Guild Wars 2

Ok so I am a prec/crit/power ranger and I am an avid longbow fan. I know in long range standing still the longbow does have good DPS but you are rarely put into such a situation. I only have a couple suggestions for the longbow which would make it more viable both in PvP and PvE and seems to fit into the vision Anet has for the longbow ranger.

1. Make the auto-attack a chain that allows you to maintain 5 stacks vulnerability. Basically the longbow is a long range weapon but currently it needs to be a little more expansive in usage rather than 1500 range standing still. I think adding a chain auto attack that allows you to stack 5s vulnerability(meaning 5% more damage) would allow a more expansive usage so that mid-long range you could continuously use the vulnerability making it a viable weapon in both PvE and PvP.

2. Point blank shot is great as it functions now but only in the intended range. I think its great as I can interrupt attacks and push back foes. The only problem is that the range is limited and if I am standing more than 600 range away it has no effect. I think there should still be an effect because as a longbow user I try to create distance between myself and the target and the pushback comes in handy but when I am standing past 600 range the 4 skill is useless. One of our 5 skills are completely useless doing no damage/effect what so ever. 20% of our attacking skills are gone which needs to be changed. I suggest we either have a hold to shoot type attack that has more damage the longer you hold it would work but I think a better alternative would be that the point blank shot still is in effect up to 600 range but past 600 range it should just daze the foe. That way the moment of clarity trait would be equal for both the shortbow and longbow increasing its duration 50%. With the shortbow and concussion shot you get a daze automatically that has 1200 range and can interrupt giving you an attack of opportunity. Point blank shot does the same thing but only 600 range. Doesn’t seem to fit with a longbow which is SUPPOSED to be for more long range play. That is why adding the daze past 600 gives us a 1200 interrupt just like shortbow giving both longbow and shortbow users an equal attack of opportunity.

Those are just the suggestions I have which I think are just minor tweaks to really fit into the long range style of the longbow that Anet seems to have envisioned. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I think if the shortbow is meant to be this class’ condition/DOT build, the longbow should be changed over to this class’ crit/dmg build and the weapon skills, skills, and traits should all tie into this.

In another thread that was on this same subject last week I proposed the #4 skill would be changed to either do an execute/aimed shot/critical shot type of move if the target is at range or knock back if they are close. Alternatively, it could be a power move where if you tap it, it shoots the knockback and the longer you hold it the more damage it does and the less it knockbacks to the point it can do some really nice burst damage.

Now that said, I feel the bow should fire more quickly just to make it feel more fluid as right now it’s a real strain using the weapon because it’s just so boring. Its damage is also so poor at the attack speed that it probably could go with a .75 cast without a damage decrease. At the very least, the longbow and shortbow should probably do the same DPS at the overlapping range and an extra damage increase for the longer range on the longbow.

Then they need to improve the traits. Make marksman do all ranged damage, survival for traps and melee, wilderness for utility of the top 2, nature for support of ranged and pet, and BM for pet.

Right now the traits and skills themselves just won’t allow longbow (or shortbow…) to work.

LB already got -10% armor with the fixed opening strike + pet hit it goes up to 20%

Point blank shot is fine also it has a good dmg

Rapid fire nees dmg buff because at max range it is better to use auto attack
Long range shot needs to be changed to something like X dmg up to 1k range and 1k+ to have bonus dmg because we are often at 0-500 in pvp or dungeons whith not enough room for more range which lowers our dps too much

Make it like the mesmer GS attack..

3x damage that ramps up based on distance from target..

The Longbow needs one fix first and foremost before anything else is even looked at.

The recast for the #1 skill needs to be reduced to about .8 seconds rather than 1.25 seconds to match the rifle. The erratic recovery of autoattack skills is a problem affecting most ranged weapons (rifles and scepters seem to be the only exceptions) across professions, and even if people don’t realize why, it’s the main reason these sets feel weak and get complained about a lot.

- #1 (Long Range Shot) should have it’s cast time reduced (currently 3/4 but I’ve heard it’s actually longer than that) ; I’d personally like to see it’s cast time reduced to 1/2 second.

- Rapid Fire needs to be more Rapid. It takes 5 seconds to get a full channel off, I personally think it should be faster or have it’s damage increased.

- #1 (Long Range Shot) should also have it’s distance requirement adjusted. It’s not practical in Dungeons or Spvp.

+1
Longbow needs some dmg buffs!

higher dmg or faster shots!

I agree on some points and others im 50/50 on.

I run a pure glass Build in WvW and rack in badges pretty EZ as a result. Issues i’ve found though during my raids in WvW is normally in two areas; Close distance and attack speed.

For close range I’ve started switching out to shortbow for more versatility so I don’t find myself gimped. I do however get the idea of having longbow do less damage from closer range….but the drop off seems pretty steep…the damage i do within say 600 range is horrid.

Then the attack speed itself of our normal attacks. They seem to take ages to fire off….granted being Glass…and popping people for 2-4.5k crits is fun…having to wade thru the 500-600 damage shots during our long animations does kinda kill any headway in terms of downing someone.

So for me, a slight boost on our auto attack would be nice.
A slightly quicker channel for our #2 or damage boost…either or.
and maybe tweak the damage scaling in correlation to distance between us and our opponent.