Talk:Hornbow

I have a copy of the guildwars prima guide, which is now rather out of date. But acording to it, Horn Bows (and those like it, ie. ivory bows & shadow bows) have 10% armour penetration (see page 177, "Bow Comparisons"). All the other bows have 0% penetration. Should this information be added to the Weapon details information? Or would it be better to simply add it to the descriptions of these three bows? Nectarine 01:20, 23 October 2005 (EST)


 * A more important question is.: Is this information correct? i.e. someone who has a ranger (not me) should take a Horn Bow and a bow of similar stats and measure if on average he bow does higher damage against the same foe. I don't know if Rangers have something like Wild Blow where they can make their attacks constant. But it should show on average (i.e. hit the same type of monster 10 times with one bow, then the other) --Karlos 02:56, 23 October 2005 (EST)


 * Maybe try illusionary weaponry with bows :) --Melly 03:04, 23 October 2005 (EST)


 * That only works with melee weapons, and in no way reflects the damage of the weapon you're using. - Lunarbunny 04:44, 23 October 2005 (EST)


 * Oops haha, you're very right... I just thought of it because of the consistent damage :( but didn't think all the way through.... --Melly 12:51, 23 October 2005 (EST)

As a side note, the bows the Jade Bows drop are called Horn Bows, too. - Lunarbunny 04:49, 23 October 2005 (EST)


 * I'll see if I can get some statistics on it, it's pretty hard to get good results. There are no ranger skills which produce consistent damage (ie not rolled). Nectarine 12:42, 23 October 2005 (EST)

I have no proof, but im pretty sure it does 10% armor penetration. if the horn bow wouldnt be special in a way there wouldnt be this bow as a pvp-weapon. --HJT 12:48, 23 October 2005 (EST)


 * Agreed, the 10% pernetration counter balances it's slower fire rate. Whether or not it's worth it is debateable. The amount of extra damage this cause varies depending on the armour of the foe (it's more useful for higher armoured foes). Nectarine 14:50, 23 October 2005 (EST)

I've collected some evidence for this, tell me what you think. I had trouble finding an unenhanced horn bow, but I have a shadow bow (horn bow that looks pretty). Bows used were: Both bows are not customised.
 * level 20 ranger, with a marksmanship of 14.
 * Longbow of defense, Piercing dmg 15-28 (req marksmanship 12), dmg +12% (vs. hexed foes), armour +4.
 * Shadow Bow, Piercing dmg 15-28 (req marksmanship 11).

I wandered through old Ascalon.
 * Shatter Gargoyle:
 * Longbow: 114,114,114,114,114,134
 * Shadow bow: 116,116,116,124,124
 * Flash Gargoyle:
 * Longbow: 114,114,114,114
 * Shadow bow: 116,116,116,116,116,116
 * Crawl
 * Longbow: 47,47,47,47
 * Shadow bow: 52,52,52,52,52
 * Carion Devourer
 * Longbow: 78
 * Shadow bow: 82
 * Plague Devourer
 * Longbow: 118,118,118,118
 * Shadow bow: 71,120,120,120
 * Whiptail Devourer
 * Longbow: 85,85,85,85,85,85,85
 * Shadow bow: 88,55,88,88,88,88,88,88
 * Hulking Stone Elemental
 * Longbow: 57,57,57,57,26,57,57,57,57
 * Shadow bow: 62,62,62,62,62,62,62,62,62

I was suprised to see that they are mostly consistent damage amounts. I thought the damage range was a roll. Maybe because the foes were such low level? I was getting max damage always. There are a few descrepencies there, I think I wrote a few down slightly wrong, but there is definitely a small chance that you don't get max damage (with 14 marksmanship). The other thing to note is that the bow which did less damage, had a lower marksmanship requirement.. I don't think that is what caused the difference though. It would be hard to find two max damage bows with the same requirement, and no enhancements. People usually salvage them. So maybe not conclusive evidence? but it's a start. Nectarine 14:51, 23 October 2005 (EST)
 * Do you think we need more evidence then this and the prima guide? shall we add it to the descriptions? Nectarine 00:20, 25 October 2005 (EST)


 * I think it is fairly conclusive. Nice work, Nectarine. 148.177.129.213 00:59, 25 October 2005 (EST)


 * Yes, please the bows as necessary. I would recommend updating: Horn Bow, Ivory Bow and Shadow Bow as well as the article Bow itself with this note. This would explain why the Shadow Rangers do so much more damage. --Karlos 15:41, 25 October 2005 (EST)