9 replies to this topic

[Schwarzseher]

Hey all!

I've been thinking since my lovely warrior is hanging around at 30 I should level her.
Now I've been playing with Sword/Axe for a while but it was not my cup of tea.
Then I tried the longbow...most fun weapon...period!
But is it viable later on? I refuse to go greatsword like 99% of the warrior community and would rather like to be like a ranger type character minus the pet.
Now the question is: "Endgame" viable? Viable for Orr? Viable for WvW? And if it were to be viable what other weapon would you recommend/what trait setup would you recommend?

I'll be looking forward to your answers =)

Edited by Schwarzseher, 04 November 2012 - 04:00 PM.

[typographie]

Longbow is viable, as just about everything is. It doesn't provide a particularly large amount of DPS, but its got some great support tools. Its the weapon I usually keep on swap in some of the builds I use as I find it way more interesting to use than a rifle. You can certainly avoid the greatsword if you want to (and I don't blame you), but I wouldn't recommend limiting yourself to the longbow.

If you could make a warrior feel like a ranger, it would mean Anet didn't do a very good job defining the classes. But in actuality I think they did. Even with weapons they share in common, like the longbow, they use completely differently. Maybe you should elaborate a little more on what, specifically, you liked about ranger?

[Schwarzseher]

I just like the range on rangers(pun not intended..). The pet in GW2 just does not feel the way I loved it in GW1.
Because of the pet I tried to make a ranged warrior since day 1 but I kind of let it go after I played some other classes(not the ranger^^).
Also I never meant to be bow only but rather be bow/something to help along this lines..maybe sword n board or something but I'd love to set my focus on the bow.

[Di-Dorval]

I guess you could go conditions warrior and use double swords with bow. Would improve the burning from the bow and bleeding from swords and would make for some alright dps. There is also traits that improve longbow range if you like long range.

[Jonnie Law]

Besides its range an AoE, the longbow is awesome for its ability to create a combo field.  I run it with GS and focus on a burn build.  You could easily run other weapon combos, though.  Sword and board would be pretty cool as you get two different leaps which will give you a fire shield when you go through you field.

[RDarken]

I don't know if it's something you could really use full-time, but you can absolutely swap it in and out as you desire. I've been in a PUG where someone admonished me for using ranged when he wanted me in melee range (I was, but pulled out to get my HP back), so you MAY have some difficulty.

You don't have to run GS if you don't want to (I don't run it and I do fine), but try different weapon combos for melee. We have so much available, there is bound to be something you'll enjoy.

[dawdler]

What would make the bow more or less "viable" exactly?

TBH I find the damage on it a little on the weak side to be used as a primary weapon. It complements a melee weapon to add that "first strike" or kiting capability, you can knock quite a bit HP off a mob before they even reach you. But the rifle is MUCH better against single target if you want a primary ranged weapon and use the melee as AoE backup when they get close and personal.

Also, skip the greatsword. IMO axe/axe is tons more fun

[MrCats]

It really depends on how you wish to play the profession.

The bow has an AoE, a cone burn, a blind and an imobolise as well as the AoE burn which acts as a great combo field for its F1 ability. In my opinion, the bow is a much more supportive weapon than a offensive one. Using it will work ok on your own but the bow is better used in a group. If you use the bow, you need to pick another weapon set you enjoy to compliment it. One of the reasons why some use the GS over anything else for that role is due to the high DPS the weapon can give you via Hundred Blades. While i use the GS myself with the longbow you may wish to try Axe/Shield. That is another favourite of mine.

Edited by MrCats, 07 November 2012 - 12:46 PM.

[Mootillay]

I'll be honest, I'm not sure rangers are really good at much of anything right now except dancing around with defensive tools and aoe snares.  Ranger in GW1 was a much stronger class, at least for the moment.  Condition spec. warriors(dual swords) are ok, you can do respectable dps with bleeds.. just keep in mind that you're usually not the only one in the group that can apply bleeds.  However, this will translate to more damage from burning via longbow skills.

[shiko]

The main weapon set up I would recommend is a Longbow/sword+horn combo, and stack condition damage. The bow, although it has great burst from both it's fan of fire(if you hit all 3 arrows) and arcing arrow, the fire damage it brings to the table is really nice. PvE wise, it is easy to have enemies sit inside the fire from your burst skill, but in PvP, you have your pin down, and I recommend having the bola utility to keep them inisde the fire if they remove the first snare. Next you have your sword, that applies 8 seconds of bleeds for the first two hits of the #1 combo, and there is a skill inside the arms tree to improve bleeding length applied by 50%. Also, with the sword, your burst skill has an immobilize that stacks up to 12 bleeds over its duration, meaning that you can single handedly have 25 stacks of bleed on your target for a short duration, if you use your burst, #1 combo, and crit bleed procs from the 5 points into the arms tree. In addition, your bow's dual shot, although not too great on damage, shoots two arrows giving it a better chance to proc your arms trait bleed. Next is the warhorn, which provides you snare removal, swiftness, and vigor, which is nice to have for any situation.

For this build, I recommend getting rabid or rampagers gear for maximum damage output.
Trait wise, 30 arms, 30 def, 10 tactics, or 30 arms, 20 def, 10 tactics, or 30 arms, 10 def, 30 tactics.
For any of these trait setup, get III in arms at least, and I inside of def.
IX inside of the arms path, goes well with I inside of tactics, especially when you hamstring with your sword, since you will already have a immobilize from your swords burst skill, pindown from longbow, and bola if you wish to have it. With all of these, you will gain fury > more crit > highchance to proc your 5 point minor trait in arms.



Other alternatives are running gun / longbow, double sword / longbow, or mace+shield / longbow.