Implementation and balance of ranged weapons

[pemerton]

Interesting thread.

HARP works on a very short round (2 seconds) and makes both bowfire and spellcasting take longer (drawing, nocking etc for bowfire; prep for spellcasting), which compensates for the reduced active defence against those attack modes (HARP, as a stripped-down version of Rolemaster, uses parrying rules for melee). Arguably balanced, but tending towards boring play for the archer/caster player.

Burning Wheel uses a different resolution system for archery skirmishes (Range and Cover) compared to melee (Fight!). Fight! also works on very short rounds, and so archery and a lot of spellcasting become less effective once melee breaks out.

The 4e approach seems fine balance-wise - ranged PCs tend to have weaker defences and hit points compared to melee PCs - although is a bit wonky from the verisimilitude perspective, with a ranger PC shooting 2 to 3 arrows per round, or 1 arrow per 2 to 3 seconds.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

I'd stat the average LARPer* in AD&D/BD&D as a 1/2 HD creature, in 3E as a 1st-level Commoner, and in 4E as a 1st-level Minion, so realistically a single arrow would take them down in any edition.




*Compared to the average creature that lives in worlds as harsh as D&D campaign settings are, of course.

 

[Janx]

I'd stat the average LARPer* in AD&D/BD&D as a 1/2 HD creature, in 3E as a 1st-level Commoner, and in 4E as a 1st-level Minion, so realistically a single arrow would take them down in any edition.




*Compared to the average creature that lives in worlds as harsh as D&D campaign settings are, of course.

The average of larpers, is probably wimpy.

But remember that a game that involves fighting people with weapons is going to attract people who are actually good at fighting people with weapons.

I never met a Marine that didn't like to fight, and I know one that likes to LARP. Now factor in that the guy was a top archer in school and his name is on the board as a top marksman at whatever Marine camp they keep that thing. Bad combo for the average players. Totally plausible results as a "creature that lives in worlds as harsh as D&D campaign settings are"

 

[Slyfoxgamer]

I agree with many people here that terrain is the ultimate decider in balancing ranged weapons in any game. The high ground with a ranged weapon makes all the difference!