Weapons & Equip Bow rework

[Cave Cultist]

Currently bows are pretty much just guns that use arrows instead of bullets.

Imagine if instead of just holding down fire and it automatically shoots for you, holding down draws the bow back and letting go shoots it like in Minecraft, this would also allow different bows to have super cool effects: some have quicker draw times, some have super slow draw times but shoot powerful arrows, some have different effects depending on how far you draw the bow back before shooting, the longer you draw back the more arrows it shoots at once, ect...

If you want to use the bows like normally, the repeater weapons still work like that and a repeater could be added to pre-hardmode

 

[Meowlegend]

Hell nah, this just makes them more sluggish to use and removes their satisfaction. Bows are, mechanically, good as they are.

Currently bows are pretty much just guns that use arrows instead of bullets.

Haha, no. Both of the weapon types are very different mechanically. To call bows "just guns that use arrows instead of bullets" is silly.

 

[HellHeater]

I'd love a charge-and-shoot weapon but no chance it should be with bow reworks.

 

[MoultonLava]

Some new bows with this mechanic would be cool, a good example is the Clockwork bow from Calamity.

 

[Aceplante]

Currently bows are pretty much just guns that use arrows instead of bullets.

Imagine if instead of just holding down fire and it automatically shoots for you, holding down draws the bow back and letting go shoots it like in Minecraft, this would also allow different bows to have super cool effects: some have quicker draw times, some have super slow draw times but shoot powerful arrows, some have different effects depending on how far you draw the bow back before shooting, the longer you draw back the more arrows it shoots at once, ect...

If you want to use the bows like normally, the repeater weapons still work like that and a repeater could be added to pre-hardmode

I actually made a post about this a while ago: Game Mechanics - Chargeable Bows

I completely agree. I want them to feel like actual bows, perhaps charged for even more single target damage, but lower overall dps than bullets, or other special effects. I listed a few ideas for what they could be in my post.

And, as I also mentioned in my post, this change would make repeaters feel more unique and different, and more of a worthwhile upgrade since they now autofire, unlike earlygame bows.

 

[TwentY!]

bows are pretty much just guns that use arrows instead of bullets.

bows have their arrows affected by gravity. guns do not. bows have more special effects for basic arrows, guns do not. bows are boring, guns are not.

 

[Clockwork17]

bows are boring, guns are not.

Reverse that and you’re correct.

 

[TwentY!]

Reverse that and you’re correct.

the only reason why I ever tried a ranged approach was because there was guns. I then died a million times in early hardmode while trying to use the minishark on expert difficulty because I didn't know the pheonix pistol existed. I never touched ranged class again.

 

[LisanPaez05]

I don't play Ranger since ages

I shall do it with this

 

[Hickory]

I don't think reworking an entire, large class of weapon this late into the game's life would ever be a good idea, and when it comes to this particular suggestion, it'd be quite a nightmare to balance. Bows are now far more sluggish, so they have to deal more damage. Now you have to balance around every bow having way higher burst damage. And late game, bows fire very quickly. Now you have to either completely redesign every late game bow to accommodate for the firing speed lost to having to charge each individual shot or give them charge speed so fast they're basically just the same as they were but without autoswing. And on that subject, I really don't think removing autoswing is a good idea.

 

[Aceplante]

I don't think reworking an entire, large class of weapon this late into the game's life would ever be a good idea, and when it comes to this particular suggestion, it'd be quite a nightmare to balance. Bows are now far more sluggish, so they have to deal more damage. Now you have to balance around every bow having way higher burst damage. And late game, bows fire very quickly. Now you have to either completely redesign every late game bow to accommodate for the firing speed lost to having to charge each individual shot or give them charge speed so fast they're basically just the same as they were but without autoswing. And on that subject, I really don't think removing autoswing is a good idea.

I dont see how it would be a balance problem. If you want higher single target damage, use bows. if you want autofire, use guns or repeaters. This change would give bows a fun and unique playstyle that actually feels like youre using a bow not just a glorified gun. For ideas on what charging bows could do, check out my post on the matter. I dont see why it would be that big of an issue. After using the bows for a little bit, youll get used to the timing on when to release each shot. Or, if you dont think you can handle that, I did suggest an accessory for that in my post that could help.

I like this becuase it would make bows unique and fun.

 

[Hickory]

I dont see how it would be a balance problem.

If every bow now has a new charge mechanic, every bow has to have its damage numbers and charge speed turned to make it in line with the intended DPS. And at that point you're just putting in more effort with a more complicated system for the same reward. This change feels the same to me as suggesting guns should have to reload. It just makes doing what every class in the game does by holding left mouse button a bit slower and require more inputs and make your fingers tire out faster. And again, what are you going to do with higher tier bows that already basically rapid fire as it stands? Either they get completely rebalanced around being slower or they keep their speed and now the charging mechanic doesn't do anything but turn off auto-fire because they charge so fast anyway. And what of unique bows like the Blood Rain Bow and Deadalus Stormbow? Those would feel far less intuitive and enjoyable to play if you had to charge up every shot you wanted to make rain from the sky. And if you didn't do that with them specifically now they feel even more estranged from every other bow.

A giant rework like this is not something that would happen this late in the game's life, and I think that's for the best.

 

[Yousef the H]

I don't get it
If bows are guns with arrows
Aren't guns just bows with bullets?
The idea of bows being "less unique" than guns or something is entirely just your thoughts clouding your mind, reworking almost all bows to be charged makes a lot of people who enjoy using bows just have to get accustomed to a new mechanic that a lot of people may not like, esp this late into the game's lifespan
it only can make sense as a special weapon but not entirely the whole sub-class, i enjoy using a lot of the available bows in this game, and a lot of the arrows have their effects intended with the quicker firing of arrows (holy and chlorophyte arrows come to mind), a lot of existing bows also wouldn't work, phantasm and daedalus for example. The idea if anything makes bows more similar to guns, if this increases their velocity then it's just guns with slower fire rate.

 

[Aceplante]

The idea of bows being "less unique" than guns or something is entirely just your thoughts clouding your mind,

uh. okay? Yes they are mechanically identical to guns right now. We are suggesting that should change.

reworking almost all bows to be charged makes a lot of people who enjoy using bows just have to get accustomed to a new mechanic that a lot of people may not like, esp this late into the game's lifespan

By that argument, we should never change anything, even for the better? Because we wouldnt want to change anything "this late into the game's lifespan". I, and others, feel like this would be a good change that would make bows more fun to use. If you want to autofire just use guns or repeaters. It is inevitable that some people are not going to like any change you make, even a good one that fixes an existing bug or issue.

it only can make sense as a special weapon but not entirely the whole sub-class, i enjoy using a lot of the available bows in this game, and a lot of the arrows have their effects intended with the quicker firing of arrows (holy and chlorophyte arrows come to mind), a lot of existing bows also wouldn't work, phantasm and daedalus for example. The idea if anything makes bows more similar to guns, if this increases their velocity then it's just guns with slower fire rate.

Its guns but you actually have to charge them, you know, the way bows word in real life *gasp*. I agree some bows may have to be reworked, but it would again be for the better, since it would make them feel less like just magic with ammo, or mechanically identical to guns, and overall way more fun to time and use!

Perhaps you missed it but I mentioned in exchange for now needing to be charged, they would do more damage as well. So, again, higher single target damage, but yes, "slower" fire rate than most guns, as it should be. They are bows, not guns.

 

[Meowlegend]

I completely agree. I want them to feel like actual bows

Now we have all the bows in the game be slow as and lose all their fun aspect!

(see this is why I don't think this should be done at all, often times something not being realistic is why those things are fun.)

 

[Aceplante]

Now we have all the bows in the game be slow as and lose all their fun aspect!

(see this is why I don't think this should be done at all, often times something not being realistic is why those things are fun.)

I disagree. As I have said, they are currently mechanically identical to guns. I and others are saying that it would be more fun if they behaved differently. This change may make them "slower", but in turn do more damage, making them actually feel like bows. I and others would enjoy that.

You could always just use guns and repeaters, since those would remain unchanged.

 

[Meowlegend]

I disagree. As I have said, they are currently mechanically identical to guns.

They are not. Many bows are a lot more unique than a lot of the guns in the game. Tsunami has parallel multishot, Eventide has the Twilight Lances, Stormbow shoots from the sky and Phantasm has variable firerate with a very satisfying on-hit effect (phantom arrows).

Compare this to guns, which aside from Onyx Blaster, Xenopopper and Vortex Beater, have nearly nothing unique in them. At best, they just have different stats and different bullet spread.


Ant then you have arrows, which are also mechanically different from bullets. They are affected by gravity, they have their unique accessories (Magic Quiver and it's tinkers) and arrows like Shimmer, Holy, Chloro or Luminite are eons more unique than whatever bullets are.


Also, you and a few others might like bows more with this idea, but there are also people like me who like them in their current state. And a large part of the community like them just as they are, too. A few people thinking otherwise won't change things, that's how it works.

You could always just use guns and repeaters, since those would remain unchanged.

All repeaters except Chloro Shotbow are just worse and lamer versions of bows, and hardmode guns are all lame except like, Onyx Blaster and Xenopopper. Bows IMO are cooler, more fun and better mechanically than those two.

Honestly bows might not need any changes at all, but I'd say guns should be changed. Like I said, almost all hardmode guns are just the same weapons with different stats and bullet spread degree, so TBH you should probably just improve guns instead.

 

[Rezerkity]

It'd be nice to have a few special bows that you can draw back and charge up for bonuses, but I wouldn't want it as a rework to all bows, because it'd be exhausting micro-managing firing the bow in the middle of combat.

 

[LisanPaez05]

This discussion is going nowhere

Mechanically both are just Left Click and fire a projectile, with the difference of one having gravity and the other not

The "more variety of arrows" don't think is applicable since both (bullets and arrow) have projectiles and weapons with special effects

I may say that both have moments where one is better than the other

I suggest make the "Hold and fire" thing be with the right click, like some items with a 2nd "attack"

 

[Aceplante]

This discussion is going nowhere

Mechanically both are just Left Click and fire a projectile, with the difference of one having gravity and the other not

The "more variety of arrows" don't think is applicable since both (bullets and arrow) have projectiles and weapons with special effects

I may say that both have moments where one is better than the other

I suggest make the "Hold and fire" thing be with the right click, like some items with a 2nd "attack"

Thats even worse becuase you can use both anytime with no tradeoff.

In case you all missed it, the "slower" firing rate both makes sense, since its a bow (if you want faster than use either repeaters or guns), it makes more sense and would help bows to actually feel like bows, and you would be rewarded for it with higher impact damage. These are the main reasons I like this suggestion. But just to clarify, I did mention in my post I'm fine with arrows being fired quickly by rapid clicking, they would just do less damage and have less velocity if you dont charge them, but again you would be rewarded for doing do.

So the only valid argument here is that "i dont like it", which ultimately comes down to a difference in opinion, whether you think the change is worth the benefits it would bring over the "downside" of "shooting slower" (even though you are rewarded for it). This isn't even my post, but I feel like I've made my case for why it would be a good idea and make sense, but you are welcome to disagree.

It seems a lot of you acknowledge they are basically "guns with gravity" but are against changing them regardless, even if said change would make them more unique and fun to use.