From:	David Buehrer <dbuehrer@****.ORG>
Subject:	Re: Bows and crossbows
Date:	Mon, 21 Jul 1997 11:21:55 -0600

Caun Haskins wrote:
|
| David wrote:
| I disagree. "Free actions are relatively simple, nearly automatic
| actions that require little or no effort to accomplish." Picking up
| an arrow is pretty easy, but nocking(sp?) the thing requires some
| concentration (I have a fair ammount of RL experience on this one).
|
| Wrong! (no offense) but knocking an arrow is natural, I have some
| experience in archery (won a couple kid tourneys) I don't know the SR
| equivenenlt of the skill level (maybe 4/5) at that level maybe lower It
| defiantly should be a free action!

Well, it's not just how easy it is, but how much time it takes in SR
terms, IMO (and I think SR's opinion too, but I've been wrong on that
before :)

Look at the list of Free Actions. Each one takes about 1/10 of a
second. Now the list of Simple Actions. Each one is no longer than
1/2 a second. I don't know about you, but even if I do it perfectly
I can't ready a bow in the time it takes to change gun mode, change
position, fire a weapon, insert a clip, etc. So I think FASA is
being very generous in allowing a character to ready a bow with a
Simple Action. Now, they may be overly generous in allowing a
character to ready a crossbow with a Simple Action. I'd require a
complex action. And that may be the best solution of all, IMHO.

-David
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1068/homepage.htm
--
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing
which ones to keep."