Archery

[Doer]

I missed out on the weapon design competition in the events forum, but I had some fun coming up with some new weapons and thought I'd share them here. These ideas are much more interesting than the ones i trotted out in More Bang in my signature. That was mostly a proof of concept for something (now) already introduced (explosives)...

Bow hunting is a popular passtime on Earth, so I see no reason it wouldn't be popular on a frontier colony like Calypso, especially if catered to by a major corporation. I see bows being a slower, long range, mid-power weapon with different damage types than most current weapons.

Chikara Gauchomatic Bolo Bow (L)

This intricate, powered mechanical launcher draws from a built-in supply of encapsulated adhesive leather straps created from animal tentacles and aliciences gel. Although originally developed for use in the Ortog round-up on far away Vela II, the versatility of the gun has brought it a cult following around the galaxy akin to that of 20th-century CE duct tape. Colonists on Calypso began to use the gun during the first Eomon migration. Entanglement in the sticky bolos would slow down the massive beasts enough for the slower colonists to evacuate.

Today, it is used in team big game hunts to slow down a charging creature and give the hunters time to inflict more damage.

Stats:
Mass: 10 kg
Decay: 5 PECs
Ammo cost: 5 Heavy Cells
Reload: 10 seconds, but can be switched out after 1 s
Range: 80 m
Profession: Archer (Hit)
Decoy Dispenser
SIB begins: Level 20

Each strap effectively reduces a mob's agility (and speed) by up to 10% (5-10% for maxed SIB) for 20 seconds.

Profession to manufacture: Carpenter
Uses: allophyl tentacles, alic. gel, some wood and animal oils

Unique Roman Ram bow

Roman Ram's fascination with the weapons of Earth's medieval past inspired many of his magnificent customizations. He was particularly proud of this crossbow, an elegant construction of modern supermaterials with a very convincing antique wood finish. The bolts are a similar fusion of old and new: chains of explosive weapon cells bound together temporarily by strong magnetic fields to form a mechanical projectile with devastating impact that delivers all of its explosive energy to the primary target. Unfortunately, this ingenious approach also reduces the effective range of the crossbow. The PowAssist spanning mechanism makes reloading relatively fast and easy — to accommodate the most sedentary weekend warrior — but at the expense of high decay. However, the weight of the weapon and its trueness to the period targeting mechanism make it a challenging instrument of death to master.

Stats:
Mass: 13 kg
Decay: 15 PECs
Ammo: 110 Explosive Cells
Reload: 5 seconds
Range: 40 m
Profession: Archer (Hit)
Profession: Archer (Dmg)
SIB begins: Level 40
Ends: Level 60
Damage: 220-440
-50% Impact
-25% Penetration
-12.5% Burn
-12.5% Shrapnel

Chikara Bigwig Longbow (L)
Stats:
Mass: 5 kg
Decay: 10 PECs
Ammo: 1 arrow (10 pecs tt)
Reload: 2.5 seconds
Range: 140 m
Profession: Archer (Hit)
Profession: Archer (Dmg)
SIB begins: Level 30
Damage: 42.5-85
-50% Impact
-50% Penetration

Profession to manufacture: Carpenter
Uses: short, long, and normal bigwig boards, iron, animal oils

Profession to manufacture arrows: Carpenter
Uses: short firn or short midastree (two BPs)

Chikara Firn bow (L)
Stats:
Mass: 4 kg
Decay: 3 PECs
Ammo: 1 arrow (10 pecs tt)
Reload: 2.1 seconds
Range: 80 m
Profession: Archer (Hit)
Profession: Archer (Dmg)
SIB begins: Level 15
Damage: 26-52
-50% Impact
-50% Penetration

Profession to manufacture: Carpenter
Uses: short, long, and normal firn boards, belk, animal oils

Chikara Midastree bow (L)
Stats:
Mass: 4 kg
Decay: 0.25 PECs
Ammo: 1 arrow (10 pecs tt)
Reload: 2.0 seconds
Range: 65 m
Profession: Archer (Hit)
Profession: Archer (Dmg)
SIB begins: Level 5
Damage: 20-40
-50% Impact
-50% Penetration

Profession to manufacture: Carpenter
Uses: short and long midastree boards, lyst, animal oils


Adjusted Chikara Hydra Crossbow (L)
When Chikara first brought out its line of retro archery products the other corporations seemed content to let them control that provincial niche market. It wasn't until the Hydra created a sensation across the colonies that competitors began to take notice. What made the Hydra so buzz-worthy is not entirely clear, but the powerful multiple bolt launchers, resurgence of hunting, and retro craze all contributed. When the optional fully automated spanning module was released, the new adjusted Hydra was as easy to use as any modern firearm, overcoming the perception of archery as a romantic but impractical mode of combat.

During the peak of the archery fad, a number of adjusted Hydra shipments to Calypso went astray, and rumors of illegal sales to the umbranoid population began to circulate. Chilling evidence has begun to surface in the form of doubly-shot corpses...


Stats:
Adjusted Chikara Hydra Duo Crossbow (L)
Mass: 8 kg
Decay: 10 PECs
Ammo: 2 arrows (20 pecs tt)
Reload: 2.0 seconds
Range: 90 m
Profession: Archer (Hit)
Profession: Archer (Dmg)
SIB begins: Level 35
Damage: 62-124
-50% Impact
-50% Penetration

Adjusted Chikara Hydra Trio Crossbow (L)
Mass: 10 kg
Decay: 12 PECs
Ammo: 3 arrows (30 pecs tt)
Reload: 2.1 seconds
Range: 80 m
Profession: Archer (Hit)
Profession: Archer (Dmg)
SIB begins: Level 45
Damage: 86-172
-50% Impact
-50% Penetration

Looted from (and wielded by) very high-maturity umbranoids

[Nighthawk]

I adore this idea would be awesome (+rep to you my friend)

So... Would they use new arrow ammo or would it be like a Wookie bowcaster (energy bowcaster)?

[Doer]

It describes the ammo type for each weapon. Basically, 10 pec arrows would be manufactured from cheap boards and animal oils. The exception is the Roman Ram bow, which uses explosive energy cells as described, and the Bolo Bow, which uses energy cells to propel the built-in bolos.

I like this because it uses the rather useless wood, opening up a whole new approach for weapon crafting, and is a refreshing departure from current options.

[Nighthawk]

Originally Posted by Doer

It describes the ammo type for each weapon. Basically, 10 pec arrows would be manufactured from cheap boards and animal oils. The exception is the Roman Ram bow, which uses explosive energy cells as described, and the Bolo Bow, which uses energy cells to propel the built-in bolos.

I like this because it uses the rather useless wood, opening up a whole new approach for weapon crafting, and is a refreshing departure from current options.

what if wood could be found on the ground like rocks/fruit/dung, making newbs being able to get more money?

[Doer]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

what if wood could be found on the ground like rocks/fruit/dung, making newbs being able to get more money?

No, they're already a loot from mobs. They just don't get used in much (furniture).

A line of more "organic" weapons like wooden bows opens the door for using all kinds of mob parts not currently used (except aurli bits for plates). e.g. the allophyl tentacles in the bolo bow.

[zebencat]

An extra use for planks would be good, and it would stop some of the boards from having such a low markup.

[Nighthawk]

Originally Posted by zebencat

An extra use for planks would be good, and it would stop some of the boards from having such a low markup.

problem is that most people wouldnt pay too much for them, cause they wouldnt be eco enough? thats why most people wont use MF-chips for fighting

[Doer]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

problem is that most people wouldnt pay too much for them, cause they wouldnt be eco enough? thats why most people wont use MF-chips for fighting

Bows would fall between melee and firearms in decay/dmg, making them viable as long as the markup wasn't too high. Making the intrinsic dmg/pec a bit higher on the bows would allow for the slightly higher markup while still making them viable.

Of course, they would be novelty weapons, just like bows are in the modern world. Wouldn't you like to be able to tag with a long bow instead of a plasma rifle? Pull out a big mutha' triple crossbow and stick your would-be PKer full of bolts?

And who wouldn't like to play Roman Ram bow...

[Ron Kovich]

outstanding idea

[Nighthawk]

Originally Posted by Doer

Bows would fall between melee and firearms in decay/dmg, making them viable as long as the markup wasn't too high. Making the intrinsic dmg/pec a bit higher on the bows would allow for the slightly higher markup while still making them viable.

Of course, they would be novelty weapons, just like bows are in the modern world. Wouldn't you like to be able to tag with a long bow instead of a plasma rifle? Pull out a big mutha' triple crossbow and stick your would-be PKer full of bolts?

And who wouldn't like to play Roman Ram bow...

Yeah but still, too little wood for a good enough eco...

However, increase the amount of wood

I guess that the range would be determined by your strengh, and that you would gain strengh from using it?

They would need CryEngine first though, so they can make the bolts/arrows stick to the animals/PKed players