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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 405483" data-attributes="member: 3146">I like the double and repeating crossbow rules. (I used something similar in the last game I ran--too bad none of the players opted to use them). Your rules for firing both crossbow bolts at the same time are a good deal better than mine were.WRT the proficiencies, however, I don't think it's a good idea either in terms of game balance or the elusive common sense.In game balance terms, proficiencies are selected in terms of balance. The crossbow is a simple weapon usable by all character classes and bows are martial weapons usable primarily by elves and the fighting classes (plus bards). Changing this designation deprives the fighting classes (for whom it is changed) of their most effective ranged weapons in return for weapons which will not be nearly as effective for them (since crossbows don't allow a strength bonus and their ability to make iterative attacks is limited). OTOH, by extending shortbow proficiency to simple, you give more effective weapons to primitive wizards, sorcerors, clerics, and monks. This isn't a huge effect on balance, but I don't think it's a good idea.In terms of common sense, however, is where this breaks down. Although some weapons are martial or exotic as a matter of game balance rather than a matter of simplicity, the crossbow and bow class weapons aren't among them. Crossbows are simple because they were historically simple weapons which required little training. That they would be unfamiliar to primitive cultures wouldn't make them very hard to pick up and use effectively with minimal training. Similarly, although many primitive cultures were widely proficient with bows (although more were widely proficient with spears if I understand my anthropology correctly), that was a matter of constant training and not a matter of the bow's inherent simplicity. Although most Welsh trained with longbows, for instance, a Welsh monk might very well be unable to use a longbow effectively--(because he didn't practice long enough to gain proficiency before entering the monastery).</blockquote>

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