PotatoKhan
Recruit
Change the bow aiming mechanic so that the player character reaches their full potential accuracy at the time a new arrow is nocked and ready to shoot.
Rationale:
Realism and fun. In traditional archery bows are not 'aimed' in the popular sense -- it's instead an instinctive full body motion. An archer does not improve his or her aim in the seconds after pulling an arrow back to full draw. Modern instructors teach archers to release arrows either at the moment of reaching full draw, or very soon afterwards. Without a mechanical aiming system like sights, accuracy is based on muscle coordination -- which quickly deteriorates if forced to hold back a heavy draw weight bow (100-150+ lbs or 45-68+ kg) for any period of time. I practice archery and from personal experience: your aim does not get better the longer you hold back an arrow. It's not at all like firing a rifle, it's more of a full body thing which is why the skill takes so much practice.
Secondly: it's just very satisfying to play as a fast archer when your character has a high bow skill, and for me personally was a highlight of the combat in this game.
Supporting material:
Here is a video on 'aiming' in archery by Armin Hirmer. Hirmer is an instructor at the Malta Archery club, reviews traditional 'horse' bows, and is in general very knowledgeable on the subject:
Here is a video by Murat Özveri, an expert on Turkish traditional archery, on the same topic:
Note: this does not consider mechanical/compound bows. Those bows sharply decrease in draw weight near full draw, and are designed to be aimed mechanically, similar to firearms.
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Thank you
Rationale:
Realism and fun. In traditional archery bows are not 'aimed' in the popular sense -- it's instead an instinctive full body motion. An archer does not improve his or her aim in the seconds after pulling an arrow back to full draw. Modern instructors teach archers to release arrows either at the moment of reaching full draw, or very soon afterwards. Without a mechanical aiming system like sights, accuracy is based on muscle coordination -- which quickly deteriorates if forced to hold back a heavy draw weight bow (100-150+ lbs or 45-68+ kg) for any period of time. I practice archery and from personal experience: your aim does not get better the longer you hold back an arrow. It's not at all like firing a rifle, it's more of a full body thing which is why the skill takes so much practice.
Secondly: it's just very satisfying to play as a fast archer when your character has a high bow skill, and for me personally was a highlight of the combat in this game.
Supporting material:
Here is a video on 'aiming' in archery by Armin Hirmer. Hirmer is an instructor at the Malta Archery club, reviews traditional 'horse' bows, and is in general very knowledgeable on the subject:
Here is a video by Murat Özveri, an expert on Turkish traditional archery, on the same topic:
Note: this does not consider mechanical/compound bows. Those bows sharply decrease in draw weight near full draw, and are designed to be aimed mechanically, similar to firearms.
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Thank you
