In reply to Alice Abernathy (msg # 841):

Reanna, having recocked the crossbow, will aim at the remaining uninjured redcoat and rectify that situation...

[Private to GM: Crossbow skill 16+4(acc)-3(Skull)-5(range)=12, rolled 7, 5 (2) imp damage to head, x4 unless dodged.]

The prisoner, on seeing the redshirts being dispatched as they flail randomly around themselves, rolls to his knees again, but then bends forward to rest his forehead on the cobbles, thus raising his manacled wrists as high as possible.

If necessary, Dne will re-cock a crossbow.

OOC: And thank you for pointing that out, Dilandua.  Obviously, my grasp of the rules could use some improvement.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Sun 06 June 2021.

In reply to Dne Utrotare (msg # 844):

It will double Reanna's rate of fire if you can recock the crossbow...

Dne proceeds to do so.

OOC: Do I need to roll for this?  If so, would it be Dex -4?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:54, Sun 06 June 2021.

In reply to Dne Utrotare (msg # 846):

Normally not to recock...what is your ST?

In reply to Reanna Draegan (msg # 847):

he can recock it in 4 seconds, as they have the same ST

In reply to Narrator (msg # 848):

Normally just 2 seconds, unless ST is less that the crossbow ST, plus 1 second to reload (with fast draw) and 1 second to ready and fire (or aim). But regardless, it will still increase her rate of fire.

Reanna will recock her crossbow...

It's actually:  2 seconds to Cock, 1 second to Load, 1 second to Ready.  Aiming or Firing are separate actions, so if you cock, load, ready, aim and fire, that's a full 6 seconds.*

You can shave that by not Aiming (or Bracing), and by making a Fast-Draw (Bolt) roll, but that still only gets it down to 3 seconds, separate from the fourth action, firing.

So yes, Dne can speed you up a little by cocking a crossbow for you (even loading it), but you'll still need to Ready it and then Fire.

It's like this:  If Dne cocks and loads the crossbow, you still need to take it from him (1 action), ready to your shoulder (1 action), and fire (1 action).  Slightly faster than doing it all yourself...


*  This is why crossbows suck compared to bows.  The advantage of a crossbow is when you start the fight with one and then switch to another weapon.  If you plan to use a ranged weapon throughout the fight, you should use a bow, you have a much faster rate of fire (extra faster if your a Heroic Archer).  Or carry a brace of cocked crossbows (a valet is handy for this) or get a magically recocking crossbow (and if it has a Cornucopia quiver built in, extra bonus).  A Heroic Crossbowmen with a magically recocking bow could fire once per second... but that is going to be a very expensive crossbow.

OOC: Does Reanna still need to use one action to accept the crossbow, if I hand it to her?

In reply to Dne Utrotare (msg # 851):

Since the loader is holding the weapon, Low Tech also does not mention the ready action. But crossbows also have greate accuracy that Bows, and are easier to use, so there are benefits to offset their slow rate of fire. They also do a little more damage, generally, making them more suited to thieves who specialize in hit and run/hide, but are not so well suited for pitched battles. Reanna was not even created with Combat Reflexes...

OOC:  You still have to Ready a weapon for usage even if it's handed to you.



Not sure which page you're quoting here.  But if they are cocking and loading for you, Dne will spend the full four seconds preparing the crossbow for you.  So you can cock, load, and fire your crossbow in 4 seconds, then swap bows with him, then fire the now loaded crossbow, then spend 4 seconds cocking, loading, firing, etc.  Basically it upgrades you to 2 shots every 6 seconds instead of 2 every 8.  Like I said, a slight increase in firing speed.

If you really want speed, either carry extra bows, get yourself three servants to reload for you, or shmooze the GM into letting you buy a Repeating Crossbow.



Yes, for the same investment of points you get +1 to crossbow skill, but to use the ACC you have to spend a turn aiming.

Or invest in Heroic Crossbowmen.


If your plan is to only attack every 4 seconds (presuming a Fastdraw roll), you should invest in some poisons to upgrade your damage when you do attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Thu 10 June 2021.

In reply to Dilandua (msg # 853):

Cornucopia quiver will not let him load it, and fast draw means it would be better if I did it myself anyway, basically making it a free action to draw the bolt and a single action to load it. Which means Done can cock it in 2 actions and we swap as the third action.

But since there is little else happening it is and has been for several rounds, a subjective discussion, since there is no stopwatch running. Let's keep the thread moving and not bogged down in detail the is not likely to have any impact on the outcome of the fight. Even if it does, the GM will make the call and that will be that. Aegis can have a few attacks, but if Dne helps Reanna, we get a few shots off a little quicker and get back to ending the fight and getting the rest of the team back, hopefully before the players give up on the characters.

Good points, Reanna.

OOC:  Dilandua is still unconscious, maybe Reanna or Dne want to assist Aegis in making sure the downed mages and guards have been throat slit, and help (cautiously) the prisoner to being able to explain himself and make a determination of his foreseeable disposure*?

* I love double meaning words, especially this one, it can be either innocuous or villainous depending on context.

In reply to Dilandua (msg # 856):

Still dealing with the standing guards, Dil. Will get on to that in good time. Reanna due for another shot at a redcoat?

The prisoner has held his position, face on the roadway, since his last roll to his knees.

When I’m done cocking, sure.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Sun 20 June 2021.

In reply to Reanna Draegan (msg # 857):

yes. Aegis is ripping off helmets and noisily braining the victims at this point... a souble tap each  unhelmed to be sure.

as the redshirts have to take their helmets off to clear their eyes, they are still blind.

Alice has stabilized Dilandua the crisp, and is eyeing the prisoner, who is at least a third degree friend,  by virtue of being her enemy's enemy.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 860):

Reanna will continue to target redshirt heads, using aimed braced shots as the redshirts meander closer to her..."Alice, you may as well help the prisoner, Dne is helping here..

[Private to GM: Skill 16+4 acc+1 braced-3 head, technique=18, so 18 - range is the target to beat. Rolled 7, then 13 for the second shot. Is damage needed?]"
This message was last updated by the GM at 17:59, Wed 30 June 2021.

The prisoner holds his (uncomfortable looking) position, knees and cheek on the roadway, and flaps his manacled hands vigorously where they rest near his buttocks.

Dne continues loading crossbows and takin’ names.

In reply to Virgilio Hohlfeld (msg # 862):

Alice helps raise the man to his feet, and shakes her head at the scold's bridle.



aegis, meanwhile, yanks the helmet from one of the redshirts and brains him.

The prisoner smiles around his gag as he rises to around six feet in height.  Up close, he looks quite young, as well as downright bony.  He's wearing plain brown shirt and breeches, a brown cloth cap, and lightweight brown shoes -- all of them lighter than his skin.

Once he has both feet well under him, he bows low to Alice, then turns his back to reveal the greenish iron manacles and pulls at them gently.  The inevitable shackle galls are still fresh.  His ankle rings have enough chain between to allow him to walk, but probably not to run.

In reply to Virgilio Hohlfeld (msg # 865):

Are there any more threats?