Bow

Bow

Includes bows and crossbows used to fire arrows or bolts. They are not projectile weapons themselves but are used exclusively with Arrows. Other devices which aid in accelerating projectiles are not considered Bows. This includes devices such as slingshots, slings, and atlatls.

1. The maximum limit for a bow’s pull is 35 pounds with a maximum 28” draw length.
2. Crossbows are limited to no more than 450 inch-pounds.
3. No compound bows are allowed.
4. At 20’ or less bows must be no more than half drawn.
   • Half-Draw is half the distance between the brace height and 28 inches. Example: If your bow has a brace height of 8 inches, its Half Draw is 18 inches.
   • Crossbows do not have to be half drawn within 20’.
5. May only be used to passively block (i.e. may not be swung towards an incoming strike in order to block). If hit by the strike-legal portion of any weapon, the bow is destroyed.

Arrow

Includes bolts and any other similar items.
NOTE: Improperly constructed or maintained arrows can pose a serious safety hazard. Before building your fist arrows take the time to study an online construction tutorial or practice with an experienced player.

General

1. May not be drawn beyond 28”.
2. Fletching and nocks, if present, must be in good repair.
3. Must be clearly labeled with their owner’s name.
   • Arrows without labels will never be allowed on the field.
   • Using arrows without labels can result in immediate suspension from the field.
4. Broken or poorly mended arrows are not to be used.
5. Like any other equipment arrows may only be used by their owner unless the owner grants specific permission for another player to use their arrows.
   • The owner of an arrow is responsible for the safety of the arrow even if fired by another player.
   • Special arrows may never be shared.
6. Swinging at an arrow in flight is illegal.
   • Arrows may only be passively blocked by placing an object in the flight path.

Shafts

1. May be fiberglass, aluminum, plastic, or graphite.
2. Wood shaft are only allowed if covered in a minimum of 4 mils of plastic tape or equivalent.
3. Shafts must have any real arrow head or tip removed.
4. The tip of shafts must be built up to at least 1” in diameter in a solid manner such as:
   • Wrapping in fiberglass strapping tape and capping with a 1" diameter galvanized steel disc.
   • Affixing a 1" diameter washer into the shaft with a solidly-attached screw.
   • Other similar methods. Replacing the washer or disc with a U.S. penny is not considered 'similar' to those construction methods. Acceptable construction methods include, but are not limited to, building the arrowhead onto a base which is removable but firmly attached (commonly referred to as "modular" construction) and/or shaft buildups made using fused deposition modeling ("3D Printing"). Please consult experienced arrowhead builders before attempting new designs.
5. Shafts longer than 28” must have a draw stop (generally a ring of tape or similar) placed around the shaft no more than 28" from the inside of the arrow's nock where the string rests.

Heads

1. Must be 2.5” in diameter.
2. Front and side must be Strike-Legal.
3. Must include a minimum of 2” of foam in front of the shaft of the arrow.
   • The 0.5” of foam immediately after the end of the shaft must be closed-cell.
   • Foam must be firm but compressible, and not able to deform around the arrow shaft on impact.
   • Very soft foams such as couch cushion do not count towards the required 2” minimum of foam.
4. Heads should be checked regularly for degrading foam.
5. Must have a cloth cover on the head.
   • Properly colored strips may be used in lieu of colored head covers to denote special arrow status.
   • Normal arrows may not be covered in any of the colors reserved for special arrows.
   • Reserved colors are: yellow, red, green, purple, and grey.
6. Must strike point first to score a hit.
7. Affects all targets struck while in motion.
8. Hits from arrows are Armor Breaking.
9. Hits from arrows are Weapon Destroying.

Who uses this weapon?

Bows are used by Archers, Assassin, Scout, and Druids using their Ranger ability .

From more information on Arrows see the Projectiles Section.

About Bows

A bow is a weapon that projects arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow. As the bow is drawn, energy is stored in the limbs of the bow and transformed into rapid motion when the string is released, with the string transferring this force to the arrow. Bows are used for hunting and sport (target shooting), and as a weapon of war.

This is a particularly fine example of a highly decorated, recurved composite bow of the 17th or 18th century. It shows the distinctive unstrung C-shape of the Turko-Persian bow form. This results from the sinew backing, which is so tight that, when strung, the bow is drawn into an arc that is completely opposite in profile. The back is painted with two friezes, one on each arm, which depict mounted archers and their hunting dogs falling upon lions, antelope and other animals of the chase. These are as finely executed as any contemporary Moghul miniatures so this was likely to be the weapon of a high-status individual.

The technique of using a bow is called archery. Someone who makes bows is known as a bowyer, and one who makes arrows a fletcher. Together with the atlatl and the sling , the bow was one of the first ranged weapons or hunting tools which used mechanical principles, instead of relying solely on the strength of its user.

The development of gunpowder, muskets, and the growing size of armies (and their consequent demand for less-trained levies) slowly led to the replacement of bows as weapons of war, supplanted by firearms, which were simpler for conscripts to learn and use, causing bows to be relegated to sport and hobby use.

Regardless of its other construction, the basic elements of a bow are a pair of curved elastic limbs, typically of wood, connected by a string. By pulling the string backwards the archer exerts compressive force on the inner section, or belly, of the limbs as well as placing the outer section, or back, under tension. While the string is held, this stores the energy later released in putting the arrow to flight. The force required to hold the string stationary when pulled is often used to express the power of a bow, and is known as its draw weight. A higher draw weight is associated with a more powerful bow, which is able to project arrows heavier, faster, or a greater distance.

In bows drawn and held by hand, the maximum draw weight is determined by the strength of the archer. The maximum distance the string could be displaced and thus the longest arrow that could be loosed from it, a bow’s draw length, is determined by the size of the archer. For bows drawn and held mechanically, the maximum draw weight was a matter of engineering. The mechanical force required to draw the string was mainly limited by the time required to do so.

Links

• make a bow from a sapling by Jon Jeffer

See Oznog.