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Baron
4 out of 6 people responding a generally against. Noted.
I just brought it up because I had a lot of fun in Devia with the boffer archery I wanted to know what the community thought.
As for cost prohibitive ... I purchased my 30lbs bow for $50 online and 6 aluminum arrows for about $30 from Fred Meyers. I then converted those aluminum arrows into boffer arrows using a hack saw, pennies, hot glue, closed cell foam, open cell foam, carpet tape, and some socks; it was really quite easy and the people I shot actually preferred my home-made arrows over the SCA/LARP boffer arrows you find online. So, about $90 in materials. That's less than 2 events in cost, so if you want to make it happen just NPC two events. And the arrows were sturdy resisting being stepped on. I think I had one arrow bend (which means it is no longer of use) at the last event I used it, so replacing 1 arrow every 3 events isn't bad.
Fiberglass bows are also fairly sturdy. Bumping into stuff, diving into the bushes, etc. isn't going to break a fiberglass bow. A rogue can still be roguish with a bow strapped in. Arrows are the problem, not the bow.
I do see and recognize the injury concern. My limited experience resulted in no bow-related injuries and this thread's history suggests bow/arrow related injuries were not prevalent. I did not know that people had experiences to the contrary. In Devia, for instance, in order to use a real bow you had to demonstrate to an authority figure (at the time the staff) that you can (a) know when someone has approached within 20ft or so (because you weren't allowed to fire on someone inside that range); (b) your arrows are safe (generally by shooting said authority figure); and (c) that you can use a bow safely.
Additionally, it looks like prior editions did not allow blocking with a bow (nor did Devia). If you did the bow was shattered.
To me, it seems like bow/arrows would be a great addition to the game if (a) real bows and boffer arrows were optional, (b) safety requirements are instituted for the safe use of the equipment, (c) being allowed to use them means a safety review each event (arrows, demonstrate safe use, etc.).
But, since there seems to be an overwhelming stigma against them, it doesn't look like it is worth fighting for.
I don't want my friends to stop playing because I want to use a real bow.
I just brought it up because I had a lot of fun in Devia with the boffer archery I wanted to know what the community thought.
As for cost prohibitive ... I purchased my 30lbs bow for $50 online and 6 aluminum arrows for about $30 from Fred Meyers. I then converted those aluminum arrows into boffer arrows using a hack saw, pennies, hot glue, closed cell foam, open cell foam, carpet tape, and some socks; it was really quite easy and the people I shot actually preferred my home-made arrows over the SCA/LARP boffer arrows you find online. So, about $90 in materials. That's less than 2 events in cost, so if you want to make it happen just NPC two events. And the arrows were sturdy resisting being stepped on. I think I had one arrow bend (which means it is no longer of use) at the last event I used it, so replacing 1 arrow every 3 events isn't bad.
Fiberglass bows are also fairly sturdy. Bumping into stuff, diving into the bushes, etc. isn't going to break a fiberglass bow. A rogue can still be roguish with a bow strapped in. Arrows are the problem, not the bow.
I do see and recognize the injury concern. My limited experience resulted in no bow-related injuries and this thread's history suggests bow/arrow related injuries were not prevalent. I did not know that people had experiences to the contrary. In Devia, for instance, in order to use a real bow you had to demonstrate to an authority figure (at the time the staff) that you can (a) know when someone has approached within 20ft or so (because you weren't allowed to fire on someone inside that range); (b) your arrows are safe (generally by shooting said authority figure); and (c) that you can use a bow safely.
Additionally, it looks like prior editions did not allow blocking with a bow (nor did Devia). If you did the bow was shattered.
To me, it seems like bow/arrows would be a great addition to the game if (a) real bows and boffer arrows were optional, (b) safety requirements are instituted for the safe use of the equipment, (c) being allowed to use them means a safety review each event (arrows, demonstrate safe use, etc.).
But, since there seems to be an overwhelming stigma against them, it doesn't look like it is worth fighting for.
I don't want my friends to stop playing because I want to use a real bow.
