*no spoilers please*

Regardless if there is a really good +100 bow later in the game or anything like that, in an objective sense, which is more practical for a PC to have, a bow or an xbow. I figure that practically every other NPC who can use a bow does, and Jan is the only one that I can think of that uses a xbow (and he has his own special one). And while the bow has twice the rate of fire, meaning more damage, you go through ammo a lot quicker and have to keep twice as much on you (esp. for long stretches). Therefore, without spoiling or taking into account things to come, what do y'all say?

Longbow... definitely... ... well, in my opinion at least.

For the PC I'd recommend long bows unless you don't want to keep certain NPCs in your party - since you don't want spoilers...
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1. Besides Jan, there's another NPC who already comes with proficiency in xbows.
2. There's just 2 NPCs who already have proficiency in longbows.
3. Someone in this game is very accurate with the short bows.

[This message has been edited by Kitty (edited 09-28-2001).]

The NPC with Xbow proficiency would never USE xbows anyway. Xbows generally suck and even in a historical (read: real life) sense they would be impractical for such a small party of adventurers. They were very much a support weapon for short range encounters and need infantry to use effectively. You get much the same thing in BG2 but the rate of fire sucks and other than the pure novelty of xbows (they sure look cool) they are worthless compared to short bows.

Baron Nocturna

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yeah, longbows every time.

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Longbows are better than xbows but slings are even better because you get your strength bonus and you can use a shield with them even though they don't fire as quick.

Although I'm not using misile weapons at the moment because I'm playing two fighter mages, a cavalier, a kensai/thief a fighter/cleric and a sorceror

I thought that there was only one *specific* sling that you got your strength bonuses with (not to put any spoilers in here)?

I think you're right on that one

I personally like Com. Long Bows coz of their Rate of Fire
they just seem so much more effecitve then Xbows

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Your best with a long bow rather than a cross bow. The baron is right. English long bow men slaughtered the genoese crossbow men. Longer range, quicker loading and more accuracy.I've done archery and its pretty fun . They also look better and I prefer using arrows myself instead of bolts.

Warby

let's not ignore the different types of ammo out there.

arrows: fire, acid, poison, piercing (+6), dispelling (awesome)

bolts: poison, stun/sleep (kuotoa/drow), lighting (4d4 dmg)

yet another vote for bows.