best bow for archers

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 7:41 am

May sound like a silly question, but I wonder if an archer isn't better off putting 5 points in short bow instead of long bow. The extra attacks granted by the Tuigan bow seem like they might make up for what short bows generally lack. Also, you could use Tansheron's for most encounters and save inventory space for the most powerful arrows, to be used in tough fights with the Tuigan. Plus, it helps that you can get both of these bows quite easily rather early in the game. Opinions?

Ro´Jadre · Post by **Ro´Jadre** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 7:45 am

I think it's worth putting proficencies in short bow instead.

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Ro´Jadre - Mighty Kensai/Mage of the Council of Mages

sigurd · Post by **sigurd** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 7:48 am

hm, think about that there are more NPC that can use shortbow than longbow, and the range with the longbow is greater.. also, there will surely be better bows in the expansion..

Jalios · Post by **Jalios** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 10:10 am

i generally put points in both. ShortBows for mage spell-disrupting, and longbows for other monsters.

Ajax · Post by **Ajax** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 10:21 am

i have been witness to a long running debate on this subject. here is a general recap of some of the points brought up.

those ammoless bows are more powerfull than any other bow in the game. the reason why is the phantom arrows are treated a +3 weapons. in ranged combat it doesn't matter if your bow is +99, it wont hit those mantle enemies unless the arrow is +1,+2,or +3. for the super monsters, they can not be hit by less than +3.

furthur more the arrows of piercing may be a +4 to THAC0, but for some reason are only considered +2 weapons, so even they will not hit the super monsters. there are no arrows, bolts, or bullets that are +3. so the only way to hit these monsters with ranged weapons is with the ammoless short bows.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 11:38 am

You should have tansheron's bow and short bow of gesen for those encounters that requires plus 3 or better. If that is not needed you should use other arrows with either of theese bows. Especially gesen's bow. The reason for this is that you get the bow's damage. For gesens that is 1d8 electrical and 2 piercing I think. On both theese damages you get archer bonus. In addition you get the arrow damage also, and archer bonus on that. You can do some heavy damage this way.

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Proud member of the Brotherhood of the woods.

Ghaleon the Mage · Post by **Ghaleon the Mage** » Wed Mar 28, 2001 6:51 pm

I think Short Bows are better especially when you have the Short Bow of Gesen

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Ghaleon, mighty member of the Council of Mages and brother of "The GrimReaper"

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 8:31 am

One thing about the Gesen bow I'm concerned with...have you noticed how slowly it's arrows move through the air? Seems like this might cause problems in some situations.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 9:05 am

Originally posted by Hazim ibn Gorion:
One thing about the Gesen bow I'm concerned with...have you noticed how slowly it's arrows move through the air? Seems like this might cause problems in some situations.

Unless you need to hit something that requires +3 or +4 use arrows with the bow for normal speed and more damage.

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Proud member of the Brotherhood of the woods.

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 9:24 am

The Gesen Bow is not good. Well, it is +4 BUT:
a) it is slow.
b) it inflicts electrical damage and only a little physical damage. In the other words, the bow is almost useless against monsters immune or highly resistant to electricity.
c) you cannot get the bow sooner than in ch.6.
That's why the Tansheron's Bow rules. Also, the Tuigan Bow is better as long as the creature can be hit by +2 weapon. It is especially good for disrupting spellcasters.
Let us summarize: SHORT BOWS for BG2! But do not forget the Sigurd's notice. We should know what is prepared for us in the Throne of Bhaal. Perhaps, there will be better long bows there than in BG2.

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 9:53 am

What about the heartseeker longbow? Has better range and better THAC0...
If you think that range & THAC0 are important get a long bow. If you wanna rely on speed choose the short bow.
I always use short bows, but that's coz Mazzy isn't strong enough for a long bow, and I don't wanna give my main char. a long bow (better off with a sword

).

[This message has been edited by Vicsun (edited 03-29-2001).]

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Thu Mar 29, 2001 10:03 am

The Gesen Bow is not good. Well, it is +4 BUT:
a) it is slow.
b) it inflicts electrical damage and only a little physical damage. In the other words, the bow is almost useless against monsters immune or highly resistant to electricity.
c) you cannot get the bow sooner than in ch.6.

I'll grant you that the Gesen Bow is not a good bow for non-fighter types, but it rocks in Mazzy's hands. Sure, it's a bit slow, but at 3-4 attacks/round, after the first shot, there's a steady stream of arrows delivering pain to the target. It is effective at disrupting spells. As has been pointed out before, not too many things are resistant to electrical damage in this game, with skeleton warriors being one exception, and you wouldn't use missile weapons against them anyway. If you put some quests on hold until you return from the Underdark, then not getting the bow until chapter 6 becomes a non-issue. My main problem with the Gesen Bow is the same one I have with bows in general, they're nowhere as good as melee waepons in delivering damage, with the exception of the arrows of biting.

[This message has been edited by Sojourner (edited 03-29-2001).]

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Fri Mar 30, 2001 4:51 am

I checked my results of parsing creature.bif - here is a list of creatures IMMUNE to electricity (100 vs. electricity):
a) some demons (Lea'liyl, Tanar'ri, Yochlol and Master of Thralls)
b) Dola Fadoon and perhaps some Djinnis (there is a "Djinni" in creature.bif which is immune to electricity)
c) ALL golems except Stone and Juggernaut Golems. Moreover, Lesser Clay Golems and Flesh Golems are HEALED by electricity (125 vs. electricity)
d) perhaps some Mind Flayers (the same as in the case of Djinnis)
e) ALL spirit animals
f) Greater Mummy, Bodhi, Ghoul, Greater Ghast, Hakeashar, Nishruu and Uncle Lester.
Tansheron's Bow rules!