The scoop on the Valian Bow?

[Zholain]

<div></div><font size="2">Good morning everyone.  I am hoping to get some advice from all those rangers who have had personal experience with the Valian Bow.My guild looted one this past weekend while getting another group further along on the prismatic quests.  I have the dkp to outbid almost everyone who would even possibly be interested in bidding on it, but my questions to you would be these:1.  What is the highest level mob that you've been able to hit with it?  We're raiding t6 stuff nearly exclusively now, with the exception of Fire and Ice/Deception...including Al Afaz and the LT x4 zone.2. Do you honestly see higher dps with Valian over ironwood?  I know I've seen posts of rangers claiming up to 1200 dps using Valian...but is this because of the bow, or more due to proper debuffs/buffs/raid setup etc?  Just looking for an objective answer here.  I can parse 1000-1200 dps sometimes, but it must be a nearly perfect scenario (proper debuffs on the mob, mob vulnerable to the types of damage we rangers do, good buffs, and so on).3. This is more subjective, but what do you perceive the value of Valian to be with KoS being released in just over a month?  Granted, our guild will be a couple months before we are properly leveled and equipped to raid t7 stuff, but the Valian will obviously become obsolete at some point with t7 mobs.I am very concerned about this, as we have quite a few t5 and low t6 rangers in our guild.  I would not dare take it away from one of them who would get extended use out of it if I will only see limited value...the betterment of the guild you might say.  I would appreciate any insight you can give me on this.Thanks in advance guys.</font><div></div><p>Message Edited by Zholain on <span class="date_text">01-12-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:34 AM</span></p>

[Jay]

<div></div><p>I have no constructive feedback to offer (ironwood all the way!) but I applaud you for having the consideration to pass on a Valian if you find that its use to you is fairly limited. (Big surprise, huh?)</p><p>And of course, were I in your position I would have all the same concerns. That 12% proc rate would be very tempting, but as you say, a T5 item will necessarily become obsolete sometime in T7, and T7 just isn't that far away, now.</p>

[Crychtonn]

<div></div><p>1. You can hit any level mob with the Valian.  When DoF was initially released this was a problem as T5 fable would not hit 62+ named mobs but that was changed along time back.  I haven't touched my imbued ironwood bow in months.</p><p>2.  The Valian does better damage then an Imbued Ironwood because it proc's alot more often.  The number of proc's you get off the 12% Valian over the 5% Ironwood adds up to alot of damage.  It is the sole reason I use it 100% of the time and my ironwood just collects dust.</p><p>3.  It's value when KoS comes out depends if they reinstitute level restrictions on weapons hitting mobs.  In the games current state I can hit level 67-68 mobs with my Valian.  Unless they finally add a new T6 or T7 bow that would be an upgrade I may continue to use my Valian all the way to 70.</p><p> </p>

[Ronin]

they stated somewhere in the expansion note, that while the lvl cap will be raised to 70 the impact will be alot smaller then was going from t5-t6. Mobs will not require so much more levels but skill and use of the new abilities you may gain from the alternate advancement brought in the new expansion. Basicly I wouldn't count on getting much better then t6 fabled, as seems the t7 rares will be lesser then t6 fabled but higher then t6 rares barely. More like a smaller change item wise but huge tatic wise chance in coming our way. specially if the abilities are given to mobs also. just my thoughts on the matter.<div></div>

[Sapperlight]

<div>On a recent trip to Temple Court, I found that I was outdamaging one of my partner rangers who has more upgraded spells and better equipment than I do.  I checked his gear and noted that he had his Valian Bow equipped.  As soon as he switched to his ironwood, he again outdamaged me (ironwood also) as per the norm.  It's not a scientific study, but I think it's safe to say that the ironwood is preferential over the Valian in a raid situation.</div>

[Zholain]

<font size="2">Well...sorta too late now.  The auction ended last night, and I won it.  The only other bidders were a 60 guardian(don't ask...you'll only get me angry again) and another 60 ranger.</font><div></div>

[King Leor]

<div></div><p>Valian is waaaay better, it's been proven time and time again on parsers. where after a raid I will go back and look at my procs with ironwood bow and another rangers in my guild procs with valian and it procs way more. Example, in a fight, I hit a mob 171 times with bow, and gleaming strike procced just 5 times for a total of 1634 DMG. The other ranger hit it only 173 times  and valian procced 24 times doing 5538 DMG.  And trust me, the DMG rating difference between the 2 of em wouldn't make up for the almost 4k dmg difference. And ALOT of the parses are exactly like this. on a 7 sec delay bow the iron wood has a chance to proc 11.66 % where as the Valian has a 28% chance to proc. So it's simply going to proc more and do more DMG. Not to mention my INT was alot higher than this rangers so my actual proc dmg was increased by quite a bit more.</p><p>LeoricLevel 60 ranger</p>

[Zholain]

<font size="2">Aye.  I only had about 45 minutes to play last night, but I just had to try out the bow.  Using no potions/poisons/ring buffs, etc...the Valian significantly out-damaged the ironwood 5 out of 6 fights, with Ancient Venom nearly doubling the damage of Gleaming Strike (this using ACT).  And I think the fight where Valian got beat was due to my error(I made 6 pulls..3 different types of mobs),  as I believe the mob had walked too close for my last incoming ranged CA to fire.Granted this is nothing conclusive as there is just not enough data.  But I feel confident that I've made a good choice.  I'll certainly know more before the end of the week.  I really appreciate you guys providing some feedback.</font><div></div>

[King Leor]

<div></div><p>No worries Zholain, theres nothing more conclusive than the info I pulled up. Looked at 120 different encouters from SC. Also form what I posted above there is proof of stats there. If people still choose to think ironwood is better than let them. it's their loss if they pass on the valian if it ever happens to drop for em. I'm still trying to get one.</p><p>LeoricLevel 60 ranger</p>

[Jay]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Zholain wrote:<font size="2">The only other bidders were a 60 guardian(don't ask...you'll only get me angry again) and another 60 ranger.</font><div></div><hr></blockquote><p>Aww c'mon, you can't drop that kind of tidbit and not elaborate!! Fess up, girl! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>And woot, congrats on the bow!! Couldn't have happened to a nicer ranger.</p>

[Zholain]

<div><span><blockquote><hr><font size="2">Jay42 wrote:</font><font size="2"></font><p><font size="2">Aww c'mon, you can't drop that kind of tidbit and not elaborate!! Fess up, girl! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></font></p><hr size="2" width="100%"></blockquote><font size="2">I call it the 'shiny syndrome'.  That's when a brand new 'shiny' drops and someone get's that 'Ooooohhh...I gotta have it !!' feeling.  It actually wasn't too bad.  Last week was a particularly fruitful week for us regarding t6 drops, so he withdrew relatively quickly to go bid on some other shiny.  But you tell me...how much benefit will a guardian get out of a fabled bow vs. the benefit a ranger(or any predator or rogue) would see.  I know it's earned DKP and all are free to spend it as they like, but c'mon..there is a point when common sense, and even moreso common courtesy, should be shown.On the other hand, another one of the guild rangers(whom I like very much) and I had a very spirited bidding contest.  It was a fun auction.I did get to try it out a bit more last night in Poet's Palace.  I LOVE it !!  <span>:womanvery-happy:</span></font></span></div>

[Lazl]

<div></div>I resemble that remark Leo

[King Leor]

<div>Of course you resemble it...lol... It was you :0) Now gimmee your bow!!!!!</div><div> </div><div>LeoricLevel 60 ranger</div>

[theorbell]

<div></div>got mine the other day.  and no dkp since it was a t5 drop.  now i cant decide whether to use ironwood, yew, or valian.  i keep all 3 around (until i get the darkfury muahahaha)

[King Leor]

<div></div><div>Use the valian.... dont even get the darkfury. Your valian will proc for 5k of dmg or more per raid mob (named raid mob). prolly 10k on long fights. And the dark furies dmg rating wont compensate for that the odd time you autoattack.</div><div> </div><div>LeoricLevel 60 ranger</div><p>Message Edited by King Leoric on <span class="date_text">01-18-2006</span><span class="time_text">05:22 PM</span></p>

[Crychtonn]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Zholain wrote:<font size="2">Well...sorta too late now.  The auction ended last night, and I won it.  The only other bidders were a 60 guardian(don't ask...you'll only get me angry again) and another 60 ranger.</font><div></div><hr></blockquote><p>It means the guardian is into collecting toys or he is an intelligent player and understands the Valian is the best bow he can get.  A guardian using a Valian bow isn't a waste (yes it's much better for a ranger).  Because it's a Fable bow and how the proc system works the Valian well proc off the guards melee attacks.   It will even proc if he isn't attacking and gets a riposte on a mobs attack.  As far as I know Imbued Ironwood bows do not proc off melee or riposte.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

[Zholain]

<div><span><blockquote><hr><font size="2">Crychtonn wrote:</font><font size="2"></font><blockquote><hr><font size="2">Zholain wrote:</font><font size="2">Well...sorta too late now.  The auction ended last night, and I won it.  The only other bidders were a 60 guardian(don't ask...you'll only get me angry again) and another 60 ranger.</font><font size="2"></font><hr></blockquote><p><font size="2">It means the guardian is into collecting toys or he is an intelligent player and understands the Valian is the best bow he can get.  A guardian using a Valian bow isn't a waste (yes it's much better for a ranger).  Because it's a Fable bow and how the proc system works the Valian well proc off the guards melee attacks.   It will even proc if he isn't attacking and gets a riposte on a mobs attack.  As far as I know Imbued Ironwood bows do not proc off melee or riposte.</font></p><p><font size="2"> </font></p><hr size="2" width="100%"><font size="2">I agree that it may not be a waste, but when he is one of our MT's, as of yet has no fabled armor, and there are several pieces of t6 fabled armor up for bid (the nicer stuff...not the junk), which one makes more sense to you?</font></blockquote></span></div>

[Berek_IronAxe]

<div></div><p>Well I can comment on the guardian side of this.  Since we usually pull with a bow and Crychtonn is correct on the Guardian's CA's, but more importantly a proc on a pull will allow our Aggro to start with a full head of steam then with a taunt and Inflaming Defence (Hold the Line) it will allow the Raid or Group to start their Attacks quicker, and have less likely of a chance to pull the mob off the guardian if someone get trigger happy.</p><p>But I would say that if he does not have any Fabled Armor yet the Bow should be the last on his want list.  But that is just me.  Armor is everything for an MT.</p>

[Tseri]

<div>So glad you brought this up.  I was going to ask the very same thing, except I already got my Valian.  I haven't attuned it yet, because I didn't want to  do that and find out that my ironwood is better then not be able to pass the valian down to another ranger that could get more use from it.  I actually got mine from a pick up raid for prismatics.  I was the only scout at the fight it dropped from and the guardian that rolled against me was gonna give it to me anyway.  He just wanted to give me a heart attack before letting me have it. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div><div>Guess I'll be hanging on to it now and attuning it! *dances*</div><div> </div><div>btw, I'm pretty sure that the ironwood bow procs even on melee.  I don't have a cobalt weapon equipped in either primary or secondary but I think I'm seeing gleaming strike proc.  I can't say for certain, cause I don't know what the prismatic glow proc looks like, and I hate trying to sort through all those soandso hits xmob for ydamage messages. -_-</div>

[jjlo69]

<div></div><div></div><p>I just got a valian bow myself and i like it alot. i have hit mobs 65 plus with it as stated above... depending on what DW weapons your using with your ironwood you should be fine with either one well into KoS</p><p> </p><p>Loomingelephant</p><p>60 orge Ranger</p><p>Permafrost</p><p>Message Edited by jjlo69 on <span class="date_text">01-19-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:56 PM</span></p>

[Broote Phor]

<div></div><div></div>I have a Valian Bow myself and must say, if you can get one, do so! It kicks major a**. Although most people would probably look down on me for the method in which I aquired the bow.I was lucky enough to both find someone who had placed one for sale on the broker and to have found and sold enough harvesting rares to be in a position to buy it. I am primarily a soloplayer, so being able to get one thru 'normal' means would be next to impossible.At my level, it is a HUGE plus. I can usually drop a yellow w/ sniping shot and the 2-arrow CA (might have to throw in crippling arrow) before the mob gets to me. I'm then free to cheap shothis buddy, step back 2 feet and triple shot him to death before the stun wears off.The increased proc % balances out the lesser damage proc (in my opinion), especially on multi-arrow CAs.Draegor Wolfrunner, The Call of Destiny : Blackburrow (Know Nothing Ranger-at-Large of 42 seasons)<div></div><p>Message Edited by Broote Phorse on <span class="date_text">01-19-2006</span><span class="time_text">06:31 PM</span></p>

[Marcuzs]

<div></div>Valian Bow is the way to go, especially if the only procing mellee weapons you have are Imbued. Then you have both the Valian Bow proc and gleaming strike going off. I personally don't have one. Wish I did. Then I would replace my dark fury sabre with an imbued cobalt since the proc is broken on the sabre.