Wooden Bow vs Crossbow

[que]

Since these weapons have been buffed and the Restore Power mission has to be done almost yes or yes in stealth, I was wondering which of the two is better. With Archery level 1 you unlock both recipes, and since they both ask for 6 bow / crossbow parts, I don't know which one to spend the parts on. I imagine that the crossbow is better because it asks for iron, but just in case I ask those who have already used both weapons.

[[STD]Random Lead]

unless a20 changed things the bow is 100% silent while xbows make noise. tradeoff is more damage for a niper shot with a xbow vs dps with a bow.

[CatPerson]

Another difference:

When you fire the Wooden Bow from the hip, it reloads the next arrow automatically and does not slow you down much if you're moving at the time.

When you fire the crossbow from the hip, it does NOT reload automatically and if you hit R to reload it slows you way down if you're moving.

Edit: this is with skill not maxed out and no mods on the bows. I'm not sure how much mods affect such, I barely use bows after the early hours/days.

[GlassDeviant]

Restore Power has to be done in stealth? That's news to me. I've done 3 of them and did every one in berserker mode.

[Panfilo]

Crossbow can mount scopes which is helpful in some situations if you happened to have the weapons mod. Bows are always going to be faster and thus better at short range in my opinion as you can panic fire better than crossbows.

[KellyR]

Originally posted by STDRandom Lead:

unless a20 changed things the bow is 100% silent while xbows make noise. tradeoff is more damage for a niper shot with a xbow vs dps with a bow.

Bow isn't 100% silent, it spikes your "visibility", just very slightly. I've definitely triggered zombies by shooting the bow while standing just a little too close (Didn't realize the zombie was around the corner or whatever).

It is quieter than the crosbow though. And the reload on the run thing is a critical bonus.

[Henry]

For me it's the crossbow since I don't have to hold the button. This makes for smotther aiming for me. And the scope is a big plus. Some pois have fairly large halls and I can't imagine hitting the head from more than 20 meters with a bow. But I always went for crossbow as soon as it's available so I have not really a comparison with good skills and mods.
And the more noise thing has never bothered me. Even if a single zombie close by awakes there is still a fire axe available to chop his head. You just want to avoid waking a whole room of zombies which I can't remember happening to me.
So this is a preference thing and while other people comments can give you insights and pros and cons you still need to find your own preference.
And your decision is neither final since you can purchase the other weapon from traders, find it or build it when you have aquired the required bow parts. Those are one of the few things I always purchase from traders in the beginning since they are quite rare for me.

[CrazedTrucker]

Originally posted by GlassDeviant:

Restore Power has to be done in stealth? That's news to me. I've done 3 of them and did every one in berserker mode.

hahaha YOLO !!

[CrazedTrucker]

Originally posted by Panfilo:

Crossbow can mount scopes which is helpful in some situations if you happened to have the weapons mod. Bows are always going to be faster and thus better at short range in my opinion as you can panic fire better than crossbows.

you can panic fire an xbow heh. they have the same noise trigger lvl for zombies. the xbow has a fast projectile speed,if you spec fully into archery and get all books its a night and day difference in the dmg by a mile.

[Kauldric]

Originally posted by GlassDeviant:

Restore Power has to be done in stealth? That's news to me. I've done 3 of them and did every one in berserker mode.

Lmao. I am more of a ‘shotgun’ stealth person.

How do you stealth with a shotgun, you ask? You don’t. Full speed ahead.

[identity001]

The Crossbow for me sounds loud but it doesn't seem to actually wake or attract any zombies. I can be in stealth mode directly in the middle of a room full of sleepers, and just spin in circles popping heads without waking a single one. I always thought it was weird. It's been like that ever since I can remember.

[que]

Originally posted by GlassDeviant:

Restore Power has to be done in stealth? That's news to me. I've done 3 of them and did every one in berserker mode.

I would have loved to do it also in "berserker mode", but being on day 4 with pretty bad equipment, at night, against about 13 zombies, one or two dogs and taking into account that it's a "Tier 2" mission (for which is supposed to be an early mission), I had to do it yes or yes in stealth.

[pApA^LeGBa]

Crossbow stealth shots will wake up the rest of the zombies in a room. Bow will only do this if you are too close to a Z.

That´s at least my experience so far in A20.

[OH! MY CAR]

Originally posted by Kauldric:

Originally posted by GlassDeviant:

Restore Power has to be done in stealth? That's news to me. I've done 3 of them and did every one in berserker mode.

Lmao. I am more of a ‘shotgun’ stealth person.

How do you stealth with a shotgun, you ask? You don’t. Full speed ahead.

Ackually....

But nah, seriously I would just break through walls and make my own way through pois and it makes it so the sleepers spawn but do not do anything, so you can just sneak attack them all with the shotgun, without any waking up... or at least not many

May have changed in the new build... I have not messed around with A20 much yet.

[Midas]

Crossbow:
-hits harder
-better accuracy (less dip, travels further)
-No draw time, can swap to and fire quickly.
-Can mount scopes.

Bow:
-a bit quieter (only really matters if you're like 5m from a target)
-overall faster firing speed (draw+shoot is faster than crossbow reload)
-Easier to use on the move

Overall, both are more similar to each other than compared to any other weapon, but compared between themselves, the bow is better for non-stealth combat and medium range, while the crossbow is better for longer range 'sniping'.

[Humpenstilzchen]

Originally posted by identity001:

The Crossbow for me sounds loud but it doesn't seem to actually wake or attract any zombies. I can be in stealth mode directly in the middle of a room full of sleepers, and just spin in circles popping heads without waking a single one. I always thought it was weird. It's been like that ever since I can remember.

I can second this. It definitly sounds much louder but I very rarely woke up zombies with it.
Other than that I would say it´s matter of personal preference. Both are great weapons and have their advantages. Bows can be fired faster, though crossbows can mount scopes which can be very useful for longer ranges and they do more dmg. I personally prefer the crossbow a bit more because I can have a bolt loaded and ready to fire at an instant but I also like the bows.