Mat bow or GM bow for Faith?

[Peccatum]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before in these forums, but I couldn't find any relevant information in my searches.

I'm going to make a faith runeword, but I've seen them made in both the mat bow and the grand matron bow.

I know the GMB does more damage, and the mat bow is faster. My main question is, which of the 2 factors wins out in the end? Does the faster speed make up for the lower damage? And vice versa.

Personally, it looks to me they'd be about the same average damage, when all is said and done. If I could get the pros and cons for both bows, I'd much appreciate the time and effort.

Thanks in advance.

[5Ws]

PvP: Matri.
PvM: GMB.

[Omikron8]

GMB

Mat is speed overkill, not enough damage

[Freezing Rain]

Use mat.. i used GMB and i was harassed for IAS, so i couldn' get enough FRW (ex. circlet has to have 45% ias)

[cassurai]

Use mat.. i used GMB and i was harassed for IAS, so i couldn' get enough FRW (ex. circlet has to have 45% ias)

It all depends on PvP vs PvM.

e.g. If you use Strafe (PvM) and "Faith" Mat you only need like 8 IAS for Max Breakpoint. Overkill.

[NeoStar]

But after the Fanat, and the 330% ED, 237% - 288% from Fanat depending on the level of it...

Does it really matter? Personally I would//will use a Mat bow simply becuase it seems like everyone and thier brother uses a GMB. Plus, the fact that I dont need anymore IAS to reach the last breakpoint... Allows you to basically use any other type of equipment you want without worrying about IAS.

Heh, bet thats just me.

Personally I can't wait to make my faith'er with an Atma's Scarab, Fort... possibly a kiras for res. I dunno. Much fun ^^ Cant await actually.

-Neo

[Omikron8]

So in pvm what are these godly gear choices that would be available to you?

No pvm gloves beats laying of hands and that has 20% IAS

Cat's Eye/Highlords are the ideal pvm bowazon amulets, since atma's rarely triggers and provides garbage secondary bonuses, each have 20% IAS

Only decent bowazon belt that doesn't have IAS is razortail

Fort has no IAS, agreed there but even with helm + armor slots having no source of IAS it is still easy to hit 8/2 strafe with a 12 aura faith GMB

[NeoStar]

So in pvm what are these godly gear choices that would be available to you?

No pvm gloves beats laying of hands and that has 20% IAS

Cat's Eye/Highlords are the ideal pvm bowazon amulets, since atma's rarely triggers and provides garbage secondary bonuses, each have 20% IAS

Only decent bowazon belt that doesn't have IAS is razortail

Fort has no IAS, agreed there but even with helm + armor slots having no source of IAS it is still easy to hit 8/2 strafe with a 12 aura faith GMB
With a Mat Bow with LoH as the only other sorc of IAS (for example), you'd hit the max breaking point right?

If you use Atma's (which triggers often enough, especially with strafe -- triggers almost as fast with Multi) but it actually stops you for a moment while amp casts, and alot of time it can happen multiple times becuase of pierce.

Have you ever actually used an Atma's Scarab? Yeah its got crappy second mods, but when that amp kicks in (kicks in enough on a buriza -- so imagine it with a -10 base speed bow) you will "pwn" anything. Anyways, I would rarely use a Cat's Eye on a Bowazon... I mean dont get me wrong, its nice, but I would rather use an Atma's and/or a Highlords. Plus, you could have a merc with reaper's toll, Decrep may only be half as effective as amp damage (in terms of extra damage), but its still pretty nice.

Just my ramblings. Can't wait to gather the runes for a faith mat bow ;)

-Neo

[Omikron8]

Eh i guess i'm just a lazy bastard when it comes to running with my character so i love any items with +run/walk (excluding enigma which i hate with a passion). This is why i hate taking cat's eye off of my bowazon even though atma's would give her a boost in offense. I guess in places like chaos sanc/RoF where monster HP approaches 100k each in an 8 player game an atma's would win out but for low player games or pit running or flayer running i'll just stick with cat's/highlords.

[SlainByPain]

GMB. Mat's damage is just too low.

[Evrae Altana]

I use GMB as well. Since I play PvM, a little less firing speed doesn't worry me. Plus, GMB just looks better.

[cassurai]

Eh i guess i'm just a lazy bastard when it comes to running with my character so i love any items with +run/walk (excluding enigma which i hate with a passion). This is why i hate taking cat's eye off of my bowazon even though atma's would give her a boost in offense. I guess in places like chaos sanc/RoF where monster HP approaches 100k each in an 8 player game an atma's would win out but for low player games or pit running or flayer running i'll just stick with cat's/highlords.

Agree that Cat's Eye = Godly Bowazon Ammy. One of the few items in the game designed for Bowazons ONLY. Honestly, I can't name another character that uses Cat's Eye.

And FRW is cool. It's fun when your Zon is level 60-ish and doing NM quests with twinking gear like "Harmony" bow + Cat's Eye + Sander's Boots for 70 FRW + Vigor Aura. When I did that everyone went "OMG who's that with Vigor aura". Heh.