Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Draw weight (poundage) of bows and GURPS ST

Qcumber · 12-21-2010, 06:53 AM

Does anyone have any idea how the draw-weight of a bow (poundage) is related to GURPS ST?

I was thinking that "medium encumbrance" might be about right. For example, a ST 11 rated longbow would have a draw weight of 72lb. War-bows were reputed to be in the 120-150lb range which would make them equivalent to about ST 15-16. Is this enough to reflect the devastating damage and armour penetration of a longbow arrow loosed by a professional archer (only 1d+3 at ST15/16)? How strong would a medieval professional archer have been; one that had trained from a very young age to draw a heavy bow?

12-21-2010, 06:53 AM	#1
Qcumber Join Date: May 2010	Draw weight (poundage) of bows and GURPS ST Does anyone have any idea how the draw-weight of a bow (poundage) is related to GURPS ST? I was thinking that "medium encumbrance" might be about right. For example, a ST 11 rated longbow would have a draw weight of 72lb. War-bows were reputed to be in the 120-150lb range which would make them equivalent to about ST 15-16. Is this enough to reflect the devastating damage and armour penetration of a longbow arrow loosed by a professional archer (only 1d+3 at ST15/16)? How strong would a medieval professional archer have been; one that had trained from a very young age to draw a heavy bow?