Bow vs Crossbow

[Eothain]

Just figured it out that with a bow one can play the game in real time as long as stealth/hide condition prevails. Is this intentional ?

I can only assume the loading mechanism takes shorter/longer thus before the stealth roll come into play, target is dead or been hit couple of times. Loved it.

[bullse]

Strange that in all my 700+ hours of playing and testing solo builds, etc. that virtually all, and I mean ALL, my solo builds effectively utilized and wrecked with heavy crossbow, specifically, +1 heavy crossbow. Longbow, pffft.

[Eothain]

Same for me too, especially after wicked looking Gith heavy crossbow.

But now I am gonna try max Stealth build longbow using rogue/fighter. Since with Patch 4 TWF damage bug of offhand attack is not viable and offhand attack rolls are bugged. Two bonus attacks are almost useless for rogue atm

[[TG] zac]

Correct.
In pretty much every version of D&D loading crossbows takes longer then loading Longbows.

This is off set by the fact crossbows are classified as simple weapons where longbows are considered martial weapons.

So if you have the capability yes use the longbow.

[Mosey]

Longbow is inferior from heavy crossbow in every way in BG3.

Unless, of course, you simply cannot use a heavy crossbow.

What the OP is talking about is how, if you're far enough away or can maintain stealth, you never actually get put into combat and can take multiple shots freely before they react.

This happens with every stealth character, with every kind of attack, it's just more obvious with ranged attacks of all sorts because it's easier to stay in stealth while attacking due to sight ranges being shorter than the attack ranges.

It's not 'real time with pause', it's exploiting the combat system to kill people without them even reacting at all.

[Eothain]

Exactly Mosey, the thing is consecutive shots are in such a fast fashion I feel like Legolas shooting Warg Scouts from The Two Tower. Kinda like it.

[Dex]

Interesting, I haven't even considered using a crossbow. I should check it out

[Mosey]

Originally posted by Eothain:

Exactly Mosey, the thing is consecutive shots are in such a fast fashion I feel like Legolas shooting Warg Scouts from The Two Tower. Kinda like it.

Indeed. I like taking stealth on a warlock for exactly this reason. I can one-shot like two or three people in a row without even being in combat.

I feel like they changed stealth somehow, because I can pull this off in MUCH closer ranges than I could before.

Before, I only was able to really do this from extreme range with ranged physical weapons or certain cantrips. Now I can pull it off almost in melee range, although I honestly haven't even tried in actual melee range. I'd be willing to bet you can, though.

[Eothain]

Originally posted by Mosey:

I feel like they changed stealth somehow, because I can pull this off in MUCH closer ranges than I could before.

I agree

[corbath]

dont think it matters atm will all be changed

[dolby]

hehe ow i see im not the only one i did this a few times as well...hehe was fun but no it's not real time it's just bug.. but you can get the feeling how fun it would be if done right !:)

[guard65]

Without weapon speed mechanics many of the weapons from D&D loose their luster.

[[TG] zac]

Originally posted by guard65:

Without weapon speed mechanics many of the weapons from D&D loose their luster.

True.
Without things to differentiate them they all kind of become a blob with no real difference.

One of the reasons I wish they would bring back some elements from older editions.
There were a number of weapons that were considered "exotic" or simple that may not have done as much damage as normal martial weapons but as part of your attack they could be used to do combat abilities like trip etc....

[xposethedarkside]

I've noticed this to. I wacked one of the minotaurs from the top of the zhentarim store house with a few hex enhanced scorching rays and an Eldritch Blast and it just stood there and died. That never used to happen. You could get off one good shot but then you were in combat.

[TheBlueFox]

Crossbows have the "Loading" Property. They CANNOT be fired in quick succession. You are unable to make multiple attacks with Crossbows using your Extra attacks unless you have a feat specifically for "Crossbow Expert" to get rid of the loading feature.

Bows do not have this limitation

[Alealexi]

Originally posted by Mosey:

Longbow is inferior from heavy crossbow in every way in BG3.

Unless, of course, you simply cannot use a heavy crossbow.

Depends. Long Bow is inferior to heavy crossbow if you have the crossbow expertise feat. Otherwise Longbow is superior because it doesn't have the loading property.