Why short bow instead of long bow?

[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.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Less damage and range for a tiny reduction in Bulk

They're cheaper too.

when it would take a cinematic archer to actually hit the broad side of a barn with -6 penalty.

What -6 penalty?

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

They're cheaper too. What -6 penalty?

Bulk penalty occurs when using a move and attack.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Bulk penalty occurs when using a move and attack.

Heroic Archers ignore that anyway. I suppose you can have "cinematic archers" that lack Heroic Archer, but it doesn't seem likely.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Heroic Archers ignore that anyway. I suppose you can have "cinematic archers" that lack Heroic Archer, but it doesn't seem likely.

I was assuming realistic rather than DF Legolas archers.
I guess I should have put that qualifier in my initial post.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

I was assuming realistic rather than DF Legolas archers.

You said "cinematic archers" hence my confusion about the penalty.

[DouglasCole]

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.

Usually they'd be used because you just don't need the power of a longer bow (hunting), or because the materials you have (horn, for example) might not be available super-long, or because you want to use it on horseback.

[Kalzazz]

Isn't it also lighter?

You may want to add a reusable ranged attack, but minimize encumbrance hit

[ericbsmith]

Realistically a shorter bow would be easier to use from horseback, in dense woodland, in a Dungeon, or any other place where a longer bow is likely to bump into the scenery.

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by ericbsmith

Realistically a shorter bow would be easier to use from horseback, in dense woodland, in a Dungeon, or any other place where a longer bow is likely to bump into the scenery.

Yes. And the game master is free to give any appropriate penalty to any roll...

So, there are times where longbows are more crippling than effective.