Archipelego 2092 Popular Post Share Posted June 11, 2020 The Techlock - Armaments This is one of the six categories of our Techlock, specifically dealing with weapons, utilizing them, limitations, and interactions with things such as armor.. Given the broad range of this category, there are several subcategories below to make up the specific details of this part of the Techlock. These categories include bows, crossbows, misc weapons, plate armor, limitations and emote counts, and the possibility of cannons. On Bows: Bows are tension based ranged weapons that have been used for 1,000s of years. They’re a fantasy staple, and as expected have a decently substantial presence on the world LOTC takes place in. However, it is useful to explain the types and limits of bows, as to ensure everybody is on the same page. Structure: Bows are standardly composed of a ‘bowstave’, and a string. Both the bowstave and the string contribute to storing and releasing tension, with the variation of bowstave having profound effects on the use and strength of the bow. Material Makeup: Firstly, bows can be divided into 2 separate categories based upon the materials they’re made from. Self, and Composite bows. Self Bows are bows made from a single piece of wood for the bowstave, while composite bows are made from multiple different materials, laminated together. Design: Bows have a variety of designs, each having different features and traits, which will impact their end performance. Longbows, as the name suggests are large or ‘long’ bows, averaging at around 6 feet long. They were used extensively in european medieval warfare, though standardly by soldiers on foot. They require a high amount of strength and skill to use properly. Can be strung around one’s body for easy storage. Flatbows are similar to longbows, save they’re… well, flat, and many times far wider than longbows. They average at usually 6 feet long, or ever so slightly shorter. Though similar in power to longbows, they saw little use in medieval warfare, however, they saw extensive use by the native people of north america, both on foot, and rarely on horseback. Like longbows, they require a high amount of strength and skill to use properly. Like longbows, they can be strung around one’s body for easy storage. Shortbow is a catchall term for smaller bows, both for smaller hunting bows not used in warfare and recurve bows, though sometimes recurve bows are referred to as shortbows, for the purpose of this document they shall be separate. Non recurve short bows varied in size from roughly 3-5 feet long, and were used prolifically throughout history, though their use in warfare declined heavily upon the advent of both the longbow and recurve bow becoming wider spread. They were used both on foot and on horseback. Though requiring less strength than a longbow, they still require a modicum of skill to use. Can be strung around one’s body with a bit of difficulty for storage, or kept in a leather ‘case’ on one’s person. Recurve Bow is a term used to describe somewhat smaller bows that bend the bowstave backwards to store more tension, and thus fire powerful arrows from a smaller bow. Recurve bows vary massively in size, some being as small as 2 feet long, whilst others got as large as 5 feet long. They saw widespread use in hunting and warfare both in europe, asia, and even north africa. Though these did see use with foot-soldiers, they’re the ideal horseman’s bow. They require a decent deal of strength, and a lot of skill to use properly. Can be strung around one’s body, or be kept in a fitted leather ‘case’ for storage on one’s person. Note: Standardly, most longbows and flatbows are selfbows, whilst recurve and short bows can be either self bows or composite bows. This list doesn't include all different bows and bow varieties, though gets the basics down. On Crossbows: Crossbows are effectively bows put onto a stock for easier use. Standardly they comprise of a bow, a stock, and a mechanism for which to hold, and promptly release the string. However, given the bow is set onto a stock, the bow is limited both in how far the string can be pulled back, and how much the bowstave can bend to store tension. To remedy this, crossbows were made with progressively stronger and stronger bow staves, however, this made it progressively harder to pull the bowstring back. To remedy THIS issue, crossbows with heavier weights were made with mechanisms such as cranks and windlasses to assist in arming the crossbow. By nature, crossbows are difficult to keep on one’s person. Crossbows are less so divided by the type of bow or method of construction, but more so on the mechanism for pulling the bowstring back. With this, the technology of Lord of the Craft prevents the ability for repeating crossbows to be replicated. Even with real life counterparts being available like the cho-ko-nu of the warring states era, it is simply disallowed. Hand Crossbow is a catchall term for crossbows whose bowstring is pulled back by hand. Though the exact sizes and strength varied madly, hand crossbows saw prolific warfare use in pre-medieval periods, though eventually faded into only intermittent use due to being outclassed by most other bows and crossbows, though still saw use in hunting and intermittent home defense, and were even useable on horseback. Hand crossbows took a decent amount of strength, and little skill to use. Though size varies madly, smaller crossbows are able to be stored on one’s person through a bag, though larger ones being relegated to being either consistently held, or kept upon one’s back in place of a backpack or in a completely devoted bag. Crank Crossbow is a term to describe crossbows whose bowstring is pulled back via an attachable crank, or lever such as a crannequin or goat’s foot. Though able to shoot more powerful bolts than a hand crossbow, crank crossbows saw extremely little use in warfare due to being both more complex to make, and being outclassed by warbows and arbalests, and were mostly relegated to hunting. They standardly take less strength than a hand crossbow, and require little skill to use. Though the crannequin variant came later, which allowed for even stronger bolts to match bows, its slow rate of fire and complexity of construction saw it relegated to hunting. Crank crossbows, especially smaller steel bowed ones are able to be stored on one’s person though a devoted pack, or on one’s back. However, the crank must also be kept on one’s person, though most cranks are small enough to be held in a standard waist or belt bag. Arbalests, also called heavy crossbows are large crossbows whose firing power is so great that it requires an attachable pulley mechanism referred to as a windlass. Arbalests saw decently widespread use in the late medieval period throughout Europe, though fell out of widespread use with the advent of the gun. Likewise, the time it takes to arm an arbalest required one to hide behind cover to avoid being shot in return, or set down a mounted shield known as a “Pavise” to use as cover. Arbalests require a great deal of strength, and a decent amount of skill to use properly. Arbalests are standardly far too large to carry in a bag, and given the many times complex parts within it, are relegated to being carried by hand, with the windlass stored in a bag or pack on one’s person. Mounted Crossbows are crossbows that are too large or heavy to carry around on one’s person, and that are required to set upon a wall or a stand. Though one step below siege weapons, mounted crossbows bear a variety of arming mechanisms, however the windlass is the most prolific for powerful mounted crossbows. Mounted crossbows saw prolific use from the early iron age to the early modern period, even after the advent of guns. Though mounted crossbows are unequal in firing power, both their range, and line of fire is limited due to being mounted in place. Mounted crossbows require a moderate amount of strength, and little skill to use. However, they’re unable to be transported by hand, and require to be either disassembled and moved, or moved by cart. Again, this list doesn't include all different bows and bow varieties, though gets the basics down. On Misc Ranged Weapons: Though not used nearly as much as bows and crossbows, one would be remiss not to mention the lesser used ranged weapons that exist in the world of LOTC. Outliers in both history and ingame, it is important to note that most weapons have a give and a take, though some may be lacking in some ways, they may make up for it with situational uses. Blowguns are little more than fitted tubes by which one may eject darts pneumatically from, standardly through blowing through one end to shoot a dart out the other. Blowguns historically were used extremely rarely for any inter-personal conflict, and were relegated to hunting use, usually aided with poisoned darts. Blowguns, due to usually being little more than hollow tubes, are quite easy to store on one’s person. Blowguns require little to no strength, though they do take some skill to use. Poisoned darts wouldn’t work on LotC, particularly at the moment. Should some poisons be accepted, and gathered, and made into darts, then perhaps they could be used in that way. Slings are standardly small leather or cloth thongs made specifically to throw stones or specially made ‘bullets’. Slings, though one step above throwing an object, saw prolific use for both warfare and hunting, from the early bronze age up and through into medieval times. Though the widespread use of armor lessened its use, it saw intermittent use in warfare and hunting well into the early modern era, being wielded prolifically by the indigenous people of the americas. Slings are among the easiest ranged weapons to store and conceal, one being able to use them as belts, or wrap them around their arms or legs, no less keep one in a pocket or bag. Slings require a decent amount of strength, yet a large amount of skill to use, those wishing to effectively use slings needing to devote significant time and effort to learn to use such effectively and consistently. On Plate Armor: Though there is a wide variety of arms and armor on the world LOTC takes place in, there exists no armor more powerful and prolific than ‘plate armor’. Though given many names such as ‘plate-mail’ and ‘full plate’, plate armor standardly refers to a full suit of articulated steel armor-plates that covers most of the body. Variations: Though variations of plate armor have existed since the Bronze Age, plate armor in its most well known rendition came into being in Europe in the mid-medieval period, where it was outfitted for knights, noble soldiers raised since adolescence to be as good at fighting as possible. Later, as metallurgy progressed, and more and more producers of armor became available, it became possible to arm entire regiments partially- or even entirely in full body plate armor. Though there existed many variants, most plate armor standardly had a padded gambeson, or a chainmail shirt (or a combination of the two known as an arming doublet, which bore chainmail where the gaps in the armor might be) under the armor. Aspects of Plate: Plate armor was made to be both as light, and as protective as possible, with most well made suits allowing its wearer freedom of movement as well as ample protection. Plate armor afforded its wearer near entire invulnerability to slashing and stabbing and able to absorb substantial amounts of force levied against it. However, no armor is invulnerable to everything, and as armor became more prolific- as did means of combating it. Plate armor still bore gaps in its plates that could be stabbed though, and special swords and daggers were made explicitly for such. Likewise, blunt force trauma in places like the joints and head were still notably effective, causing many to adopt fighting styles reliant on using the pommel of large swords as impromptu maces. Likewise, plate armor was standardly made with varying thickness over much of the body as to both conserve weight, yet protect what was most important, allowing strikes from weapons such as spears, and polearms to pierce the thinner areas. Plate armor is effective, though not invincible. On Limitations and Emotes: Given most important ranged weapon varieties have been defined and explained, it is time to apply these items ingame. Disparities: However, before we start, it is important to note the disparity between ‘draw weight’ and firing force. Though one shall see certain bows being capable of piercing certain types of armor at what will look to be small draw weights. Draw weight is a quantifier of how much force is taken to pull the bowstring back, however, not all of this force is transmitted, and many crossbows waste the vast majority of the force taken to pull the string back. The main contributor on how much the stored force shall affect the arrow is draw distance- or how much the bowstring is pulled back and how long the string is going to be pushing the arrow. Most crossbows will suffer from a smaller draw distance, and then, not give as much pain for the poundage as a bow. Likewise, included ‘ranges’ are not meant to be construed as the farthest each one’s projectile could travel, but rather, the farthest that one could consistently hit their mark in a combat situation. The following is a list of ranged weapons, their emote requirements and limits, in order of their stopping power. Blowgun - 2 emotes to use. One to load, one to fire. - Darts are capable of shallowly piercing skin, yet incapable of piercing much more than 2 layers of cloth, no less armor. - Poisons on blowgun darts must be ST approved. - 15 block range. - Usable on horseback. Hand Crossbow - 3 emotes to use. One to pull back the string, one to load in the bolt and aim, and one to fire the bolt. - 10-150lb draw weight. - Bolts are capable of deeply piercing the skin, and embedding into bone, though able to be stopped by layers of gambeson and plate-armor. Chainmail offers some protection, lessening the damage of the arrow. - 45 block range. - Usable on horseback. Sling - 2 emotes to use in short range. One emote to load the sling ammo, and one to throw it. 3 emotes to use in long range. One emote to load the sling ammo, one emote to swing the sling, and one emote to throw the sling ammo. - Standard stones are capable of fracturing bone or bruising muscle. Metal sling bullets are capable of breaking bones and embedding shallowly into the skin. Incapable of -piercing armor, though capable of translating concussive force into non padded areas.Strikes against padding are rendered mostly ineffective, yet metal sling bullets striking the head, no matter the armor, will always transmit concussive force. - 10 blocks as short range, 45 blocks max range. - Usable on horseback. Shortbow: - 3 emotes to use. One emote to knock the arrow, one emote to pull back the bowstring, and one emote to fire. -20-80lb draw weight. - Arrows are capable of piercing into the skin and embedding into bone, though able to be stopped by gambeson and plate-armor. Chainmail offers some protection, lessening the damage of the arrow. - 40 block range. - Usable on horseback. Crank Crossbow - 4 emotes to use. One emote to attach the crank, one emote to pull and then remove the crank, one emote to load the bolt, and then one emote to fire the bolt. - 80-500lb draw weight. - Bolts are capable of piercing into the skin and even through bone. Is capable of piercing gambeson and chainmail. It is able to dent and pierce thinner parts of plate armor. - 40 block range. - Not usable on horseback. Recurve Bow - 3 emotes to use. One emote to nock the arrow, one emote to pull back the bowstring, and one emote to fire. - 60-120lb draw weight. - Arrows are capable of piercing into the skin, and even through bone. Is capable of consistently piercing mail and chainmail, though able to be stopped by specialized anti-arrow armor, such as leather with silk vests. - 40 block range, - Able to be strikingly accurate in ranges of less than 15 blocks. - Usable on horseback. Flatbow - 3 emotes to use. One emote to nock the arrow, one emote to pull back the bowstring, and one emote to fire. - 50-110lb draw weight. - Arrows are capable of piercing into the skin, and even through bone. Is capable of consistently piercing mail and chainmail, though able to be stopped by specialized anti arrow armor, such as leather with silk vests. - 48 block range. - Impractical for horseback. Longbow - 3 emotes to use. One emote to nock the arrow, one emote to pull back the bowstring, and one emote to fire. - 60-180lb draw weight. - Arrows are capable of piercing into the skin, and even through bone. Is capable of consistently piercing mail and chainmail, and are capable of denting armors such as lamellar, or the thinner plates of plate armor. - 48 block range. - Impractical for horseback. Arbalest - 5 emotes to use. One to attach the windlass, one to crank the windlass, one to loosen the windlass and remove it, one to load the bolt and aim, and one to fire. - 700-2,000lb draw weight. - Bolts are capable of piercing into, and through unarmored targets, and are capable of consistently piercing through chainmail and gambeson, and are capable of consistently puncturing lamellar or thinner plates of plate armor, and even denting thicker sections of plate armor. - 48 block range. - Obviously, not usable on horseback. Mounted Crossbow - Requires a prebuilt MC build of a mounted crossbow to use. - Takes 6 emotes with two people. Three emotes are of the pair drawing back the ‘mechanism’ of the crossbow. One to load, one to aim and one to fire. - 2.000-5,000lb draw weight. - Bolts are capable of piercing into and through lightly armored targets, and is capable of consistently piercing into platemail. - 48 block range. - Requires line of site from its mounted place, and cannot be moved unless built on top of a cart. On Cannons: Cannons were, at one point, a staple on LotC that got retroactively removed. However, the admins are in support of bringing them back onto LotC. This project doesn’t include cannons or mechanics for them, but you are now well within your ability as a player to study the mechanics behind how cannons function, and submit a lore piece that details their usage, construction, and mechanics. Until a lore piece is written and accepted, cannons cannot be utilized. However, when that happens, they will once again become a usable weapon on LotC. Credits: - Auric_Saint 31 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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