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<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5638306" data-attributes="member: 6669384">Simple fix for crossbows?Well, if you oil the mechanism properly and perform all the basic maintenance, it shouldn't break to begin with.Seriously though, TheEvil nailed it when he pointed out that crossbows *are* easier to use, as reflected in their categorization as &quot;simple weapons&quot;.&nbsp; Anybody can use them.Is it your goal to make them the equal of the longbow?&nbsp; If so, you're leaving realism behind.&nbsp; The simple fact is, they aren't as good or as effective as the longbow.They fire a shorter, heavier projectile (a bolt, rather than an arrow), and its aerodynamics just aren't as good.&nbsp; Thicker profile, shorter lines.IRL they pack more punch at point blank range, but fade at longer ranges.&nbsp; There are some quick-cocking modern versions around, with a quick pull-cord connected to a shuttle via a pully system (pull twice as far at half the strain), but those are so light they're toys compared to the genuine article.&nbsp; Pistol crossbows, in effect.The repeating crossbow had an impressive rate of fire, but had all the punch of a butterfly.&nbsp; Okay at pinking massed yoeman troops (who were unarmored), but useless against anything tougher than a heavy coat.&nbsp; No stopping power.The longbow is harder to use, but offers a superior rate of fire, and real stopping potential.&nbsp; The longer draw means a longer space/time for the arrow to accelerate.&nbsp; There's an effect called the Archer's Paradox, that the bow not only acts as a spring to hurl the arrow, but the acceleration flexes the arrow as well, causing it to act as a spring and fling itself away from the bow.&nbsp; And if you were to examine the firing motion from a vector mechanics point of view, it's remarkably elegant.To simplify a complex mechanical function:&nbsp; The string starts out straight.&nbsp; As you begin to draw it back, it moves a lot compared to the flex of the limbs.&nbsp; The further back you draw, the more inches of flex the limbs undergo for each inch of draw.&nbsp; As you release, the limbs straighten, giving a lot of pounds of thrust at a low velocity.&nbsp; As the string straightens again, the thrust decreases, but the imparted velocity increases.It's like a car, starting in first gear but auto-shifting up to 5th as the motion proceeds. No other firing mechanism replicates this elegant simplicity.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 5638306, member: 6669384"] Simple fix for crossbows? Well, if you oil the mechanism properly and perform all the basic maintenance, it shouldn't break to begin with. Seriously though, TheEvil nailed it when he pointed out that crossbows *are* easier to use, as reflected in their categorization as "simple weapons". Anybody can use them. Is it your goal to make them the equal of the longbow? If so, you're leaving realism behind. The simple fact is, they aren't as good or as effective as the longbow. They fire a shorter, heavier projectile (a bolt, rather than an arrow), and its aerodynamics just aren't as good. Thicker profile, shorter lines. IRL they pack more punch at point blank range, but fade at longer ranges. There are some quick-cocking modern versions around, with a quick pull-cord connected to a shuttle via a pully system (pull twice as far at half the strain), but those are so light they're toys compared to the genuine article. Pistol crossbows, in effect. The repeating crossbow had an impressive rate of fire, but had all the punch of a butterfly. Okay at pinking massed yoeman troops (who were unarmored), but useless against anything tougher than a heavy coat. No stopping power. The longbow is harder to use, but offers a superior rate of fire, and real stopping potential. The longer draw means a longer space/time for the arrow to accelerate. There's an effect called the Archer's Paradox, that the bow not only acts as a spring to hurl the arrow, but the acceleration flexes the arrow as well, causing [I]it[/I] to act as a spring and fling itself away from the bow. And if you were to examine the firing motion from a vector mechanics point of view, it's remarkably elegant. To simplify a complex mechanical function: The string starts out straight. As you begin to draw it back, it moves a lot compared to the flex of the limbs. The further back you draw, the more inches of flex the limbs undergo for each inch of draw. As you release, the limbs straighten, giving a lot of pounds of thrust at a low velocity. As the string straightens again, the thrust decreases, but the imparted velocity increases. It's like a car, starting in first gear but auto-shifting up to 5th as the motion proceeds. No other firing mechanism replicates this elegant simplicity. [/QUOTE]

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