I measured the arrow release velocity on the bow I had way back when as part of an A-level project, it was in the 60m/s range. I agree that even with that it took over 2s to reach 100yds but that has a lot to do with the facts that it slows down in flight and has to travel further than 100yds due to its ballistic[1] path.
Dodging arrows is much easier than parrying them, all you have to do is assume its going to hit and *move* when you see the archer loose. Parrying you have to figure out where it is going to hit and then move to cover that area, at ranges of 50 paces or less you have less than a second and it can be hard to spot the flight of the arrow.
>
> Close Combat is usable as a defence against archery, with a
suitable
> Improvisation Modifier. Remember, you CAN see an arrow coming but
> only if you KEEP watching it - so you can't watch anyone else! I
> would allow it at -10 if you can see the archer shoot, even worse
if
> you can't. And worse if you are also defending in melee (where you
> must keep your shield constantly ready).
The multiple attacker penalty on top of the improvisational penalty is very nasty and IMO pretty accurate!
>In Live RolePlay I've been
> hit by a LOT of slow-moving foam-headed arrows, but I've rarely
seen
> one coming if I was in melee at the time. You don't catch sight of
> arrows in mid air easily.
>
True, one coming straight at you is just a little dot. Easier to watch for the archer than the arrow.
[1] Not quite truly ballistic - which became the point of the project. More like a crude lifting body glider.
-- Nic
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