I've read a lot of threads where posters have speculated and debated the appearance of bows in fable 2. This isn't another one, but while I was reading the previews, a certain line in gamespy caught my eye: "Molyneux asserted that this same level of complexity and depth is not limited to just melee combat, as the other buttons on the face pad give you similar options, except those are devoted to ranged combat, bows and guns, and magic." Bows and Guns being the key part of that quote. I'd like to know what you think or know about the subject. Have bows been confirmed or is it just gamespy twisting Peter's words?

yep peter himself mention bows so. they are in.

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It's confirmed that bows will be in the game. Just check out the video at gamespot, so you can hear the actual words from PM for yourself! Link is here: http://www.gamespot.com/video/927246/6174526/videoplayerpop?rgroup=e32007_videos

woo thanks guys! that's ace, it's made my day.

It's true. Bows are indeed in so celebrate archers everywhere.

Yay! I am a bowman, myself. I hate crossbows and I'm usually not a fan of muskets.

same with me... even though modern crossbows are pretty badass

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Now lets all try to work out why it was considered worth keeping secret.

cause they are evil and wanna keep us guessing XD

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Y'know, every other time the devs post something, I can't help but think they're being sarcastic...Like they're just messing with the n00bs.

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OMG I <3 dis gaem guys!

They were not kept secret. They were just not mentioned officially until now.

the guns are also really simplistic and unadvanced, bows at that time were more effective.

except for the fact that it took 2-3 minutes for an expierienced gunman to reload guns at that time

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That is true, but from what we saw in the dog video it didnt look like loading times would be very long.

I've started playing Fable 2 recently, and it's during times like these that you discover and find out a lot of new things about the game. Now, I think I'm quite privileged to get this opportunity, most of you won't be able to play the game until it's finished - so it's only fair for me to report on my findings by means of community updates, video diaries and of course, posts like these on forums. Of course, there are always the PR overlords looking over my shoulder but bleh...most of the time I just ignore them.

So what's the reason for this post, I can hear you ask. Well, my friends, I have to give you a small update on the topic of bows in Fable 2, after finding out that there has been a slight change in the design. Bows just don't work in Fable 2 and so, there won't be any in the final game (OK, never say never, but at the moment there won't be any bows, and if it changes, I'll let you know).

Bows just don't work in Fable 2, for numerous reasons. Probably the most important reason why not, is that it's just silly. These aren't the composite bows that we have now (anno 21st century), these are quite basic wooden long- or short bows. Now, it's one thing to have ranged combat in Fable 1 with bows and taking out a bandit from afar, but when that same bandit in Fable 2 has a steel blunderbuss shooting at you, a wooden arrow just doesn't really cut it. Crossbows are a different story, they are much more accurate and powerful, so they are still in Fable 2 (and we can also technically advance them). We've increased the number of ranged combat weapons that we have (so it's not just guns) but none of them futuristic models of course, all based on models that fit the setting, theme and time of Fable 2. I found that most of the time when I pulled out my bow and tried shooting a bandit from a distance, he'd pull out his blunderbuss and just take me out in a few shots, while I was still trying to aim with my silly little bow! Ha ha ha.... So yeah, they don't work and won't make it into Fable 2. That was my small update for the day!

Aww Damn, I wanted longbows ... I've never liked guns as much or hopping about loading the cross bows, and if I get into close combat somebody might cut up my pretty face....

Thanks Sam,

 

The sooner we find out something has been cut the better. I know some players will miss not being able to play their old favorite RP, but F2 looks like it will be adding tons of new RPs to invent and play.

 

I sure there will still be stealth range weapons, just not bows. Spear guns, whaling harpoons, cross bows, blow dart guns, are just a few I can imagine myself RPing.  

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Sir Voor:

The sooner we find out something has been cut the better. I know some players will miss not being able to play their old favorite RP, but F2 looks like it will be adding tons of new RPs to invent and play.

That's the idea behind it, have sort of an open development (that's what the blogs are for as well) and keep you posted on changes you've been talking about (if it's a big thing, and bows have been in the past). Remember we showed concept art for them in the video diary so yeah...

If bows ant in F2, then what about shields? *There is probably a topic about this already posted somewhere and I have probably had already seen it…*

The timeline for when guns where introduced, shields would be a thing of the past. But didn’t Fable fans want shields in F2?

 

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scottishbrew:

the guns are also really simplistic and unadvanced, bows at that time were more effective.

Not really, Flintlocks were a lot more effective, they could pierce through armor, arrows couldn't.

@ kevingleich91

It did not take  2-3 minutes for an experienced rifleman, more like 2 shots, sometimes even three in a minute. Depending on how experienced they were.

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"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property...Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them." (Thomas Paine, Thoughts On Defensive War, 1775)

So wait... I'm kind of confused by sam's post. He said that there are bows but they are really ineffective. But he also said that they aren't in at all. Which is it? Ill be really upset if bows aren't in at all. I hate crossbows and some people still used bows at that time so i think they should be in.

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This may have been already mentioned but will there be bayonet guns? or guns with sharp pointy metal at the end to bludeon people to death. That way you could shoot reload shoot when he gets close wammo hes bleeding like a fountain! muhahahaha

Also bows were in during guns of that nature but they were normally less prefered. The guns shot farther and if you were shot there was almost nothing you could do but bleed or get amputated.

Also also shields were during the times of guns. But the huge block/ circular shields were not preferred as they were so bulky. Most shields were smaller (bucklers) in the time of guns. But shields were ineffective against guns.

Last thing are there going to be spears and halberds (sp)?

Sam:

So yeah, they don't work and won't make it into Fable 2. That was my small update for the day!

 

That makes sense. Seeing as how the setting is 500 years into the future, I would imagine people would have started working with gunpowder and guns by then.

 

Bows against guns would simply not work against each other, as Sam mentioned. Not only must you have to charge up your bow, but you must aim at the target with presumably wooden arrows.

 

And here we have guns that, quite possibly, have a faster firing rate, higher accuracy (though not entirely accurate), and that shoot bullets, not wooden arrows. The speed a bullet travels would also affect the rivalry of a bow and a gun.

 

I admired bows and enjoyed using them thoroughly in Fable. It seemed very well done and such, but at times there would be the normal bandit who would hardly charge his arrow only to make your character flinch when charding up his own bow. Meaning, he would instantly aim and hit you most of the time, which made using bows somewhat tough unless you are at a safe distance.

 

We have yet to see just how guns implementations will affect the outcome for long range combat, but judging from the older videos, it seems to be doing so far. Hobbes seem to have trouble with guns.

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In one of the video diaries, you can hear the sounds of the bows firing

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