Okay so as many of you Archers will have noticed there is a couple of "Archery" related topics in the new Dawnguard DLC.

1. The obvious addition of "Crossbows". I for one dont like the idea. Surely it will make archery less of an impressive feat due to them being like guns (Fallout Comes to mind). How would you feel about a Perk Tree for it and you will become accurate with progression? Remember spraying with a pistol in Fallout? Wasnt accurate but bullets flew every angle. Small guns skill goes up..more accurate. See where im going?

2. Im not sure if many of you noticed but there seemed to be more normal bows added. Watch the trailer closely and you see the horizontal bow design. One looked like a hunting bow with some sort or rivets along it? Another seemed like an advance on the Ebony Bow design.

So whats your opinons? Did you notice anything else or am I overlooking something else?

-CD-

It was mentioned in one of the interviews that Crossbows will be using the same Archery perk tree. So if you have Eagle Eye, etc., it should apply to the crossbow in the same way.

I'll be trying every kind of new long bow that Dawnguard offers because they're great and I'll give the crossbow a try but I think I'd probably only use it in certain situations, not sure what yet. Nocking the arrow has to make a noise, right? It's a mechanical device and shouldn't be silent like a long bow. I'll have to wait and hear about it from the Xbox users after release.

I think the horizontal bow is one of them dragon bone weapons. Did you notice that the arrow is different as well? Looks like a V?
I am not worried that they are gonna make crossbows more powerful than bows, because they are supposed to be more powerful and accurate. They are just a pain to reload. I think it should be a 3-1 ratio of bow to crossbow fire. And as you recall, eveything was ungodly accurate in Fallout 3. I am assuming that is the one you are talking about.
Lets just wait till it shows up, and then we can start getting upset. I got enough broken quests to worry about

Crossbows may take a noticeably longer reload time and might be a dead give away when sneak if the bolt hit a wall and clicking sound made by the mechanism. Crossbows may be more powerful but have less range. So I think it would be better for quick encounters, firing one or two and be done with it as to not draw attention in stealth or quick dispatching while heading into serious combat meant for other weapons.

I am almost sure that the horizontal bow is dragon bone

I remember having Crossbows in MW and to be honest I hated them. Why? Well for one thing just just were not as powerful, too few types, etc., but the main reason was me finding all those bolts in random loot that was completely useless to me while was running out of arrows.

I am real curious as to how they are going to implement the arrows/bolts as loot. One thing I saw said that we would be making bolts. Well maybe that will be the only way to get them. But then that can bring up the problem of a crossbow user running out of bolts and not being able to find a place to make more, and guess what, they find arrows in loot.

I did have one character, an Orc, in MW that used the orcish crossbow for RP reason. The animation is cool enough and the damage is fine. But it's kind of like spears. People scream about not having them but in all honesty of the 50+ characters I played in MW only one used spears (an Argonian).

Crossbows should be implemented such that they're an ideal back-up weapon for a melee primary, not competitive with a ranged primary. Same as daggers for non-sneak types.

I intend to use Crossbow as a sniper weapon since that is what they are designed for. Aim like a gun and good damage but long reload time so distance is key with that weapon.

I'm hoping for something like a unique Dwarven Auto-Crossbow, or something like that.

They mentioned a unique bow in one of the interviews that will be unlocked. Not going to name it incase it spoils the experience for some people, but it's a nice addition for archers.

Well there are some Ballistas in the Dwarven ruins which are just giant crossbows. Dang those Dwarven darts from MW-TB were incredibly powerful, especially the ones with Shock. So maybe a Dwarven crossbow firing bolts with Shock. Could be a tad overpowered actually.

I'm hoping for the exact opposite. The less technologically advanced the crossbow is, the better. I expect it will be much slower than the average bow but will do more damage. I loveed the way they were done in the mod for Oblivion, and used them all the time, so if they can immitate that in any way I'll be happy.

Hopefully, with regards to arrows/bolts in loot. Npc's will also be using Crossbows and will therefore be carrying the bolts with them. I don't think this will be an issue - at least it wasn't in Crossbows of Cyrodiil, the Oblivion mod.

Well yeah, I want standard crossbows to be natural. But an auto-crossbow as a unique item. Since the mod will feature Falmer that tend to dwell in Dwemer ruins, I don't see why not it couldn't be implimented.

And I don't mean like Machinegun-overpowered. Maybe just the ability to fire three shots or so before having to reload. Could even make the reload time much longer than standard, because you have to load each bolt.

I've always been annoyed at trying to be a combat archer since it always feels like I'm not doing enough damage. I would rather have something that feels more powerful and satisfying then being able shoot a million arrows that don't do enough damage for me. I understand using a bow in stealth situations but crossbows sound perfect for an archer in heavy armor like myself.

This doesnt sound so bad, but when i read your first post all i could think about was the gas powered fully auto crossbow from that Van Helsing film. Not something that i'd like in-game.

I wager they'd make a good opener for a character who mixes melee, & ranged. Given how powerful a crossbow is, & that I believe it was said they stay loaded when you have them "sheathed" they'd be good for getting that first powerful shot off, & then closing in to melee range to finish your victim off. Be good for a sniper as well.
I'm excited to try them out.

Didn't Matt say in an interview at e3 that the crossbow has a faster rate of fire?

He said they shot faster, but reloaded slower.

The dragonbone bow duhhh!!!

I will try the crossbow but I have no real enthusiasm for the idea right now. If it works anything at all like a gun, especially a sniper rifle, I will be sorely disappointed. Contrary to what many of you might believe, a crossbow would actually be weaker and less accurate at moderate to long ranges than a long bow.

I plan on not using them. At all. It kind of ruins the immersion for me to have something so advanced...

It's not clear over the internet, but im hoping that was sarcasm?

dont forget that crossbows were used in real life because it was much easier to train someone to use it effectivly.
you can be accurate with a crossbow within a week,as opposed to say the english longbow which takes years to master.
for power at long range you need a longbow or its equivalents,a trained archer can shoot up to 13 arrows in a minute at long range.

crossbows are slower to load but much more powerfull at short range,they were banned by papal decree because a lowly peasant could kill a fully armoured lord with one bolt and that with very little training. some of the larger medaeval crossbows had a rudimentary sight arrangement,but as even these powerfull weapons were used at relativly close range i.e not much above 100 yards,sights wernt strictly neccessary.

so i reckon; for close range and lots of damage,crossbows. for long range sniping,longbows.

just an old archers two 'penneth! cheers

One of the most reasonable posts I have ever had the pleasure of quoting.