problems with archery

[nox]

there's a problem with archery as it's presented in game now

1) range is too short
2) the arrows are being fired on a flat trajectory.

my npcs are firing 'at' things at very close range and not firing at enemies at long range at all.

One of the things archers should be doing, is standing ground - with a spike-butted spear stuck in the ground angled outward to fend off charges from horse, with a bunch of arrows stuck in the ground next to them, and them sighted in to land a volley in a given area

THAT is how prepared archery worked. the defenders would wait for the attackers to head through the 'field of fire' and the archers would let loose a fast 'withering fire' volley.

arrows should be falling down from overhead on enemies that stay at range...

(There should be a way to raise the shield as well)

 

[Wanderer]

Realistic in a game where 100's are on each side...

... when the maximum # of units in the fight is 15, Even a semi-decent circle of shots, with all of them archers, would require tremendous aiming ability at the arc range you're discussing.

I don't know if that's feasible with the numbers of troops actually in game.

That's more on the scale of Rome:TW then on a skirmish game like this.

 

[JohnathanStrange]

there's a problem with archery as it's presented in game now

1) range is too short
2) the arrows are being fired on a flat trajectory.

my npcs are firing 'at' things at very close range and not firing at enemies at long range at all.

One of the things archers should be doing, is standing ground - with a spike-butted spear stuck in the ground angled outward to fend off charges from horse, with a bunch of arrows stuck in the ground next to them, and them sighted in to land a volley in a given area

THAT is how prepared archery worked. the defenders would wait for the attackers to head through the 'field of fire' and the archers would let loose a fast 'withering fire' volley.

arrows should be falling down from overhead on enemies that stay at range...

(There should be a way to raise the shield as well)

Nox, as sensible and interesting as your posts always are, I must disagree here.

Our battlefield combats are meeting engagements and hastily improvised encounters conducted on the fly. So while there may be a case for say archers having prepared their defensive positions in certain cases, I'd think that sort of thing would be rare in Mount&Blade. Whereas a prepared position for a hundred archers might be a stake barricade, it would be less effective for three or four archers who could be attacked from any direction and generally have to be on the move anyway.

As for arrow arcs not being reflected, isn't that more of a graphical thing? If we're on the receiving end of a long distance shot, it might be cool to see it arrive as if falling from the sky, but a hit's a hit.

When the enemy's receiving a long-distance arrow, again it might be cool to see the arrow arc but it's moving so fast and the target so far that what practical effect does it make? We already take distance into account when we raise our aiming reticule over the target.

It's difficult for me to say if the archery (bow/crossbow) range is too short. I don't necessarily assume that the distance is not in some way abstracted: what is the scale?

Even knowing the scale, wouldn't we then have to know what the difference between a possible range and practical range. I mean; it may be possible to shoot an arrow at the longer distances but maybe archers in real life would hesitate to waste one of their limited supply on a single man. So in effect our "short" ranges may be more realistic by limiting long distance sniper shots.

A long range shot ("withering fire") might be more sensible if your enemy were approaching en masse since you might hit someone anyone.

My NPCs fire back both at short distances and long; my ranged units will fire at far off targets just as often as they are fired on.

I agree if shots did "fall from the sky" we should be able to raise the shield - else we'd be experiencing a "Harold at Hastings" moment more than we'd like.

Bottom line for me: Archery isn't a problem area. Real medieval archers might've scoffed at the shots made or attempted but there's no "unreal" vibe that I'm getting. Though I willing to hear further...