Bows of the Common Man or How I Learned to Stop Hating Bylze

[Walford]

<p> I just started this little discussion, so people can share their thoughts, and to try and keep <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=402084" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our latest T8 "non-raid" gear</a> thread a little less cluttered. It's a very good thread, though.</p><p><b>Share your experiences with any quested or instanced bows, friends!</b></p><p>I don't know why my poor bow gets so little love...</p><p>/flex </p><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Ghostly_Bow_of_Bylze" target="_blank">Ghostly Bow of Bylze  </a></p><p>And if your girlfriend is tinker... then you get a little T6 DPS adorn for that baby... mmm... (although last I checked, they are kinda expensive on the broker, but for the amoutn of time you will get use out of this baby, it is a good investment)</p><p>Oh.. what about RC? </p><p>I use the raincaller for soloing and duoing, of course.  It's a workhorse in that department.  </p><p>The only time I use RC in groups is if the healer(s) is/are having problems keeping the tank in the green. Also. rarely I might use it to stun/kite a heroic mob if the tank goes down.  This is not much fun in small spaces, but you do what you gotta do if you have nothing better in the crowd control department.  Oh , did i mention that rangers truly underperform in the tanking department in RoK?</p><p>Burning mobs down is what we do...</p><p><b>If you have both of these bows and you are not using Bylze for most of your groups, I can only suggest that you are scared of ripping aggro and need more de-aggro skillz or a better plan of attack! ... or blame the tank... or w.h.y.</b>  <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />  This is not meant as a slight, but as an honest and well-intentioned question...</p><p>Two great bows for different purposes, imho.</p><p>Canul</p><p><Renegades> AB </p><p>P.S. When you play your class remember that all of those tank taunts, and lay on Hands and the Monk's new Peel ability were all designed WITH YOU IN MIND!  Not the finger twiddlers... so go to town!  ( Haha, I am only kidding here... but there is nothing wrong with being on the edge. It's the best place to learn.) </p>

[dbmoreland]

<p>If I may recommend a third bow for the "common man":</p><p>Grizzfazzle's Bow<a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Grizzfazzle's_Bow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Grizzfazzle's_Bow</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1208069382" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1208069382</a></p><p>I actualy find this bow superior to the GBoB in most group (and the rare raid) cases. The added Str and proc means that zone wide (or evening long) it gives out more damage and does it more consistantly so you don't see the "super crits" that cause the mobs to want to "squish the little elf in chain". </p><p>What I am waiting for is the T8 replacements for these three T6/7 bows that we have all been using for the last 6+ months, especialy with all of the super solo content and rewards for everything else. </p><p>Thanks, </p>

[Webin]

I'm actually quite surprised more rangers haven't discovered the Calcified Timber Longbow.  For the paltry sum of 5pp, anyone with sufficient Teren's Grasp faction can buy one of the better bows we have.  I've produced a list of bow rankings, following Effidian's methodology that I'm hoping to post in the next few days...It shows that the calcified timber longbow is actually BETTER than Bow of Rapid Trepidation, Sinew Wrapped Longbow, Ironstrand, Ghostly, Aquatic Bow of Obedience, and practically every bow I've seen in Kunark.  I can't see any reason to bust my butt running instances when can easily purchase something better.(That being said, I still use Raincaller to solo.  You can't beat the stun).

[dbmoreland]

<p>Well I can think of two reasons we have not "discovered" the Calcified Timber Longbow. First you need to take the time to run around to all of the faction merchants to find the silly thing. There is no location information about it on either eq2wikia nor lootdb. Second it is not immediatly clear that this is a "better" bow than our current bow(s). It has NO strength, it has less ranged and NO proc. And while it does have a better damage rating, given the current state of arrow mechanics this is reduced by some small (1.5%?) amount. So this bow is not CLEARLY better than the ones we already use. However I wait with great anticipation for your "list of bow rankings" to be posted soon. </p><p>Thanks, </p>

[Webin]

<cite>dbmoreland wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>First you need to take the time to run around to all of the faction merchants to find the silly thing. There is no location information about it on either eq2wikia nor lootdb. Second it is not immediatly clear that this is a "better" bow than our current bow(s). It has NO strength, it has less ranged and NO proc.</p></blockquote>It's in Teren's Grasp, on a "Weapons Faction Merchant".  I can't tell you the building off the top of my head.   Also, it's true that the data I've been compiling doesn't take stats and procs into account, and that data is important to making an informed choice of bows.  Hopefully I can add that in after the initial release.

[xandez]

<cite>dbmoreland wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>If I may recommend a third bow for the "common man":</p><p>Grizzfazzle's Bow<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Grizzfazzle's_Bow" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Grizzfazzle's_Bow</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1208069382" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/1208069382</a></p><p>I actualy find this bow superior to the GBoB in most group (and the rare raid) cases. The added Str and proc means that zone wide (or evening long) it gives out more damage and does it more consistantly so you don't see the "super crits" that cause the mobs to want to "squish the little elf in chain". </p><p>What I am waiting for is the T8 replacements for these three T6/7 bows that we have all been using for the last 6+ months, especialy with all of the super solo content and rewards for everything else. </p><p>Thanks, </p></blockquote><p>well im lvl 73 atm and i still use Bylze... i still think its the best i've gotten my hands on. And no, i havent even done the RC quest <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" />" width="15" height="15">The stun proc might be nice, but with Bylze dmg you can easily solo in RoK zones.</p><p>And imo, the str in Grizzle is not worth it, the proc evens the dmg somewhat thou...</p><p>*edit*yes ive been lazy... and just beginning to my trip to RoK zones, hopefully there will be atleast 1 nice bow to get *edit2*oh [Removed for Content]... theres a weapon merchant also... rofl havent found that one... ahah i feel kinda silly now <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />++Xan </p>

[dbmoreland]

<p>As Webin Kaltani pointed out above here is the bow every T8 "Common" Ranger should now be using:</p><p>Calcified Timber Longbow+36 agi +16 int +65 health +70 power +3 rangedDelay 7.0 sec Damage 121 - 485 (86.5 Rating) Level 68<a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Calcified_Timber_Longbow" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Calcified_Timber_Longbow</a></p><p>Purchased from Faction Merchant Faru N'mar in Kylong Plains for 5p, 80g, 60s, 80c<a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Faru_N'mar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Faru_N%27mar</a></p><p>In the end it puts out superior damage numbers to all of the previously mentioned T6/7 "bows for the common man". </p><p>In fact, thanks to the current arrow issues, it is one of the best bows in the game at the moment.</p>

[dbmoreland]

<p>Here is the latest "Bow for the Common Man"</p><p>Slythe's Bow of FlimflamLEGENDARY LORE NO-TRADE+20 agi +5 int +50 health +60 powerDamage 107 - 607 Delay 7.0 (102.0 Rating)Level 75Effect: MirageOn a successful ranged attack this spell has a chance to cast Mirage on target of attack. This effect will trigger an average of 1.8 times per minute.Decreases Threat to target by 500<a href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1289136960" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1289136960</a><a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?eq2item=87655" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/item.h...l?eq2item=87655</a></p><p>This Bow is the Final Reward from the Hidden Plunderer's Camp Quest line received from Skulker Slythe which starts with High Risk Career:<a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/High_Risk_Career" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/High_Risk_Career</a><a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/quest.html?eq2quest=4327" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/quest....l?eq2quest=4327</a></p>

[EQ2Magroo]

<cite>dbmoreland wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Here is the latest "Bow for the Common Man"</p><p>Slythe's Bow of FlimflamLEGENDARY LORE NO-TRADE+20 agi +5 int +50 health +60 powerDamage 107 - 607 Delay 7.0 (102.0 Rating)Level 75Effect: MirageOn a successful ranged attack this spell has a chance to cast Mirage on target of attack. This effect will trigger an average of 1.8 times per minute.Decreases Threat to target by 500<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1289136960" target="_blank">http://www.lootdb.com/eq2/item/-1289136960</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?eq2item=87655" target="_blank">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/item.h...l?eq2item=87655</a></p><p>This Bow is the Final Reward from the Hidden Plunderer's Camp Quest line received from Skulker Slythe which starts with High Risk Career:<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/High_Risk_Career" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/High_Risk_Career</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/quest.html?eq2quest=4327" target="_blank">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/quest....l?eq2quest=4327</a></p></blockquote>mmmm, I like the look of that bow quite a bit. Shame about the lack of STR, but the dehate proc and the fact that it can take a +12 DPS adornment is good news. I do like those 7 second delay bows, with haste their AA seem to time in with my CAs perfectly. Guess I should spend some time around City of Mist completing those quests after all !BTW, up until now I've been using the Recurved Heartstinger, and can highly recommend it. It's level 67 so T8 ammo is not gimped, and it has nice extra damage proc and will also take +10 DPS adornment. It should be fairly easy to get these days too as it drops from contested mob in Bonemire which I guess nobody is bothering to kill any more. The contested mobs aren't that hard, we killed them easy with 2x groups at level 70, so should be single groupable now I would guess.

[xandez]

<p>too bad its lvl 75 bow... </p><p>++Xan</p>