Bow

The classic bow is the first choice in distance combat for most fighters, although its true masters are the dextrous bards and rangers. With this weapon, it is possible to rain a barrage of arrows on enemies, without them having any chance to strike back. However, this advantage is also its biggest disadvantage, since should the foes close to melee range, the bow is useless. However, this can be avoided by using more destructive ammunition to keep one's foes at bay.

Bows can be loaded with various kinds of arrows, both normal and magical, to increase their capabilities.

According to Vetron's Guide to Weapons and Armour, the bow has an effectiveness rating of "8."

History
Bows were standard weapons even from the beginning of Ultima I. Throughout the ages they stayed the trusty distance weapon of the warrior, changing very little, but only in Ultima V did ammunition first become limited. They were sometimes referred to as "short bows" in Savage Empire, but otherwise functioned the same. In that game, they were available from Atlipacta, the Nahuatla Tribe armourer, in trade for 2 Emeralds each.

Numerous special bows have shown up over time:


 * The +2 and +4 bows in Ultima III.
 * Magic bow - This bow raises the damage significantly.
 * Infinity Bow - A bow that need no ammunition.
 * Siege Bow - The strongest commercially available bow.
 * Iolo's Bow - Iolo's custom-made bow.
 * War Bow of Blood - A bow that drains the warrior's health for more damage.

Trivia
There are several varieties of bows available in Ultima IX, including:
 * Novice Bow: 1(min) - 6(max) damage, short range
 * Target Bow: 10(min) - 15(max) damage, medium range
 * Longbow: 20(min) - 25(max) damage, medium range
 * Siege Bow: 30(min) - 35(max) damage, long range
 * Iolo's Bow: 45(min) - 50(max) damage, long range
 * War Bow of Blood: 60(min - 75(max) damage, long range