[LT] Rated ST for bows and crossbows

[Nikolai]

I just wanted to post a thread asking about the maximum rated ST of crossbows (and bows) and then found this one.

I find the current (obviously non-existent) rules on it very unsatisfactory. Without a limit on maximum rated ST, the four TL4 steel crossbows on p. 76 of Low Tech are unbelievably unattractive.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Leaving the only "Official" cap being the traditional 3xMinST cap.

Originally Posted by whswhs

I'm pretty sure we just assumed that the max ST for a bow of a given type was the same multiple of min ST as usual.

That is in no way official as far as I can tell. P. B270 specifically says "For a melee weapon, your effective ST for damage purposes cannot exceed triple the wapon's minimum ST. [emphasis by me]"
Almost the same in Low Tech: The description of the ST column for melee weapons on p. 64 mentions the limit of triple ST while the description of the ST column for muscle-powered ranged on p. 75 weapons does not.

So as per the rules as written, there does not seem to be any limit on maximum ST for ranged weapons.

But even if we assume that the melee weapon limit "triple ST" applies to crossbows as well: Steel crossbows would still totally suck due to their rated ST being halved for damage and range.
The TL3 Composite Crossbow could have ST 8*3=24, the Siege Crossbow could have ST 14*3=42 halved to only 21.
Which means the Composite Crossbow does an additional point of damage and has an additional reach of 90 yards.
But the Steel Crossbow is much heavier and bulkier. It costs about the same. A Windlass or Cranequin can be used both with the Composite Crossbow and with the Steel Crossbows.

So there is no way one would ever want one of the steel crossbows with the rules as written. They seem to represent technical "progress" at its worst! ;-)

Originally Posted by whswhs

The minST for a bow has nothing to do with how much damage it can inflict, and therefore cannot be based on its draw weight. I took it that minST was "can I pick up and handle a bow of this type without its being awkwardly heavy?" It's kind of an arcane question but I don't see that else it could be. Unless you want to suppose that a short bow inherently cannot have a draw weight less than X; I suppose that could be a sort of "minST," too.

According to the description for the ST column on p. 75 of Low Tech, it is explicitly the latter: "The ST score on the table for a given type of bow or crossbow is the minimum rated ST for that type."

Which I agree doesn't seem to make much sense, it would seem far more sensible to be the former ("can I pick up and handle a bow of this type without its being awkwardly heavy?").