Crossbows

[Zander]

I'm not really sure what weapon the light crossbow is trying to simulate - assuming it's a light, personal weapon, the damage & fire rate may be justifiable. The range seems if anything a bit high. [/B]

Hello S'mon
I think it's meant to be the type of European crossbow that was common until the 14th c. These were self bows (i.e. the bow was one natural material, not composite or metal) and could be drawn by bracing it with the feet and cocking it by hand or with the aid of hooks attached to a belt. "Heavy" crossbows superseded them in the course of the 14th, 15th and even 16th centuries. These required a mechanical aid to draw, such as a goat's foot lever, windlass or cranequin. In reality though, the distinction was not cut and dried: some self crossbows required a goat's foot lever - so there was some overlap – others could be braced with one foot, and yet others required two.

The idea in the 2E A&EG that some crossbows took bolts that were one foot long and others required two feet long bolts is false. It’s based on a mistranslation from a medieval French text describing crossbows “a un et deux pieds” (using one or and two feet [to brace]), not “de un et deux pieds” (of one and two feet [in length]).

 

[Dinkeldog]

Uh, no, thank you. We just tried to have this discussion and it didn't go well. By the rules of the board, leave the historical discussion go for about a week and you can try again.

If you want to discuss house rules on how to fix it, that goes into the house rules forum.

Thanks.