So, ST 10, DX 12, Crossbow-14, and Crossbow Finesse would allow you to reload an ST 12 crossbow in 4 seconds, twice that time for an ST 14 crossbow (going by the rules on p. Basically, if you know Crossbow at better than DX (2 or more points in the skill), you can cock a crossbow rated for a higher ST than normal bare-handed without a goat's foot or winch.

There is also the Crossbow Finesse Perk in PU2, which is a variation of the Strongbow Perk. That way you'll end up with a situation where one weapon group is the 'elephant gun' used for really big and/or well-armored opponents, while one is used to plink away at mooks. If you up the RoF, keep damage below longbows wielded by brawny/strong-armed archers. Or just create awesome super-movie-x-bows that either have a great RoF (magazines, belts, multiple bows) or do damage that'll pulp mere humans. Use the RAW for x-bows and apply the realistic scale of The Deadly Spring to longbows… Unless you nerf bows, while keeping x-bows at their current exaggerated level. Heck, even if it is, bows will still do enough damage that it's just kill vs. So I don't believe that you'll going to get away with more than a 2:1 RoF between bows and x-bows, and given that the rate of damage probably won't be 2:1, bows win. After all, the players want a cool weapon and multiple shots in a second with a cross-bow just move things beyond the pale, a problem bows don't have as much. Even if you over-exaggerate the damage capabilities of cross-bows, there's just a limit to how believable the rate of fire of a cross bow can be. And I believe on the time scale that GURPS uses, it'll probably never be. There are a few situations where crossbows are better, even on short distances (when you're tactically sneaking around in a dungeon-like environment, being able to very quickly fire your readied weapon can be a good benefit.īut that still doesn't make it a good main weapon. When you've got exceptional people, well-fed, fit and with awesome training and experience, then nothing short of a rather modern rifle would beat a bow.Īnd that's even considering that RPGs actually seem to overrate the damage output of crossbows.

In my group we have talked about the issue that bows in roleplay always seems to be a better choice than a crossbow!Īs other have pointed out, the need of armies ('they') isn't remotely the same as the need of fantasy adventuring groups. and then get own with the parrying and thrusting. It can be very hard to use ranged weapons when everyone else is in melee anyway. You can also accept that you've got a one-shot weapon and then it's time for melee. Average Skill thing and you're +2 to hit to go with your +2 to Damage.Īlso note that every cinematic Adv you can get for bows is available for crossbows as well though you may have to expand your library a little. For the love of all that is holy avoid the steel crossbows and don't re-start that argument.Īlso note the higher ACC. Get yourself a Composite Crossbow from Low Tech and it's 2 pts off damage for the same level of ST. You don't see a lot of PCs with pikes either A alrge battle isn't just a lot of little fights added together. There's a substantial element of 'What's good for mass combat isn't always as good for small group'. If crossbows truly where that bad, why did they use them? Of course that takes a special 'Light Pistol Crossbow' that does only thr damage, not thr+2. I also allow the Pistol Crossbow to be readied for 'free' with Fast Draw roll at -5 for every 'Readying' per turn with all of the above rules, so a Heroic Pistol Crossbower in my DF games can launch a truly dizzying amount of bolts down range. Or use Rapid Fire and replace attacks with Readies. In my games I also allow for a Ready to replace an Attack, so a Heroic Crossbowmen could All-Out-Attack (Double) and Ready as the first 'attack' making his Fast-Draw roll, then Attack witht he second attack. Halve the time to reload a crossbow without any other consideration.Īllow Heroic Readying - A Fast-Draw roll halves the remaining time to ready the crossbow (cranking or drawing).įast-Draw (Bolt) already eliminates the round to ready a bolt.īAM! Down to 1 round to load and ready a regular ST crossbow. Then allow Heroic Archer benes to crossbows: And that is if you dont use reloading stuff to use better and stronger crossbows. while with crossbow it is like 3 rounds reloading for 1 bolt. With heroic archer the pontential is going to about 2 arrows each turn.

Hand crossbow 4e