How To Be Shot - A Combat Guide

[ski_king3 0]

How to Be Shot in Lord of the Craft

 

 

Today, I bring a very simple guide to Lord of the Craft. Simply, this is a guide on how to roleplay a response to somebody shooting at you. Despite the simplicity of this guide, I would strongly encourage everybody to read it.
 
[ld2]
 

Avoiding an Arrow

 

To put this relatively simply, it is nearly impossible to "dodge" an arrow. If you are not moving when somebody fires an arrow, and are close enough for regular chat to reach you, there arrow should hit you well before you can move to avoid it. This is true regardless of what type of bow is used, so long as it is professionally made. Of course, if it's a really poorly made bow, this may not be the case.
 
One might avoid an arrow, however, if they recognize that somebody is preparing to shoot them, and begin moving accordingly. This is not guaranteed to avoid the arrow, and I would still advise to at least be injured by the arrow to avoid claims of powergaming, but if you want to avoid an arrow, this is how it's done.
 
In short: One does not dodge an arrow, but one can try to avoid it if they move before the arrow is fired.
 
 

Being Shot with Armour

 

Now, oftentimes I have seen players roleplay being shot by an arrow and being totally unharmed due to their armour. A lot of time, this doesn't make sense in roleplay. As such, I will be clarifying how you should respond to each type of bow.

 

Crossbows: Crossbows are the most powerful of bows. If you are shot by one, you're getting hurt. Regardless of what type of armour you are wearing, with maybe the exception of enchanted armour or diamond armour (neither of which nobody should have at the release of this guide), a crossbow bolt will be injuring you. If you're shot by a crossbow at your chest while wearing armour, you should be gravely injured or die.

 

Longbows: Most characters do not have the knowledge or ability to use longbows, as they take extensive training to use. Similarly, they are often less effective in closer situations. Therefore, they shouldn't be widely used. However, if a character shoots you with a longbow at full draw, you should be getting injured. A longbow at full draw wouldn't be as powerful as a crossbow, but would be strong enough to rip through iron armour with ease at the ranges people usually shoot from.

 

Composite Bows: Now, most people on this server don't use composite bows. They're a very special sort of bow, made in a very specific way. Basically, they're stronger than a regular bow, but not as strong as a longbow. So, iron armour would stand a better chance at protecting from an arrow from a composite bow. However, it's still fairly strong, so iron armour protecting from this is not a given. Anything less, and that arrow is definitely going through and hitting you.

 

Regular Bows: Regular bows are basically the weakest form of bow. Far less powerful than any other bow, they are far more mobile than other bows. Due to the fact that they are less powerful, it is likely that iron armour would protect you from the arrow. Chainmail is possible, although unlikely, and leather would almost certainly not protect you from an arrow shot by a regular bow.

 

In short: Crossbows and longbows tear through iron, composite bows might, and regular bows probably won't, but they should normally penetrate chainmail, and always leather if shot at a reasonable draw.

 

 

Once You've Been Shot

 

Once you've been shot, it will be very difficult to continue fighting, if you aren't killed. If you're shot in the leg, you won't be able to walk, unless you're shot in your upper leg, as this is more meaty and less likely to hit the bone. Even that is iffy. If you're shot in your arm, you won't be using that arm, as the bone would most likely end up fractured by the arrow. Shot in a joint? That's even worse. Shot in the chest or stomach, continuing to fight would likely tear up internal organs, and you'd probably die, with maybe an exception if the arrow goes all the way through your side. Hit in the neck or head? You're dead. Pretty simple, if you get shot by an arrow, you're almost definitely out for the count.

 

In short: Read the paragraph, that's all it is.

 

 

If you enjoyed the guide, or have any feedback to give, I would love to hear it. Please, leave a comment below telling me what you thought, or if you think I could make any additions to this. Thank you, I hope this helps some of you out.

 

 

Minor Edit: I believe it should be noted that arrows will be less effective at deterring somebody if they are more muscular, as it is less likely that they will be shot through the bone (simply because a lower proportion of the person is bone), and because it will better hold the muscle in place. This mostly applies to limb damage. So, orcs and very muscular characters (most knights weren't muscular, by the way, or not to this extent) would be less affected.

 

Also, being shot in the torso/stomach region might not kill instantly, and one can still fight. However, they should realize that they are roleplaying a time bomb which will more likely than not result in their death, and they will be less effective.

[Major Dom 1297]

Good guide, makes sense. Really puts the power of bows into perspective.

[BrandNewKitten 2788]

Excellent guide! Although I would argue that a crossbow has less of an effect from farther away than long bows.

 

Crossbows tear through armor close-up

Long bows do so farther away.

 

Just my opinion.

[Old-Rattlesnake 1477]

I would like to take this guide and shove it down so many people's throats. Excellent work.

[Jorgen Reimer 74]

Love the guide and how you went on the fact how unlikely it is to avoid an arrow if you were not expecting it. Also how dammaging crossbows are against heavy armor. There is though a single point which I have to disagree with you. 

 

Regular Bows: Regular bows are basically the weakest form of bow. Far less powerful than any other bow, they are far more mobile than other bows. Due to the fact that they are less powerful, it is likely that iron armour would protect you from the arrow. Chainmail is possible, although unlikely, and leather would almost certainly not protect you from an arrow shot by a regular bow.

 

 

The entire point that leather was used was to to avoid damage from arrows. Leather armor allowed to soak the power which an arrow hits you with. So a regular bow would not be able to penetrate leather armor. Though it should be possible to penetrate leather armor with a crossbow and a longbow from close aim. 

 

Otherwise, love the guide, and you should certainly write more :)

[Minea 124]

Hmm definitely good, PEOPLE READ THIS. I roleplayed my ex-sailor using a normal bow, and although he is poorly trained it was almost point blank to a soldier's who's back was turned. EVEN then the soldier thought it likely he could dodge an arrow, I think not buddy. Thanks mate should really help the server.

[Lvke 1000]

Longbows were actually more powerful than crossbows, and kept that power from a great distance. They had a much higher fire rare too. However, they took a decade of training from the age of five to become competent with, and further training every day to achieve the levels required to easily pull back the string. Also, the archers who used the longbows would be deformed, and lopsided due t the amount if muscle in one arm, and the bone being stretched to of shapes by the pure strain of the bow. Many people couldn't even draw a longbow to quarter draw

(To be edited on a computer)

[SteelMarshall 190]

As others before me have said, longbows were actually more powerful than crossbows. The reason that they stopped being a common sight on the battlefield was the fact that they took decades to train with. Many knights, who detested longbowmen for using such of a 'cowardly' weapon, would often try to pull back a longbow to full draw, to show that it was not actually that hard. There are no records of a knight ever being able to draw the longbow past 1/4 of its draw on his first try. Therefore, longbows should be a much rarer sight in LOTC, as a man-at-arms would NOT be able to pick up a longbow and start shooting.

 

Also, longbows, though still extremely powerful, were unwieldy at short ranges, as they were built  to be taller than their user, usually around 6 feet five inches long for humans. Therefore, despite the fact that many people envision their stealthy elven ranger using a longbow, it would actually be a DISADVANTAGE in any heavily forested area, and would almost certainly not allow your character the ability to be stealthy. Most "ranger" types; that is, a silent woodsman, would have used composite bows or recurve bows for their mobility, durability, and effectiveness in close to medium combat.

[cruzazul 2807]

Good guide Ski. This could definitely help people out if they are confused about how strong bows really can be.

[nobody 146]

Brilliant new guide ski! Congratulations!

[Lvke 1000]

As others before me have said, longbows were actually more powerful than crossbows. The reason that they stopped being a common sight on the battlefield was the fact that they took decades to train with. Many knights, who detested longbowmen for using such of a 'cowardly' weapon, would often try to pull back a longbow to full draw, to show that it was not actually that hard. There are no records of a knight ever being able to draw the longbow past 1/4 of its draw on his first try. Therefore, longbows should be a much rarer sight in LOTC, as a man-at-arms would NOT be able to pick up a longbow and start shooting.

 

Also, longbows, though still extremely powerful, were unwieldy at short ranges, as they were built  to be taller than their user, usually around 6 feet five inches long for humans. Therefore, despite the fact that many people envision their stealthy elven ranger using a longbow, it would actually be a DISADVANTAGE in any heavily forested area, and would almost certainly not allow your character the ability to be stealthy. Most "ranger" types; that is, a silent woodsman, would have used composite bows or recurve bows for their mobility, durability, and effectiveness in close to medium combat.

Exactly what I was trying to say, but hard on iPad.

[Lego XBOX 898]

To use a longbow at maximum efficiency, one would have needed to train for a really long time as many have said already. However, know that longbows were extremely common and were used by half-trained men and militia. They were usually an easier tool to use for those never having trained with a bow overall, even if the efficiency would obviously be reduced.

Either way, great guide, I like it.

[ski_king3 0]

Hey guys, I'm at school now, but when I get home I'll research all the things people pointed out and edit accordingly. However, the main points are that if you're getting shot, your armour isn't a super effective protection, you can't dodge an arrow, and it's pretty damn hard to fight when you've been shot.

[Secret Lizard President 313]

Maybe you should post statistics to back up these claims though, such as comparing the actual power of the bows with data to prove the claims. Simply saying something is true doesn't make it true, and even if it is true you're sure to be met with skepticism (and rightly so, because everyone should be skeptic of things to ensure the quality of information). Also you should include information regarding the durability and typing of the armour you imagine being worn in these situations as well. 

[IrishPerson 693]

Looks good.