Ranger Archive
Thread: Some Possible alternatives too the Ranger Bow
First let me say I like this idea, But 2 things bother me about it. First if you have ever spent time hunting with a bow. you will realize it's not really a stalking type weapon. It is best used from hunting blinds, with targets that come too you.targets that run quickly are hard to bring down with a bow. And you need too track down your prey as it bleeds to death.I was thinking A Gauss rifle type weapon, would be better as a stalking type weapon. in the Sci fi arena these are weapons that use electro magnetics too excellerate metal projectiles at incredible speeds. And they are quite silent as all you have is the hum of the electronics. and the projectiles could still be loaded with all the damage type effects you have suggested for the bows.
Second as an alternative too a ranger weapon i suggest we get a creature Damage bonus along with our creature to hit bonus. I think it makes perfect sence that we should use our vast creature knowledge to do more damage to creatures with what ever weapon we choose to use to hunt with.
Just my thoughts on the subject. thks for reading. plz post any comments i'd like too hear everyone's thoughts on this.
Outstanding! I would much prefer this over a bow. I think this is more in line with the technology of Star Wars.
A creature damage bonus would fit in nicely with our creature knowledge skills we've been building since scout.
It's a good idea, but then it would be crafted by Weaponsmiths.
We may be able to put a bow together, even a high tech compound bow, but there is no way Rangers are going to know enough about physics and weapon design to rig a gauss rifle.
Although I like the idea, I would actually prefer the Ranger Bow.
1) We would be able to craft our own arrows. Possibly adding venom to create multiple DOT effects first from the initial bleed, then the poison.
2) As you mentioned, when hit by an arrow, most animals run like hell. This could be the ranger version of Warning/ Threaten shot.
3) Bounty Hunters get the LLC, Commandos get their flame thrower, and the other weapon classes get some advanced weapon that only they can use.
4) The bow seems to be more in line with what SOE wants the ranger class to be
5) Can you imagine the hell we would get for having such an uber-gun?
I like being a ranger and i like being unique. I think that the composite compound bow would be a great perk for all of us.
Draknev
"First if you have ever spent time hunting with a bow. you will realize it's not really a stalking type weapon. It is best used from hunting blinds, with targets that come too you.targets that run quickly are hard to bring down with a bow."
Actually thisdefinition makes me want the Bow more. 
I'm a Melee Fighter, and I suspect the Hunting Blind won't be much use to me.
However, if I could use the Bow to take some potshots at my target before engaging, that would be excellent.
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Theconcept behind the Bow eventually evolved into a First Strike Effects weapon.
A Rangerwould use the bow to take a couple shots in the beginning (causing some special effect such as poison or bleed).
At which point a Ranger would switch to his regular weapon for the duration of the battle.
I like the idea of a bow, but I do think this idea could work just as well. I certainly would silence those who think that only fantasy characters would ever stoop to using a bow (it really doesnt matter at this point whether or not they have a valid point).
Some thoughts on this rifle:
I would not expect a Ranger to be able to craft the rifle any more than I expect the Ranger to be able to craft the Laser Rifle/DX2 many of us currently use. this would be an additional schematic for Weaponsmiths. In every other respect I would want such a rifle to work in a way similar to what we discussed for the bow. What I think would be cool would be for such a gun to allow for ranger crafted ammunition, much like what has been discussed for the bow. Let the ranger craft various ammo for the gun, including poison darts, explosive rounds, just as was suggested for the bow. This makes the gun less 'uber' and puts it more in line with the concept of a hunting weapon.
"what is a hunting blind?"
May I direct your attention to Holocron's Thread at the top of this forum.
BHallienates rifle and carbine, by this reasoning.
Fwad wrote:
While I like this idea...I don't want it. It basically alienates anyone who isn't a Rifleman/Ranger. What about those of us who are Pistoleers or Carbineers? Do we get a pistol or carbine version of this weapon?
No, the gauss rifle idea does alienate any Rangers that don't use rifles, including all the melee Rangers.
You're just going to pidgeonhole all Rangers into a rifle user role. While I am a Rifleman/Ranger, I don't agree that all Rangers have to be as well.
ok maybe using Gauss Rifle was a bad way to start. This weapon was availble in all types from pistols to carbines to rifles. the game i take this idea from was the RPG traveller. in fact i believe there was even a small hold out pistol type that was one shot. While the gun it's self was very techno. the amunition was very simplistic. It only needed to be made out of ferious metals that could be effected by magnetics. The type of amunition i remeber in the Traveller Game was Needle [small and did little damagebut could be posioned]. Serraded [did better damage but inflicted massive bleeding type damage]. Ballistic [did damage equilvent to modern firearms]. AP [armor peircing had shorter range but penetrated armor]. Explosive [had shorter range but did lots of damage from explosives imbeded in the amo]. And Thermal [was like shooting small thermite grenades].
So ineffect different types of these weapons could be used by all ranger with ant advanced ranged weapon skills. While i feel for my Unarmed ranger brothers. I believe the majority of us like too use ranged weapons to hunt. these would have to be crafted by WS's. But all the other special weapons are crafted by WS. For both commandoes and BH's. even if they gave us bow i am betting it would be made a WS craftable. For our unarmed Brothers and sisters i suggest Throwing Knives or hand held xbows.
But i beleive it would also be entirly feasible that we could craft the amunition for these weapons.
In closing i stated in my intial post i like the idea of the Bow i just thought of this as a possible alternative. You have done a great job as our Correspondent Nrras. I know you will still back something like this if it becomes a popular request in the community as a whole. Even tho it does not quite fit the skill combo you have taken along with your ranger skill set.
Yanno, the more you think about it, the better it sounds.
Who could be mad at us getting a bow. Wookies get a bowcaster, BHs get monster weapons, Commandos haul around an MLRS system... we get stuck with what the weapons people make... tho I love my pistols do not get me wrong. And as everyone knows Ranger are PvE only..(snicker snicker)... they can't get mad at a weapon that will work crappy or not at all on Players.
Only a Master Ranger gets the ability to make/use a bow. Maybe even throw in some metal or poly or something you gotta find that would make us go to an Artisan type to get this (wood even). Covered your class interdependence, as if camo kits don't already. We can make arrows (bone, metal or wood, give us a choice) and experiment on them (omg, the artisans are revolting now, masters of experimentation, like we don't get stations in our camps)
Like a bowcaster/LLC/tangler pistol etc other people could try and use the bow, at great minuses... ever use a bowcaster as a non-wookie??? I truly hate the message that comes up.
Coupled with the hunting blind, this would be a decent way to hunt...twack... the Ubermonster is hit in the buttocks with an arrow... and because the (de) Ranger thought to poison the arrow, he sits back an chills while said beastie dies. You wanna be really honest, no taking meat from a poisoned animal... or the OQ goes in the potty if you do use poison...Balanced huh??
XP-- who cares, this sounds like fun...
JB
(ok at one point I did say bows would be stupid, but that was before the hunting blind)