[Suggestion] Add A Primary Bow-type Weapon

Pretty sure I already suggested this, but at the end of the day, I don't care.

Add some sort of longbow weapon (we already have a crossbow, the Hunter QCX, and I don't want another one) that fires either arrows or lasers. If it uses lasers, maybe it could be a heat mechanics based on how long you charge it? We could either get ES bows or a NS bow.

Remember watching Rogue One? There was the Jedi enthusiast that used a staff that turns into a bow, and the bow shoots laser blasts. I want something like that here.

Now I know what you are thinking. "This is future technology. Why would anyone need a bow? Why?" The answer is clear: Why not? I like niche weapons. I want a bow.

dont people hate infils enough though? atleast according to reddit

I was getting the bows out for a hunting trip the other day and thought this exact same thing. But how would you differentiate damage/mechanics from a bolt action? Maybe 1 body shot to kill, with a draw on click and fire on release that couldn't be done while cloaked? And a serious projectile drop? I think that might even be balanced for a stalker as a secondary. And as a secondary it could get more powerful alternate ammo than the crossbow, giving it a utilitarian role to supplement a primary.

I would not mind a bow too much. A faster attacking version of the Crossbow would be nice with a charge feature to turn it into a Sniper shot. I say that would be nice to have as special equipment, like the Light Assault has the Rocket Rifle. It would also be nice to be able to use it as an extended Melee weapon if you add a blade to it. Throwing it once it runs out of ammo would give it a fun feel. Both arrows and it should be retrievable. I mean what is good for the Gundam, is good for the Clone.

A bow would be an extremely low RoF weapon so to balance it should have an high DMG: it is automatically a "sniper rifle" kind of weapon, hence something to be used by an Infitrator.

To differentiate it from a sniper rifle it should have some special behavior or trait: I would design a bow as a one-shot-kill (yes, even bodyshot because the shaft will pierce armor and create some kind of electric shock or whatever), with a low speed (so high arc when shooting at distance), long reload time, moderate sights (e.g. max x4).

Basically an high-risk/high-gain infiltrator weapon, rewarding positioning, patience, timing and skills: and such a weapon would be a very niche one.

Ignoring the fact that this would mean we somehow have shields that can prevent death when getting hit by a tank shell, but not an arrow from a bow (not crossbow), wheres the risk?
Sounds like a PA shotgun with less range drawback that can be used by a class that can turn invisible to cover their approach.
Not in favour.

one shot cannons are already cancer, a oneshot bodyshot weapon for a class that can cloak .. just screw off with that idea ..
and i don´t care if you give it a high bulletdrop or requiring a high arc to be fired at .. because you basicaly allow the infill to get into effective range and even if a player detects the cloak he still can die if the infil gets the shot off, which is total BS ... you are asking for a weapon to do a 1000 or 1100 damage by default .. if the infil misses he just needs to cloak and crouch to be entirely invisible ..
.. i won´t even care about it if you give it a charge and holdmechanic ... screw the idea of it being a onebodyshotinfil(and infantry)weapon ..

For something like that, I would give it a Rambo feel. The bow would take like 2ice or 3 times as long to draw to maximum draw, (Say... 3.5 seconds) which would then activate the explosive tip. This will force the infiltrator to remain uncloaked for a decent amount of time. Anything in between is a variable damage and arc charge shot. One hit head shots start at half draw, no arc at maximum draw. Rocket propelled Arrows. Large Splash deals Half of the Lethal Damage. This will ensure missed shots give victims the opportunity to either flee, or try to defend themselves. Yaaaaaaaaas! As a side feature, The Rocket arrows engines can light dramatically, even produce enough light and noise to call attention at maximum. A small price to pay for such a damaging weapon.

The most important question is what it would bring to the table. It needs to be unique and worthwhile enough for use without being just another sniper rifle or something. I would make it a specialist fire support weapon.

Example: infiltrators get access to several spotting-type arrows. One is a large recon dart that when attached to a tank, MAX or aircraft reveals them as if by an engagement radar, making it easier targets until the arrow is removed by small-arms or explosives. Another arrow could work in tandem with another of its kind. These arrows stick to walls, floors and ceilings and if they have a LOS and are within range (say 20m) they basically emit an invisible laser between them and any enemy crossing that laser gets automatically spotted. The arrows show one of those short claymore lasers and have recon dart sounds to make them detectable.

This way a lot of support arrows are possible. From simply placing the class-specific grenade on an arrow and launching it for more range and accuracy (upon landing/hitting something it drops to the ground and acts like it normally would) to a way to deploy low-yield sticky explosives to walls for a small boobytrap to simply hitting someone in the face with a flashbang.
The class-specific grenade arrows could also have an alternate sticky fire mode, where you have more control over where the grenade will land and stay as it sticks to what you hit. Great for revive grenades that you want to land while you are at a safe distance, or if you want that concussion grenade through a doorway rather than impotently fly off to a random direction slightly in the direction you are looking.

Also imagine a canister arrow. You deliberately dont draw back the bow completely so the arrow is slower, then detonate the arrow mid-air to cause a shotgun effect to smash your enemy. Alternatively you fire it in a wall and detonate it as an enemy passes (which does require you to have your bow out probably).

Lots of options to enhance classes with such a tool. Medics that could fire a resupplyable amount of healing arrows so they dont have to cross dangerous distances, deploying traps, detection equipment or perhaps allowing players to create a passable shieldwall by placing 3 or more arrows close to each other... the list goes on.

If drawing the string took you out of cloak then that would be the balancing factor. Maybe the arrow would deal more damage the longer the trigger was held, the farther back the string was pulled, and after a full second of charge it could be a OHK to the body. Or maybe after 1.5 seconds a OHK through a heavy shield. That's quite a long time when even sidearms have a half second ttk against the body. And this is coming from a vocal opponent of infil carbines under ASP. I think it could really be a fun addition.

If you have to charge it (pull the string back) to full to one hit kill, you can't charge it while cloaked, and you only have one shot before your thing overheats, you are at a big disadvantage. However, I am gonna guess you guys can't read.

P-R-I-M-A-R-Y! I don't want another secondary bow. I want a primary bow.

It would be cool if, when you pressed 1, that your bow converts to a dual bladed staff. I feel that would get a ton of hate, but I'd love it! Being retrievable would be a whole new mechanics that can then be implemented into throwing knives too, but I don't know how I quite feel about that. If it is a laser bow, the arrows are non-existent. If it is a regular bow, then that goes along with the how I don't know how the community would react.

Maybe we could have arrows that are an EMP arrow, a spotter, and a sticky explosive arrow. To detonate the EMP and sticky arrow, you have to click 1. Imagine sticking them to a wall, waiting for enemies to come through, and detonating the arrows. AMAZING! However, you give up the ability to use the staff. Different types for different situations. Again, I don't know how the community would react.

For the most part, I care about your opinions, but here, with this idea, I simply do not. I want your feedback, because whether you like it or not, I am going to vouch for this idea right here, no matter what any of you say.

I. Want. My. BOW.

#BowsForPS2

P.S. If you don't like the idea of Infiltrators being the only ones to access this, well you are in luck. How bout we give each class their own class specific attachments for their arrows. As Demigan said, healing arrows for medics (still do damage to enemies), maybe resupply arrows for Engineers (still do damage to enemies), and so on and so forth. But what would it bring to the table?

What does any weapon bring to the table? A bow would be fun and exciting and niche, and it would enhance the gameplay. They would have to think about what else the devs could possibly add to top that. It inspires hope.

You only get one shot at full charge, at the charge where you can one hit bodies. I also opt for no sight attachments to further balance this. You only get crosshairs when you are aimed, so you gotta eyeball it for any range. Better?

I know you want your laser payload for the bow, but to me that is not really a bow. It is a gun shaped like a bow. I can sway with you on different arrowhead payload, including energy, but the whole purpose of the bow is for it to be stealthy, a bolt of charged particles tosses that to the wind. It needs a solid shaft arrow. You can fill the tips with anything, including Orange Juice. Hahahaha! And NO LIMIT to the number of DRAWS! I put my foot down there. A rounded 4 seconds timer to a full draw is punishment enough.

I get it, but this really screams stalker. Maybe there could be a primary bow with a quicker charge time, and a secondary bow that took longer to charge?

Especially when you can just fire into the thick of an enemy group this weapon would be too powerful if it OHK'd this way. I would do something like the arrow causing a shock in the target, increasing their COF and reducing their movement for a few seconds. It gives you time to fire another arrow (or use a sidearm), it functions well as a support tool for allies and with the wide range of other options like firing your grenades with precision and over range it would already fulfill its task very nicely.

i don´t care if it´s a primary or secondary or a toolslot weapon .. NO infantry ranged onebodyshotweapon .. you have heavy assault rocketlaunchers for that ...

Have you ever shot into a crowd before? I do it with a sniper, and I miss usually every time, so shooting into a crowd with a bow will do the same thing, pretty much. OHK seems fair if you only get one shot at full strength, hence why I vouch for a laser bow, Exileant. I want an overheat mechanic, because that changes how the weapon works. I am not against a real bow, but people on the test server would get the gun scrapped because it doesnt fit into the time zone. Not like I care about their argument there, but mixing sci-fi with ancient technology would seem appropriate to me.

The bow is the same freaking thing... Only difference would be more ammo or unlimited ammo, but it can't destroy vehicles or get a sight.

People would be extra mad if there was an OHK sidearm for Infiltrators. If they miss, they simply recloak, and since its silent, no blip. I think it would only be fair if you had more exposure than just 3 seconds.

Plus, Id much rather be able to have this bow and the Hunter QCX as a sidearm so you can be a bowman.

Like you said it screams sniper stalker, but I would not mind it also being able to fit in the primary slot. With the power I suggested it would certainly fit right in, however you would then have people complaining that now the infiltrator can have 2 quiet weapons, one of which is an instant body shot kill, Wah-wah-wah-dribble-dribble-dribble.... Hunch-hunch-extra equipment-belch.....

3.5 is a looooong time when you are firing at a moving target. That is plenty enough time, considering for that one hit kill the arrow's rockets activate, giving it a loud whistle and light source. The ones in Destiny are hard to use in the Crucible, and most of them have a 1 to 2 second draw time. The one that is a one hit kill only takes 2 seconds and it can see through walls. The one benefit is drawing does not remove the cloak, so if they made the mechanic to where only firing drops invisibility, you can make it longer.