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11-27-2009, 04:30 AM | #1 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Role of archers in low-tech parties?
Greetings, all!
It is no big secret that the role of an archer in High Fantasy is different from a role of an archer in normal fantasy/low-tech games. Notably, HF archers are scary R-DPS machines with a RoF exceeding that of some TL5 rifles, and comparable damage. With the proper build, they also have huge range. However, what about the games with normal point ranges (100-150 or below)? What are the roles of archers in those parties, especially given that learning Bow is a lifetime investment? Thanks in advance! |
11-27-2009, 05:18 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: France
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
Being able to shoot someone before he is close enough to hit you with a sword is a big advantage! Do you know the battle of Agincourt?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Agincourt |
11-27-2009, 05:28 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Central Florida
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
Yeah, in modern parlance, an archer even a lowly TL non-munchkined version is still a "Blaster."
If you have magic, then you'll likely find the archer standing RIGHT NEXT to the mage. And if they're both smart they'll be standing behind cover.
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11-27-2009, 05:34 AM | #4 | |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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11-27-2009, 05:56 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
I don't know much about it, but my guess is that you wouldn't have a dedicated archer. Being able to shoot a guy once or twice before he's in melee range isn't super awesome, but it's better than having shot him zero times.
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11-27-2009, 06:33 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and some other bits.
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
Depends on the battlefield, really. In a cave, dungeon or city streets where engagement ranges are seldom more than ten yards, a bow is a terrible weapon.
In open ground where melee fighters have to charge a hundred yards while you stand back and shoot them, it's brilliant. In a siege, where melee fighters simply can't reach the enemy without a ladder, it's even better. A low fantsy bowman needs to avoid fights where he is at a disadvantage - using scouting, ambush and manouverability to make sure that he encounters enemies in terrain which favours him. They are also useful when the party is attacked by enemies who use these tactics against them. |
11-27-2009, 06:42 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Montreal, Canada
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
Depends. The fact that you can ready your bow before having a comrade open a door where you will get to shoot anything behind it at whatever distance it is makes it pretty useful.
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12-01-2009, 11:17 PM | #8 | |
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Europe
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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One archer, known for being a good shot (with an actual game-mechancial bought-with-points or earned-in-play Reputation, to that effect, if necessary), versus half a dozen orcs. He goes "Freeze! The first to move closer dies. Drop your weapons and run away from me". That's a very real test of whether the GM has a healthy attitude. |
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07-26-2010, 04:48 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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11-27-2009, 06:10 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?
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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.
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Tags |
archer, bow, fantasy, low-tech |
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