Mano a Mano:Archery

Archery and Marksmanship

Loading weapons

Some weapons must be loaded before each attack, or reloaded after a certain number of uses. If the ammunition is in a convenient location (a quiver, pocket, pouch, bandoleer, etc.) it can be drawn from that location with a quick action. Then the ammunition can be loaded into a simple weapon like a sling or a bow with another quick action. More complex weapons may have more steps. For example, If you have to load a revolver one bullet at a time for example, each bullet loaded may be a quick action.

Unloading weapons

Most weapons are designed to be loaded quickly, but unloading them can be trickier. Unloading a weapon is usually a quick action, but then you are either holding the ammunition or let it drop (your choice.) Putting away the ammunition you are holding requires an extra quick action - assuming that you have a single convenient place to put it. (If you have to load several rounds of ammunition into individual locations, each round of ammunition will take a separate quick action.)

Aiming

Aiming gives you a +2 bonus to hit with your next missile weapon attack. If you get hit between aiming and the next attack, you lose the bonus. You may not aim while grappling.

Reloading

Replacing a clip of ammunition can be one powerful action or split into two quick actions (unloading and loading). If rounds must be loaded individually, each round requires a separate quick action. Some weapons take one or more turns to reload. (A "Brown Bess" musket can be fired about 3 times per minute with training, suggesting 9 turns to reload and 1 turn to fire.)

Drawing a Bow

A bow must be drawn before it can be aimed or fired. Drawing a bow counts as one action, separate from firing it. Drawing a light bow is a quick action. Drawing a more powerful bow is a powerful action, depending on whether you meet it's strength requirement. A very powerful bow will require a powerful action for anyone, and be impossible for characters with too little strength. Your reach must also meet or exceed the bow's minimum reach requirement. (For example, a dwarf may not be able to fully draw a long bow built for a giant.)

Keeping a Bow Drawn

The strength and concentration required to keep a bow drawn prevents you from performing any other actions until the bow is fired. (You can perform other actions while holding a crossbow, just like a loaded firearm.)

Drawing a Bow Half Way

If your reach is at least half the bow's reach you can draw it halfway instead of drawing it normally. The strength requirement is 2 points less, but the bow fired this way has one fourth of the normal range and attack power.

Releasing the Bow

Releasing a drawn bow without firing the arrow is a quick action.

Drawing and Firing a Bow

A light bow can be drawn and fired as a single powerful action.

Drawing a Crossbow

Drawing a crossbow without a lever or crank is the same as drawing other bows. A simple lever can replace one powerful action with two quick actions. A crank requires an extra turn for each extra point of strength it gives. For example a crank that takes 5 turns can allow you to draw a crossbow that requires 5 more strength than you have.