Re: (TFT) New weapon list for ranged weapons --> fine bows?

[ErolB1@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/21/2003 7:02:06 AM Central Standard Time, 
rsmith@lightspeed.ca writes:

>    A book I was reading about the English 
> longbows was saying that they were NOT backed
> bows, but simple bows.  (So they required even
> MORE upper body ST to use.)

My understanding of the matter is "they weren't and they were" - that yew 
staves had heartwood and sapwood, and that bowyers took advantage of this to 
create bows that were "naturally backed" with the sapwood serving as the 
back. They were also fairly efficient at transfering energy to the arrow, at 
the cost of length (thus "long"bow).

Composite bows can get away with being much shorter, but they need to be kept 
scrupulously dry because the glue is water-sensitive (barring modern 
materials or magic). 

Both types took time and skill to make; I wouldn't want to try to judge which 
was "more expensive" or "better" in game terms. They had different advantages 
and disadvantages. What *did* make a big difference was draw weight (the St 
required to use the bow). High St bows would be much tricker and more 
expensive to make than bows requiring a lower St score. 

Erol K. Bayburt
Evil Genius for a Better Tomorrow
(who needs to get out to the archery range more often)
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