Just watched the Dawnguard trailer and saw the crossbow and it got me thinking...

If crossbows existed back in Morrowind times, but nobody is using them in the late 3rd and early forth era, surely that would suggest the technology was lost? Crossbows are naturally more practical than the bow and arrow and have major advantages; wouldn't all of Skyrim be using crossbows?

If Dovahkiin is the only one with a crossbow shouldn't he share that technology with the people of Skyrim instead of using it for himself? Bethesda should have incorporated bows into the game from the beginning so all of Skyrims population use them. This would make more sense as the 200 years between Oblivion and Skyrim could have been the time of the "comeback of the crossbow", instead of just sticking it into a DLC.

I just like crossbows and I'm annoyed how they have decided to add them now, when they could have been a major part of the game...

So yeah, they could have handled it better. Rant over

I...think you might be over-thinking it a bit.

Just because we don't see/use Crossbows in Oblivion/Vanilla Skyrim doesn't mean they suddenly don't exist anymore.

We don't see Spears neither, but I find it hard to believe someone would forget how to make Spears....

maaaaayyybeeeee

it's because the dawnguard are undercover vampires. they live since the times when they there still used and now they abuse the dragonborn to kill the other vampires that are not like the dawnguard ones. they. are. no. daywalkers.

Yeah, I mean, like magic, or something. That usually explains the game's shortcomings, right?

Yes I agree I think you might me over thinking it lol ... not forgotten just not used, remember it's a video game not a real virtual simulator

Haha, I know, I know

It's my knowledge. MINE! my precious....

Oh and welcome to the forums, have a fishystick! http://www.mwmythicmods.com/fishystick.jpg

Did you see those guys from Hammerfell? They had curved swords. Curved. Swords.

STOP OR YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A BURDENS TO THE KNEE.

I remember an Orc talking about them in Oblivion. I personally prefer the old stick and string myself

Just because something is not in the game does not mean that it does not exist. This here is a little over reaching and reading to much into it.

I do agree that NPCs in the game should carry crossbows too it just makes sense.

It's a video game. Not real life. It's supposed to be fun, not make sense.

1) other people will have crossbows, I believe
2) the technology wasn't lost. Dwarven Sphere Masters have a crossbow attachment on their left arm they fight with sometimes

Same here, I am glad they are bringing back crossbows for the people that missed it but love my bow and have no intentions of switching.

They make about as much sense as everyone in the world forgetting how to swing a dagger underwater, or figuring out how to ride a horse and attack at the same time. Not every addition to the game is going to be logically explained in every aspect.

if you're looking for realism you're fighting dragons wrong

Where did you get this nonsense? Crossbows have been around since the 4th century BC when they were used in East Asia. The Bow is a MUCH more efficient weapon as it doesn't require a slow reload and is much more accurate. The long bow could also shoot much further. The crossbow was given as a weapon to much less skilled archers because they required much less skill to use. Often times dumb-a** soldiers were given a crossbow, stuck in with the infantry and told to protect the man to their left and right.

Basically, you know nothing about the crossbow and your idea that they have "major" advantages is 100% false. They were used for a different style of warfare and in absolutely no way came along and replaced the bow as a more efficient, powerful weapon. The only thing that did that would be the powder gun.

Is there something that you guys don't complain about?
Really? Complaining about crossbows, you gotta be kidding me...

this x 100000
good lord
its a game
its not like they freakin disappeared in obliv and skyrim
they just didnt have time/energy/ability to implement some things into the engines

right because your character never has the good fortune to see that fine example of dwemer technology means it doesnt exist.

Gameplay>Lore. Beth decided not to use crossbows for some reason, but it doesnt mean its not lore friendly

>They had curved swords. Curved. Swords.
>curved swords. Curved. Swords.
>Curved. Swords.
>CURVED. SWORDS.
>CURVED
>SWORDS

Was mounted combat a lost technology? Have we forgotten how to add a point to the end of a stick, thus creating a spear?

Or are we playing a game which is being fleshed out?