Question on SM -1 Bows

[CraigM]

Originally Posted by cvannrederode

My questions is, does anyone know if the rules on page 20 of Low Tech 2 apply to ranged weapons. I've read them through a couple of times, and tried to apply them to composite bows, but I just can't shake the feeling that they are for melee weapons only.

They definitely appear to be designed with only melee in mind, but I'd still be inclined to use the LT2 rules to modify MinST, weight and damage bonus. Perfect realism isn't that big a consideration for a halfling archer.

A halfling's arrows should have a bit less punch than a human's; I'd be fine with that. But the halfling can make up for that with precision; high skill gets you those shots to the vitals and eyeslits. A 150pt halfling archer should be up around Bow-18, and a good balanced bow should see that well into the 20's after aiming.

It's also worth remembering that low-grade magic arrows are cheap on Yrth (both for damage bonus and as spell carriers) and an accurately delivered 1d6 imp is quite effective against realistic unarmoured foes.

[Kalzazz]

If you raise your skill to DX+2 then you can use ST+2 bows with Strongbow perk

I personally allow a 2nd perk, 'Super Strongbow' to let you continue the progression as Trained ST

[roguebfl]

This is what a SM-2 Bow looks like:

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

I threw down a reflex yew bow with a 3:1 thickness ratio, 30-lb draw at 15", 36" bow length. Firing a 0.24" ironwood arrow with a light AP head. 62% efficient, cinematic damage is 2.59 points, realistic is 1.81 points.

	Bow Stats	
TL6 or less	Draw Weight	30
Bow	MinST	8
	Draw Length	15
Realistic	Damage	1d-2 (2) imp (1.81 points)
Bow	Acc	0
	-1/die dmg Range	124
	1/2D Range	124
	Max Range	124
	Weight	0.4/0.06
	Bulk	-5
	Cost (Bow/Arrow)	$37/$5.3

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by roguebfl

This is what a SM-2 Bow looks like:

and since the user wants cinema, that's 1d-1 (2), which isn't all bad.

[Flyndaran]

That bow price must be for cheap as good ones cost over $100.
Using the sheet, I got it down to $158 and 2.50 average Cinematic damage.

[Tomsdad]

Yep I'd go with deadly spring with the cinematic damage option turned on.

But I don't see using the scaling rules in LT2 as a problem either. I'd adjust the damage by the multiplier but not the range however since you round up the damage calculation you not actually going to see any damage reduction going for SM0 to SM-1 until you get to the Reflex bow. So you might want to just apply a blanket -1. (Ultimately Deadly spring will give more nuanced results, but as pointed out small lighter bows actually do pretty well in it)



But in a broader sense how is the halfing shooting people and what kind of effect are they looking for?

Are they trying to just blast through armour and target's HPs with shear high damage.


Because another way to go with making a halfing with a low damage bow effective is to make them really accurate at hitting high value and unarmoured targets.

To me this is more in keeping with the sneaky, fast, agile halfing motif.

So give the hafling access to Targeted attack techniques. Allow them a really high bow skill (ST7 is -30 points, that' worth 7-8+ bow skill)

Let them employ all those cinematic bowman stuff from MA or fast draw bows etc, maybe even give them access to some of dungeon fantasy bow stuff.

Basically allow them to "muscle it" with skill and tricks rather than massively powerful bows.

(the nice thing here is you can generous with this because if you need to it's very easy to balance a bow user who your finding too powerful)

As the GM don't have them go up against opponents in head to toe plate