Open Debate: Fire or Ice for Bow.

Mauler109 · Post by **Mauler109** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:52 pm

Recently having created a new character, I began looking at bow build guides for skills.
Two guides told same build, but one said fire and the other said ice.

I've personally decided to go with Ice as something new.

During one of the threads,a small debate opened on whether Fire or Ice and the usefulness of both.
Key Points brought up:
Fire gives the extra damage.

Ice is immune at higher levels, less damage.
Ice is having a boost with new skills to make it actually worth it.

So.
What's your opinion?

Calisto · Post by **Calisto** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:56 pm

Ice for players who don't plan on going over lvl 60
Fire for players who want to go over lvl 60

Mauler109 · Post by **Mauler109** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:58 pm

Why?
The bonuses coming for ice makes it desirable for 60+.

Back up your opinion.

Calisto · Post by **Calisto** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:09 pm

immunity to ice is around lvl 60, right? So, ice is the most powerfull imbue in pvp untill around lvl 60.

EllisD · Post by **EllisD** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:10 pm

Ice really has no use in the PvP aspect at this cap. Immunity is simple to gain so therefore you end up with the weakest of the 3 imbues, and a status effect that really has no effect (which can be said about the other status' also, because you can become immune to fire and shock also)

This can only really be determined by what they are going to do with the Fire Shield skill. As of right now, its a %, so becomimg immune is simple with a mid level fire shield skill, whereas if they changed it to the way people say its supposed to be, a reduction value instead of a %, then nobody will be able to be immune to anything and ice will have a big advantage in PvP (having it act essentially as a short stun)

If you are building a character solely for the future & 90 cap, then ice would be a very good choice, but you might have to suffer a bit with this cap (well, the PvP aspect of it) in order to get there.

EllisD · Post by **EllisD** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:13 pm

Calisto wrote:immunity to ice is around lvl 60, right? So, ice is the most powerfull imbue in pvp untill around lvl 60.

As soon as you can put 20% reduction on your accessories, with a 20% fire shield, you can be immune. Ive been out of 7th degree for a long time now so i cant remember what % resistance you can add to those jewels, so it might be low 50's that you can be immune.

bakafish · Post by **bakafish** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:18 pm

4-n-zics · Post by **4-n-zics** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:54 pm

Why not both (except for the extra SP needed and the mastery cap)?

NuclearSilo · Post by **NuclearSilo** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:35 pm

But before telling what force to choose, u should tell me what build is your char.

Str Ice means 0 mana while using new ice skill => Fire bow
Int Fire die fast => Ice bow
Hybrid phy bal < 75% => ice
Hybrid phy bal > 75% => fire

Mauler109 · Post by **Mauler109** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:53 pm

I'm not asking on opinion on what I should choose, but just talking about fire imbue and buff vs ice imbue and buff.

by the way, I'm going 70:70 build.

IguanaRampage · Post by **IguanaRampage** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:07 pm

70:70 i would recommend ice for the 90 cap because of the mana shield, imbue, phys defense and freezing skills, not to mention the cool nuke. But fire is just as viable an option, because it has a stronger imbue, mag defense, extra phys atk, and fire shield.
For this cap, I recommend fire.

aeq · Post by **aeq** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:01 am

EllisD wrote:Ice really has no use in the PvP aspect at this cap. Immunity is simple to gain so therefore you end up with the weakest of the 3 imbues, and a status effect that really has no effect (which can be said about the other status' also, because you can become immune to fire and shock also)

This can only really be determined by what they are going to do with the Fire Shield skill. As of right now, its a %, so becomimg immune is simple with a mid level fire shield skill, whereas if they changed it to the way people say its supposed to be, a reduction value instead of a %, then nobody will be able to be immune to anything and ice will have a big advantage in PvP (having it act essentially as a short stun)

If you are building a character solely for the future & 90 cap, then ice would be a very good choice, but you might have to suffer a bit with this cap (well, the PvP aspect of it) in order to get there.

EllisD how is ur build 2:1 in pvp and pve. i need ur experience cauz i m going to build 2:1 bowman

Post by **Stress** » Wed May 09, 2007 9:06 am

Erm... the new ice buff will only be useful for INT builds. If you plan on using ice, go with the 70:70 build. But then again, imbues are more important regarding the damage for INT then STR.

If you want to be full STR ice, your damage will be awful. I tell you this from personal experience.
What you need to know is the following: Bows rely heavily on cris in order to win a fight. If you don't crit, there is simply no way you can kill a blader/glaiver because they KD / Stun, KB all the time.
As a 70:70 your crits will be low, but you will fare well in the grinding / unique hunting aspects of the game.
PvP will be lacking seriously if you don't have good gear.
As for the 2:1 build it has it's own pros and cons:
You will crit relatively high, but also have decent regular damages. The downside is, you will lack HP.

Your choice... in my book this is the order:
1) pure STR fire
2) 70:70 ice
3) 2:1 Fire.

HertogJan · Post by **HertogJan** » Wed May 09, 2007 12:04 pm

I am leveling ice imbue up as we speak.

I have fire imbue and I use it the most, but you will be suprised how many people actually are NOT immuen to ice. Either they forget to cast fire shield, or have just plain bad luck in alchemy, they just arent immuen.

I have 2 exact the same bars, only on F1 i have fire imbue and on F2 I have ice imbue. I start of with ice in pvp, or when I can see they have fire shield up i start up with fire.

However, if I need to choose, I am picking fire, based on the fact that I am using more fire skills then ice skills so I would pick that tree over fire. With the new updates I have really no clue wich one I am going to keep.