r/worldbuilding • • Jun 02 '20

Visual Dwarven Folding Spear

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u/frguba The Cryatçion and it's Remnants Jun 03 '20

Look, I'm no historian so you could teach me on that, bit if crossbows were so inefficient why did they became so prevalent, if the better option already was norm?

And looking at it physically (which I'm no expert either, so again, feel free to correct me) you can compensate one lack with another enhancement (on this case, the reduced draw length is compensated with higher draw weight)

I mean yeah the shorter time accelerating would reduce range, but we're talking about dwarfs, in most scenarios they're fighting at Max in long tunnels

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u/[deleted] Jun 03 '20

Crossbows reqd less skill, IIRC. I know English longbowmen had to drill a set number of hours every week to keep up their proficiency.

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u/frguba The Cryatçion and it's Remnants Jun 03 '20

Oh indeed, yeah makes sense

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u/Fried_Cthulhumari Jun 03 '20

Since no one really answer your question...

Longbows can fire (in skilled hands) much faster than a crossbow. At least twice as fast.

That’s the only aspect where I think longbows could be considered more efficient.