Strange Weapon Findings in ToC10 Normal

[Valilor]

Before I start, I just want to point out that this is based on theorycrafting, not actual in-game testing.

Fjola Lightbane drops the Diplomat: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=47740
Anub'Arak drops Baelgun's Heavy Crossbow: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=47741
(Both alliance versions, Horde available also)

Now, the Diplomat has +15 hit while the Heavy Crossbow has no hit and also a slower attack speed, which is usually beneficial to hunters (2.9 vs 2.8 ).

Common sense would tell me that if I needed the hit, the gun would be preferable but if i was already at the hit cap or higher, the Crossbow would be preferable....wrong! The gun is better in all circumstances!

A strange result and I've also tested in SV/MM specs and the same is true, so if like me you have both, you can safely DE that Crossbow.

[EDITED: Added a space between 2.8 and the ")" otherwise this happens: 2.8) ]

[Losmilzo]

thx a lot !!!

[Executia]

Speed vs Speed isn't a real comparison in this case.
Look at the dmg range. The Crossbow is slower , which could lead to higher end damage. But it has a high minimum dmg. Higher than the gun , therefore the gun has lower minimum dmg , but higher end damage.
You could argue that it comes out even in a longer fight. But the Gun has a gem slot. This leads into a DPS increase in total , because you can choose your highest DPS stat.
Beside that , the 2.8 speed can come out in advantage on longer fights because of more shots = more crits = more GftT proccs.

That would be my humble comparison of both weapons.

[Rurikar]

I don't know how you can even think the Gun isn't way better then the Bow. Even if you WASTE the Hit, you still gain 9 AP and a socket for 23 haste and 3 agi.

Easy choice really.

[Rilgon]

The crossbow's slow speed is wasted by having a very tight damage range.

The Diplomat is superior in basically every way.

[Maximus4004]

The crossbow's slow speed is wasted by having a very tight damage range.

The Diplomat is superior in basically every way.

This.

[Chareoss]

I replaced Envoy of Mort. with The Diplomat a couple weeks ago, and even though the tooltip shows Diplomat having more min and max Damage per hit, in the Ranged tab my Ranged Damage drops by about 30.. I can't figure out why.. Can anyone else work it out? (10 agi 10 crit in the Diplomat socket)