The darkside is compound, you get a red light sabre with that, recurve is a blue one. I can see your reasons, I tried longbow, it did my head in. Arrows were so difficult to spine, life is too short..but each to there own. There are some very good longbow archers out there and some who just like the history behind it. There are another two types of longbow archers, ones that are very good and could be excellent with a recurve/compound bow, and ones that are hopless and shoot longbow as it masks there lack of ability, and just turn up for the sherry and have fun .