Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-26149161-20170907221858/@comment-75.136.40.112-20171004031359

PumpkinLOTR wrote:

75.136.40.112 wrote: I was just about to suggest the addition of these bows, but I decided to check here first. I am glad that I did! However, I was hoping that they would be part of the uncraftable Arnor sets which can be given in Miniquests from the Northern Dunedain and looted from the barrow downs and other Numenorian Structures. Although, finding them in the Southern Kingdon of the Exiles makes sense too. If they were added to the Arnor sets, I was hoping that an Dunedain Smith could repair and reforge them just like the rest of the set.

As far as balance is concerned, what makes the biggest difference in ranged combat is Damage Per Second rather than singe strike damage. Even though a Mithril Crossbow is powerful, someone with a Rivendell Bow may still deal more DPS and beat the crossbow player in a shootout on open ground. The Dalish bow has a draw speed of 67% and a damage of 125% with a range of 170%. Thus, if the Steelbow had a draw speed of 50%-60% and damage of 143%-150%, (Between a bronze crossbow {200% Damage, 40% Draw}  and the Dalish bow) with a range of 200%, then the only OP part of the bow would be its accuracy and the "Ballistic Coefficient" of its projectile. This makes it more of a sniping bow rather that a Mid Range to CQB bow like the Elven Bows, meaning that it wouldn't be too game breaking to allow it to be repairable and reforgable. Why a part of the Arnor sets? Because I seemed to have temporarily forgotten that Gondor is a sucessor Kingdom to Numenor as well. The Third Age Total War game prompted this thought proccess and in the MOS submod, a reforged Arnor can field steelbows while I haven't seen them in Gondor. Ithilion is right that they should be found in the south as well.

Why the Arnor set? Because the Ancient Arnor Armor is made to look similar to the Last Alliance Armor, and while they have Swords, Daggers, and Spears, they didn't yet have a special Arnor Bow. The Numenorian Steelbow seemed like a perfect fit. Besides, even though the Dunedain Smiths cannot create new Arnor Armor, they at least know enough lore to repair the ancient equipment which has been rotting for almost 1000 years. They seemed to be the best fit in my mind for repairing the bows as opposed to Gondor which seems to have moved on in terms of arms and armor, never falling to the enemy yet no longer fielding steelbows.