It’s been a few years since Geek Native asked do RPG designers need to rethink archery mechanics?. At time Danish archer Lars Andersen was in focus.
He’s back again with this video. It should make us wonder whether we know anything about archery at all.
The video admits that measuring the stopping power of Lars’ style versus the “traditional modern” style is a challenge but also points out that his technique has enough strength to penetrate chainmail. Could it be that our idea of archery is all wrong? Modern styles aren’t based on what “up-close” war archers would use?
Even if our understanding of archery is all wrong and a comparison of ancient illustrations which assumes the artist understood archery is right then that doesn’t mean RPG designers need to change their rules. RPGs are, after all, a game. Game balance is important. Besides, Lars’ techniques are likely beyond that of a “level one” hero and by the time the game ramps up the character’s experience and abilities then the mechanics may come into alignment with the war archery discussed here.
What do you think? Is Lars Andersen right to suggest that his style is a better reflection of the talents of archers from history? Have we lost a full understanding of what archery was like? Or are their flaws in this analysis?
