as a team. Training and disipline is needed. One shot does not do much damage, but 8 arrows, with the right skills, preps etc, can take a man out.
Range is essential, but you have to make it by using it.

I find the ranger with the proper bow the most versitile charecter in the game. I have a bow for ever occasion. I have seen my Icey Longbow do upwards of 80 points of damage to a fire based creature. Those fire Imps in Kryta, 3 +15 damage shots. Ice Golems, use a fire bow. White mantle, shocking bow. You have an unlimited skills combo, and can change on the fly.

A lot of PvE players use several bows. I myself aren't wealthy enough to afford four different bows... Anyway, a good tactic is to lure mobs using the long range of the long bow, and then switch to a short bow as they draw in closer. The reason for this being primarily because the short bow has a flatter arc meaning arrows take less time to hit their foes.

ATM I have a blue Shocking Eternal Bow of Fortitude, max dmg, health +20 and Tarnok's Long bow. Both are customised for me. I really want a Zealous bow string for my eternal though... and a bow grip of defense.. I wouldn't mind Drago's Flat bow either.. if only I could afford it...

-Adam

Thank God you don't work at ANet.

rangers are supposed to attack at a range. i think trapping isnt meant to be the primary job of any rangers.

Um.. what do ranger do... they live out in the wilderness... how do they catch food apart from using their bows.. with traps...

Rangers don't have the armour and / or skills to directly go head to head with enemies so they lay traps, wounding them before finishing them off with bow attacks.

-Adam

I have always loved the recurve bow. I know what the charts say and what not but it really is the best bow for my style. Try it in PvP and you might see what i mean.

I love my bow.

I only recently tried traps, and while I agree that in a narrow corridor with lots of traps placed, they're more efficient, if you're trying to just play in an open area, traps aren't all that great (or against mixed mobs; i.e. melee with some ranged to back them up).

Personally I stick to my longbow (though I'm looking to build up a range of 3 bows and 1 staff for trapping). I love the range, I love the versatility. Thats why ranger is so fun.

If I want to go to UW I can trap.
If I want to go somewhere with lots of casters, I just get out Choking gas/punishing shot/concussion shot/distracting shot.
If I want to bug warriors I can pindown/crippling shot/hunters shot/penetrating shot/dryders defense/throw dirt
If I want damage I can get out favourable winds/read the wind
If I want degen I just get Melandrus Arrows/apply poison.

Or if I really want, I can mix them all in to make an average class that may not do the most damage, or interupt all the spells, but can survive pretty much anything whilst making life harder for the enemy than need be.

I think bows can be useful in PvE as well.

You sound like you've played some extensive PvP (ok, you don't sound like you have but I'll assume you have ) with a bow-using Ranger before so you would know how big of an impact the bow-interrupt skills can make on the outcome of a battle. Used properly, they can destroy the effectiveness of (and even kill) a critical unit. And this is true in 8v8, where you're 1 Ranger, and you're shutting down 1/8 enemy units. In PvE, where it's more like 8v4 (enemies = 4), you're 1 Ranger shutting down (and killing) 1/4 enemy units.

So sure, you won't be doing as much damage, and won't be as effective vs enemy Warriors as you would be with traps, but you ability to shut something down and eventually kill it in the process can more than make up for it. Mixing in some anti-melee skills (eg: Throw Dirt, Dust Trap if you're using Choking Gas for shutdown), will let you do well vs casters and melee enemies too. Your monks will be bored out of their minds.