I know many people are excited for the addition of crossbows with Dawnguard, but what sort of new classes and character archetypes will really be opened up with this?

basically which new classes will you make that crossbows are necessary for?

Ummm...crossbowman?

-Turret-

Wear heavy armor and use a cross bow. Stand only in 1 place while fighting....

it's just a variation of archery, like maces and swords and axes for melee, only this one doesn't appear to have specialization perks

Just a sneaky archer for the corssbows. I'll probably give my main warrior a crossbow too, just for the initial shot before the melee.

and my 900th post goes out to all you forum goers.

OT: my werewolf warrior will have a crossbow

Happy 900th.

Soldier: Heavy Armor, 1h, Block, Archery
Slayer: 1h, Light Armor, Archery, Restoration, Conjuration

i feel like you could be a bit more specific...

Let me rephrase, which new classes that didn't really fit with a regular bow are now available.

I understand that choice matters and I appreciate the addition but this choice doesn't seem to add much that wasn't there before.

can't really say the crossbow does anything more than act as an alternative to the bow. Any class that would have used the bow can use a crossbow except of course a crossbowman who is specific to that weapon.

I know, I was joking.

My point was that there really isn't any class where crossbow vs bow is going to make much of a difference.

Actually the CB is better for short range or "closing" in for melee while traditional bows are better for long range sniping

Thats what i intend to do.

yeah their is that difference but I'm sure that in game it is not as significant. I have not got a chance to use the crossbow, but the bow operates fine it close quarters. If their close enough that you can't shoot them than it would pretty much be the same as the crossbow. Of course I'm speculating but what I'm saying is I think they are going to be equally as interchangeable as axes swords and maces. Each has an advantage but unless your class is axeman it is not specifically designed for that weapon.

I know, they CAN both operate the same but each is better for the specified task

yeah which is my point about axes and swords. Can't think of a class that needs it specifically but may or may not prefer it. Any way when dawnguard comes out I will use the crossbow just because of preference more than need.

Well there is also the special...additions to the CB make it superior

True I did forget about those so I suppose something like a demolition expert or siege mechanic could be made as a new class.

Demo: Archery, Sneak, Destruction (Runes)

My point is not that bows and crossbows aren't significantly different - they are, most particularly in terms of rate of fire - but rather that whatever their difference in military terms, I can't think of the difference as being relevant to a fantasy RPG adventurer. There are melee warriors, archery warriors, thieves, assassins, wizards, priests, and so forth, but the difference between a crossbow and a bow doesn't really make you a different character.

That said, if they've really decided to be somewhat realistic regarding crossbows' rate of fire, they would be largely useless for a dedicated archer in the game. One shot and then the enemy's gonna be one you, so they would primarily be (1) a decent first-shot attack for a melee warrior, and (2) something to hit flying dragons with. Thing is, for the melee warrior, a crossbow and bolts is a really significant amount of weight to devote when you know you;'re only gonna get that one shot it (it better be a good one) and given how many shots miss when using a bow, a radically lower rate of fire means a crossbow wouldn't be nearly as good for shooting at flying dragons as a bow.

would be a pretty fun and interesting build, I think I like it.

They kind of seem to have that chinese style repeating crossbow without the clip so I thin it has a faster shot than a traditional crossbow.

The CBs reload faster than a Daedric Bow so...