Crossbow vs Wooden Bow

[WinstonWhitetail]

This was always something that always made using the crossbow over the wooden bow strange for me.

I have played this game since the very beginning, when it was in alpha 1, and for those who have too, the crossbow was introduced before the wooden bow as a silent ranged weapon for us to use.

The point of me making this post is asking you guys, do you think they should make the ammo for the crossbow a little bit harder to make than the wooden bow? And by that, I mean currently, the arrows and bolts all use the exact same amount of materials, the difference being the crossbow deals more damage and whatnot.

The problem for me is, being a player who likes both of these weapons, having the exact same materials to make the ammo for either kinda makes the wooden bow redundant. I really like using them both at the same time and having to choose between making more arrows or bolts kinda spoils it.

I can already tell some may have things to say telling me I'm being ridiculous or whatever, but all I'm asking is do you think they should make ammo for crossbow a little bit harder, for example not having the stone tipped ones and only iron and above? It would still make sense to have it that way seeing you need forge items to even make the crossbow, let alone having to find the book first.

I think the idea of having a bow as a backup when u run out of bolts is pretty good, as right now once you got ur crossbow, why ever use the bow again, right? Especially since ammo for the crossbow is exactly the same material wise as the bow. If you needed to craft more ammo for either, bolts would make sense damage wise, meaning making arrows for the bow was redundant.

If you think it's ridiculous, it's alright. Tell me what you think so long as you try to refrain from word diarrhoea telling me how ridiculous this is. Basically, constructive criticism, as this is only an idea. It's up to the devs in the end whether or not to add it.

Who knows, maybe you got a better idea from this, so why not share it.

P.s. sorry, I always explain things sometimes in too much detail and words ^^'

[CptnHarlock]

I love the crossbow, it's my favorite weapon. I agree that the bolts should be more expensive. Either as you said iron tips made in forge or at least scrap metal tips.

[TheDemiGodZilla]

I find I'm more accurate with the wooden bow. I find the crossbow aim is a bit off and I can never find it's sweet spot

[oohbetty]

Originally posted by CrossFire55:

I find I'm more accurate with the wooden bow. I find the crossbow aim is a bit off and I can never find it's sweet spot

same here, and with the longbow being so satifying to kill with(imo) i cant be bothered to take the time to learn the crossbows sweetspot :/

[DedZedNub]

In reality, crossbow bolts might actually need less wood than arrows. For balancing, maybe you could consider going against that reality, but the fact is the game already makes you have to find certain things before you can get a crossbow as your active weapon.

Like others, by then, I've used the bow so much, I don't really know if I care that much whether I use the bow or the crossbow. It's more a matter of situation and desire.

The crossbow has less drop, that's a plus. It probably does more damage per shot, also a plus. But by then most of that is mitigated by experience with the bow.

You might consider making bolts only with wood that isn't from pine sources, as that might make more sense. But realistically, it's the power behind the crossbow that makes the bolt so dangerous. It's main negative should be that it takes longer to reload and should be usually single-shot then reload, single-shot then reload.

I do think you are over-thinking this. Once you get a crossbow you can use either or both weapons as you wish. The problem here is that you are thinking that the ingredients should determine the power of the crossbow bolt. Unfortunately, the main reason the crossbow is effective is because of the crossbow and not so much the bolt, not against soft tissued animals and zombies at least. Even a pine bolt is likely to damage them effectively. You might want to require stone tips, guess it already does, but beyond that, I think it penetrates the skull even with stone.

The bow has a very hard time tracking an animal right to left since the body blocks the view. Not sure how the crossbow is now, it did not USED TO have that issue. That's a huge advantage in actual play. It can be worked around with experience, but it's still an example of why no matter what you do to balance the game with ingredients and other mechanics, the key of actual gameplay always is the trumping factor.

[Zilincan]

Or more bow types, like first one just for survival, next could be composite bow or compond bow made from modern materials, trash all around like leaf springs

[EmbertheDragoness]

Crossbow needs a site of some kind, just jerry rig a beer bottle site to it or something

[Ragequit Inc.]

I essentially never use the crossbow anymore, the last I used it was in 12.5 to take out the scouts that came checking on my fires/forges. It's just.. meh.. I dunno, boring? Where as the bow is just kickass, allday, everyday. :)

*edit: but I do feel it might make more sense if we couldn't use stones for the crossbow bolts.

[Zothen]

Distance shotdown with a bow, running, finishing shot into the head. So damn satisfying! =)

[Pèpè Silvia]

Crossbow is a must. It shoots further, does more damage, and is easier to aim (actually hits "bullseye" on crosshair, and doesn't obscure the crosshair). I think it might be slightly faster to reload as well.

I would love to see more bow types tho. Recurves, longbows, compound bows, etc. that all have their drawbacks\advantages.

edit: oh and basic mods\attatchments for bows would be nice; maybe the ability to add "whiskers" that make them silent, distance sights, even a flashlight on crossbows, etc.

[Muffin Stuffer]

Dayum! Played since A1 and you have like 87 hours in the game. HAHAHA GTFO

[WinstonWhitetail]

Originally posted by DedZedNub:

In reality, crossbow bolts might actually need less wood than arrows. For balancing, maybe you could consider going against that reality, but the fact is the game already makes you have to find certain things before you can get a crossbow as your active weapon.

Like others, by then, I've used the bow so much, I don't really know if I care that much whether I use the bow or the crossbow. It's more a matter of situation and desire.

The crossbow has less drop, that's a plus. It probably does more damage per shot, also a plus. But by then most of that is mitigated by experience with the bow.

You might consider making bolts only with wood that isn't from pine sources, as that might make more sense. But realistically, it's the power behind the crossbow that makes the bolt so dangerous. It's main negative should be that it takes longer to reload and should be usually single-shot then reload, single-shot then reload.

I do think you are over-thinking this. Once you get a crossbow you can use either or both weapons as you wish. The problem here is that you are thinking that the ingredients should determine the power of the crossbow bolt. Unfortunately, the main reason the crossbow is effective is because of the crossbow and not so much the bolt, not against soft tissued animals and zombies at least. Even a pine bolt is likely to damage them effectively. You might want to require stone tips, guess it already does, but beyond that, I think it penetrates the skull even with stone.

The bow has a very hard time tracking an animal right to left since the body blocks the view. Not sure how the crossbow is now, it did not USED TO have that issue. That's a huge advantage in actual play. It can be worked around with experience, but it's still an example of why no matter what you do to balance the game with ingredients and other mechanics, the key of actual gameplay always is the trumping factor.

Actually, I'm fine with the fact the crossbow being better dps wise. The bolts problem for me is it's choosing whether to make those or arrows, as the use the exact same thing the obvious choice is to make bolts.

I find it counter productive because of it as I love to use both of them but as always it's my opinion.

[WinstonWhitetail]

Originally posted by MuffinStuffer:

Dayum! Played since A1 and you have like 87 hours in the game. HAHAHA GTFO

Play hours don't define when you start playing. I was out of it for a while during one update when a lot of it was broken on my end.

And I'm not sure of you are able to but when I bought it will show how long I've had it and when.

[Sigh-Phi-Guy]

shotgun for the win! :P

[Sangra69]

What you talking about Willis? They made it harder to make arrows now. It now takes one wood, one fiber, and one rock to make one arrow. :(

[restarter]

xbow should be slower, but more powerful, longer range, and better acc.