What are the rules for re-stringing a bow or xbow after snapped string?

[Pagan priest]

I'd say it would take a standard action to pull out a string, a full round action to with a strength check of 10 (+strength bonus of the bow, if any), and then the bow has to be re-readied. So 3+ rounds to get the bow back into action. That's 18 seconds, which is reasonable for a strong person on a regular bow, and of course the time would go up if they fail their strength checks.

Yeah, that works.

As far as the bow strings removing themselves... maybe. I had a bow string break on me once. Fiberglass bow with a sharp spot right in the notch for the string. It cut through the loop at one end, i had to remove the loop at the other end.

As far as restringing goes, it does take a little bit of time... not a lot, but too much to just call the whole thing a single full round action.

 

[Kmart Kommando]

In a game where it is not only possible, but commonplace, for an archer to place 4-5 arrows in the air in 6 seconds, without magic, a fullround action to restring a bow sounds appropriate.

 

[kigmatzomat]

I agree, stringing the bow as a fullround action is appropriate (though I did add a strength check for kicks; I like chaos in combat). As long as you remember that it's a game where it is a standard action to get a bowstring from a belt pouch and a game where it takes some portion of an action to ready a weapon.

 

[taliesin15]

It can be done, but not with very impressive accuracy.

this thread reminds me of the notion that Lee Harvey Oswald could fire 3 shots in 5 seconds...

it makes me happy that my milieu is so Longbow-centric that practically anyone can use one...I personally would rule that it would be a standard action, provoking an AoO, too...