Sat 06 May 2023, 08:57
This is a " how long is a useful piece of string" question. And the answers get more involved the more I think about it.
Now I know Opening Volleys are NOT written in the rules to last exactly the same time as a Round of Combat, and that time is suggested to be a MAXIMUM of 30 seconds, but it seems not entirely unreasonable to take this idea as a broad benchmark:, then think about it, and come to a final working conclusion.
How far can a fighter in TOR move in 30 seconds? That is about the distance an archer has between them and their target in an Opening Volley situation. Maybe every 30 seconds gives you another opportunity/Opening Volley?
How far is the effective range for your missile weapon? Javelin max range is 100m today. And most soldiers can run 100m on the flat in less than 30 seconds - So you will only ever get 1 aimed opening volley
And the archer will find all sorts of things to affect the time available:
are you uphill? + 1 Volley;
is the intervening ground uneven or boggy, + 1 Volley;
is the wind direction and/or strength helpful or a hindrance? Complication? +/- d6?
Also the terrain can affect the shot:
is there tree cover? Archer has a Complication to the Volley;
does the target have to move through a particular spot (e.g. a footbridge) Archer has an advantage for that Volley;
CONCLUSION
With so many variables to consider it is easy to create a situation and justify almost any number of Volleys.
CaptHaddock (1 volley for javelin firers , 2 for archers) seems most likely to be "game-usable".
And my initial ideas for Ranges? (Not that I would personally bother, but I see the OP point in asking.)
1. Javelins are launched between 25 to 75 metres, to give the thrower time to pick up and deploy close combat weapons. (Or the player to narrate doing that.)
2. Archers fire one longer and one shorter range Volley. Say 90m +, and then the second one much closer at about one half to one third that range. (So many different internet opinions about range of longbows!)