Ja mes Frusetta continues trying to import nomad bows to Ralios.
Well, besides the climate (a bit wetter than the steppes)there is a good reason why nobody uses bows anymore in Ralios (besides the barbarians, of course). It is called Crossbow. Easier to use, easier to make (for a civilized culture), the same or more range, more penetration. Its only drawback, rate of fire, is less important in battles, as you are limited anyway in the ammo you can take with you.
And although it was never tested, crossbowmen with pavises supported with long spear infantry and disciplined knights would have given many problems to the mongols.
A pavis, by the way, is an enormous shield, to heavy to be wielded, that you can prop upright to protect you while loading and firing. Later, many were spiked, so when cavalry charged you dropped them (spikes up) and ran away. With luck the spikes disorganized the charge enough to give an advantage to your own countercharging cavalry (or infantry, if they were swiss).
Crossbows were forbidden by the Pope, and people still used them. And they are not forbidden in Safelster...
Jose
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