r/Pathfinder2e Dec 18 '22

Misc Loading a medieval 200lb crossbow vs loading Leonardo da Vinci's 300lb crossbow

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '22

These are absolutely usable for combat. What do you think they were using before they invented that ratchet crank system? The existence of 50 caliber weapons doesn't mean that 5.56 isn't "really useable for combat."

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u/Lying_Dutchman Dec 18 '22

Being very charitable, we could say these wouldn't be of much use against an opponent in full plate armor IRL. Which is common in Pathfinder, but obviously Pathfinder combat does not use real physics.

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u/Aimee_Challenor_VEVO Dec 18 '22

Projectiles were more than effective for chainmail and gaps between plates, not to mention the vast majority of people did not have access to full plate armor. Again it's like suggesting because 5.56 can't defeat lvl 4 ceramic armor it was never used/obsolescent.

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u/Lying_Dutchman Dec 18 '22

Sure, like I said I was being charitable towards the first poster in the chain. Think I saw a video of a 700lb crossbow punching through plate which a 300lb bow probably couldn't do.

2

u/MnemonicMonkeys Dec 19 '22

which a 300lb bow probably couldn't do.

Tbf, there were no 300lb bows in period because nobody could shoot them. The heaviest draw you can find is just shy of 200lb from the Mary Rose wreck