Forum

Should crossbows be allowed?

IIRC Beorn was the only character in the canon who used a crossbow.

Crossbows existed in Numenor: https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Cross-bows and were in use in Europe during the technological period Tolkien was inspired by (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_o ... s#Medieval).

So I think that while Crossbows don't explicitly show up in the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit, as they're in broader works on Middle Earth by Tolkien and fit the appropriate historical period, it makes sense for a group to include or exclude crossbows, based on their own preferences. There is good material to support either stance.

IIRC Beorn was the only character in the canon who used a crossbow.

Beorn had a crossbow????????

''Cross-bows are only known to be have been mentioned once in the stories about Arda, as a weapon devised by the Númenóreans''. I wonder what stories about Arda these are?

''Cross-bows are only known to be have been mentioned once in the stories about Arda, as a weapon devised by the Númenóreans''. I wonder what stories about Arda these are?

The nature of middle Earth, there is a helpful footnote on the linked page.

Ahh, thanks

Now look what you've done, you made me want the Nature Of Middle-Earth book, its all your fault!

I use crossbows and plated mail in my game. I think they fit fine. The way I balanced crossbows in particular was giving them slightly higher damage and Injury values, +3 Pierce instead of +2, but they need reloaded as an action after each shot.

I have just made some stats for a crossbow.

Crossbow / damage: 5 / injury: 18 / Load: 5 / combat proficiencies: Bows / Notes: Ranged Weapons, Slow Reload (for every 2 volleys allowed, you may shoot 1 shot.

what think ye.