GS bow advice

[Wizzly_Bear]

Epics aren't an option for me anytime soon.
1. Don't have the inventory
2. This will be the only life I sit at 20 for very long (roughly 3-6 months I'm guessing for GS cleansers)

TtS could actually work really well. It won't bypass boss dr, but I do have the silver bow so could use that. Might be able to squeeze out another spot for a pos2.

Appreciate all the input, thank you all

[krackythehoodedone]

You mentioned a Vorpal Longbow of Maiming.?
I would love to see that

[Pwesiela]

You mentioned a Vorpal Longbow of Maiming.?
I would love to see that

Never seen one myself. I've got a vorpal of greater maiming longbow. Very fun.

[Thrudh]

Thank you for input.

Min2 consideration is more about conserving inventory than bypassing dr. Don't have much room for arrows beyond 1 quiver, and iirc there are no (metal) returning arrows.

Lit2 is definitely the strongest choice.

Ooze2 jut sounds too fun to pass up though so I'm leaning towards this.

You're building a ranged character that doesn't have room in invetory for quivers?

[Thrudh]

1. All. Wizzly is working on 3X Completionist
2 & 3. Will vary greatly between lives. This is why, while it may not be terribly exciting, I am considering min2 or ooze2. Both will ALWAYS be useful, even if not the "best". I simply don't have the inventory space available for a variety. I have one ml2 returning thrower, the silver longbow, and will make one greensteel. That will be the extent of my ranged arsenal.

If you just need a ranged weapon for those few situations where it's better than melee... a silver bow is probably good enough... Also, if you're not ranging all the time, 1 quiver is good enough too, so go with a Lit II bow, and fill up 1 quiver with cold iron, silver, and +3 returning arrows.

If one of your lives IS a mostly ranged character (for a change of pace), then free up 2-3 slots for that one life and get some quivers...

Don't build a Min II bow though... give away the larges to needy people before you waste them like that...

[Glenalth]

1. All. Wizzly is working on 3X Completionist
2 & 3. Will vary greatly between lives.

Here's a pile of numbers to help out your decision...

Average hits, assuming Bloodstone, 30str, no Bow Strength, and no Improved Crit. Ranges cover 0-3 Ranger past lives.
17.97-25.24 - Silver Longbow
36.95-43.58 - Lightning II
30.66-37.92 - Mineral II
16.89-24.16 - +5 Keen of Pure Good
43.92 - Litghtning II Throwing Dagger
36.61 - Min II Throwing Dagger

Same as above, but with Bow Strength and Improved Crit.
35.66-44.18 - Silver Longbow
52.26-59.53 - Lightning II
42.76-50.03 - Mineral II
29.00-36.26 - +5 Keen of Pure Good
46.11 - Litghtning II Throwing Dagger
36.61 - Min II Throwing Dagger

In my opinion, it seems that a Lightning II throwing dagger would be a better investment. If you have lives where you actually go with a ranged spec with proper gear, the Silver Longbow will quickly overtake the Min II and approach Lit II damage anyway. The only lives where it would be nice to have a better bow are on non-ranged lives where you happen to be Ranger with Manyshot.

[Wizzly_Bear]

[snip].

***?!
Lol, how the eff does a throwing dagger do that much???

Fwiw, I don't use bloodstone and most of my non-melees won't have 30 strength. And none but ranger lives will have manyshot

[Pwesiela]

Never seen one myself. I've got a vorpal of greater maiming longbow. Very fun.

Wow, red rep for this? Inflammatory, Derogatory, Disruptive, Trolling, or violates community guidelines, did I miss something here!?!

Gah, go back and look at da smilies people!

[protokon]

Wow, red rep for this?

Gah, go back and look at da smilies people!

you got neg rep because you were obviously rude and condescending to OP's question.

oh wait...nevermind .

[Pwesiela]

you got neg rep because you were obviously rude and condescending to OP's question.

oh wait...nevermind .

oh, right...

Here's a derailing question though:

With the new crafting system, can I create a vorpal longbow of maiming? Hmmm.....

[Glenalth]

***?!
Lol, how the eff does a throwing dagger do that much???

Fwiw, I don't use bloodstone and most of my non-melees won't have 30 strength. And none but ranger lives will have manyshot

I messed up the last 2 lines there, swapped them for the actual values. It is fixed now.

The lack of strength and bloodstone will make Silver Longbow less attractive in comparison, the rest are affected fairly evenly.

The other nice thing about a Throwing Dagger is that it's a simple weapon proficiency so most of your characters won't need the feats or Wind Howler Bracers to make it work without a -4 to-hit.

[Wizzly_Bear]

After further reflection I have decided that those advising not to go min2 are wrong and I will make that for my bow. Bypassing DR with any and all arrows means I can do even more damage than a lightning 2 via bane/slayer arrows.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

With Silver and Cold Iron Arrows from House D favor, I see little reason to make a Min II bow.
Except if you want Keen, so that you do not have to have Improved Crit feat.

I think Lit II is best.

But I kinda like the Earth Grab or Freezing Ice abilities too. I just think they might not produce often enough to be really useful.

The only one I have is Triple Pos, and I like it. But I made it because it was easy to make, and at the time I didn't know how to make double shard stuff.

I get enough **** from my Rad II sword in Epics to make me not suggest that one unless you are a Rogue.

[tihocan]

After further reflection I have decided that those advising not to go min2 are wrong and I will make that for my bow. Bypassing DR with any and all arrows means I can do even more damage than a lightning 2 via bane/slayer arrows.

Are you going to bother collecting and keeping track of many different bane / slayer arrows?

[Glenalth]

Are you going to bother collecting and keeping track of many different bane / slayer arrows?

One of those huge store quivers goes a long way toward collecting the slayer arrows. Bane arrows are so far in-between that there is no point in collecting unless you are turning in tons of collectibles for them.

[Wizzly_Bear]

Are you going to bother collecting and keeping track of many different bane / slayer arrows?

Yes. But, ranged combat will always be a back-up "oh $hi7! This guy is rapiering me!" for me. I already have a few hundred of various greater banes and slayer arrows. I don't myself burning through them faster than I collect them.