[Low-Tech] Windlass and cranequin

[Lupo]

Originally Posted by Icelander

In addition, I would love it if the authors could point me toward historical artifacts or authentic replicas of period windlasses, weighted and tested. Does the weight of the windlass given in Low-Tech include the stirrup necessary for the crossbow? Do they weight of the steel bows?

Originally Posted by Icelander

On the other hand, even with judicious web searches, I have been unable to find any historical 1-2 lbs. cranequins. Since Low-Tech lists such devices, I assume that you have found them. Could you direct me to the websites in question?

These insistent questions would fit well in a game designer's nightmare...
I can't help it, right now I am picturing some GURPS author who gets stalked by an angry GURPS player, who obsessively asks "WHERE could you find a historical 2 lbs cranequin? DID YOU PERSONALLY WEIGH some historical cranequins?"

Originally Posted by Icelander

In any event, if the stats for cranequins are not a deliberate nod to some new scholarship challenging Payne-Gallwey's work and of which I was unaware, they are simply not accurate.

I think that everybody already understood that was your point. Since you appear to be so expert on cranequins, I think you could have said it straight in the first post... "I think cranequins in Low Tech are too light, they should weight more according to Payne-Gallwey"...