Crossbows for StormGuard of Kaladim or Butcher Block?

[Brodder FoamyMugs]

I've often wondered why with the twang-twangy elfs nextdoor to the Dwarfs that they've not really ever developed or carried crossbows to make up for lack of ranged magic and archery.

I'm thinking Crossbows should be open skill for dwarf Warriors and Rogues, maybe paladins too. Rogue can fire from stealth for crit shot or backstab too effectively...once per target.

I'm sure high level repeating gnomish-dwarven versions would exist too. (ie special ammo or clips- faster ROF etc).

Be a big surprise to the quad kiters when the guards all stop, draw crossbows and fire at the druid/necro/wizzie. OUCH! Hehehehee....

Use short bow and cammed short bow ranges? Cap ability below ranger's bow skill for sure.
Gives other classes a choice in ranged weapons.
Another time sink for questors (delivering crossbows and quarrels to the dwarfs around BB= faction too).

Crossbows would be str based as to ROF, aim off dex?+ skill + bonuses
Damage based on Crossbow type alone (static damage + skill variable bonus)

Quarrels used in quiver (holds fewer than arrows 1 bolt= 2 arrows maybe- unless to hard for coding/coders). Special Quarrel Quiver.

Allows as long as Xbow is loaded to run and fire w/o penalty on first shot maybe?

Suggestions.
Pro's?
Con's?

What other races might use the crossbow? (Halflings like the shortbow for their rogues, neh? and Gnomes have magic for range and catapults too).

I'm thinking racial only initially and class based -
For NPC's if target out of range for melee or they are rooted out of range then NPC pulls out xbow.
Mobile patrols - patrol with xbow out and will fight at range with them until nuked or pulled into melee.

Special bolts
Flare bolt = Bolt + shrunken gnomish fireworks : effect dmg on target over time (like 2/rd) + lights up area- good for dark areas.
Drunken Bolt = Bolt + Injector Head(rogue quest) + Brodder's Revenge Concentrate (Concentrated = another quest) : effect is Alcohol check by target. Tradeable item. stacks alcohol effects on target! (ever wanted to see a really drunken white dragon before? "I lub ju guys! Whooosh! Ooops. Heh heh...chilly ain't it?"
Rogue versions of Drunken bolts use one dose of poison vs Concentrated Brodder's Revenge- not tradeable rogue useable only.


Thoughts? (please)

[Heynanni]

Hmmm kind of a "Shortys Unite!" type of thing? I like the idea from a rogue point of view, more of a sniper angle than an assassin, and especially Gnome rogues- very swift and stealth.

Didn't they implement a tinkered catapault? IIRC it doesn't have a purpose that anyone has discovered, so maybe we could build on that one.

I think its a neat idea, I'm just so sad no one else bothered to reply yet!

[Astroshak]

Havent you heard? A "dwarven bow" is a throwing hammer!

[Ddemons Ddemise]

Or they could simply make the ones that drop in Thurgadin usable :P

[GrimwoodCT]

Warriors: Crossbows or Bows.
Paladins: Crossbows only.
Rangers: Bows only.

With the cumbersome reload time/procedure of a crossbow it would be unrealistic to expect a bow-kiter to use it.

Make the crossbow long to load/recycle but of significant inital damage to gain nice aggro. Crossbows are overdue. A nice melding of fletching and tinkering yet again.

[Brodder FoamyMugs]

I still think Crossbows for rogues is a good idea too.
Especially if the injector versions make their way into the game.

So warriors bow xbow
Paladins bow xbow
rangers bow
rogues (racial) xbow only.

Slow high damage (reload time)
Later on add in repeating xbows- lower damage- fast shots until reload needed then slow again. (ie 5-6 fast shots, then down time for new clip and spring reload)

More ideas and feedback are welcome.

The animations should be easy and just reuse bow/archery code with range/damage/reload time changes.

Certain mobs like Rhakshasa would be vulnerable to this weapon more than normal ones...but it's a pulling weapon mainly and a dps add from range.

Rogues would be only ones getting critshot from stealth or backshots and they'd be limited in use. But two or three rogues could play pingpong with xbows getting back shots and trading agro they could whittle away hit points before engaging target in H2H.


B

[Elyssanda]

I can't see Pallies being happy that you are taking away their normal bows Grim, I think like Brodder put, let them have both...

[antok]

it may not be entirely appropriate for paladins to be able to use crossbows.

crossbows have been pretty universally viewed as dishonorable weapons in every real world society they have been invented in.

[TSingAndLost]

Not really. A knight would be flanked by cross-bow equipped guardsmen. They might not use the crossbows themselves, but they'd not have too many qualms about them being deployed in their service.

[GrimwoodCT]

I agree: the Papacy regarded the penetrating damage of crossbows un-"Christian" due to its severity.

It would be hard to determine who should be allowed to wield crossbows, were they ever permitted in game.

I love bow-pulling with my pally (though Call of Honor is lovely now).

I am locked on the idea that plate wearers can use crossbows while more nimble classes would use the faster "regular" bows.

But *oh* the tradeskill possibilites. Crossbows needing tinkered, smithed and fletched combines. Bolts needing smithed and fletched combines.

The pages!!
The recipes!!
The arguments!!

Yes or no, its good to argue this minutae that keeps the board and game interesting.

[Boleslav]

Shadowknights should be allowed to use them in Paladins can.

I agree with the RP qualms about a Paladin using them though. Still if my Dwarven Paladin could use one he would.

Boleslav

[KyrosKrane]

I would imagine that crossbows were historically hated by the knighthood because they could punch through armor pretty easily. Since the knighthood were also the nobility, and since they're the ones more likely to write the histories, it makes sense that they would view crossbows as dishonorable weapons.

On the other hand, if I were some poor farmer press-ganged into serving in my lord's army and I were standing on a field watching an incoming heavy cavalry charge, you can bet your sweet behind that I'd have no qualms firing a few crossbows to thin their ranks out! =)

[Heynanni]

Kyros brings up an interesting point with the farmers, why not make certain crossbows level locked to LOWER levels only? Make it high trivial on the combines but make the components easy to get, yet dropped not vendor sold, so prices aren't jacked up (would make a nice skillup path). I don't know how it could be coded, but make some crossbows for characters below level 45 for example. Just some ideas...