The Use of Long bows

[captaincrumbcake]

Interesting article. Good as a point to build upon in one's campaign.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_longbow

[Mighty Darci]

Have an Exalt! for that link!

[ripx187]

Very nice! Gave you an Exalt. I know that we have discussed this around campfires. The bows work differently in D&D, while melee weapons are abstract an arrow really isn't. Each arrow is accounted for. We wondered how accurate the handbooks were, or if anybody really knew the power of the long bow anymore. This actually answers a lot of questions!

I had a small little bow as a child that I would take out into the back yard and pull on, I'd practice that thing all summer long and while I could hit the broad side of a barn, I could hit very little else. My father had one too, it was a modern long bow and once I got tall enough for it, and was strong enough to string the thing, I found that it was much easier at short range, but I was still not very good beyond that.

The amount of practice required to use those things is incredible. The American Indians could do some impressive things with them, not only could they shoot accurately from horseback, but developed a longer range method of firing where they laid down on their backs, holding the bow with their feet so they could put all of their muscle strength into pulling that bow back. They had longer ranges than rifles, even I could shoot long distance with this method . . . couldn't hit anything, nor could I find my arrow again, and it was tremendously hard on the bow, but it does work.