There you are on the front line and you hear a [KA-CHUNK] right by your ear hole. What you didn’t know is that there is an archer right above your shoulder taking opponents out.
Let them know you’re there! Support tactics and communication
Communication is key for several reasons. After a recent event where we ran through exercises and discussed tactics, one thing was very clearly important: communication.
This can be as simple as alerting the line you are advancing up. The trifecta of death IMO is 1,2,3 (1 being the front): Shield (sword and board), Polearm, and Archer. But in this case the Polearm and Archer can be interchangeable. Lets go with the One-Two punch. Shield and Archer.
As you advance to the line let your shield/line know you’re there. They have one job and that is to stay alive, but if they know you’re there they can try to keep you alive as well. Deflecting opponent archers and poles.
Additionally if there happens to be an opponent on the line that is particularly hard to deal with, such as a Knight, Commander, or Crown, they can call out, and thereby give you leave to take them out.
A big part of teamwork is knowing what assets are in play and how to best utilize them. If your team knows an archer is there to help it can make their job easier. Just as when a shield dies, and ‘fill in!’ is called.
We all have our jobs: communicate effectively, and thereby win.
Recently found myself at an event and a gentle who wished to have his equipment inspected brought up a bow which caught my eye immediately.
The bows stock construction was solid enough to be sure, but what caught my eye was the ‘prod’. I had never seen a prod like this. Four piece of fiberglass rod combined into one piece with copper caps and tape.
So let me do a bad thing and state my opinion right up front. This thing scares me. And without combing over the rules with a fine tooth comb, If I were MiC for CA, I wouldn’t let it on the field.
Here is where you all come in, would you? Of all the severe archery nerds friends to rules buffs, one of you must know the answer to this question.
After some discussion, I posited that if this were to fall under normal bow equivalents, I think this would be viewed as an ‘experimental weapon’ and would be treated as such.
You ready for the money shot?
A different method of crossbow construction
What would you do? Please discuss and share your reasons and applied rules!
If you are like me, a combat archer who loves to be in the thick of it, then take a second and let me share what Ive learned in these few years.
The intention is to show the differences in CA tactics and provide some tips. More focus on front line engagement (R2)
fig. 1
Let’s go over some situations that present themselves here. We have green and red team. Please note that the G1 is hanging back, while R2 is behind the shield line.
Defense
The benefit of being in the front line here is clear. You get to stand behind someone who can actively help protect you. Though their first priority is usually to protect themselves and hold the line, they can help you as well.
Once R2 moves up to this position, communicate. Let the shield line know you are there. They can actively call enemy missiles as well as deflect. Once there, when you reload, keep your eyes on the field, and duck down. This will allow you to reload safely and not get plucked off by opponent archers or poles.
G1 does not enjoy the benefit of cover. Though you have distance on your side, you may think some bolts or arrows may not reach you, but you are ripe for the picking. The opposition will still see and fear your missiles however. sometimes you don’t have a clear shot, stay locked and loaded and pointed at the foe, you will keep their heads down and still help the team. If the opponent line make a push you wont get trampled but your shots are not as effective as in the rush, an opponent may not even register your hit. It may be a good idea to wait until the line settles a little, then pluck off any remaining opponents.
Offense
Call your shots and let your team know you are there! It never hurts to tell your team you are firing. Not only does it assist your team, but the opposition will also hear this and get distracted because the archer may be pointing an arrow at their face. Additionally, if your line is having a hard time with a specific person, they may want you to take them out. Always identify your warlords and battle hardened friends, they know who the key opponents are.
R1, listen to your team. If a polearm wants to step in to fill the line, take a step back and play a more support role. Polearms are very effective at keeping the shield line back with a constant threat whereas with CAs there are the reload down times to contend with.
If you are G1, work with another archer if possible. Alternate fire so you are not caught unloaded by a stray opponent.
Also keep a thrown weapon on you. A dagger will fit nicely into your quiver or belt and can be used again and again if once you’ve shot, you are getting rushed by a ‘heavy’.
And when on the front line, take your time, and make every shot count. If you go ‘Machine Gun Kelly’ and have a 30% kill ratio, you’ll then have to reload more often and disrupt the lines. Keeping your bow leveled on the enemy keeps their heads down and distracted. Let the poles take them out as well!
If you haven’t heard of the Missile Weapon Tourney, there is a draft that has been circulated ‘internally’ and Kingdom by Kingdom and getting feedback. Now it’s the populace’s turn to weigh in!
Comments have been opened to the public. Please take a look and add your comments. Clarifications? Rule changes? Kingdom missile combat variations? Its all on the floor now.
Please take some time review the competitions, and if you have any comments, please add them to this post or contact us.
I am very excited about bringing this concept to the missile community, and I hope you can add to the discussion. Please take this idea and have fun with it!
