Is there a point to using bows over crossbows?

[Quadsword]

From my experience, crossbows do a lot more damage. The movement penalty doesn't really mean much since rangers get tactical retreat very early on.

I honestly can't think of a situation where I wouldn't want my rangers using crossbows at all times.

[Chaoslink]

If you’re in a situation where you have a level 18 bow and a level 16 crossbow, or similar difference in stats, it can matter. A bow with a rune slot and a better roll of stats could theoretically beat out a crossbow with poor stats. Otherwise, not really. The base damage of a crossbow makes it the better option. I believe that back in the beta, crossbow attacks were base 3 AP before they changed it to the movement loss.

[Lethan]

I've found Crossbows typically have less stat rolling; with higher damage.

Bows will often have more random stats total; and as Chaos has said, level of weapon is better than hanging onto a weapon just because. You see a massive DPS spike, you use it.

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by Lethan:

I've found Crossbows typically have less stat rolling; with higher damage.

Bows will often have more random stats total; and as Chaos has said, level of weapon is better than hanging onto a weapon just because. You see a massive DPS spike, you use it.

Exactly. There was an old thread about two bows. One had 20% critical chance but was lower level. The other had 3% critical chance but was a higher level. Most other stats were the same on both or irrelevant. Most players kept saying the lower level one was the better option because of all the critical chance. When you actually looked at it though, the higher base damage meant that the lower crit weapon would hit harder for 83% of your shots, only being inferior when the high crit bow landed a critical when the lower crit bow didn’t. That bonus damage was equal to the damage difference when both didn’t critical and half the difference when they both did. Overall, the higher base damage beat out the stats.

Basically, higher base damage is a massive factor that shouldn’t be underestimated or overlooked.

[gregfromthepeg]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

I believe that back in the beta, crossbow attacks were base 3 AP before they changed it to the movement loss.

I bet people who played DOS1 probably recall this difference. Crossbows had more power but took an extra AP. That AP prevented the ranger from taking a second shot usually. So it was a legit debate.

In this one, it isn't. I use tactical retreat for movement so that is irrelevant to me.

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by gregfromthepeg:

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

I believe that back in the beta, crossbow attacks were base 3 AP before they changed it to the movement loss.

I bet people who played DOS1 probably recall this difference. Crossbows had more power but took an extra AP. That AP prevented the ranger from taking a second shot usually. So it was a legit debate.

In this one, it isn't. I use tactical retreat for movement so that is irrelevant to me.

Yeah, the issue stems from the more limited amount of AP compared to the first game. The first had more AP with higher costs that adjusted at times which allowed more wiggle room on costs. The more restrictive nature of AP in this one would make that too harsh. The movement penalty isn’t really harsh enough.

[ayrtep]

Occasionally you might find a powerful bow that for a short time, does more damage than all your crossbows.