Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-30830745-20180225111723/@comment-26149161-20180225193707

Glflegolas wrote: @Ithilion: Sure, I am also aware that Uruks used yew bows in the books. But if we removed uruk crossbowers, we'd have to remove the mod's other crossbows too IMO. It would also be necessary to get rid of all the mod's metal bows, as none of the races of Middle-Earth used metal bows as far as I know.

Glflegolas (admin) Send a Messenger  17:49, February 25, 2018 (UTC) Yes, that's true. But is that too much of an issue? They aren't a huge facet of the game tbh

Based on the textures of the "metal" Elven and Orc bows, I've always assumed it was a balancing feature for their strength, and also referred to their metal inlay, while the main limb was wooden. That doesn't conflict, unlike crossbows.

Madman wrote: Of course, this is turned on its head if you're facing Dwarves. Dwarves certainly have the level of metal-working skill necessary to make plate, yet they don't, because their mail is capable of holding up under blows that break necks (See Azog versus...Nain, I think) and other ridiculous things. So good luck breaking their mail without something like a crossbow with armor-piercing bolts.

Crossbows might theoretically be advantageous when fighting Dwarves--assuming that they could pierce the Dwarven mail, which I'm not sure they could. However, if the Orcs had such powerful weaponry that could penetrate heavy Dwarven armor, would the Dwarves have enjoyed victory at Azanulbizar? It seems to me that such a weapon (if it could negate Dwarven mail) would be standard-issue for everyone who might go up enemies with strong armor.

Ithilion, Discussions Moderator (Auta i lómë)