which is a better weapon in the game, bow, or gun?

[sir ice]

the bow allows reusable ammo, and you can make ammo, but its hard to make ammo(and the bow.) it has bad aim, lower damage, and is a hunting weapon that basically can't be used as defense. you also can't shoot it while crouching.

the gun has limited ammo that is not reusable, you can't make ammo, and both ammo and the gun are rare, (on certain maps.) it has better damage, decent aim, and is a quality defensive tool. you can shoot it while crouching.

if you were forced to choose, which would you remove?

ps: im not asking to remove any... I'm just asking a random question.

[vimrich]

The Gun is the hunting equivalent of canned food. In the early game, before you start to live off the land, you really need it to survive. As you get established (particularly the crafted clothing) and learn animal patterns, you need it less and less, then switch to the bow.

This question is like asking, which food is better Peaches or Venison?

[selfless]

Gun is better. Powerful and limited. Transitions player from scavenger to hunter quickly, then right back to scavenger.

Avoiding bows will help many players to experience more immersion and living in this world by countering their desire to dominate it.

[Aduron]

I'm awful with the gun, and quite a decent shot with the bow. I always build the bow ASAP and leave the gun stashed somewhere to basically never use it again. My vote is for the bow, hands down!

[ChillPlayer]

It depends on what you are doing. You have a higher insta kill chance with the gun when you sneak up behind a wolf, at least in my experience. But when trying to kill a wolf that is charging you right before the handfight begins, the bow is more reliable. Just draw, point down and when it's head get's infront of the arrow, release

[vimrich]

Wow, some good bow hunters here. I'm at day 148, still takes me 4 to 6 shots to hit a wolf - from behind, while he's eating, and not moving at all. I tried to hit a bear from the front porch in PV with the bow, almost point blank and still no good. How do you miss a bear that takes up almost a quarter of the screen? With the bow.

I keep the gun around to take out a bear. Never miss with the gun because you can see where you're aiming.

With the bow, I hunt and practice, watch videos of others showing how to do it, still nothing. Once every six shots or so I hit something close to what I was aiming at, no idea why as it feels like I'm doing the same thing every time it missed. Total mystery.

But, I have enough saplings for 6 more bows, so who knows, by day 200 maybe I'll get one in three shots to hit something.

[Bill Tarling]

I personally prefer the bow. I rarely use the rifle, and more often end up leaving it behind most of the time The rifle weighs more than I feel like carrying - prefer to use that weight space for slower fatigue and carrying more important supplies around if needed.

Rifle for me works better for close up emergencies, but I use the bow for all my long distance shooting and hunting.

I also use the bow to scare off wolves when I need a travel path cleared. I just shoot close enough to them so they'll run off while I pass (better than shooting them since this way I don't need to worry about losing the arrows) -- I just aim slightly to the side of them.

[sir ice]

I personally prefer the bow. I rarely use the rifle, and more often end up leaving it behind most of the time The rifle weighs more than I feel like carrying - prefer to use that weight space for slower fatigue and carrying more important supplies around if needed.

Rifle for me works better for close up emergencies, but I use the bow for all my long distance shooting and hunting.

I also use the bow to scare off wolves when I need a travel path cleared. I just shoot close enough to them so they'll run off while I pass (better than shooting them since this way I don't need to worry about losing the arrows) -- I just aim slightly to the side of them.

il use that, smart strat. i just crouch my way through

[MueckE]

i am not so good with the bow so i basicly only use the bow for killing a bear from a close distance (than go to sleep and let him bleed out). When i have to chose to shoot alot arrows at a deer and miss it, shoot wolves and get attacked and all the arrows get damaged, and one-shot a bear to get 50 days from one save shot, i chose the bear

The gun i only use for fluffy or emergencys, not for hunting. The current mechanics allow you to kill a wolf

with your hands savely - so i prefer the infinite use of my hand instead of limited bullets :mrgreen:

[ChillPlayer]

I also use the bow to scare off wolves when I need a travel path cleared.

that's actually quite clever In the rare instance I chose to only scare a wolf away I usually wasted a bullet - but then, the last time I did this there was no bow in the game. I'll definitely try this out.

For those having troubles with the bow, what I described in my earlier post is really a fool proof method to kill a wolf, I'll try to be more precise:

1. get attention of the wolf so it starts running/walking towards you

2. when it's about 10-15m away from you, draw and aim 1-2m in front of you to the ground

3. when it's head passes the imaginary line between arrow tip and ground, release and feast

But remember that your fatique level influences how much you sway from left to right with drawn bow, don't go hunting when you are already tired or wait with the draw until the wolf is 4-5m in front of you.

Also when you have already drawn and it decides to walk again 10-15m away from you, keep the bow drawn and don't cancle. If you cancle and want to draw again, chances are high it will start running again, not leaving you enough time to draw again. With some practice you'll get the timing right, my success rate is around 95%. Worst case you end up in a handfight with the wolf already down to 25% or so.

[octavian]

The game favors the bow because arrows are not affected by wind, for whatever reason, but I prefer the rifle, I can get it pretty much as soon as I spawn and I just never find a good reason to wait around for the bow to cure; and there is enough ammo on the maps to last me a heck of a long time.

[Scyzara]

I'm almost solely using the rifle because I have severe trouble to aim precisely with the bow. Guess I could learn it if I was willing to spent a few hours practising, but to be honest I don't see the point in that atm.

Unless you're really trying a leaderboard run (and thus want to make use of all kinds of ammunition), the amount of rifle rounds is more than sufficient to last you hundreds of days.

In other words: Unless rifle rounds become much more scarce I don't see the point (for me personally) to bother with the bow. For both hunting and self-defense the rifle works just way more reliable for me.

I'm occasionally shooting the bow for fun (e.g. when I'm not really in severe need of food but want to practise aiming a bit), though.

[sir ice]

I'm almost solely using the rifle because I have severe trouble to aim precisely with the bow. Guess I could learn it if I was willing to spent a few hours practising, but to be honest I don't see the point in that atm.

Unless you're really trying a leaderboard run (and thus want to make use of all kinds of ammunition), the amount of rifle rounds is more than sufficient to last you hundreds of days.

In other words: Unless rifle rounds become much more scarce I don't see the point (for me personally) to bother with the bow. For both hunting and self-defense the rifle works just way more reliable for me.

I'm occasionally shooting the bow for fun (e.g. when I'm not really in severe need of food but want to practise aiming a bit), though.

interesting, do u keep the bow for practice when ur bored?

[Scyzara]

interesting, do u keep the bow for practice when ur bored?

I'd rather say I practise when a good opportunity arises. E.g. if I come across a nearby rabbit or deer by chance while foraging, I might try to sneak up a bit and attempt to shoot them. Following the bloodtrail is a nice variation in daily routines (if I hit at all^^). *

I've also occasionally used the bow in self-defense against wolves in cases when I didn't mind getting jumped.

Anyway, when real mid-game boredom sets in (usually roughly around day50 for me), I just start a new game.

* For "serious" meat supply I use the rifle to shoot bears or wolf-deer combos (which usually drop dead instantly). Thus I don't have to follow their blood trails.

[sir ice]

interesting, do u keep the bow for practice when ur bored?

I'd rather say I practise when a good opportunity arises. E.g. if I come across a nearby rabbit or deer by chance while foraging, I might try to sneak up a bit and attempt to shoot them. Following the bloodtrail is a nice variation in daily routines (if I hit at all^^). *

I've also occasionally used the bow in self-defense against wolves in cases when I didn't mind getting jumped.

Anyway, when real mid-game boredom sets in (usually roughly around day50 for me), I just start a new game.

* For "serious" meat supply I use the rifle to shoot bears or wolf-deer combos (which usually drop dead instantly). Thus I don't have to follow their blood trails.

cool! i got bored at day 164 or something. i was is pilgrim mode;D there was nothing to do.