DF2014 Talk:Crossbow

After some basic research on crossbows, I've found that modern crossbows shoot anywhere between 200-375 feet per second (http://www.crossbowmen.com/index.htm.crossbow-power-range.html). Medieval crossbows have a lower maximum range than common modern crossbows (http://www.thebeckoning.com/medieval/crossbow/cross_l_v_c.html and http://www.bestcrossbowsource.com/how-far-can-you-shoot-a-crossbow/) which leaves me to believe velocity of the Dwarf Fortress crossbow would be around that of a bottom-end modern crossbow. The lowest I've found is around 200 FPS. That's also the number in the SHOOT_MAXVEL token of the raws. It comes out to be a little over 136 MPH, or 219 KPH.

In related research, I've found an impact energy conversion tool (http://www.crossbowmen.com/index.htm.energy.html). I'll get back with some estimated damage numbers for common crossbow bolts.

24.34.243.225 01:00, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

To figure out the weight of a crossbow bolt, I used the formula Weight (in kilograms) = Density (in kg/m3) * Volume*10 (in cm3) / 1,000,000 (cm3/m3). with the crossbow bolt being 15 cm3. A copper crossbow bolt weights around 1.3395 kilograms, a steel bolt around 1.1775, and a adamantine bolt around 0.03 kilograms. Converted to grains and input into the calculator, copper bolts deal 2490 Newtons of force, steel bolts deal 2190 Newtons, and adamantine bolts deal only 55.75 Newtons. This is complicated by material hardness calculations, which I cannot find a formula for yet.

All of this is assuming that SHOOT_MAXVEL is the actual velocity of the crossbow bolt.

24.34.243.225 01:32, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Bulky Crossbow

So one of my dwarfes just crafted *Chuckedhandle* a bulky apricot wood crossbow. Does anyone know what "bulky" in this context means and what effects it has? Ashameron (talk) 10:37, 29 May 2016 (UTC)

Nevermind, I found it under Divine equipment. Apparently it dioesn't do anything. Ashameron (talk) 05:22, 5 June 2016 (UTC)

Thankyou, I knew the origin of "frilly" but not yet the origin of "bulky", it helped me that you put in the link there.27.33.164.139 02:00, 29 August 2021 (UTC)

Does quality actually impact shooting accuracy?

Currently, the article claims quality of crossbow is relevant for ranged combat.

However, this claim seem to have been shared since .23a.

Furthermore, in DF2012 Zivilin did shielding tests showing neither shield nor weapon quality matters for blocking bolts.

Has there been any evidence of crossbow quality affecting the results of shooting since then?

--Fleeting Frames (talk) 17:07, 21 December 2020 (UTC)