Why Shortbow

[Loromir]

In DDO world....I never understood the reason to choose a shortbow over a longbow.

I was not much of a PNP player...so I'm assuming there are some benefits to a shortbow in PNP...but in DDO I cannot find any reason use a shortbow over a longbow.

Maybe if they reclassed it as a simple weapon as opposed to martial weapon (keep longbow a martial)....then I'd understand.

So....Why Shortbow....???

[bartharok]

Because it exists in PnP.

And because rogues are proficient with shortbows, not longbows

[dontmater]

didn't shortbow shoot abit faster in pnp

[cdbd3rd]

didn't shortbow shoot abit faster in pnp

No, they were both 2/round.


Heavy and Light crossbows had different rates of fire.


(Referring to 1st & 2nd editions.)

[Riddle_of_Steel]

From what I recall in PnP the advantage of the shortbow was basically 2 fold.

1. Short races could used it (Halflings, Gnomes)
2. It could be fired from horseback

[UurlockYgmeov]

in PnP many reasons why.

Size matters - so halfling using shortbow vs longbow... (small using medium / large weapon)
Size matters - confined spaces like dungeons and caves
Size matters - use while riding.

d6 vs d8 (or d10 or d12 for oriental longbow); range; price;

flight vs. sheath

so many factors, but all in PnP.

[Paleus]

In DDO world....I never understood the reason to choose a shortbow over a longbow.

I was not much of a PNP player...so I'm assuming there are some benefits to a shortbow in PNP...but in DDO I cannot find any reason use a shortbow over a longbow.

Maybe if they reclassed it as a simple weapon as opposed to martial weapon (keep longbow a martial)....then I'd understand.

So....Why Shortbow....???

Be advised, the following text is paraphrasing my DM, not actually directed at you the poster or the forums:

"All you could find was a short-bow, that's why. Did you think the no-name town had +5 Icy Burst Longbows lying around for you to walk up and buy like it was Walmart? No, so shut your mouth and make due with what you could find, this ain't no castle armory. Oh, and you're a bard are you, well that's dumb, all the monsters heard your singing and setup the most elaborate ambush ever conceived. You're dead, time to re-roll...again."

Maybe that's why lag always makes me nostalgic. Dying for no good reason that gives you the impression of a cold, uncaring universe out to murder you in the face just makes me think of my gaming sessions.

As far as why DDO is this way, they copied over the fact that there are different weapons, but didn't necessarily copy over the fact that some weapons are rarer than others, some weapons have unique properties not accounted for in a computer game, and there isn't a guy hanging out in the middle of town with access to every weapon some random player in another plane wants to sell to you. You can min-max more easily in a setting with artificial abundance.

[Coyopa]

Well, in DDO, one reason to use a shortbow over a longbow is if you're an elf, taking the Elven Weapon Training enhancements, want to use scimitars or a falchion rather than longswords or rapiers, and still want to use dexterity for attack and damage with your swords as well as your bows.

[unbongwah]

And because rogues are proficient with shortbows, not longbows
So are bards, although since they can cast Master's Touch, it's a moot point.

I wish there were some decent named shortbows (http://ddowiki.com/page/Category:Short_Bows) to justify their existence. eCollapsible (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Epic_Collapsible_Shortbow) is okay for ML:20 (Force Burst + 19-20/x3 crit spec), but you'd replace it with a Pinion or TF longbow ASAP; so not exactly something you'd bother farming ADQ to acquire. :rolleyes: Whereas some of the best repeaters are light (http://ddowiki.com/page/Category:Repeating_Light_Crossbows) (i.e., Doublecross, Slaver's, Needle), so there's reasons to use them instead of hvy repeaters (http://ddowiki.com/page/Category:Repeating_Heavy_Crossbows).

[Gremmlynn]

Shortbow makes more sense in DDO than Light Hammer at least.

[walkin_dude]

Well, I believe that a shortbow in pnp refers to pretty much any run-of-the-mill homemade bow that someone might use for target practice or to hunt small game. A long bow is an actual martial weapon with a much heavier draw.

[bartharok]

Well, I believe that a shortbow in pnp refers to pretty much any run-of-the-mill homemade bow that someone might use for target practice or to hunt small game. A long bow is an actual martial weapon with a much heavier draw.

The PnP longbow incorporates the whole range of martial bows, methinks.

[unbongwah]

Shortbow makes more sense in DDO than Light Hammer at least.
Swashbuckler makes light hammer viable...well, sorta. There aren't any good named lt hammers, but Swashbuckling gives crafted hammers the same crit profile as anything else; there's just no upside to using d4 blunt weapon (lt hammer) instead of d6 (lt mace). PnP draws distinctions between tiny vs light weapons, IIRC, but that doesn't matter here.

[walkin_dude]

The PnP longbow incorporates the whole range of martial bows, methinks.

Yes, unless you are, let's say, using Oriental Adventures. In that case you'd have stats and all for the yari. Also, I'd submit that a Mongol horseman's bow can't really be considered a short bow.

edit: oh, and we can't forget that pnp also had composite bows.

[Enoach]

In many cases it boils down to proficiency

Some were proficient with Long bows
Some were proficient with Short bows
Some were proficient with darts
Some were proficient with a sling

[UurlockYgmeov]

In many cases it boils down to proficiency

Some were proficient with Long bows
Some were proficient with Short bows
Some were proficient with darts
Some were proficient with a sling

me thinks everyone was proficient with a sling. :P

[Lemdog]

Why not?

[Vellrad]

Shortbow makes more sense in DDO than Light Hammer at least.
Swashbuckler makes light hammer viable...well, sorta. There aren't any good named lt hammers, but Swashbuckling gives crafted hammers the same crit profile as anything else; there's just no upside to using d4 blunt weapon (lt hammer) instead of d6 (lt mace). PnP draws distinctions between tiny vs light weapons, IIRC, but that doesn't matter here.

Dorf pick TYWA build going to run MoD?

[Memnir]

Because without shortbows, longbows would have nobody to make fun of and feel superior to.

[Enoach]

me thinks everyone was proficient with a sling. :P

It never felt that way when it seemed like every time I used my sling I would roll a 1 :). With my sling I was more dangerous to my party then the monsters we faced hehehe

[cdbd3rd]

...

"all you could find was a short-bow, that's why. Did you think the no-name town had +5 icy burst longbows lying around for you to walk up and buy like it was walmart? No, so shut your mouth and make due with what you could find, this ain't no castle armory. Oh, and you're a bard are you, well that's dumb, all the monsters heard your singing and setup the most elaborate ambush ever conceived. You're dead, time to re-roll...again."

....

rofl! :D

[Vellrad]

It never felt that way when it seemed like every time I used my sling I would roll a 1 :). With my sling I was more dangerous to my party then the monsters we faced hehehe

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/history-first-reported-critical-hit.jpg

[bartharok]

me thinks everyone was proficient with a sling. :P

Which is odd, since its actually harder to use.

[bartharok]

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/history-first-reported-critical-hit.jpg

Ive never understtod why attacking with a ranged weapon, when the other hasnt got one is considered heroic

[unbongwah]

Dorf pick TYWA build going to run MoD?
Congrats, you thought up an incredibly niche flavor build variant that hadn't even occurred to me. ;)

Ive never understtod why attacking with a ranged weapon, when the other hasnt got one is considered heroic
"Good, bad - I'm the guy with the sling."

[Vellrad]

Ive never understtod why attacking with a ranged weapon, when the other hasnt got one is considered heroic

Its Bibble dude, its full of illogical stuff.


Congrats, you thought up an incredibly niche flavor build variant that hadn't even occurred to me. ;)


I think its quite obvious in context of quote, but I forgot to add swashbuckler word.

So, dorf swashbuckler TYWA (picks) build when need to attack mobs with DR/bludgeon (like in MoD or FoT) will find light hammers weapon of choice.

[UurlockYgmeov]

Ive never understtod why attacking with a ranged weapon, when the other hasnt got one is considered heroic

well according to that image - both had ranged weapons - just one chose to use it - the other held onto his spear.

[UurlockYgmeov]

Which is odd, since its actually harder to use.

*chuckle* things don't always add up in DnD! :P hence the fun!

in historical Britain - everyone was required by law to know how to use the longbow and were required to practice it every week. (or something like that)

[Saekee]

In DDO world....I never understood the reason to choose a shortbow over a longbow.

I was not much of a PNP player...so I'm assuming there are some benefits to a shortbow in PNP...but in DDO I cannot find any reason use a shortbow over a longbow.

Maybe if they reclassed it as a simple weapon as opposed to martial weapon (keep longbow a martial)....then I'd understand.

So....Why Shortbow....???

Replacing the bow string is a wee bit cheaper, laddy

[Gauthaag]

heh, I stil have somewhere +1 icy burst metalline short bow of pure good - it was my first DR beater ever:)