Bows vs. Crossbow (for discussion)

[JGP]

[quote author=JGP link=topic=2810.msg23088#msg23088 date=1334503022]
The crossbow could do this at close distances, but the longbow needed more distance to target to gain kinetic energy.

Can you elaborate on this? Are you saying that arrows increase velocity once it leaves the bow?
[/quote]

I can answer this. 
Crossbows function more like a gun then a bow does.  The bolt is not nocked like an arrow when fired.  The bolt is lighter, shorter, and not acted on as long as an arrow by the force of the string.  Crossbows do tend to have more draw weight then a bow.  So the crossbow has the most potential the closer it is to the target.  Some claim crossbow bolts have a more flat flight path due to design, but I can not speak to this.  A bow fired arrow weighs more due to being longer, and is acted on more by gravity after the apex of it flight.  If you ever watched movies with medival battles you might have seen the archer scenes.  They always show the high long shots they used with multiple shots.  It was not accurate, but the long trip down gained the arrow "terminal velocity".  It is not that the arrow gains more, but it regains the potential kinetic energy it expended on the trip up as it travel back down.  If you fire from a point higher then your target the arrow does gain more potential kinetic energy as it passes the archer height to the targets lower position.  A crossbow bolt would have this happen, but usually less effective due to the lighter weight/less curved flight path.

The game does not have game mechanics to adjust for gravity, air drag, angle of deflection, and the many other variables.  So as I said I would like it if something might be tweaked, but the game is rather fair for the most part.  It is not perfect, and to "fix" it might just ruin things more then help.  I quite honestly thought an archer could fire much faster.  Seems I have watched to many "elf archer" scenes.  They were fast, but only about twice as fast when aiming.  Also moving targets slow this down, so honestly might be better leave things as they stand.