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Bows were two-handed, muscle-powered projectile weapons used to shoot arrows at distant targets.[6]

Description[]

Bows came in a variety of different sizes and could be made of wood, horn, or bone. Composite bows were made of thin layers of these materials laminated together for extra strength.[6] The earliest bows in recorded history typically had strings made of either animal tendons or plant fiber.[7]

Weaponology[]

Though bows varied in the ranges they could reach, the strength of an archer could increase that potential range and damage. However, a bow needed be built to withstand higher forces. Composite bows were necessary to take full advantage of great strength.[8]

One of the biggest problems facing any archer was deciding what to do when a foe got within melee reach.[8]

Types of Bows[]

Catti-brie - Todd Lockwood

Catti-brie and Taulmaril.

In the Realms bows generally fell into one of two classifications: shortbows and longbows.[8]

Shortbows were the first type of bow to developed,[7][9] although they were not referred to by that term until much later after the invention of the longbow.[9] And as their name implied, they were smaller than longbows, with correspondingly less range and penetration.[8] Over time longbows were developed as people gave bows longer staves in an effort to increase their range.[7][9] though other found ways of increasing the flexibility of bows without increasing the length of their staves.[9]

A third classification of bow was the composite. This could be either a long or shortbow, with the distinction being that a composite had a stave made of more than one material. This gave the bow greater flexibility and consequently greater range.[10]

Varieties[]

  • Elven bows were thicker and heavier than normal bows. The ingenuity of the elven bowyers that crafted them made it so they worked just as well as melee weapons.[8]

Price[]

The price of a bow was often greater than the price of a sword. In addition, one had to consider the added cost of the weapon's needed arrows.[4] Being built to withstand higher forces typically increased the cost of a bow dramatically.[8]

Notable Users of Bows[]

Classes[]

  • Plumaweavers were typically proficient in the use of bows.[11]
  • Rangers were proficient with all simple and martial weapons and could choose archery as a combat style.[12]
  • Rogues were proficient with the shortbow but not the longbow because it was not easy to conceal or carry while moving stealthily.[12]

Groups[]

Individuals[]

Races & Intelligent Creatures[]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Gallery[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. Andy Collins, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams (November 2003). Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-2884-0.
  2. David "Zeb" Cook (1987). Blood of the Yakuza (Encounter Construction Booklet). (TSR, Inc), pp. 7–9. ISBN 0-88038-401-8.
  3. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  5. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 58. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Skip Williams (February 2005). Races of the Wild. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 166. ISBN 0-7869-3438-7.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Black Isle Studios (June 2000). Designed by Matt Norton. Icewind Dale. Interplay.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
  11. Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 50. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  13. Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
  14. Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
  15. 15.0 15.1 David Cook (August 1990). “Monstrous Compendium”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
  16. Jon Pickens ed. (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two. (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 0-7869-0199-3.
  17. Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
  18. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 44. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  19. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 157. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  20. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  21. Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  22. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 150–151. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  23. Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 334. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
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