is it possible to have a xbow loaded?

[Macbrea]

I got bored and did some research on crossbow strings. Here is what I could find.

Bowstrings for crossbows, though shorter, are also made in the same manner as for handbows. Obtain the length and number of strands by inspecting a factory string and make yours to the same specifications. If you don't wish to make your own strings, you should still obtain a serving jig and a spool of serving thread for re-serving the centers whenever necessary. Abrasion from track and latch contact wears through crossbow center servings very quickly. Depending on the design of your weapon and the waxes and lubricants used to reduce friction, the center serving may begin to fray after only a few dozen shots; by re-serving the center as needed, a crossbow bowstring should last thousands of shots.


The article aslo made mention of :

Crossbows of medieval and renaissance design were very inefficient devices. Modern tests indicate that armor-piercing bolts, while heavier than war arrows, acheived about the same velocity (130-40 fps) from a 700 lb. draw crossbow as an arrow did from a 80 lb. draw longbow.


So, basicly a crossbow string is similar to a Longbow string but has an added damage being caused to it by simply setting against the stock itself. I don't particularly think having it cocked would have any lasting effects that aren't going to be caused by the action of firing the bow in the first place.

 

[claymored]

i would have posted when this topic first started, in fact i joined this forum specifically to post on this topic. keeping a crossbow loaded for more than an hour is dangerous to the crossbows health. i have a few at home, and though they are the more modern crossbows, 3/4s of them with steel arms, i have had one crossbow with steel arms snap. the string didn't snap, just the arms.why that is i couldn't tell you but thats what happened. it kinda makes sense that to keep a crossbow with wooden arms loaded for 8 hours a day would be quite detrimental to it's health as it were. (i had a much better argument when this topic started a month ago but i couldn't post at that time)

 

[Artoomis]

i would have posted when this topic first started, in fact i joined this forum specifically to post on this topic. keeping a crossbow loaded for more than an hour is dangerous to the crossbows health. i have a few at home, and though they are the more modern crossbows, 3/4s of them with steel arms, i have had one crossbow with steel arms snap. the string didn't snap, just the arms.why that is i couldn't tell you but thats what happened. it kinda makes sense that to keep a crossbow with wooden arms loaded for 8 hours a day would be quite detrimental to it's health as it were. (i had a much better argument when this topic started a month ago but i couldn't post at that time)

While this is true, in game terms I'd say it was constantly loaded while in a situation that might call for its use.

What would happen is that you'd keep it drawn, but "undraw" it when taking little rests from time to time. Thus it would be drawn a great deal of the time. It's just easier, and pretty reasonable, to just assume it's "at the ready" when in a dungeon or in enemy territory.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Worrying overmuch about how long a crossbow is loaded probably isn't worth it. Yes, it's probably a bad idea to leave it loaded constantly - it was also a bad idea to leave a draw bow 'strung' for extended periods, but there aren't even rules for stringing a bow.

I'd assume that a crossbow at the ready (ie held) is loaded, if the character has had time to load it. I wouldn't even object really object strongly to a 'sheathed' crossbow being kept loaded - the one in the illo of Jozan in the PH is hanging, loaded, fron his belt; realism is not a high priority.

 

[Taloras]

Heres something simple for it:

If its a surprise (something attacks and the characters arent expecting anything), it wouldnt be loaded.

If they know someone is there, they would most likely have it loaded.

 

[kreynolds]

Heres something simple for it:

If its a surprise (something attacks and the characters arent expecting anything), it wouldnt be loaded.

If they know someone is there, they would most likely have it loaded.

ROTFLMAO

 

[mikebr99]

ROTFLMAO

Yeah.. This whole thread is like that...

 

[Psifon]

You're the DM, just tell him that his crossbow can't be loaded all the time without damaging the crossbow. Then explain that since loading it is a move equivelent action, he must ALLWAYS declare when he is loading it. All this technical stuff assumes that you have to justify your ruling to the player. You don't. You have to use your common sense and make reasonable rulings. If he doesn't like it, tell him that you don't want to argue the point, and he has to just live with it.

That's what authority is for.

Besides, the monsters have to load their crossbows too, right? so that's fair.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Exactly how bad do you want crossbows to be. They already are the worst missile weapon in the game, do people feel some primal elfie need to promote bow use and ignore logic with bows but impose logic on crossbows. Even if crossbows are considered always loaded they still suck, throw your players a bone hear and then so they can have the cool weapon they want without making it so moronic no one would wield it.