Hey all, let’s keep stuff constructive here and not go off-topic. I know there’s other things about the ranger that need love too but here I’d like to focus on the shortbow and what other people think about it / would like to see changed/reworked on it!
In general I think the weapon should have a better focus on kiting and needs some quality of life changes on some of it’s skill. Right now, it tries to be that, with an added focus on keeping close, but not too close, to your target via Poison Volley, and the ability to interrupt one key skill so the enemy can’t get close to you too easily. The cripple is supposed to help with this too.
However, in reality it doesn’t really work. The Crippling Shot used to work decently when enemy movement skills were affected by it, but now they use one of their thousand leaps to get to you anyway. You can certainly interrupt one leap, but most have multiple gap closers or just a spammable one… not to mention blinks are instant cast. Quick shot can help you sometimes to dodge a crippling attack but often it’s annoying to use.
Lastly, shortbow is also supposed to be a condition damage weapon, but the weapon doesn’t apply enough pressure. Right now I feel bleeds are weaker than before, which is the shortbows main focus. It’s auto attack often works when kitting, but sometimes it just fails to apply bleeds. Secondly, crippling shot makes you pet get bleeding for 3 attacks. Problem with this is that the damage is based of your pet’s condi damage, which means the bleeding does next to no damage.
Here are some suggestions I have for the weapon, just some ideas I think would be neat:
Crossfire
Auto attacks are supposed to be reliable, yet this one is often not. Making the bleeding 100% would not be OP as it fades quickly when you don’t use your AA. Adding a single stack of vulnerability when attack from the side or behind would be nice, a 6% damage increase when you position yourself well should be decent, not to mention, condi builds often have little ways of applying this condi.
Poison Volley
I like the skill, but since this weapon should be about kiting and the like, I’d like the idea of it applying a short duration torment more. The idea would be that you apply a quick burst of damage that’s increased by you kiting your foe as it tries to get closer. Maybe give it 20% projectile finisher too.
Quick Shot
A nice skill but could use some quality of life stuff. I’d like this skill be a short leap that you can target in any direction, it would make you able to dance around your enemy while kiting. I think it’s okay if this skill deals no condi damage, as it’s more defensive, but maybe some small bleed/something would be nice.
Crippling shot
Cripple duration slightly longer would be nice, adding a very short immobilize from the side or behind would be neat aswel, just to briefly stop your target in it’s tracks. (maybe half a second if that works?). The bleeding damage should scale from our condition damage and not that of the pet.
Concusion shot
Shortening the CD would help, I think right now it’s too long for what it does. Adding confusion on interupt / from behind or the side would also be nice, but I have no creative idea what to do with this skill right now.
Light on your feet
Damage increase should also apply to conditions and should be triggered on dodge and on evade skills (or maybe only Quick Shot if you want to keep this trait SB focused).
Not saying these are the ‘ultimate’ solution for the weapon, but I tried my best to stay in theme with these suggestions. Hope it was atleast a nice read if nothing else! I’d like to see your suggestions now / feedback on the weapon. And remember, let’s keep it nice and clean in here.