# Missile Weapons
There are three types of bow and three types of crossbow, plus a variety of thrown weapons that characters may employ as missile weapons.
Except for the crossbow, all missile weapons rely on the muscle power of the character using them and their damage is determined by the character’s own Damage Characteristic. Only trained (non-knightly) archers roll their full Damage Characteristic when using a bow; all others roll one die less than their regular Damage Characteristic, as indicated on the table. Missile weapons are described somewhat differently than melee weapons.
Weapon Skill: The Weapon Skill governing the use of the weapon: Bow, Crossbow, Thrown Weapon.
Mounted/Unmounted: Designates if the weapon may be used on foot, while mounted, or both.
Damage: Most missile weapons have their own Damage statistics, usually derived from the character’s Damage Statistic and expressed as a negative number of D6s. Thus, if a character normally does 5D6 Damage and picks up a bow that has a Damage of –1D6, an arrow fired from that bow deals 4D6 damage. Professional archers, trained from childhood, are able to shoot more effectively, doing +1D6 Damage over and above the weapon’s base. However, knights do not receive this kind of training.
Range: How far the missile weapon can fire (see Missile Ranges).
Rate of Discharge: How often the missile weapon may be employed during a Combat Round.
# Missile and Thrown Weapons Table
| Weapon | Weapon Skill | Mounted/Unmounted | Damage | Range | Rate of Discharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossbow, Light | Crossbow | Both | 1D6+10 | Medium | 1 quarrel per round |
| Dagger | Thrown Weapon | Both | Brawling | Short | 1 dagger per round |
| Francisca | Thrown Weapon | Unmounted | Character’s Damage – 1D6 (regular Damage vs. opponents with shields) | Short | 1 francisca per round |
| Javelin | Thrown Weapon | Both | Character’s Damage – 1D6 | Medium | 1 javelin per round |
| Longbow | Bow | Unmounted | Character’s Damage – 1D6 (1) | Long | 1 arrow per round |
| Self Bow | Bow | Both | Character’s Damage – 1D6(2) | Medium | 1 arrow per round |
| Spear | Thrown Weapon(3) | Both | Character’s Damage – 1D6 | Short | 1 spear per round |
| Warbow | Bow | Unmounted | Character’s Damage – 1D6 (4) | Long | 1 arrow per round |
(1) Maximum 5D6 Damage
(2) Maximum 3D6 Damage
(3) –5 to Weapon Skill
(4) Maximum 6D6 Damage
# Bow
This Weapon Skill dictates a character’s aptitude with the bow, a missile weapon usually made of wood or horn, normally used by peasants for hunting and by foot soldiers in war. Knights normally do not use bows in combat, although they often use them for hunting.
# Self Bow
The self bow, or simply “bow,” is used for both hunting and war. It is about three to four feet long and made from a single piece of wood. Its size and construction limit the amount of damage it can do.
# Longbow
The longbow is a hunting bow used exclusively by Cambrian tribesmen and never found outside those wild lands. Only characters with a STR of 12 or greater are able to draw the bow to its full effectiveness. All others treat this as a self bow.
# Warbow
The warbow is a strong longbow that requires special training to use effectively. Only characters with a STR of 14 or greater are able to draw the bow to its full effectiveness. All others treat this as a self bow.
# Crossbow
This Weapon Skill is used with any type of crossbow, a handheld, mechanically-operating bolt thrower. Crossbows require much less training than bows.
# Crossbow, Light
This is a “one-foot crossbow” (ballista ad unum pedem), so called because it is held in place with one foot in the weapon’s stirrup while the bow is pulled back by hand. It is also called a “wooden crossbow” (ballista lignea).
# Thrown Weapon
This Weapon Skill covers the use of any thrown implement, from light spears and javelins to daggers and axes or even stones!
# Dagger
Any dagger may be thrown using the Thrown Weapon skill, but they are awkward and clumsy in flight and unlikely to strike home with any degree of deadliness.
# Francisca
The francisca is a small one-handed axe used by the Saxons and the Franks, and is designed for throwing.
# Javelin
A javelin is a short spear between three to five feet long that is made for throwing.
# Spear
Characters may hurl a spear designed for melee combat as a missile weapon, but not as effectively as a javelin: the range is limited and the thrower suffers a –5 penalty to their Skill.