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Sorry, I've just gotta have a go at this one...
This is also a bit of a rant, so feel free to ignore.
I should offer the source for my view first: I have been an archer =
with the SCA (Lochac), for about 8 years and this has involved much =
study on the subject, both the history, and also in the live combat =
simulations.
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From: Tim Nutting[SMTP:zero@wiredweb.com]

> PART I BOWS VS. CROSSBOWS

A few things to note - the best historical example of a properly =
employed
longbow engagement was the battle of Agincourt. Henry V fielded several
peasants who had grown up with the longbow as a hunting tool while the
French employed several armored knights armed with crossbows. At the =
end
of the fighting, the losses were something to the like of 10,000 French =
to
100 English. This battle has often been called the "Deflowering of the
French Chivalry."
Favored part of history - Yes the French had unit(s) of crossbowmen, =
but they were Swiss mercenaries, and thus very expendable. Don't forget =
that in the opinion of the French leaders, this battle was going to be a =
pushover (so would anyone, looking at the odds), and to start with, the =
Swiss were being quite effective. The commander of the nearby cavalry =
unit (all knights, and the commander reputedly obtained his position =
through high birth, rather than actual experience in battle), feeling =
that he would be robbed of the honor of killing any of the English, =
ordered his unit to ride the crossbowmen into the ground, and then =
proceed onto killing the English.

The crossbow is a much easier weapon to use than the longbow, and this =
is
reflected in the game stats. Check out the proficiency rules and you =
will
note that proficiency with a longbow costs 2 slots, while proficiency =
with
the crossbow only requires 1. (Look for weapon proficiency regarding
ranged weapons and read carefully.)
Must agree wholeheartedly, it takes a long time before an archer can =
be trained to use a bow efficiently, to draw it correctly so that he =
does not strain muscles, and cannot draw after the first few shots =
(don't forget the bows used at the time were 80-110lbs pull), yet so =
long as the string can be locked back in place (by strength, windlass or =
lever), any idiot can use a crossbow!

> PART II-BOWS AND ARROWS

> people who throw sharp sticks (spears) a range of 1. I always hated =
how=20
> an Anurian Longbowman could hit and BE HIT (of all things) by some =
dumb=20
> guy on a horse throwing sharp sticks.

In 10 minutes (the length of a warcard turn) I can ride a horse pretty =
far
and throw my sharp stick, and I can guarantee you that the little man =
with
the stringed twig won't be able to outrun me.
If the little man with the stringed twig hasn't taken out you and five =
of your mates in ten minutes, he deserves to be run down. In a =
competition speed round (30 sec.), the range of shots fired seems to =
average 4-8 shots (I've known of some to fire 12 shots in this time, but =
the accuracy is way down). English archery units of the time were =
taught to shoot in rounds. One person per unit (who did not fire), =
would call something like "one.. two.. Nock.. four.. five.. Aim.. =
seven.. eight.. Loose. The timing varied, but even at worst, this would =
mean 3 controlled, aimed shots per minute and still be fresh enough to =
go hand to hand with swordsmen. As was pointed out earlier, that lovely =
plate armor didn't slow up arrows that much, and as it was standard to =
use stakes, archers didn't really need to be chased down unless they =
left their area.
Also in the battle quoted above, the English limited the French avenue =
of attack between heavy woods (too thick for cavalry), over a muddy =
field which slowed the cavalry charge further. On a side note, that =
while this was a good setup for archers, it was as good, possibly better =
for the crossbowmen - the phrase 'snatching defeat from the jaws of =
victory' seems applicable.

Just my 2 cp.. worth :-)

Regards,

Dubhghaill (Doyle)
Victoria, Australia, 613 9563 5085
enq@completesystems.com.au

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