Originally posted by bacon:

spears are still good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gra0rvnxvKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F3cLmo8fpg

I play with sword/spear and no bow myself.
Spear is highly underrated, but needs a bit of experience/skill to know when and how best to throw it.

Also, you can easily defeat Bonemass with a high sword skill. Most difficult enemy without Mace is the Stone Golem, in fact I use the pickaxe on him.