Meteoric Iron Arrows

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by DanHoward

There is one English author (Asham?) who complains that no longbowman in his time was capable of shooting half-pound war-arrows anymore - implying that, at one point, there were archers who could.

Well, implying that he thought that there were archers who could. Or that he was just exaggerating or making stuff up. In any case, I don't see why shooting a half pound arrow is hard unless you have specific requirements for how far you want the arrow to go.

[DanHoward]

I'll need to dig up the source. Even a quarter-pound is pretty heavy for a war arrow.

Edit: It was Charles I who complained that nobody can shoot a quarter-pound arrow any more.

[jeff_wilson]

Perhaps Chas I refers to the quarter pounders falling short when archers of late were asked to try them on the ranges set up for lighter arrows.

It occurs to me that ironworking heat and other issues won't be as much of an issue when the forges can be fired with Essential Coal, the billows pumped by stout and tireless golems, the smith can make use of stamina potions and enchanted hammers, etc.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

It occurs to me that ironworking heat and other issues won't be as much of an issue when the forges can be fired with Essential Coal, the billows pumped by stout and tireless golems, the smith can make use of stamina potions and enchanted hammers, etc.

Well, the easy methods of working iron with magic aren't going to work for meteoric iron.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Well, the easy methods of working iron with magic aren't going to work for meteoric iron.

Where is the real Anthony? He would hold that truth to be self-evident.

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

Perhaps Chas I refers to the quarter pounders falling short when archers of late were asked to try them on the ranges set up for lighter arrows.

The implication is that by the time of Charles I there were no English longbowmen capable of wielding the heavy bows required for shooting quarter-pound arrows on the battlefield.