Difference between revisions of "Bows"

Revision as of 07:33, 31 October 2010

Short bow dropped.

Bows and Crossbows are common item finds in Diablo III, and are a weapon type the Demon Hunter specializes in using. They are not class-specific, other than the Pistol Crossbow, and any character can use them, though only the Demon Hunter has special skills to take advantage of bow and xbows.

Bows and Xbows Concealed

A bow as an item drop, March 2010.

While a short bow was seen to drop in the WWI June 2008 gameplay movie, no other bows were seen in-game until Blizzcon 2010. There were no bows or ranged weapons of any type available in the Blizzcon 2008 and 2009 demos, presumably deactivated from dropping since Blizzard wished to keep the item types out of sight until the Ranger.

At least so it was thought; a bow was sighted[1] in a screenshot[2] from March 2010, but only after the Demon Hunter was revealed at Blizzcon 2010. No special insight was required to notice the bow; it was just in a dark corner of a screenshot and hard to see. Most likely Blizzard didn't notice it either, else they would not have released the shot at a time when the fifth character was still far from being revealed.

Archer NPCs

While no bows were seen in drops or equipped by characters before October 2010 and the Demon Hunter's debut, they were not missing from the game. Various NPCs have been seen using bows, including wandering NPC warriors in the WWI 2008 gameplay movie.

Leah was also shown holding a bow in town in the Caravan screenshots released in August 2010. It's unknown if she ever accompanies the player into combat, or is just a sort of apprentice Rogue who only holds the bow for status points while in town.

Archer Monsters

Skeletal Archers are common enemies in Act One screenshots. It's unknown if there are higher level monster archers found later in the game.

Bow Images

Prior to the Demon Hunter, the only bows seen equipped were by monsters and NPCs. A few examples are included below.

Skeletal Archer in action.
NPC Archers assist the Barbarian.
Deckard Cain and a bow-packing Leah.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Item-short-bow1.jpg|thumb|150|Short bow dropped.]]
-No bows or crossbows have been seen in use by players thus far during Diablo 3's development. There were none to be found or obtained during the playable demos at Blizzcon 2008 or 2009.
+Bows and Crossbows are common item finds in Diablo III, and are a weapon type the [[Demon Hunter]] specializes in using. They are not class-specific, other than the [[Pistol Crossbow]], and any character can use them, though only the Demon Hunter has special skills to take advantage of bow and xbows.
-Bows have been seen in the game; one was dropped during the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay video, but the Barbarian in that movie  did not pick it up or use it.
-Bows have been seen in use by monsters and [[NPC]]s. [[Skeletal archer]]s for instance, and there are some human archers seen escorting [[Cain]] in the WWI 2008 gameplay movie.
+==Bows and Xbows Concealed==
+[[File:Item-drop-bow1.jpg|frame|thumb|A bow as an item drop, March 2010.]]
+While a short bow was seen to drop in the WWI June 2008 gameplay movie, no other bows were seen in-game until Blizzcon 2010. There were no bows or ranged weapons of any type available in the Blizzcon 2008 and 2009 demos, presumably deactivated from dropping since Blizzard wished to keep the item types out of sight until the [[Ranger]].
-==Archer Character?==
+At least so it was thought; a bow was sighted[http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784100] in a screenshot[http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3661&title=wd-and-mongrel-vsske&cat=560] from March 2010, but only after the Demon Hunter was revealed at Blizzcon 2010. No special insight was required to notice the bow; it was just in a dark corner of a screenshot and hard to see. Most likely Blizzard didn't notice it either, else they would not have released the shot at a time when the fifth character was still far from being revealed.
-It is widely expected that the [[fifth character]] will be a specialist in bows and perhaps all types of ranged weapons, and that the development team is holding such item types out of the game until that character is revealed at [[BlizzCon 2010]]. This may prove to be untrue, though.
 ==Archer NPCs==
-Various [[NPCs]] have been seen using bows. Several wandering NPC warriors were seen using them in the WWI 2008 gameplay movie. These [[archer]]s attempted to accompany [[Deckard Cain]] and the [[Barbarian]] through the dungeon, but were picked off one at a time by various monsters.
+While no bows were seen in drops or equipped by characters before October 2010 and the Demon Hunter's debut, they were not missing from the game. Various [[NPCs]] have been seen using bows, including wandering NPC warriors in the WWI 2008 gameplay movie.
-[[Leah]] is seen holding a bow in town in the [[Caravan]] screenshots released in August 2010. It's unknown if she ever accompanies the player into [[combat]], or is just a sort of apprentice [[Rogue]] who only holds the bow for status points while in town.
+[[Leah]] was also shown holding a bow in town in the [[Caravan]] screenshots released in August 2010. It's unknown if she ever accompanies the player into [[combat]], or is just a sort of apprentice [[Rogue]] who only holds the bow for status points while in town.
@@ Line 26: / Line 25: @@
 ==Bow Images==
-The only bows seen so far have been equipped by monsters and NPCs. A few examples are included below.
+Prior to the Demon Hunter, the only bows seen equipped were by monsters and NPCs. A few examples are included below.
 <gallery>