Bocek Bow Analysis [updated]
TL;DR: The bow is too quiet, does too much damage, and has tactical advantages that profoundly imbalance gameplay. [Note: Having put in more hours and games with the bow, I'm reposting with edits.] ...
Forum Discussion
@Laminiae Thank you. I've been designing stuff for the better part of two decades, and definitely appreciate your appreciation 😉.
I like the "charged arrows" idea. This being an "arcade-y" syfy-type game, the IRL characteristics of bow-fire probably don't matter much. I definitely agree that the "screws need to be turned" a bit: the crux here is a central unsolved UX problem of tactical oppression. Adding a setup cost for high bow damage would be a cool solution.
A "clip limit" without a new model shouldn't be too big of a hassle. HZD clearly shows that quiver limits work just fine without rendering a physical quiver, rack, or "clip" of arrows while in FPV. HZD also has better, more informative sci-fi bow-fire sounds.
Respawn are clearly cognizant of these types of issues: they designed their "rail-gun" with a warning shot, and ended up aggressively constraining it's clip size and damage potential.
I suspect those currently in charge of bow design rollout are too married to an original concept. At some point, they'll have to give ground: they can keep the tactical advantages or the damage, but not both.
Either way, this quiet bow is disruptive to the overall experience (it's got everyone I play with on edge, and threatening to quit). I really hope they issue a proper fix before mid-season. It's apparent that AL doesn't accommodate robust stealth or cover-fire mechanics compared to others like Deus Ex, and many 3rd-person shooters.
I like the "charged arrows" idea. This being an "arcade-y" syfy-type game, the IRL characteristics of bow-fire probably don't matter much. I definitely agree that the "screws need to be turned" a bit: the crux here is a central unsolved UX problem of tactical oppression. Adding a setup cost for high bow damage would be a cool solution.
A "clip limit" without a new model shouldn't be too big of a hassle. HZD clearly shows that quiver limits work just fine without rendering a physical quiver, rack, or "clip" of arrows while in FPV. HZD also has better, more informative sci-fi bow-fire sounds.
Respawn are clearly cognizant of these types of issues: they designed their "rail-gun" with a warning shot, and ended up aggressively constraining it's clip size and damage potential.
I suspect those currently in charge of bow design rollout are too married to an original concept. At some point, they'll have to give ground: they can keep the tactical advantages or the damage, but not both.
Either way, this quiet bow is disruptive to the overall experience (it's got everyone I play with on edge, and threatening to quit). I really hope they issue a proper fix before mid-season. It's apparent that AL doesn't accommodate robust stealth or cover-fire mechanics compared to others like Deus Ex, and many 3rd-person shooters.
Agree with almost everything nebwise. It just got a deserved nerf, I don't think it's enough but only have 1 match under my belt with that change.
I like the quiver idea. As you point out, it's endless magazine is a huge benefit over the other sniper and marksman weapons.
It shoots way too flat. It's a bow, if the damage is still going to remain as high as it is, then at the least needs slower speed and more arc.
The fire rate is too high with it's damage output.
It's quiet, but that's the idea with a bow. But to make up for that tactical advantage, it should be much less powerful than conventional arms in other areas (damage, ROF, projectile speed).
I've used it quite a lot Season 9 since it was so powerful.
- @Gator762FMJ Yeah, "quiet" is an essential part of most folks concepts of a bow. That doesn't mean it fits AL gameplay. Good ideas often don't work IRL. How any of us feel about how bows should sound is irrelevant to whether or not near-silent weapons fit the AL meta.
No-one can completely predict how the Bocek works within the complex space formed by game mechanics and emergent player behavior. We can simply observe, and the current consensus is that playing against the Bocek royally sucks.
I know it makes me, and my squad-mates, anxious and on-edge. A big part of that is that the bow is too quiet. I know the bow is "broken" because I hit 2k on day one with Valkyrie, and can observe what happens to my squad when we get pushed with bow-fire.
There's no "making-up" for that emotional and cognitive collateral that comes with an effectively-silent weapon. It is what it is, and you balance it by adding more feedback: signals that clue other players as to when/where the shots are coming from.
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