in fact this *is* a problem and we know it.
let's start with a few comments:
1) 8 directions would not last. there are fields one can stand on in relation to someone else without having the differencevector pointing in one of these 8 directions (N, S, W, E, NE, NW, SE, SW), e.g. consider vectors like (-2,3) or something. anyway, i don't like this solution.
2) the possibility of simply drawing a flying arrow was denied by the programmers for several reasons (i made this proposal a long time ago). this would at least help figuring out who is shooting at whom.
3) different graphics of characters in dependence of what weapon (bow/sword) they were are not planed so far. we considered that but it's much too complicated for several reasons i pointed out in another thread.
4) there are two ways i'd propose:
* if someone is targeting someone else and holds a bow, a little bow appears above the character (a sword for a sword/club/..., something else in case of crazy mages). this would only show you who wants to attack *SOMEONE* and what weapon s/he is using. i like this idea because it's mine and it just came into my mind.

* only if YOU are attacked, you see a little sign above the attacking character (a blue square, a yellow star, little green pigs, the easter-rabbit, something else).
these seem to be the only two possibilities to me, which are usefull AND not too complicated to implement. bror isn't here at the moment, therefore i don't know what his thoughts are about this topic.
martin