Author Topic: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???  (Read 1953 times)

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Offline Dreven1

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Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« on: March 07, 2016, 10:08:04 PM »
How long should you/could you keep a heavy crossbow or a light crossbow readied? I was thinking that when PC's start to travel they would unload their crossbows.  What is the historic way that people did this? (keep to Crossbows of the time, not today's carbon-fiber).  I can understand it being readied throughout a dungeon but what about all day? week? year?

Thanks!
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Offline yammahoper

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2016, 10:23:55 PM »
We do recommend that if you break from your hunt that you let the bow down to the un-cocked position by shooting a target arrow into a safe backstop. It would be good practice to let the bow down every 4 hours relax it for about ½ hour.
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Offline Dreven1

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2016, 10:29:14 PM »
As far as players and random encounters, do they usually start having to load bows/Xbows? or do you simply allow them to be loaded all the time? I guess that is the crux of the question.
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Offline Warl

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2016, 01:13:15 AM »
I just make a breakage check for each day they do this. If the weapon fails the check, I apply a -5 to the weapon. It won't happen often or fast.... but if they choose to do this, they will eventually have a Cross bow (or bow for that matter) that losses it's strength.

Especially if the game progresses through days of travel. 2 weeks pass.. you kept your crossbow loaded all the Time? Thats 14 checks.
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Offline bpowell

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2016, 09:12:48 AM »
We do recommend that if you break from your hunt that you let the bow down to the un-cocked position by shooting a target arrow into a safe backstop.
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Offline jdale

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2016, 06:18:21 PM »
With a loaded and cocked crossbow, there's always a chance it could accidentally go off, and a chance the bolt could fall out. If you are walking around with your loaded and cocked crossbow in your hands, on a nice even floor, the chance is negligible. But if you stumble on something, and certainly if you need your hands free to get across a narrow ledge or climb over rubble, it could be greater.

If you take the bolt out, you won't accidentally shoot anyone but the crossbow could still accidentally dry fire, which is not great for the crossbow and even worse for your fingers if they happen to be in the wrong place.

A misfire, with or without the bolt, could also be startling if it happens while you are trying to concentrate on something (like balancing while crossing a narrow ledge).

I would say for normal walking around, let them do it. If there is any situation where they need to make a moving maneuver, roll and check for a fumble (same chance as a fumble in combat) which represent the chance of it going off. Likewise for other situations with movement and they need their hands, e.g. while on a horse. If there's a situation like the narrow ledge, they might take a penalty on the moving maneuver or make an extra roll for it because they were startled.
 
Warl's idea of breakage checks leading to a small penalty as the string stretches is also a good one.
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Offline Dreven1

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2016, 06:26:45 AM »
All very good ideas, thanks!!! ;D
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Offline RandalThor

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2016, 02:46:29 PM »
For normal moving around I would have a random percentage (say 20%) that the crossbow is in its resting mode and unloaded and cocked. Of course, you can just rule that for extra tension. (See what I did there? Ha!)


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Offline Moostik

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Re: Keeping Heavy/Light Crossbows readied, what cha think???
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2016, 02:58:08 PM »
My players are fairly reasonale and keep their crossbows cocked while walking, loaded while cautiously walking, and uncocked while riding. I allow a 30% load maneuver for a cocked crossbow.
I like all of the suggestions above for handling careless crossbow keeping :)