Noob Ranger questionsFollow

Oy rangers. I'd like to ask a few questions to the lot of you. Please don't throw rocks at me for some of them, they can probably sound like I have no clue what I'm saying or talking about, and that'd be just about right.

Ok, so here's the thing. On my mithra Lianda, I have played Ranger up to level 37. Before I even started doing so, I made myself quivers and quivers of ammo by leveling woodworking. Figured I might as well save as much money as I could on consumables. However, as things worked out, I fell in love with marksmanship during the trip up. Acid bolts, holy bolts and GUNS, to be precise. Didn't end up using much of those arrows in the end (gave a lot away to people skilling up bow on rdm, etc). Now I know I was still only level 37, but back then, I could have foreseen myself leveling as a marksman. Is that what people call a "crossbow ranger" or "gun ranger" ?

Now, I've recently picked up ranger on my new character, because I want to offer to my endgame LS another option than DNC (when DNC can't go or doesn't really help). It's only level 17 so far, but my archery is a sickeningly low "1" while my marksmanship is my favored weapon.

I want to know, is it possible for a ranger to completely ignore archery? Looking back at Lianda's past, I remember using (and capping) the thing every level, but all I wanted was to be able to go back to guns and keep shooting that instead. Marksmanship seem to cover status-effects and damage in a single skill, so I don't see the point of bows that much? Talking to the LS ranger, he suggested I keep both skilled (Which I plan to, but that's something I could do on my free time with cheap level 1 arrows and a loxley bow or something..) because archery was not to be neglected. What am I missing here? I know there's a price tag difference between bullets/arrows, but is it the main reason to use archery?

I also noticed bows tend to have lots of ranged accuracy on them, while guns/xbows are shy on the stat. Does that mean archery is the preferred weapon category for high level enemies, or is the accuracy difference negligible in the end (which it looks like it is, considering the total accuracy).

Anyway, that makes for an interesting introduction, I suppose. I'll keep shooting at stuff when I'm not busy dancing around, and look forward to experienced rangers' opinion and explanations.

it's worth keeping capped, it's not so hard to cap it in parties (well, unless you level sync too much). Gun is worth shooting for TP (Imo) in the 20s from 22 till 30 (Holy Bolt level) and also from 50-54. At 22 and 50 you get very high damage bullets for that level range.

As far as endgame use: VZX says it best: "Archery only covers one base. Marksmanship does everything".

However, levels 55-67, Ebow (if you get it) will be the best weapon you can use. At 67, enter OBow stage left.

I use Marksmanship, but I prefer Archery. I can not justify why, I don't know why, I just do. 99% of people wont give a damn if you main one over the other anyway, and they cost the same realistically (Silver Bullets and Kaburas are comparable, and Darksteel and Demon are comparable).

The general response you'll get from most people will be:
Marksmanship is better.
Best to keep both capped.
Not a big deal if you prefer one over the other.