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Sage Advice (18 May 2015)
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<blockquote data-quote="ericphillips" data-source="post: 7671497" data-attributes="member: 82947"><p>A crossbow has a higher draw weight than a longbow. That is why you can draw the longbow with one hand. A crossbow is designed to let you put much more force in the bolt, by holding the draw mechanically. That is why bolts penetrate better than arrows. It was this power that had the crossbow declared as the ultimate weapon when it was introduced in Europe (it was already in use in the Orient years before).</p><p></p><p>However, with the high draw strength, it is very difficult to draw one handed (unless you don't care about your back). You can use a crank one handed but it takes longer, and it still needs to be braced.</p><p></p><p>However, this is a fantasy game. Real middle age bowmen did not have the skills of those in the game. There were no Legolas' running around. Most of the bowmen were the worst trained of the soldiers, and would usually be slaughtered once the enemy broke the lines. Most of the time they fired in the air in an arc as a group on the hopes that some will accidentally hit the enemy. So the real weapons are not a good model when emulating high fantasy fiction.</p><p></p><p>As for "slipping it between the knees," crossbows had a bracket on the front end to put your foot in while you pulled the string back with both arms . Essentially you are using two arms and a leg to reload it. So you should not be able to move or have a free hand for melee. And your defense is compromised because it is hard to dodge while loading. An unnaturally high strength might be able to overcome the problem.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ericphillips, post: 7671497, member: 82947"] A crossbow has a higher draw weight than a longbow. That is why you can draw the longbow with one hand. A crossbow is designed to let you put much more force in the bolt, by holding the draw mechanically. That is why bolts penetrate better than arrows. It was this power that had the crossbow declared as the ultimate weapon when it was introduced in Europe (it was already in use in the Orient years before). However, with the high draw strength, it is very difficult to draw one handed (unless you don't care about your back). You can use a crank one handed but it takes longer, and it still needs to be braced. However, this is a fantasy game. Real middle age bowmen did not have the skills of those in the game. There were no Legolas' running around. Most of the bowmen were the worst trained of the soldiers, and would usually be slaughtered once the enemy broke the lines. Most of the time they fired in the air in an arc as a group on the hopes that some will accidentally hit the enemy. So the real weapons are not a good model when emulating high fantasy fiction. As for "slipping it between the knees," crossbows had a bracket on the front end to put your foot in while you pulled the string back with both arms . Essentially you are using two arms and a leg to reload it. So you should not be able to move or have a free hand for melee. And your defense is compromised because it is hard to dodge while loading. An unnaturally high strength might be able to overcome the problem. [/QUOTE]
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Sage Advice (18 May 2015)
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