Ok, so we've had the ranged nerf and the Devs aren't showing much intent towards reversing or reducing it so i think its time to accept it and move on to the next step in this change.....rebalancing of stats within the xbow and bow classes.
Currently the best bows are the cheaper lighter ones since they are accurate enough to just go for head shots. This obviously means that archers end up with more arrows (1 slot bow instaed of 2 slot) and more athletics (less PD needed). All in all once the rage quiters come back and adapt we'll just end up with lots of fast moving spamming archers paying very little upkeep and making a lot of cash. Xbows are a bit different but whilst i have the time I figure i'll do them too
So here goes:
BOWSShort BowPrice: 871
missile speed:
35weight: 1
accuracy:
95difficulty: 1
speed rating: 75
thrust damage:
14 cut
slots: 1
BowPrice: 2155
missile speed:
36weight: 1
accuracy: 96
difficulty: 2
speed rating: 72
thrust damage:
17 cut
slots: 1
Nomad BowPrice:
4087missile speed:
37weight: 1.2
accuracy:
97difficulty: 3
speed rating: 69
thrust damage: 20 cut
slots: 1
Tatar BowPrice:
6474missile speed: 38
weight: 1.2
accuracy:
98difficulty: 4
speed rating: 66
thrust damage:
23 cut
slots: 1
Horn BowPrice:
8896missile speed: 39
weight: 1.2
accuracy:
99difficulty: 5
speed rating: 61
thrust damage:
26 cut
slots: 1
Rus BowPrice: 9974
missile speed:
40weight: 1.5
accuracy: 100
difficulty: 6
speed rating:
56thrust damage:
29 cut
slots: 2
Long Bow
Price: 11100
missile speed:
41weight: 1.7
accuracy: 101
difficulty:
7speed rating:
51thrust damage:
32 cut
slots: 2
Overall the low end bows are generally nerfed and the high end bows are slightly buffed in order to creater a greater difference between each bow. The Longbow's buffs all round are balanced by upping it to 7 difficulty. I've not done anything to the Yumi since I believe it has skewed stats to discourage over use of it. Prices of the 1 slot bows have also been increased slightly to mirror their increased useage.
I'd prefer to see more varied and drastic changes to archery that take peoples style preferences into account - but they are complicated so a simple rebalance of bows would be good for now.
CROSSBOWSHunting Crossbow
missile speed: 42
weight: 2.2
accuracy:
81difficulty:
3speed rating: 165
thrust damage: 37 pierce
slots: 1
Light Crossbow
missile speed:
46weight: 2.5
accuracy: 83
difficulty:
6speed rating: 148
thrust damage:
49 pierce
slots: 1
Crossbow
missile speed:
50weight: 3
accuracy: 85
difficulty:
9speed rating: 122
thrust damage:
61 pierce
slots:
2Heavy Crossbow
missile speed:
54weight: 3.5
accuracy: 87
difficulty: 12
speed rating: 100
thrust damage:
73 pierce
slots: 2
Arbalest
missile speed: 58
weight: 3.7
accuracy: 89
difficulty: 15
speed rating: 78
thrust damage:
85 pierce
slots: 2
So overall some basic damage buffs to the heavier crossbows, some missile speed buffs to the mid range crossbows, some difficulty rebalances that won't effect much and a chage of the crossbow to 2 slots to prevent its use as a sidearm. These changes should make the mid tier Xbows useable again but won't bring them anywhere near what they had before.
The damage buffs used above for xbows may not be balanced against bows but a further stat buff to all xbows is easy enough to do in the future if it is though necessary. My aim was not to balance bow and xbows as classes, it was merely to balance the individual weapons within the 2 classes to make sure the more expensive weapons are still the most desireable.