Well, first sorry for my english but it's late and i come from de the aniro servor (french one) so it won't be so good as i wish. I'll try to share with you my little experience in ranged weapon (skill pistol at 250
).
First it's right that if ou wish to make some economy you 've to dig you own raw materials to craft you amno, it's nealy an obligation since at high level (180+) you'll nedd approximativelly 1000 amno for one level.
Now speak about de good side off the range weapon: best of all you'll shoot while you run so when you now your environment and take the right target you won't be annoyed by damadge (pve) and you can use medium armor so you burn less stam and life than a common tank fighter of same lvl.
In pvp while you 're running you only opponnent is that pesky damage dealer i've named de Off mage for the rest you don't care
they can't touch you or they cant kill you
.
Second, you 've to remember that ranged weapon are not fully implemented as you've for now no bonus as you craft 100% damage weapon and no range and rapidity bonus as you craft 100% amno. And even with that situation the amount off damadge you made at high lvl is quipe impressive. Why?
Because as you can't use power damadge bleed and pierce , you've enough stam and life crédits to combine you quickness and the target ability to shoot where il will realy hurt
(head for the mage and chest for the fighter).
My conclusion when i've reached the 250 is that the ranged weapon are clearly underestimate by the player because finally the only draw back is to dig and craft on your own to divide the cost but that's all. For the rest it's only bonus and advantage when you compared to the other common player
I hope have help you a bit, and again apologize for my poor english
Athina (Aniro)