I realized something... [History + Weapons]

[Kyllian]

I was watching the History channel and they were talking about medieval weaponry, namely the longbow and the crossbow
Now, they called the longbow the machinegun of it's time(skilled archers could fire 8 arrows a minute), but the drawback was it couldn't penetrate armor and an archer had to be taught how to weild it properly

The crossbow, on the other hand, could penetrate armor and required little skill to fire(at a cost of firing speed)

Basically, a common soldier could take down a high-ranking knight with one well placed shot
This made the church believe it was too powerful and banned it's use


So this is what dawned on me after I heard that...
The crossbow was the NoobCannon of it's time

[Synastren]

The NoobCannon? Do you refer to the Flak, good sir?

[BobCobb]

No my friend, the triremes of mass destruction where the noobcannons. However I believe the crossbow did have its glory days, but in the end they just nerfed the hell out of it.

[Synastren]

Catholic Patch for the win!

[SlayerDragon]

Actually, crossbowmen (arbalesters) required a great deal of strength in order to operate the crossbow. Also, they needed to be able to know how to care for the weapon. In comparison to the longbow, less skill was required, as most longbowmen were trained from youth to develop the necessary muscles. So it wasn't quite a "noob" weapon. That came with the invention of gunpowder.

;) I am taking Medieval Military History right now.

edit: Did you just drop a Civ reference? :lol:

[Synastren]

edit: Did you just drop a Civ reference? :lol:
Which one? :)

[Cap'n Beeb]

Ballista or bust.

[Enfyrneaux]

Damn thy neaubes and thy unholy crossbows!
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/929/crossbow7xh.jpg

:lol:

[Kyllian]

Damn thy neaubes and thy unholy crossbows!
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/929/crossbow7xh.jpg

:lol:
:lol: indeed
The NoobCannon? Do you refer to the Flak, good sir?
Actually, what popped in my head was people griping about some of the weapons in CSNo my friend, the triremes of mass destruction where the noobcannons. However I believe the crossbow did have its glory days, but in the end they just nerfed the hell out of it.
Eh, it's what the History channel said
True the longbow doesn't take as much maintenance, but it also takes a bit more skill to aim, since you couldn't apply as much power as well as having to hold the string back, increasing fatigue. Whereas the longbow was mostly a "pull string til it locks, load arrow, fire"

Either way, don't wanna argue it. The church back then thought it was overpowered, so from that POV, it could be considered a noob weapon

[SlayerDragon]

Which one? :)
I never played Civ3 but I know trireme was in Civ2, and I wasn't really part of the online gaming community until much later so I don't know a thing about patches for that game.

[BobCobb]

Eh, it's what the History channel said
True the longbow doesn't take as much maintenance, but it also takes a bit more skill to aim, since you couldn't apply as much power as well as having to hold the string back, increasing fatigue. Whereas the longbow was mostly a "pull string til it locks, load arrow, fire"

Are you talkin about crossbows at the end or longbows? I don't really care about either, but I know longbowmen are good because of the +25% city defence. While the crossbowmen may have their +50% against melee units, I don't build too many, as a horde of highly trained macemen seem to be more effective. But then again, nothing trumps the triremes of mass destruction. Tis a pitiful sight to watch civilizations collapse at a triremes whim...

[Kyllian]

>_<

I'm talking about crossbows in HUMAN history

[BobCobb]

I know, I just have Civ4 on the brain. Addictions are bad. ;)

[SlayerDragon]

:lol: It is a damn good game.