A thought struck me - as far as I can tell, bow delay isn't currently used in the game (higher damage always seems better right now). The only way to deal bow damage is with skills, and they're independent of the bow delay.

The damage to delay ratio is all that matters. Same goes for regular melee skills.

Thread ressurection!

Did a search to find an answer to a question I had, and came across this. Can you elaborate what you mean with your answer to this question? Because it seems that what Drete implies here is correct. What role does delay on a bow play in the game for my Ranger for example? When he auto attacks its using his melee weapons right? And when he uses his bow skills they go off as fast as I can hit my skill buttons (after cooldowns). So I guess I am confused on this.

Hmm I thought a lower delay bow made abilities like Rapid Shot take longer to go off (slower intervals of hitting), but I could be wrong, since I haven't tested it much as I've been using the same bow for 60 levels :/ Auto attack is definitely the melee weapon though. I wish Rangers had 1 or 2 melee abilities, but hey, they are already the most fun and most powerful class, so ah well haha. I'd like to better understand this bow thing as well. Anything to make Rapid Shot hurt my wrist less

The damage calculation uses the damage/delay ratio. So if your bow is 30 damage, 45 delay, the ratio is .6666. The higher this ratio is, the more damage you will do.

The formula doesn't care if it's a 1 damage 1 delay bow or a 900 damage 900 delay bow.

Oooooooh I see. Ok, that is very interesting, and definitly changes which bows I will be using. Thanks!

IS this how melee weapons work too?

I think this is how it goes for all skills, but not your auto-attack. If its a skill that uses a bow, then the dmg/delay ratio of your bow is all that matters (for that particular skill). If its a skill that uses melee weapons, then the dmg/delay ratio of your melee weapon is all that maters (for that particular skill). At least that is how I interpret the second post in this thread.

Yep, pretty much. Delay does affect auto attack rate, of course.