Heavy or Light repeater?

[Saethiar]

Is there any consensus about which one is better, a heavy or repeater crossbow? I've read somewhere that the Light fires faster, but nothing definite and seemingly exhaustively tested.

[RedDragonScale]

Is there any consensus about which one is better, a heavy or repeater crossbow? I've read somewhere that the Light fires faster, but nothing definite and seemingly exhaustively tested.

I've always gone Heavy Repeater but I think the real answer to your question won't be known until Update 11 goes live (this Monday) and not until extensive testing is actually done on the Live servers.

I look forward to hearing about the results as well.

[Dirichlet]

There's a topic on the Lammania Discussion forum with some numbers: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=334201

It doesn't look like there's that much difference.

[Therigar]

Given the damage difference between heavy and light it would appear to be a mistake to select light even if there is a very small advantage to speed. In the example of 90 v 93 assuming 19 of 20 shots hit the base damage is 684 for the heavy v 530 for the light. That does not include criticals or other effects, just the raw damage from a heavy v light bolt.

[Math is 90/20*19*8 v 93/20*19*6.]

The light rxb would need to have a lot of bonus damage to be a better choice.

[Ryiah]

The light rxb would need to have a lot of bonus damage to be a better choice.

I could see using a light in the case of trying to paralyze or possibly stat-damage your opponent.

[Jaid314]

I could see using a light in the case of trying to paralyze or possibly stat-damage your opponent.

so far, testing shows that light repeaters have the exact same attack rate as heavy. so... assuming you have a paralyzing light repeater and no paralyzing heavy repeater, sure. otherwise... pretty much go with heavy.

[Therigar]

so far, testing shows that light repeaters have the exact same attack rate as heavy. so... assuming you have a paralyzing light repeater and no paralyzing heavy repeater, sure. otherwise... pretty much go with heavy.

More importantly, even if there is a slight advantage (ie, 90 v 93) it is so small that it is statistically unimportant. Ninety shots per minute is 1.5 per second while 93 is 1.55. You don't even get a full extra shot until 20 seconds into the combat. If you haven't succeeded in paralyzing then you've probably already killed the mob outright due to DPS.

[richieelias27]

Use whichever repeater has the best modifiers. It's not like you have to specialize in just one or anything, you get feats for all crossbows.

[Inspire]

Base damage for the greensteel and alchemical heavy repeating crossbows should push them further ahead.

[JeffreyGator]

Definitely heavy should be the GS choice.

[Perspicacity]

Base damage for the greensteel and alchemical heavy repeating crossbows should push them further ahead.

Heavy GS RXB= 2d8 = 2-16 (2x crit = 4-32)
Range increment= 120

Light GS RXB= 1d10 = 1-10 (2x crit = 2-20)
Range increment= 80

Heavy shoots much harder and farther, speed difference is negligible.

Definitely heavy should be the GS choice.

[lethargos]

Heavy GS RXB= 2d8 = 2-16 (2x crit = 4-32)
Range increment= 120

Light GS RXB= 1d10 = 1-10 (2x crit = 2-20)
Range increment= 80

Heavy shoots much harder and farther, speed difference is negligible.

What is this range increment ? I thought ddo didnt implement anything like that ?

[RedDragonScale]

What is this range increment ? I thought ddo didnt implement anything like that ?

From what I've seen, which is a lot, they didn't.

[EustaceTrevelyan]

I think with both speed feats (rapid shot and rapid reload), the relative fire rates given would indicate that if you can average more than 21 damage/shot total, go with light, until then heavy. But as mentioned, have to wait till the things hit live and the final ROF is tallied reliably. But that wasn't taking into account PBS or of course GS, so have to think of that stuff as well.