[MUD-Dev] not about pk anymore

[Alex Oren]

Marian wrote:

} [about ranged combat]
} > :I favor underpowered, then.  A good archer will get in a third
} > :shot on a longe-range target before the ground is closed.  The
} > :damage done is not more than melee damage, but is harder
} > :and less common to be protected against.  The best of bowmen
} > :better also carry a close-combat weapon.  Unless the target
} > :refuses their natural instincts to take cover or charge, they'll
} > :be in close-combat by the second volley in most cases.
} 
} Most archers did. And they were typically protected by a line of in-
} fantery so they did have time to switch weapons.  But their main use
} was to break up enemy charges of infantery and light cavalry who had
} only light armour that could be pierced by an arrow at a distance.
} Crossbows where short range weapons that took long to reload and did
} not carry far, but could pierce heavy cavalry armour at close range.
} Longbow was also much more accurate than crossbow.
} In a game  longbows should be used for accurate firing at a distance
} but do relatively light damage and slow down rather than injure. But
} if you have mass combat  then they would do considerable damage when
} you let arrows fly en masse.  Crossbows on the other hand would do a
} lot of damage,  even through heavy armour.  But would require a long
} delay between shots, unless the bowman drops his weapon and switches
} to sword or mace.
} In either case to use ranged weapons some changes have to be made to
} the rooms as well. Everybody in a big room and let them sort out who
} is facing who doesn't work well here.

I remember a long debate on an AD&D newsgroup (when I still browsed it)
regarding the speed, range and damage of longbows and crossbows.

After what seemed to be a pretty thorough research of medieval arms, the
consensus reached was:

Crossbows are usually cocked with mechanical aids.
-> Longbow firing rate is higher.
-> Crossbows may be fired just as effectively by weak or injured persons.

Crossbows have stronger pull, flatter trajectory and heavier ammo.
-> Longbows have longer range.
-> Crossbows are more accurate.
-> Crossbows do more damage at short ranges (actually pierce HEAVY armor).

Crossbows are much easier to use.
-> It takes a long time to train a longbowman but every peasant can be
   decent with a crossbow after practicing a couple of days.


Have fun,
Alex.