The best type of bows Long/Short

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I was just wondering what the best type of bow there is long or short. And with that what is it that makes them so special.

It would be a great help.

 

Because we speak of Shadows of Amn, I would say the short bows are way far better than long bows. For example the Tansheron's bow +3 and the short bow of gesen don't require any ammunition at all and they are +3 and +4 weapons.

There are no +3 or better arrows in SoA, so long bows don't have a chance! In ToB the case is different, but that's another story...

 

Not entirely true, the Manabow is quite good, but it is slightly outweighed by Gesens bow.

The Manabow can be obtained in the cave southeast of Tethyr forest. See for yourself and judge.

 

Yes but let's face it Lokken, you can't get the manna bow until chapter 6. Tansheron's Bow and Tungian Bow can be obtained in chapter 2. So if you want what will benefit you the most over the long-haul choose short bow. Heatseeker, a good longbow, is obtainable in chapter 2 as well but you will have to work a bit harder to get it.

 

well, longbows can't beat the infinite +3 arrows of the tansherons or the +4 of gessen bow methinks. It's a shame.. really

 

Well, the Short bow of Gesen may be better than any longbow, but I never use shortbows with anything else than a thief anyway. My non-thief archers always use Strong Arm and/or Heartseeker (or a crossbow).

 

The elven court long bow +3 is in the de'arnise hold and Yoshimo is kicking ass with it! THAC0:1 (ready to go to 0)

 

Crossbows. Good for SoA, good for ToB, both great with an archer. Try Light Crossbow of Speed (it's a +1 weapon, grants an extra attack per round), and the Heavy Crossbow of Accuracy (SoA's only +5 bow).

 

Waaait a minute. Thieves can use long bows??? Do they really? I think they can equip only short bows.
So if I'm right, than how is it possible, that Yoshimo can use the Elven Court Bow? Or am I mistaken?

 

maybe he dual classed yoshimo to a fighter - then he can use longbows

 

The Gesen Bow absolutely rocks. In addition to its innate +4 arrows, you can still fire normal arrows with it, and it retains its electrical damage.

So, for example, if you are firing +2 arrows (from your quiver),

/me refrains from using a TOB spoiler here.

your character is doing 1d6 damage from the arrows, in addition to 2 piercing and 1d8 electrical from the bow. And this is at THACO +6!!! I have had a character do 15 damage with only one arrow. (8+7) and you still get two shots per round minimum. Use arrows of piercing for even more damage and THACO +8
Or, combine with acid/fire/ice arrows for multiple types of elemental damage. The possibilities are endless.

(By the way, could it be a bug that the damage stacks with arrows from your quiver?)

Edit Here:

On a totally unrelated note, does anyone actually remember the codes for most or all of teh similies or do you just look them up?

[When you post, look to the left of the edit window for the link "Smilies Legend". Click on it. - BTA]

[This message has been edited by Blackthorne TA (edited September 27, 2001).]

 

k now that i know what the best type of bows are. where can i find the Gesen bow.

 

*spoiler*
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It has to be made from two pieces, and taken to Cromwell. The shaft can be found in the Tanner's house in the bridge district, while the string is in SpellHold IIRC.

[This message has been edited by Deano99 (edited September 27, 2001).]

 

Well I still see Short Bows as an alternative for Classes that can't use Long Bows or Crossbows. Of course the Short Bows are good but Compostite Longbows already give better Thac0 and more Damage then Short bows. In D&D they also have a better Range, I don't know if they also have that factor in BG2?

 

If you check the stats on Arrows of Piercing, you will find that they are +4 to hit, making them the best arrow in the game and also making the longbows useful.

 

Short bows get an extra +1 attack per round. That makes a big difference as far a damage per round goes. In BG2, long bows aren't implemented correctly, in that they don't always seem to give their innate (non-magical) boni to hit and damage. (ie. Manna Bow +4 should have THACO +5: +4 enchantment and +1 from being a long bow; it doesn't.) The extra attack per round allows characters an extra 10-15 damage per round with Gesen's bow, which is more than you get from a composite long bow's +2 per shot. High-level characters should almost never miss, anyways, so the extra +1 to THACO is almost irrelevent even if it is actually implemented. In short, attacks per round is probably among the most important stats for a character that already has a low THACO. Why do you think Belm is so popular as an off-hand weapon even though it's only +2?

 

Thieves can use crossbows too, I think.

 

No, thieves can only use short bows. Bards can use crossbows, though.

 

Thieves can use light crossbows too, i am sure.

 

Right you are. As it turns out thieves can use light crossbows, despite what the manual says.