11-30-2009, 12:32 PM | #31 |
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
Historically, cheap(ish) good armor and shields made archers valuable auxiliaries rather than a primary military arm. (Most of TLs 2 and 3.)
GURPS is actually pretty forgiving here - I'd estimate GURPS archers do better against metal armor and med+ shields than historical archers did. Now I'm curious about a GURPS open field battle between 100+ reasonable heavy inf and reasonable archers... However, that is the military viewpoint. From the viewpoint of typical RPG "parties" (a mix of commando, bravo, and bandit), the archer is for ambushes, for having a response to inaccessible enemy missile fire, and attrition of known enemies who start out far away. |
11-30-2009, 01:30 PM | #32 |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
Shooting from a tree is hard, some covered above but you also have a limited arc of fire since you typically cant move much and you alos have limbs in the way. Big impact on your rate of fire.
However modern deer hunters sometimes shoot from tree stands which are basically canvas seats. A harness could also be used and gives me an interesting idea to add to an Elven Archer style..... You could make a rope harness that is pretty comfortable and suspend yourself from a tree so you brace yourself against the tree rather then have to hold onto it. And a knife or quick release and your out in an emergency. Maybe acrobatics to land better too. One thing about ranged combat I was thinking of while reading the Agincourt. there is an Irish story/myth about a warrior named Cuchalian who delayed an army with a sling. He would kill a few in camp or on the march from cover each day and this delayed the army and lowered morale. Then they went to an honrable combat one on one fight in order to get him to stop. One fight each day until he lost and the army wouldnt move if he would stop killing them. Gave his army time to mobilize and meet them IIRC. |
11-30-2009, 01:40 PM | #33 | |
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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Guess what? I have another char that can fly... ;-) |
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11-30-2009, 02:07 PM | #34 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cowtown, Canada
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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There's also the matter of how realistic you want to be as a GM. If you're more a 'rule of cool' GM then let your PCs go for it. Personally I think it helps the archer be more useful, so I'd let him get away with it at a token penalty, improved if he has more time to prepare. Your style may vary. @:-)
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11-30-2009, 06:35 PM | #35 | |
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Shore-ish, MA
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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First off, as other have noted, taking fire from an archer in an advance generally slows you down, either from you trying to avoid getting hit or getting hit and having to deal with it. Another thing is that a bow (or any missile weapon) has a certain amount of intimidation factor. My rule has always been: "There's a reason you can hold off 20 people with two rounds left in your gun...no one wants to be numbers 1 & 2." I think a factor in the "intimidation" is partly that in earlier centuries, a deep puncture wound (impaling) is generally harder to treat and keep infection out, so some of that fear is justified in the period, as you might not die from the initial wound, but you might wish you had. I once saw an archer (In SCA Light combat) hold off 6 opponents at short (10') range, simply because no one wanted to be the one to take the arrow. (Author's note: I showed up, assessed and obliquely charged the archer, parried the arrow - into my leg - and the other 6 guys pounded him like a tent peg before he could bear on them.) DF of course, generally you're going to get opponents that are going ignore casualties, but in a historical setting, animals and other creatures as well as "people" are going to not like the fact that you can reach out and touch them first. |
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11-30-2009, 10:11 PM | #36 |
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
I normally think of something like a WWII infantry tank concept, so my lower point archers tend to be practically immobile from weight of armor, but able to stand and trade blows
Except they trade blows at range A backup melee weapon is still essential though |
12-01-2009, 12:41 AM | #37 |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mainz, Germany
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
You're right, of course. I meant the really really evil ones, but as I just realised those are classed as broadhead arrows, like the one in the image, plus barbs. Stick that in a horse's side and the rider will be making control checks from now till christmas...
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/5062683..._Arrow_Tip.jpg |
12-01-2009, 02:31 AM | #38 | |||||
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Germany
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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Using a composite bow to īve a decent chance to do damage you must go so close to havy cav that one slight miscalculation or a well timed and calculated counterattack ist pure disaster. Wheras as slid medium foot can encircle themselves and shoot at you at greater range with long and crossbows, in combination with cav who sally at the right moment.
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12-01-2009, 03:18 AM | #39 | ||
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Zagreb,Croatia
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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You can use longer bows from horsback,or recurved ones. Quote:
If not counting few battles,it was Europeans being beaten by Turks ;) Horses werent armoured as much as men were.Though yes..Archers without protection would get stomped by cavalry.
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12-01-2009, 03:30 AM | #40 | ||||||
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Germany
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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archer, bow, fantasy, low-tech |
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