Why short bow instead of long bow?

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Have you seen one? It's an asymmetric bow, which is long on top and short on the bottom, just so it can be used in the open on horseback. it's very much the defining feature of the bow.

Yeah, that was the point. Apparently the horseback-friendly construction seems to still allow longbow stats.

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

So yeah, they get longbow stats, and reduced bulk when used on horseback, but full bulk when used anywhere vertical clearance matters.

Like in dungeons? I guess that's a serious flaw for DF-equivalents, but a castle wall or the fields of war seem quite accepting of such a design.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Yeah, that was the point. Apparently the horseback-friendly construction seems to still allow longbow stats.

Like in dungeons? I guess that's a serious flaw for DF-equivalents, but a castle wall or the fields of war seem quite accepting of such a design.

Sure, but you price it as a bamboo/hardwood recurve bow, which should wind up being expensive enough to make you say "YOW!" :-)

[Magpie]

This isn't a game reason so much as a historical one, but...

Because a human being can use a short bow and a long bow typically requires someone who has spent a freakish amount of time developing the upper body strength required to draw a longbow. Wikipedia mentions that skeletons of longbowmen are visibly deformed by there efforts and I heard a (possibly apocryphal) quote attributed to some English king that "If you want to train a longbowmen, you have to begin with his grandfather."
So it's kind of like why be an infantryman when you could be special forces- it is better to be extra-awesome if you have the time, resources, and desire to put in, but the investment in training is prohibitive to many (which is probably why many nations favored the simple but not terribly effective crossbow when it came to warfare).

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Less damage and range for a tiny reduction in Bulk when it would take a cinematic archer to actually hit the broad side of a barn with -6 penalty.

In my Ärth setting, non-composite shortbows are not regarded as military weapons. Someone carrying around a shortbow and a quiver of arrows will be assumed to be intent on bird hunting, or something similar, whereas someone seen carrying a longbow or any a composite bow will be presumed to want to kill human-sized targets. Maybe deer, but maybe not.

[Wildcat]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

In my Ärth setting, non-composite shortbows are not regarded as military weapons. Someone carrying around a shortbow and a quiver of arrows will be assumed to be intent on bird hunting, or something similar, whereas someone seen carrying a longbow or any a composite bow will be presumed to want to kill human-sized targets. Maybe deer, but maybe not.

Changing the LC of shortbows to be less restricted seems a fair way to increase their use, if that is a goal. Don't forget, you could use shortbows for archery contests.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Changing the LC of shortbows to be less restricted seems a fair way to increase their use, if that is a goal. Don't forget, you could use shortbows for archery contests.

Note that it's not just about legality. It's broader than that.

[chris1982]

Coming back to the original question - Has anybody had a char that was using a Shortbow? Successfullly? Against a foe?

For my case I must say not really - They barely hit and inflict a ridiculous small amount of damage. I'd rather settle for the sling...

[Witchking]

Originally Posted by chris1982

Coming back to the original question - Has anybody had a char that was using a Shortbow? Successfullly? Against a foe?

For my case I must say not really - They barely hit and inflict a ridiculous small amount of damage. I'd rather settle for the sling...

Ummm...yes but...

mostly non cinematic Fantasy Campaign...GM write-up had the 4 PC's coming from the Same Island with similar backrounds...so a handful of required skills...Staff, BOW, Survival Island, Wealth: Struggling etc...

I had a Short bow in my starting equipment...and have used it occasionally...but It was never worth my time and money to pursue investing in a longbow...one member of the party was/is a Heroic Archer (longbow from the getgo has since upgraded twice)...so I learned Rapier, DWA and a few other things and keep him from being roughed up by rude strangers before he can feather them...

I have hit people with arrows from the Shortbow for damage...but usually only in situations where it is PHYSICALLY impossible to go to HtH range...

Otherwise I usually use my Move of 8 to get up and engage as far away from the archer and the healer/mage as I can manage...so that I can fall back at need...

[trooper6]

Originally Posted by chris1982

Coming back to the original question - Has anybody had a char that was using a Shortbow? Successfullly? Against a foe?

For my case I must say not really - They barely hit and inflict a ridiculous small amount of damage. I'd rather settle for the sling...

Yes. One was a rogue type, the other a merchant type for mounted nomads.
I don't know why you say they barely hit, that is primarily a function of skill. Both of the characters were skilled. The damage was fine as well. They both were using ST 10 short bows. They both generally attacked the vitals.

I just don't see such a huge difference between long and short bow that one is great and the other unusable.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

Note that it's not just about legality. It's broader than that.

Nod. The things you can get away with in sports events tend to be significantly illegal in civil society - full contact sports are nigh-on exempt from assault, aggravated assault, and assault with a deadly weapon laws, as long as they conform to "the rules of the game" or "expected failures to comply with the rules of the game".

Heck, entire hockey teams and their coaching staffs should be up for conspiracy to assault/aggravated assault for planning to sic their "enforcer(s)" on another teams enforcer(s) or star player.