These changes specifically target the longbow #2 and #3 skills, modifying them to make the weapon more viable in all forms of gameplay.
Rapid Fire – Combine Hunter’s Shot and current Rapid Fire. Each hit of Rapid Fire applies 8s of vulnerability (10 hits will give 10 stacks). Add secondary active skill.
Focus Shot (Secondary of Rapid Fire) – The longer Rapid Fire is channeled, the more damage this skill deals. It is automatically fired at the end of the channel if not manually pressed. Three thresholds: 1) 0.55 0s-1.5s 2) 0.8 1.5s-3s 3) 1.1 3s-Max
Hunter’s Shot – Removed.
Twin Seekers (Replaces Hunter’s Shot)- When cast, fires two arrows fortified with the spirits of nature slowly into the air (much like arcing shot but slower) that speed up considerably after reaching their peak height. If it is cast with no target, the secondary automatically activates at the peak even if not manually used. These arrows home onto their target and transfer one boon to both the ranger and pet if both arrows manage to hit their target (blocking/evading/missing one or both of them will stop the boon transfer). Upon successful dual hit a single boon is taken and the arrows visually split and return back to the ranger and pet, granting the boon to both. Cooldown 15s. Cast time 0.5s. Each arrow has a 0.4 multiplier. Add secondary active skill.
Purifying Shot (Secondary of Twin Seekers) – Can be activated before the arrow peaks. Arrows split apart and return, one striking the ranger, the other striking the pet. On return hit, cleanses one condition and grants 6s of swiftness (cleansing one condition from both the ranger and the pet and applying swiftness to both individually). If a condition is cleansed from both the ranger and the pet, the cooldown is halved.
Why I think these changes can help out the longbow. The rapid fire secondary gets stronger the longer you channel it (heavily telegraphed). This forces enemies to do 1 of 2 things. 1) Save dodge rolls for the end of the channel to evade the big hit (but soak the damage from the channel) or pop a defensive skill. 2) Maneuver to dodge the full channel + secondary (breaking los, getting behind the ranger, running away, etc). This change will make the skill much more viable. The second skill is something much needed for the ranger profession as a whole. It too is heavily telegraphed by being very slow at the beginning, but the ranger’s choice makes this skill worthwhile. It brings both defense and offense in a single skill, but choosing which to use during combat will be the most challenging aspect of this skill.
Tell me what you think? OP? Still weak? I think it will add a much needed fear factor to this weapon as currently, everyone I know (including myself) calls out if we see a ranger using a longbow and drop what we are doing to teach him/her a lesson (WvW/sPvP of course).