Countering archers and bows?

hal · 01-13-2018, 04:02 AM

First wave a white flag asking for a parley. Ask them why they’re shooting at you. Maybe take the mage with you and see what can be discerned. If that fails?

Got a backpack? Maybe filling it with stuff might act as an improvised breast plate when worn on your chest. Also, try waiting until dusk or later? A crouch also enhances your defensive odds.

Remeber: a bow without arrows is useless. Taunt the archers saying “you wussies, can’t hit me here! I’ll move a little closer if need be. Which of you *sneering tone* archer wanna bes, are the best shot?”

Remeber: range 50 yards is -8. Crouching adds a further -2. Dusk adds a further -2 to that. If they are using at best, composit bows, the accuracy is only +3. Toss in the other modifiers, and they aren’t likely to score a hit.

With luck, you can get the enemy to waste their arrows. Eventually, they’ll start to run low in arrows and stop firing at you.

Then, (or before you start to taunt them) split the party into two groups. Have one group work their way around so that the archers have to decide which group is a worse threat - maybe split their fire such that it becomes 3 to 2 odds instead of 8:1 against YOU.

You might also LOUDLY tell the party mage to cast his summon Demons spell once you’re within 30 yards of the archers. Remember - it isn’t what you can do that matters, it is what THEY fear you can do that counts. If you want? Yell “NO QUARTER!” as you advance, and have the rest of the team take up the chant as well. If the enemy aren’t sure of themselves, they may break ranks. Otherwise, you may find yourselves doing your own charge of the light brigade sans brigade. ;)

Frankly? Why do you even have take these one string gutarists on in the first place? Maybe you can bluff them by saying “Our mage just contacted reinforcements, we’ll just wait for them to show up and put paid to you heroes.”

Without knowing what your resourses are, can’t really offer better ideas. Maybe drink some wibe as if it were a pition and yell “now your puny arrows are wothless” and run like hell towards them. How long does it take to run 50 yards?

;)

01-13-2018, 04:02 AM	#22
hal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Buffalo, New York	Re: Countering archers and bows? First wave a white flag asking for a parley. Ask them why they’re shooting at you. Maybe take the mage with you and see what can be discerned. If that fails? Got a backpack? Maybe filling it with stuff might act as an improvised breast plate when worn on your chest. Also, try waiting until dusk or later? A crouch also enhances your defensive odds. Remeber: a bow without arrows is useless. Taunt the archers saying “you wussies, can’t hit me here! I’ll move a little closer if need be. Which of you sneering tone archer wanna bes, are the best shot?” Remeber: range 50 yards is -8. Crouching adds a further -2. Dusk adds a further -2 to that. If they are using at best, composit bows, the accuracy is only +3. Toss in the other modifiers, and they aren’t likely to score a hit. With luck, you can get the enemy to waste their arrows. Eventually, they’ll start to run low in arrows and stop firing at you. Then, (or before you start to taunt them) split the party into two groups. Have one group work their way around so that the archers have to decide which group is a worse threat - maybe split their fire such that it becomes 3 to 2 odds instead of 8:1 against YOU. You might also LOUDLY tell the party mage to cast his summon Demons spell once you’re within 30 yards of the archers. Remember - it isn’t what you can do that matters, it is what THEY fear you can do that counts. If you want? Yell “NO QUARTER!” as you advance, and have the rest of the team take up the chant as well. If the enemy aren’t sure of themselves, they may break ranks. Otherwise, you may find yourselves doing your own charge of the light brigade sans brigade. ;) Frankly? Why do you even have take these one string gutarists on in the first place? Maybe you can bluff them by saying “Our mage just contacted reinforcements, we’ll just wait for them to show up and put paid to you heroes.” Without knowing what your resourses are, can’t really offer better ideas. Maybe drink some wibe as if it were a pition and yell “now your puny arrows are wothless” and run like hell towards them. How long does it take to run 50 yards? ;)