Archery in this game kind of sucks.

[Boge]

I get that it's more realistic being slower and doing less damage than a sword or axe slash, but this is a game. There should be some gameplay balances that make bows a bit more useful.

I just played a session where my group attacked an outpost of soldiers geared in mail...not too rare for a fight. ST 13 , skill 18 with strongbow, but the best bow I could get my hands on was 14. So 50% of the time I won't deal any damage to an armored foe IF I can even hit them in the first place. The fight starts 30 yards out, so I can take time on my first shot only to try hitting in an unarmored spot. I miss the face by one and hit the armor where it plinks off, no surprise. The melee combatants rush in and somehow make it there within a round..??? Okay, I can't be a rules lawyer, so I don't say anything and just fast draw and ready another arrow while the melee characters are rapid striking the enemies for 2+ dice damage each swing.

Needless to say, that's how the combat went and it just isn't fun. Penalties are way too high to be able to hit in any weak points. Damage is too low to do anything otherwise. It would cost me another 40 points to get Heroic archer and Weapon master which would net me a +2 accuracy on each shot and a +2 damage on each shot...for 40 points.

Conclusion, bows suck in turn by turn combat in Gurps. I made this character because I thought it might be fun or cool, but it's just useless is all.
/rant