ANST - Combat archery, How?

[James Crouchet]

> <<<<  How do you get started?>>>>>

I would say, first, find a combat archer, talk to him/her, examine the 
gear, etc. If necessary, make a trip to where the combat archer is 
to do this. This will save you many hours of lost time and much 
wasted money trying to re-invent combat archery. 

Next, get the rules. They are on-line. Actually read them, yes.  

Get your bow and some arrows *first*, so you can start practising. 
Next, get your helm and always practice with it on. Gauntlets next, 
then arm armor. Practice will all this stuff on because it really 
changes how you shoot. Build a quiver that will hold as many 
*combat* arrows as you think you will need, then wear it and 
practice moving around with it.  Fill out the rest of your armor as 
you can, but plan to have ALL of it together in time to practice in 
full kit at least 3 times before a war. More is better, of course, but 
that is a minimum.

Oh, also make sure you are authorized BEFORE you go.


> <<<<What do you consider a combat archers duties?

Create strategic weaknesses in the enemy ranks. If you can 
eliminate the polearms in an enemy unit, one of our units with 
poles will take them out and create a hole. If you can kill an enemy 
commander you create confusion. From a "safe" range you can 
take out the hottest enemy fighters thus keeping a lot of our guys 
alive. You can sometimes take out an enemy soldier on the end of 
a line, or keep him busy with you. That will allow our troops to flank 
that line and perhaps fold it. You can create holes in the middle of 
the line in the same way. You can often bluff enemy fighters, 
keeping several busy with you instead of doing their jobs. You can 
force all the enemys within 30 to 40 feet to divide their attention 
between watching you and doing their jobs.

> Who do you suggest I shoot first?>>>>>>

Look at the list above, then pick the one you think you are most 
likely to actually achieve. Don't waste your arrows shooting too 
fast, you don't waste time either. Remember, the quicker you take 
out the enemy, the less time he has to kill our troops. Take you 
time with your last 4 or 5 arrows and really make them count. Use 
your last 2 to fake the enemy out and make him watch you, duck 
behind his shield, etc. Only fire those last two when you are sure of 
a hit, UNLESS you plan to switch to another weapon.

> <<<How do you feel about volley fire?  Is it effective?>>>>>>

No. I have seen minimal success with 2 or 3 archers on 1 target, 
but generally only if they got way lucky, they practiced together a 
lot or one of them was good enough to have done the job by his/her 
self anyway. As for massed fire from the rear, forget it. We don't 
have the range with combat arrows, we don't have the numbers  
and our arrows come in way too slow (so they can be blocked or 
dodged).

> <<< How many fighters do you think should be assigned to each archer to
> protect them?>>>>>>>>

No, I think the key is to be a part of a unit, just as a polearm must 
work as part of a unit. Let that shieldman be where his shield is 
effective -- in the wall. You be where you are effective -- behind the 
wall (but not far behind). I like to work just two or three steps out of 
enemy pole reach. And remember, the more you practice with your 
unit, the more they will be use to covering you (like they do the 
poles) and taking advantage of they openings you make.

Dore


============================================================================
Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.