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Message: <blockquote data-quote="El Mahdi" data-source="post: 4919900" data-attributes="member: 59506">Pulls of 80 lbs. and pulls of 200 lbs. are both correct.  All longbows are not created equal.  Cheap mass produced longbows, ones made without necessarily using wood that's properly seasoned, or even the right type of wood, would have significantly lower pulls (and therefore less damage upon striking).  A carefully and perfectly crafted longbow, one maximizing every possible factor (Masterwork) could have a pull as high as 200 lbs.  So both are correct.  IMO, the stats of a regular longbow in D&D equate to an average longbow. As far as damage, I'm okay with 1d10 for an average longbow.  Even at extreme range (although not really able to aimed) the longbow could still kill.  There is a historical acount (although I don't remember the reference right now) of a longbow passing through the leg of an armored night and into the heart of his horse (killing it outright).  That takes a considerable amount of energy for that kind of penetration.  But, to put in perspective, even the most powerful bows are significantly less powerful than a firearm.  Even the most powerful bow might barely edge into small caliber range (.22 caliber) in the amount of energy expended. As far as using a bow at close range, I'd say that's highly conditional on the circumstances at the time.  To put in perspective, there is such a thing as a kill zone that modern police pay attention to.  The idea being that if an attacker armed with a knife is within 25 ft. of you, they are more likely to close and stab you before you can draw a weapon and shoot.  There are actually some studies that say that zone should be increased to 40 or 50 feet.  Police are trained that if an attacker is coming at you, and enters that kill zone, you shoot.  Period.  If you don't, they can kill you first. The reason is that it takes, on average, 1.5 to 3 seconds to draw and fire a modern firearm.  When someone is rushing at you with the intent of killing you. 1.5 to 3 seconds is a very, very, long time. Personally, I'd think it would be significantly easier and quicker to draw and fire a modern firearm, than to draw, knock, aim, and fire, a bow. Now, if the archer already had an arrow knocked and drawn, that's another story entirely.  I'd say the advantage would go to the archer.  And considering it's point blank range, I'd doubt they'd miss. Bottom line though, a longbow in the hands of a trained archer, shooting between 10 and 80 yards, is very accurate and effective.  Beyond that, it's only effective as a massed weapon.  Call it medieval short range artillery.</blockquote>

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