I thought the biggest difference between bow and crossbow was in fact the action points needed for one shot with the crossbow. While using a crossbow my ranger could usually just shoot one arrow each turn while he was able to shoot two or even three shots per turn with a bow. Of course one crossbow shot makes a lot more damage than one bow shot which makes them pretty even.
Well, yes, that's true, but that seems less interesting. That's just different numbers. Still, when I came up with the idea, it was pure theorycraft, and I admitted it might just be a dumb idea.
I'm going to try and settle it, though. I've started a Dual-Raistlin-Ranger game. They'll be pretty close in stats. I ditched Elemental Ranger for Raistlin, because EleRng can be a disadvantage versus Poison/Fire absorbing enemies. Raistlin will also be interesting because it'll emphasize the fragility of the Ranger, and it'll let the crossbow user get off two attacks to the bow user's three. I don't need two Rangers with both Blacksmithing and Loremaster, so on one each I swapped it for Water Elementalist for healing and Water of Life and other goodies.
One ranger will be using a crossbow, the other will be using a normal bow. That should help me decide if the +2 AP cost is really an equal balance to the increased damage. I have to say that it's already looking troublesome for the Bow, because with my first level 2 attribute point, I got both char's Dex up to 9, and I bought a crossbow requiring Dex 9, and it looks really powerful.
Tip 1 for DRR: Outside the harbour gates, make sure you kill the Orc Shaman on your first turn. If you let him fireball you, it's an instant game over.
