Bows

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

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The basic elements of a bow are a pair of curved elastic limbs, traditionally made from wood, joined by a riser. However self bows are made of a single piece of wood encompassing both limbs and the grip. Both ends of the limbs are connected by a string known as the bow string. 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.

History

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

Significance

A staple of hunters and woodsmen, bows have a rustic reputation in the world. Though there are certain monastic sects who train heavily in archery, if pressed, most citizens would equate bows and arrows with iconoclast adventurers on the frontier fringes of the wilderness or with the wild fey of the woods beyond. For its part, modern warfare sees a few trained bowmen as sharpshooters and scouts, but overwhelmingly prefer to use crossbows for the bulk of many militaries.

Item type

Weapon, Ranged

Base Price

The price of a bow crafted by an market was often greater than the price of a sword in the same market. In addition, there is an added cost of the weapon's needed arrows. Being built to withstand higher forces can increase the cost of a bow dramatically.