Ranged attack bull!!

[Phantom_T]

<DIV>I'm sure a lot of us are really getting annoyed with the ridiculous limitations put on our ranged attacks. I usually try to give people the benefit of the doubt but in this instance I think it was just a real bad design decision. The fact that someone didn't notice or care about the stupid limitations really scares the crap out of me as well.<BR> <BR>Why the hell do we have to be so far from a mob to use our bow? I can understand that when the mob is hacking away at you with weapons you need at least 2 arrow lengths to get a shot off, but in a group situation this is NOT the case! It is completely unnecessary to have us waste time trying to find the sweet spot and risk our group's safety. Therefore I suggest that the minimum ranged attack should be 1 to 2 arrow lengths away from the targeted mob.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you agree with me, just post Yes or something so the devs can see it. Dunno if they play rangers <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />, maybe they don't know about the problems we face playing.</DIV>

[ProtoDe]

<DIV>I've always believed it was totally ludicrous that I couldn't shoot something from point blank range in EQ1.  Now I find that things are even worse in EQ2.  Seems like you are limited to a window of from about 20 feet to maybe 40 feet - either you are too close or too far away.  Maximum bogusness.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I guess we should be thankful that they didn't see fit to add the further restriction that EQ1 had for years - until just recently, if a mob was more than 10 degrees above or below your level, you couldn't shoot it either.  You would get that infuriating "Your target is too far above/below you" message.  What the hell were they smoking when they created that restriction?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Not to mention it took 5 years and an external key repeater program to make them add auto fire to EQ1...guess we should feel fortunate that they chose to not force us to spam the fire button in EQ2, eh?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Rhoat]

<DIV>I think the Ranged attack distance makes sense. As someone has stated it is a Ranged attacked, it wouldn't be very realistic to fire off your arrows at point blank range. I usually use the Ranged skills to start off with on a solo mob and finish them off with my melee skills, this to me is fine.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>When grouped is when theyre obviously put into best effect and the only time ive really had to move back substantially for me to be able to fire at the target was when Ive been fighting Giants. Most other mobs of more or less equal size to myself I find I can melee at a distance and still use my ranged skills when theyre ready without moving.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Happy Ranger :smileyhappy:</DIV>

[Lithowynn]

<DIV>Personally I dont see a problem with the range so much. I'm only level 20 at the moment but I have played a Ranger class in other games. Most games allow you to shoot your bow at point blank range. I'm in between on this subject because I would like to shoot my bow that close but at the same time I have to ask if it would really be effective and if it were a "real" situation would it be possible. To me the answer is no. You wouldnt have enough time to do that in between the enemies swings. I use my bow for pulling and "rescuing". When someone yells for help near me, I track them and run to them and use the bow to pull the aggro from them. Thats what my bow is used for, thats its role. If i want to get more than 2 shots off with my bow at level 20 this is my chain of events: Open shot -> wounding arrow -> cheap shot -> stop attacking -> get behind them and get far enough away to use back shot. That works pretty good with some practice. Thats my opinion but I strattle the fence on the whole point blank ability or not.</DIV>

[Drethlor]

<DIV>Question is, Why would you want to rely on a god-aweful *Slow* weapon, like a bow, when your opponent is up close and personal?</DIV> <DIV>I mean Delays of like 4.0......no thanks.</DIV> <DIV>I'd much prefer to be dual wielding a couple of 1.2's....no question about it.</DIV>

[hieronym]

<DIV>It all depends what the mob is you are fighting. Gnolls or skells I could take a little run back and fire no problem at all. Giants on the other hand I had to run very far back.</DIV>

[ProtoDe]

<DIV>"Engage brain before opening mouth."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Might I suggest you take your own advice.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <HR> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I agree with most of you that it wouldn't really be practical to use a bow at close range when a melee weapon would be better, but the point is why should we be completely limited in this respect?  If I am attempting to fire a bow at a mob that is able to hit me with its sword the chances are pretty good that I'd never be able to get a shot off (interruped perhaps), but if I'm out of its melee range why should I get some arbitrary message saying that I'm too close to shoot it?  What's to say that I couldn't get off one more shot before switching to my melee weapons and moving in close for melee?  Granted, maybe I would be at a disadvantage of actually getting a good hit in because I'm so close - say a minus to accuracy but a plus to damage or something like that.  But if I'm at least a full arrow length or two away and the mob isn't able to hit me, why should I be told that I'm too close?  Because that's the way the devs "envisioned" it, I know.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Oh well, I guess we will just have to deal with it and let the bow fall back to its original intent - a pulling tool.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Merkad]

My only real issue with range is on giant sized mobs, I am totally abhoring just how far back I have to move to shoot a giant. It seems to be outside the melee range regardless of how large that is, and when you fight giants, it must be like 50 feet. Granted I would like point blank too, seeing as how you need to be aware of your surroundings to not back up and gain aggro, and you lose attacks for the short duration you are switching ranges. And besides, unless you are buying iridium or fulginate arrows, I hardly think they are overpowering in their current state.What bothers me more is the awful delay on them, 4.5 and 7.5 seconds.. wow I dont think anyone should actually try to use archery primarily, especially seeing as how arrows are too costly to even come close to the bow's potential damage. (on that note, why is it that all weapons of a similar type have the same delay, and mostly similar stats/attack values, it feels like it was all computer generated to a set of values (same for armor really))Merkades

[Fib]

<DIV>It seems to me that open shot is a ranged skill that Does make the transition from range to close.  You can fire it while running in no sweat.  As far as getting a bit of distance...eh  you can deal with it and it does seem to make some sense.   The idea of standing right on top of a melee to shoot a guy in the head when I could whip out my rapier and stab em instead just doesnt make sense. Sure, sure if you wanted to maybe there ought to be a skill that allows point blank.  But if I imagine actually using a bow in melee, dancing around saying to my friends....hold em still boys so's I can shootem in the head!!!"  it strikes me as a funny image.  I might instead pull back a bit and look for an opening and then fire a precise shot from the safety of range.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My point is that there is ample opportunity in the game design to create a mental image of something real occuring albiet in a fantasy world.</DIV>

[Ijiamee]

<DIV>The distance I move back to use my bow is usually closer to the mob than the casters.  I don't have any problem with Bow range.</DIV>

[MorGo]

<DIV>The bow is a ranged weapon.. range in 99% cases means far away.</DIV> <DIV>If ya really want to argue about something or try to get something changed... suggest that the devs put crossbows or even compound bows into the game.</DIV> <DIV>This would make close combat with a bow a little more... agreeable.</DIV>

[AshnazgDurbatul]

<DIV>Compound bow in EQII? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hey fellow knights and elves, check out my new compound bow I got at the new Bass Pro Outdoor World in North Queynos. If I recall didn't they have compund bows in EQI? (Been over a year since I've played.) Kinda ridiculous. *fantasy world* Crossbows I can understand.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyways....although it may be stupid to use a bow from two feet away instead of a DW attack, I think it should still be allowed. I know <EM>I</EM> can shoot an arrow into a target from two feet away, why can't my character do it. The only reason I give a flying monkey about this is that it would be nice for me not to risk drawing aggro just to get in my ranged specials.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just my two copper.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Gwaihir</DIV> <DIV>Everfrost</DIV>

[Aulerd]

Ok, Fighting anything that isn't huge tends to be no problem AT ALL. I can back off a few feet and get a shot off (which is very nice of SOE), However vs big mobs i have to get back like 20 foot ??? why ? surely in a realism manor it would require less range due to the fact your aiming up. Backing off this much would just lessen the effectiveness of the shot.Point black shots would be stupid if your want to complain "omg in real life i could" well go ahead but in real life you would need to put your bow back round your torso then un sheath your swords, Which would take more than the milli second it takes on eq2.Im pretty sure on eq1 my min range was longer than it is in eq2.Also as has been said all you really need your bow for is specials since due to there ludacrisly slow speed they are not practical for dps reasons. I back off in fights about 10 foot at max and fire off my shots unless its vs giants