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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 07:26:01
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One of the things that drives me most nuts about modern attempts at medieval battle scenes (whether written or in the movies), is that, sooner or later, you'll have some character yelling "Fire" at his archers.
"Fire" is not an archery term. It comes from early guns, that needed actual flaming wicks touched to their powder to explode (much like later cannons). Actual terms used by archers are "Loose," and "Release," (sometimes adding "...arrows!" afterward)
But what I can't remember seeing anywhere is an archery command equal to "Fire at will." A signal to switch from vollies to individual shooting. Can anyone fill me in? Also, if there are any other "Fire" equivalents that I missed, I'd love to learn them.
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Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 07:38:09
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| I think the order to fire is "Loose" |
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Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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silvermage
Seeker
77 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 08:14:18
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Fire is quite a common word that is ingrained into many minds, well, sometimes single words such as:
Release, Loose, Launch, Now!(Provided the archers understand the term)
Besides that, a bit long terms can also be used:
Unleash the storm, shoot at will, Stretch and release.
I will think a bit more and fill in later. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 17:17:17
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| I'm reading one of the recent Drizzt books, and I saw the word "rewound" in there... That really threw me, because it was used in the "backing up to a previous point" sense. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4685 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 17:54:12
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rewound = "Past tense and past participle of rewind. " and could very well refer to crossbows.
As for bow commands it appears that the command was ready, then ranged called out, so bows could be angled, loose. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Beirnadri Magranth
Senior Scribe
USA
720 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 18:44:18
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| i saw an old movie about rome vs germanic barbarians and they were told to shower or volley the enemy and then "to pick targets" when tehy would switch to targeting individuals (firing at will) |
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::moussaoui tries to interrupt::
"You will never get a chance to speak again and that's an appropriate ending."
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 00:45:23
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| "Pick your targets." Hmm. There's one I didn't think of. Thanks. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4685 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 01:08:40
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fire at will actually is a bastardization of shoot at Willian Tell with fire arrows. *wink*
Yes as range closed, those that did not get stoped other ways, the lead archers were expected to select their targets. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 02:03:32
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"Discharge", "loose" and "shoot" are all applicable terms for firing crossbow bolts (and two websites on archery suggest the terms are applied to standard archery bows as well).
"Fire" should only be used if the arrow or bolt has a flamed applied.
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Edited by - The Sage on 03 Apr 2006 02:11:32 |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 04:00:14
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| I was also trying to cross reference Archery sites for either voice or signal commands. I ran across several "whistle" commands also. I also remember something about flag signals in ancient armies for the signaling of archery units to move, prepare(load), pull, and loose |
Edited by - scererar on 03 Apr 2006 04:00:37 |
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Fire At Will!
