Making a Bow

O

orcbane

Apprentice
As I am ultimate newbie, I figured this may be a good place to post a question like this. If not, please direct me to the proper zone!

I am considering playing a scout for my first Nero game. However, where would a scout or ranger be without his bow? I had a conversation with someone today about a few methods to melt PVC into shaping the bow form, but I'm looking for some more opinions and possibly some online tutorials!

Or, if you've got some you're looking to get off your hands... I could do that too.
 
I have been told to use a heat gun to bend the pipe, though I personally use hot water. I either just run the pipe under hot water, or I plug the end of the pipe and fill it with hot water. Either way works pretty well.

I am probably going to get working on a longbow in the very near future (for I possess a good length of already semi-bent PVC. I just have to bend it a little more), and I would probably be able to simply lend you mine for the events you'd be going to. Once I get some more brown duct tape (I ran out upon completing the halberd), I should be able to finish it up, and I hope I can get it done before the event on the 20th (at which I know you'll be attending).

So a scout, eh? Would you focus on your fighter stuff or your rogue stuff initially? Also what race? As I said earlier today, dark/stone/regular elf is a very good choice, considering the cost for Archery is halved.

~ Alexander (the guy with the long blonde hair from earlier)
 
I'm thinking of making him a fairly sly guy, so naturally lean a bit more towards the rouge abilities. If you would lend it to me, I would be extremely grateful! At least until I make my own. Perhaps I could join up with you for some weapon making before the 20th, just to get a first hand demonstration? Seeing as I'm more or less down the street from you as is!

I remember you saying a bit about the hot water. How thick of PVC are you going to use? I'd imagine it wouldn't work too well with the thicker PVC unless you had it fairly close to boiling, but that's obviously just a guess.

As far as race goes, I intend on being an elf. Interestingly enough, apparently there is only one other in our chapter... you! Although I'm being an elf, I've modeled the costume after the Dunedain of Lord of the Rings. Just need to make/find a bit darker of a cloak for him and I'll be in good shape. However, I figure that won't be finished or come until the summer, as I have a perfectly good blue one for the time being.

Glad you remember me!
 
Yeah, I'd be glad to lend it to you until you get your own. I have everything done on the bow save for the outside taping, and I would be able to have it done by tomorrow if I had that blasted brown tape... oh well. I'm sure I'll have it done by the 20th.

As for the pipe thickness, I used 1/2 inch PVC. You don't really need anything thicker for a bow. As for bending it, I'm sure hot water isn't the best way I could have done it, but it worked quite effectively for me (save for the fact that my palms are a little sore from bending the pipe). You wouldn't do it with thicker pipe, though I can't really see why you'd need to bend any pipe thicker than 1/2", considering any weapon you'd actually use anything thicker for would be really long and I can't imagine why you'd want anything really long bent.

As for demonstrations, what would you want to see? I mean, my process for bending pipe is simple enough:
1. Run painfully hot water over the part of the pipe you wish to bend for a while (15 seconds or more usually works well).
2. Quickly (so as to keep it warm) move your pipe to the ground and stand on the part directly next to the part that you want to bend.
3. Grab the end of the pipe and, whilst weighing down the part of pipe you're not bending, pull the pipe to bend it.
4. Repeat as necessary.
5. Just follow the directions in the rulebook for building the rest.

Another thing: Other weapons. Do you plan on using any weapon other than bow? If so, I have a few extra things that I could lend to you for the next event (short sword, longsword, short hammer, staff, dagger). Also, do you have any arrow packets? I have some packets I could make into arrow ones that I could let you use.
 
We'll just talk about some of the other stuff in PM.

However, I'm trying to decide if I'd like to do the thing closest to a hand and a half sword (I figure that'd go with two handed sword), or perhaps singular long sword or dual with a long and a short. I'm leaning towards the two handed sword, and I'm going to double check this as we speak. Turns out, which is sadly what I was thinking, that elves cannot use two handed weapons. However, no bother. I think a singular long sword would suffice, however I may just carry a short for insurance. I've worked with those before and liked the combination.

As far as loaning me some arrow packets: I would be very grateful if you could spare some, provided you won't be needing them.
 
Well, here's my analysis of your weapon choice and your starting Build Points:

If you're going to go with dual-wielding (which I believe you are considering) as well as Archery, I highly recommend starting with focusing on your fighter skills, not your rogue ones. If you want to dual wield for a fighter, it's 6 BP, and for a rogue, it's 10 BP. Then you add on the 5 BP for one-handed edged. So if you were playing a level 1 character (which, unless you have a reason I'm unaware of, you are), you would have to spend all your initial 15 BP on those skills for a Rogue (and you wouldn't have enough for Archery for your first event), or you would spend 11 on those 2 skills + the 3 BP (halved for elf) required for Archery, a total of 14 for the Fighter, leaving you with 1 free BP to save for later or spend on something like Teacher.

If you didn't want to dual-wield, both of your class options would be the same build-wise(5 BP for One-Handed Edged + 3 BP for Archery for both) and you could use the rest of your build to define your either fighter-ness (by getting something like Critical Attacks) or rogue-ness (by getting alchemy stuff or Back Attacks) class-wise.

So, whaddaya reckon: Dual wielding, or no dual wielding? What would your character do?

As for arrow packets, don't worry: Gandian can't use a bow (though I may go for it in future), so I won't be needing them. I'll make you some, but you have to find something to hold them in.
 
Polearm my friend, monsters dont like polearms. Plus its reach is nice for you back stabby sabby. As for the bow, unless your positive your going to use it at least semi-regularly, I'd just grab some throwing knives. Then when you get that beloved terminate, you can just whip it off your knife belt and pow!

Of course I'm going full rouge untill I get enough build to branch into an Adept, otherwise I feel like a jack of to manny trades. Just some thoughts from a fellow LARPer.
 
Gandian Ravenscroft said:
Well, here's my analysis of your weapon choice and your starting Build Points:
So, whaddaya reckon: Dual wielding, or no dual wielding? What would your character do?

As for arrow packets, don't worry: Gandian can't use a bow (though I may go for it in future), so I won't be needing them. I'll make you some, but you have to find something to hold them in.
Click to expand...

For the start, Fighting skills sounds like a better idea. I know my character is leaning a bit more towards fighter, especially until he gets his footing a bit more. Perhaps when skill goes up a bit more I'll purchase back stab and other rouge-y things. So, yes, I will be going with Fighter so I can use the bow and do decent in close combat.

I've been looking at "quivers' for Alliance things. For costuming purposes, I'm going to have a regular quiver on my back. However, I have designed a side bag-type-thing for arrows that I can put in for an easy grab. So, I've got that pretty covered!

As for the bow, unless your positive your going to use it at least semi-regularly, I'd just grab some throwing knives. Then when you get that beloved terminate, you can just whip it off your knife belt and pow!
Click to expand...

Knives do sound pretty cool, however I don't feel like it would be a fit for this character. He's definitely a more stealthy hiding in the trees and shooting until they find him type of guy, then he'll get out his swords. Thanks for the ideas, though! Perhaps if I make a solid rogue character I will lean more towards throwing knives, as knowing me he'll most likely be an assassin.
 
Finished/acquired with good help! Forgot to post the end result:

A49E6.jpg
 
orcbane said:
Knives do sound pretty cool, however I don't feel like it would be a fit for this character. He's definitely a more stealthy hiding in the trees and shooting until they find him type of guy,
Click to expand...

Do realize that with Alliance combat, that 'finding him' will happen after the first shot - perhaps even before it. Since your target needs to hear your blow, you'll be shouting it out from your hiding spot - and if there's any dispute (as in he didn't hear the call since it came out of nowhere) you'll need to make yourself visible in order to tell him again how much damage he took.

Unfortunately, Alliance does not lend itself well to the stealthy warrior.
 
markusdark said:
orcbane said:
Knives do sound pretty cool, however I don't feel like it would be a fit for this character. He's definitely a more stealthy hiding in the trees and shooting until they find him type of guy,
Click to expand...

Do realize that with Alliance combat, that 'finding him' will happen after the first shot - perhaps even before it. Since your target needs to hear your blow, you'll be shouting it out from your hiding spot - and if there's any dispute (as in he didn't hear the call since it came out of nowhere) you'll need to make yourself visible in order to tell him again how much damage he took.

Unfortunately, Alliance does not lend itself well to the stealthy warrior.
Click to expand...

Thinking story wise!
 
I agree whole heartedly that you should go story wise. Heck, I sometimes get a little guff for going with only throwing weapons instead of with a bow - I just don't like the idea of chucking packets instead of nice looking latex barrels - especially since my character is a bartender.

My comment was meant more of a head's up as sometimes a character concept may wind up paling a little when game mechanics come into play.
 
markusdark said:
My comment was meant more of a head's up as sometimes a character concept may wind up paling a little when game mechanics come into play.
Click to expand...

Thank you good sir!

Now, all I need to do is figure out how to secure it around my back for when I'm using my sword/Out of Arrows. I know I've seen a "sling" or two, and I have a few ideas of my own.

Does anyone have any for post-creation"?
 
orcbane said:
Now, all I need to do is figure out how to secure it around my back for when I'm using my sword/Out of Arrows. I know I've seen a "sling" or two, and I have a few ideas of my own.

Does anyone have any for post-creation"?
Click to expand...

That bow looks so much like mine that, yes, I have a suggestion:

A loop of cord (I use leather cord) tied together at both ends. Put the loop over the bow from the handle side to that it makes a sling that is attached to the upper limbs of the bow. Throw the bow over your head and one arm and then sling the bow on your back with the loop of cord over your chest.

When you unsling the bow, take the cord and throw it into a pocket/pouch/bag for later use.

With very little practice, you can sling/unsling your bow in a second or two.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top