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[]
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[]
- The Eagle Knights of Maztica were typically known to utilize bows.[13]
- The Sisters of Synnoria cavalry company were known to fight with bows.
Individuals[]
Races & Intelligent Creatures[]
- Centaurs were known to favor the use of bows, especially composite ones.[10] This was also the case with other races of centaur in the Realms, such as the desert centaurs,[14] nomadic centaurs,[15] and zebranaurs.[16] Though nomadic centaurs preferred the use of shortbows.[15]
- Elves esteemed the art of archery and were proficient with long and short bows, as well as the composite versions of each.[17] They were particularly a common weapon among wild elves.[18] And aquatic elves had their own unique aquatic longbows.[19]
- Both lightfoot[20] and stout halflings were typically known to use shortbows.[21]
- Though primarily known for using primitive weaponry, some archers among harpies mastered the use of bows.[22]
- Swanmays, when in their human form, would often use bows to attack their enemies from afar.[23]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- Bow (weapon) article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (1987). Blood of the Yakuza (Encounter Construction Booklet). (TSR, Inc), pp. 7–9. ISBN 0-88038-401-8.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 7.0 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.
- ↑ 8.0 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.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Black Isle Studios (June 2000). Designed by Matt Norton. Icewind Dale. Interplay.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 David Cook (August 1990). “Monstrous Compendium”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Jon Pickens ed. (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two. (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 0-7869-0199-3.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 44. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 157. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 334. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.