Difference between revisions of "User:Zosymandias/MasterBowTable"

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The Bow Table

At this point we’ve got everything we need to prepare a table or spreadsheet of data. This table shows every combination of bows possible in the game. For comparison purposes, it also includes the bows available via purchase or quest within the game. Note that all cost values are shown in coppers.

Bow Table Analysis

• STORE-BOUGHT BOWS

The first thing that jumps out is that the store-bought bows are a VERY bad deal for the money. New players of course don’t know this and buy those bows anyway (I know I did), but it’s clear that even the most basic bow is much cheaper and much more damaging than anything in the store.

• DAMAGE RATIOS

When I first started playing I just assumed that highest damage was the desirable weapon characteristic. So why would the more advanced components actually reduce damage? The answer of course is that delay plays a key part in the combat model. In general what is of most interest is the damage ratio, or damage / delay. This value represents the rate at which damage is dished out, and higher values are better. Although the more advanced bow components are reducing damage, they are also reducing the delay, with the result that the damage ratio is (usually!) increased with their use.

• HIGH DAMAGE RATIO, OR BIG FIRST STRIKE?

In general the argument that a high damage ratio yields a better weapon is based on the assumption that the weapon will be used multiple times, over and over, during combat. With bows this isn’t always the case – if you are playing in an area where you can’t get off multiple shots before you get into melee combat, it may indeed be better to go with one or two hits at a higher damage value. It’s a matter of combat style and situational tactics. So don’t fall into the trap of mindlessly lusting after that high damage ratio bow, you may indeed be better off with a rough staff and hemp string!

• HICKORY AND ELM

In general the system yields a very logical progression of higher damage ratios with the more advanced components. However, with a Hickory staff the Hemp string yields higher damage and a higher damage ratio. Plus, it’s the least complex bow to build. The Hickory/Hemp combination seems the clear winner in the Hickory category, although one small attraction with the faster bow is that you may get off more shots with it, and thus increase your archery skill at a faster rate.

The Elm staff yields essentially identical damage ratios for all combinations of components, so there’s not much to differentiate between the various options. One attraction of the Carved Elm/Silk combo is that with a delay of only 39 it is indeed the fastest bow in the game!

• CAMS AND TOOLS

It is possible to make an oak or darkwood compound (cammed) bow without also using one of the shaping tools. From examination of the table, it doesn’t seem like a particularly cost-effective option, since building a rough compound bow yields very nearly the same stats as building one using tools but no cams. However, the data is presented for completeness.

One interesting note on the use of the knife: It is definitely NOT cost effective to use it without also using silk, since the exact same statistics modifier from using the knife can be had at much lower cost and complexity simply by improving the string.

• THE BLESSED FAYDARK THUNDERBOLT

The Blessed Faydark Thunderbolt bow can be crafted by Wood Elven fletchers, using the wood elf cultural fletching recipe found here. (Shouldn't be ingame yet on p1999, can anyone confirm?)

• TRIVIAL SKILL LEVELS

Similar to arrows, the complexity of a given bow is driven by its most complex component. When combining various combinations of components to create a bow, the game examines each component and uses the complexity value of the most complex component to determine the final complexity rating of a given bow.

The values presented in this table represent the work of many fletchers. Occasionally for some reason it seems that some very slight variations in the trivial values can occur between players. A few of the more advanced bows are listed with best-guess trivial values, but these should be taken as guesses only.