View Single Post
Old 12-01-2009, 11:14 PM   #47
Peter Knutsen
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Europe
Default Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?

Quote:
Originally Posted by malloyd View Post
Still, bows aren't terrible - you ought to be able to get off 3 shots or so before they close if you start at clear recognition ranges, and 1 arrow hit does stand a decent chance of crippling something, or causing a major wound. I'd expect your group of 5 pure archers to take out 2 or 3 of the charging melee specialists before the remaining 2 or 3 cut them to bits, and the chance of them actually winning isn't negligible. Probably not great, but not negligible.
Also, since (IIRC) it's a fantasy genre campaign, the party's dedicated archer can pimp his bow with useful Enchantments, and use Enchanted arrows too.


I'd guess Penetrating Weapon from GURPS Magic is particularly attractive on the bow, and then since armour penetration is pretty much assured, the +2 damage Icy Weapon or Flaming Weapon on the arrows (which takes effect only if the unmodified damage penetrates the armour, but that's what Penetrating Armour is for).

Imbuements might be an alternative to Enchantments, costing CPs instead of gold, and being equally reliant on the world builder's (usually that would be the GM) decision, but AFAIK roughly similar results can be achieved with Imbuements.
Peter Knutsen is offline   Reply With Quote