bows vs crossbows

[Huene]

whats the difference here? the best bow unit i have found has an attack of 5. your average peasant crossbowman has an attack of 8-10. is there some kind of difference in the damage a bow does to balance that out?

[Spartan90]

Archers fire quicker, xbows fire slower. Archers can 'arc' their arrows, xbows can only shoot straight (much like a musket). Archers are better in siege, xbows are better in field. Archers can generally use flaming arrows and plant stakes, xbows have AP arrows.

[Ishan]

xbows can only shoot straight (much like a musket).

Musketeers or gunners can shoot straight only when they are not obstructed by their own unit.
Crossbowmen can shoot in projectile mode as well like the Bowmen.

[Spartan90]

Crossbowmen can shoot in projectile mode as well like the Bowmen.

Really?! Crossbows are always the meat of my army, and I've never seen them shoot in projectile mode. They can shoot over my men if there's a slight incline, but in general they always shoot straight.

Have I misunderstood something?

[Paladin94610]

Really?! Crossbows are always the meat of my army, and I've never seen them shoot in projectile mode. They can shoot over my men if there's a slight incline, but in general they always shoot straight.

Have I misunderstood something?

Yes, you don't misunderstand. Most Xbows are "skirmishers" which means they are slow, more accurate and able to fire only under direct LOS. Use them on the higher elevation to have max their effect.

[Spartan90]

Yes, you don't misunderstand. Most Xbows are "skirmishers" which means they are slow, more accurate and able to fire only under direct LOS. Use them on the higher elevation to have max their effect.

That's pretty much what I said...

Archers and crossbowmen shoot straight and they in projectile mode when there is an obstacle in between like a wall, Building or a friendly unit infront

I've never seen an archer shoot straight, only in arcs. And as for crossbowmen, the exact opposite - never seen them shoot in arcs, but only straight.

Can you possibly screen shot an xbow unit shooting in an arc? Because in all my years of playing TW, I've never seen it...

[Ishan]

Really?! Crossbows are always the meat of my army, and I've never seen them shoot in projectile mode. They can shoot over my men if there's a slight incline, but in general they always shoot straight.

Have I misunderstood something?

Archers and crossbowmen shoot straight and they in projectile mode when there is an obstacle in between like a wall, Building or a friendly unit infront.

[SirRobin]

Archers can 'arc' their arrows, xbows can only shoot straight (much like a musket). Archers are better in siege,

I've seen crossbows fire in arches? And also archers are not better in sieges.

[Neptune7]

I haven't used crossbows in a while, however I think they shoot in projectile mode like bows..I am not sure though...

I don't think crossbows should shoot in an arcing projectile mode like an arrow. I am not a medievel war expert, but I think they are straight line of fire projectiles.

[RabidSheepLegion]

For your power question. Crossbows have more power behind them, although highest English longbow men (Yeoman or Retinue) may beat 8, due to higher tension with the cog works of the crossbow. Bows are crude compared to crossbows, however bows took years, decades even to master them, meanwhile crossbows could take a few weeks. No wonder of one the Popes banned the use of Crossbows as peasants could kill kings with the use. Not to mention the amount of dead Catholics due to the high lethality of it. Chain mail could stop arrow tips if links were small enough, bolts could probably pierce right through them, plate would most likely glance arrows (except bodkin of course) and bolts could again possibly pierce if at closer range. That's just my tid bit mind you Sure you can shoot crossbows overhead, just however like arrows, they will lose power... More better to shoot forward and a bit close to get full effect, just like gunpowder units (except they can't shoot overhead)

[Huene]

does the bows rate of fire make up for the lower damage then?

[RabidSheepLegion]

does the bows rate of fire make up for the lower damage then?

I would say yes, but using them wisley (shooting their weapon side, or preferably "home" (Backs) would be more effective. Take like almost twice as many losses as would be frontal imo

[Ishan]

does the bows rate of fire make up for the lower damage then?

Yes in a way u can say that but if a unit is nearby a volley of Crossbowmen i see like a lot of enemy soldiers go like ughaa .

[philipjd]

does the bows rate of fire make up for the lower damage then?

In either a seige (Especially) or a field combat check the ammunition status of a bow unit versus a x-bow unit, rarely does a bow unit NOT use all its ammunition, but rarely does a x-bow unit USE all of it's. Although that is a very simplistic formula, it does show the 'efficiency' of usage between the two types.

[RabidSheepLegion]

Spartan90, have them shoot when close to enemy, they'll shoot straight have them on wall maybe where enemy backs are turned to you while they are occupied with a unit of your own (no towers in between)

[RabidSheepLegion]

lol highland rabble, a sharp rock thrown would pierce that lot, a blunt one too

[Ishan]

lol highland rabble, a sharp rock thrown would pierce that lot, a blunt one too

This guy would disagree with you.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[RabidSheepLegion]

lol he's a highland noble, there's a big diff lol Mel Gibson's William Wallace Stats

Feck
Racist
Discrimitory
Dislikes women
etc...etc...

Hmmm.... now Brian Blessed's attributes?

Loud
Inspiring Speaker
Feck
Womaniser
Blood Lust

[Ishan]

lol he's a highland noble, there's a big diff

Noble.This guy would disagree with you again lol

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Edward Longshanks

[RabidSheepLegion]

lol! His stats....

Sickly
Conquerer of Scots (Or so he wishes lol)
Child abuser (New trait )

His son (The heir right?) could so be

HatesFather
Catamite