Difference between revisions of "Bow (weapon)"
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[[File:Bow (weapon).jpg|right|490px|thumb]] | [[File:Bow (weapon).jpg|right|490px|thumb]] | ||
| − | The '''bow''', also the ''long bow'' or ''short bow'', is a [[Missile Weapons|missile weapon]] used in [[Combat|combat]], consisting of a wooden semi-rigid flexible arc, with a high-tensile bowstring joining the ends of the bow's "limbs." It fires wooden [[Arrow|arrows]] tipped with metal and stabilized by feathering called fletching. The maker of a bow is called a "[[Bowyer (sage ability)|bowyer]]"; the maker of arrows is a "[[Fletcher (sage ability)|fletcher]]." The [[Crossbow|crossbow]] is discussed on a separate article. | + | The '''bow''', also the ''long bow'' or ''short bow'', is a [[Missile Weapons|missile weapon]] used in [[Combat|combat]], consisting of a wooden semi-rigid flexible arc, with a high-tensile bowstring joining the ends of the bow's "limbs." It fires wooden [[Arrow (missile)|arrows]] tipped with metal and stabilized by feathering called fletching. The maker of a bow is called a "[[Bowyer (sage ability)|bowyer]]"; the maker of arrows is a "[[Fletcher (sage ability)|fletcher]]." The [[Crossbow (weapon)|crossbow]] is discussed on a separate article. |
== Make == | == Make == | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==== Arrows ==== | ==== Arrows ==== | ||
| − | For game purposes, long and short bows both fire the same arrows. Fired arrows may be recovered if the intended target is missed and a [[Saving Throws|saving throw]] is | + | For game purposes, long and short bows both fire the same arrows. Fired arrows may be recovered if the intended target is missed and a [[Saving Throws for Items|saving throw]] for thin wood against "crushing blow" is successful (13). It may be deduced in the outdoors or in some [[Subterranean (range)|subterranean]] settings that some "broken" arrows have landed somewhere they cannot be found. |
==== Bowstrings ==== | ==== Bowstrings ==== | ||
| − | The bowstring is made predominantly of animal sinew, though linen, hemp, silk and rawhide are twisted into the string for durability. After several minutes submerged in water, sinew is of little use. It's good to have a number of bowstrings on hand, as they can easily break. | + | The bowstring is made predominantly of animal sinew, though linen, hemp, silk and rawhide are twisted into the string for durability. After several minutes submerged in water, sinew is of little use. It's good to have a number of bowstrings on hand, as they can easily break. |
==== Breaks ==== | ==== Breaks ==== | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
'''Loading without aiming''' requires 2 AP. This describes preparing the bow without paying attention to the combatant's surroundings, so as to concentrate on the action itself. A character with 4 total AP can load a bow and fire it in a single round, but doing the action this way incurs a -4 penalty to hit. Characters with multiple attacks can load without aiming at a cost of 1 AP. An unaimed bow can be fired up to twice a round. | '''Loading without aiming''' requires 2 AP. This describes preparing the bow without paying attention to the combatant's surroundings, so as to concentrate on the action itself. A character with 4 total AP can load a bow and fire it in a single round, but doing the action this way incurs a -4 penalty to hit. Characters with multiple attacks can load without aiming at a cost of 1 AP. An unaimed bow can be fired up to twice a round. | ||
| − | ==== | + | ==== Mounts ==== |
| − | Characters possessing [[Horse Archer (sage ability)|horse archer]] skill may fire a short bow while riding a moving horse. A long bow cannot be used for this purpose. | + | Characters possessing [[Horse Archer (sage ability)|horse archer]] or [[Camel Archer (sage ability)|camel archer]] skill may load and fire a short bow while riding a moving horse. A long bow cannot be used for this purpose. |
==== Other Actions ==== | ==== Other Actions ==== | ||
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Slinging a bow over the shoulder, if the weapon is strung, requires 2 AP. Sheathing an unstrung bow into a back scabbard requires 3 AP; the scabbard must be specially designed for the bow being used. | Slinging a bow over the shoulder, if the weapon is strung, requires 2 AP. Sheathing an unstrung bow into a back scabbard requires 3 AP; the scabbard must be specially designed for the bow being used. | ||
| − | Stringing a bow requires 3 AP, assuming | + | Stringing a bow requires 3 AP, assuming both string and bow are already in hand. Characters who have 5 AP can string a bow and load it without aiming in one round. |
| − | == | + | == Additional Footnotes == |
| − | The long bow is a [[Hereditary Weapon I (sage ability)|hereditary weapon]] for elves and | + | The long bow is a [[Hereditary Weapon I (sage ability)|hereditary weapon]] for elves and other characters raised in England & Wales. The short bow is hereditary among characters in Arabia; it's favoured among gamekeepers. This grants a +1 bonus to hit for these peoples. |
| − | The [[Puissance (sage study)| | + | The [[Sage Study|sage study]] of [[Puissance (sage study)|Puissance]] enables authority-status characters improved speed in [[Draw Speed (sage ability)|using]] a bow, shaving 1 AP from both loading and aiming & loading without aiming. |
| + | |||
| + | Characters with the [[Assassin (class)|Assassin's]] [[Sage Ability|sage ability]] [[Target Assassination (sage ability)|target assassination]] area able to us a bow to commit [[Assassination (sage ability)|assassinations]]. | ||
[[Brownie|Brownies]] use a bow of unusual construction. Though only 18 in. long, it's made of high quality composite materials combined with an unnatural construction, allowing creatures of such small size to have a useable bow. The bow causes 1-4 damage with it's arrows; brownies receive a +3 bonus when aiming with the bow. It's much too small for any character race to employ. | [[Brownie|Brownies]] use a bow of unusual construction. Though only 18 in. long, it's made of high quality composite materials combined with an unnatural construction, allowing creatures of such small size to have a useable bow. The bow causes 1-4 damage with it's arrows; brownies receive a +3 bonus when aiming with the bow. It's much too small for any character race to employ. | ||
Latest revision as of 15:55, 20 April 2022
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The bow, also the long bow or short bow, is a missile weapon used in combat, consisting of a wooden semi-rigid flexible arc, with a high-tensile bowstring joining the ends of the bow's "limbs." It fires wooden arrows tipped with metal and stabilized by feathering called fletching. The maker of a bow is called a "bowyer"; the maker of arrows is a "fletcher." The crossbow is discussed on a separate article.
Contents
Make
Bows used in Alexis' game world are composite in construction; they are moderately recurved, meaning that the limbs curve away from the archer when unstrung. They are more advanced than bows used in the 15th century. The "long bow" is between 5 and 6 ft. long; the short bow, by comparison, is between 3 ft. 6 in. and 4 ft. 9 in. long. The combatant must be as tall as the bow is long, so that use of the bow is rare among gnomes and halflings. Characters skilled as a bowyer can make either.
The weight of a long bow is judged to be 10 lbs.; a short bow, 6 lbs. There are seven arrows to the pound.
Arrows
For game purposes, long and short bows both fire the same arrows. Fired arrows may be recovered if the intended target is missed and a saving throw for thin wood against "crushing blow" is successful (13). It may be deduced in the outdoors or in some subterranean settings that some "broken" arrows have landed somewhere they cannot be found.
Bowstrings
The bowstring is made predominantly of animal sinew, though linen, hemp, silk and rawhide are twisted into the string for durability. After several minutes submerged in water, sinew is of little use. It's good to have a number of bowstrings on hand, as they can easily break.
Breaks
If a roll to hit produces a fumble, the first break roll is applied to the bowstring — strings will break on a roll of 1 in 4. If the string breaks, the character must roll a d12; on a 1, the bow itself breaks as well.
Combat
| Bow | Point Blank |
Short | Medium | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long bow | 2-3 | 4-22 | 23-44 | 45-66 |
| Short bow | 2-3 | 3-16 | 17-32 | 33-48 |
Damage from the long bow is 1-8; from the short bow, 1-6. The weapon's range is excellent, as shown on the table. Hitting with a bow can be improved by a high dexterity.
To load a bow and aim requires 4 action points (AP). This prepares a long or short bow for firing afterwards. The length of time includes selecting an arrow while consciously observing the battlefield and judging the position and movement of the intended target. Characters with multiple attacks per round may load and aim a bow at a cost of 2 AP. Loading a bow can be done while sighting. It requires 2 AP to fire a bow. An aimed bow cannot be fired more than one time per round.
Loading without aiming requires 2 AP. This describes preparing the bow without paying attention to the combatant's surroundings, so as to concentrate on the action itself. A character with 4 total AP can load a bow and fire it in a single round, but doing the action this way incurs a -4 penalty to hit. Characters with multiple attacks can load without aiming at a cost of 1 AP. An unaimed bow can be fired up to twice a round.
Mounts
Characters possessing horse archer or camel archer skill may load and fire a short bow while riding a moving horse. A long bow cannot be used for this purpose.
Other Actions
Drawing a bow and getting it ready for combat, which includes loosing the string holding arrows together in a quiver, requires 3 AP.
Slinging a bow over the shoulder, if the weapon is strung, requires 2 AP. Sheathing an unstrung bow into a back scabbard requires 3 AP; the scabbard must be specially designed for the bow being used.
Stringing a bow requires 3 AP, assuming both string and bow are already in hand. Characters who have 5 AP can string a bow and load it without aiming in one round.
Additional Footnotes
The long bow is a hereditary weapon for elves and other characters raised in England & Wales. The short bow is hereditary among characters in Arabia; it's favoured among gamekeepers. This grants a +1 bonus to hit for these peoples.
The sage study of Puissance enables authority-status characters improved speed in using a bow, shaving 1 AP from both loading and aiming & loading without aiming.
Characters with the Assassin's sage ability target assassination area able to us a bow to commit assassinations.
Brownies use a bow of unusual construction. Though only 18 in. long, it's made of high quality composite materials combined with an unnatural construction, allowing creatures of such small size to have a useable bow. The bow causes 1-4 damage with it's arrows; brownies receive a +3 bonus when aiming with the bow. It's much too small for any character race to employ.
The 2nd level illusionist spell, phantasmal bow, creates an illusionary bow free from the rules described on this page.
See also,
Men-at-Arms
The Adventure
Weapons List
Weapon Proficiencies
