proj same as bow?

[CaptSternn]

if you spend a point on a node that
raises projectile damage 20%

is it effectively te same as spending a point on a node that
raises bow damage 20%

?

[CaptSternn]

I tried to ask in global chat, but people were too busy trying to sell items, and spam hate

[jacobvandy]

It does exactly what it says, raises projectile damage by 20%. This applies to all skills that involve projectiles, whether it's a special arrow or a spell or throwing a weapon. Bow damage applies only when you're using a bow. They use very specific language in these descriptions to make it easier to understand, so you can trust what it says, there are no secret tricks to it. :)

[Hora Bablonde]

Originally posted by CaptSternn:

if you spend a point on a node that
raises projectile damage 20%

is it effectively te same as spending a point on a node that
raises bow damage 20%

?

Look at the top of your skill gems description there are some tag words used. If it says projectile then, yes, it gets a buff from projectile. I think all offensive bow skill have the projectile tag but not 100% sure. As far as the default bow attack, yes, it gets a buff from projectile nodes.

[Vel]

Rain of Arrows is a bow skill thats not a projectile. Can't remember any others corrently.

[CaptSternn]

I play a ranger, and so far I found these that directly increase bow attacks

Bow physical damage
Physical damage
Projectile damage

indirectly:

attack speed

[The_Driver]

Originally posted by Vel:

Rain of Arrows is a bow skill thats not a projectile. Can't remember any others corrently.

Look at the tags of a skill, read the text on it to determine the mechanics. Most questions in that regard can be answered with a statement like "a bonus will apply if it is unspecific enough". What does that mean? A "physical damage" node will apply to anything that was physical at any time in the damage calculation, regardless of if it's an attack (e.g. bow) or a spell (e.g. ethereal knives). If it's "projectile damage", it only applies to projectiles, but has no restriction on physical/elemental. "Bow physical damage" though... you guessed it... will not increase physical damage with swords. It can however increase converted from physical damage with bows.
Now there are some skills with complex mechanics, like explosive arrow. ( http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Explosive_Arrow ) It's explosion is projectile area fire damage, but not bow damage. And not converted from physical.

[Rafein]

Yeah, keywords are your friend.

But the bow itself is a Projectile, so it boosts the bow's auto-attack damage.

Does not boost all bow skills. Will boost some magic skills, like fireball, which is a projectile