In all the games I’ve played (one exception being Half-Life, but that’s different) I really don’t like using crossbows and avoid doing so at all costs. I don’t really know why that is, but to me they don’t seem to fit the setting of games like Elder Scrolls or Gothic. I love using regular bows, however. Maybe crossbows feel too modern for me? I don’t really know anything about medieval weapons or when they were invented.
What about you? How do you feel about crossbows in these types of games or do you have a similar weird thing you just don’t like and refuse to do in video games?
hmm yeah i don’t generally use crossbows either. i feel in a lot of games they’re strong but then their cooldown or reload time is super slow and takes you out of the action to load up another shot. at that time i’ve probably switched to another weapon.
mount and blade comes to mind. ill use a crossbow as i approach people on horseback but once i’m in the thick of battle its swapped out for some lance or another long pointy boi. even then id only be using the crossbow if i didn’t have a bow available to me.
edit: except in i think age of empires 2. those chinese cho ko no ku ??? units are bomb as hell
My mind also raced to Age of Empires 2. I love crossbows and arbalester, especially the Britons. Just a big ball of units sending a clear message across the map: stay away!
I really didn’t like that crossbows were a direct upgrade to the archer unit line. At least Britons still had the longbowmen.
I much prefere the AoE4 aproach where archers and crowsbowmen are different unit lines.
It seems to be historically accurate at least: Wiki:
“The crossbow superseded hand bows in many European armies during the 12th century, except in England, where the longbow was more popular”
That said, I can understand your point. Aoe is not (and doesn’t need to be) historically accurate. How is it integrated in AoE4?
They are two independent units.
Archers are availible earlier, cheaper and do bonus damage to light infantry while the crossbowmen do more damage to heavy units.
The problem with Mount and Blade 2 is that throwing spears are superior to crossbows for mounted combat anyways.