Difference between revisions of "Arbalest"

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(Updated for 0.15)
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  |accuracy  = +2
 
  |accuracy  = +2
 
  |basedelay = 19 (190%)
 
  |basedelay = 19 (190%)
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  |mindelay  = 10, [[Ranged_combat#Costs|skill req. varies]]
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  |mindelay  = 10 at skill 18
 
  |hands    = 2H
 
  |hands    = 2H
 
  |size      = Medium
 
  |size      = Medium
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{{crawlquote|This weapon falls into the '[[Crossbows]]' category. It uses [[bolt]]s as ammunition.}}
 
{{crawlquote|This weapon falls into the '[[Crossbows]]' category. It uses [[bolt]]s as ammunition.}}
  
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'''Arbalests''' are powerful ranged weapons, capable of launching [[bolt]]s for high damage and with excellent accuracy. However, the complexity of their design gives them a significantly lower rate of fire than [[bow]]s, but sufficient skill, [[strength]], and [[dexterity]] will nearly make up for this. Be aware that arbalests and bolts are fairly uncommon early on, making ammo conservation a legitimate issue. They become common in [[the Vaults]] and the later portions of [[the Dungeon]] once [[yaktaur]]s start appearing. Note that using [[shield]]s will considerably slow your attack speed.
+
'''Arbalests''' are powerful ranged weapons, capable of launching [[bolt]]s for high damage and with excellent accuracy. However, the complexity of their design gives them a significantly lower rate of fire than [[bow]]s: it takes nearly two normal-speed turns to fire them without training, and even with sufficient skill, they'll never achieve a mindelay better than 1.0.
  
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Arbalest users benefit more from a high strength score than bow-users, but benefit less from high skill levels. Because of this, while arbalests are more powerful than longbows in the early game, they become less effective in the late. However, arbalest-users have access to bolts of [[penetration]], which are significantly more powerful than the bow-user's unique [[arrow]] of [[dispersal]].
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Unless you happen to find a very nice [[shield]] for your offhand, wielders of a [[hand crossbow]] should eventually upgrade to one of these once they get near 18 Crossbows skill, as the jump in damage output is very significant. Later switching to a [[triple crossbow]] may be worthwhile if you're willing to put a lot of experience into the skill, but is by no means necessary; an well-enchanted, well-branded arbalest is a very capable ranged weapon.
  
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0; text-align: center"
 
{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0; text-align: center"
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==History==
 
==History==
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Prior to [[0.15]], arbalests were known as crossbows.
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Arbalests were introduced in [[0.15]] (along with [[hand crossbow]]s and [[triple crossbow]]s), replacing standard [[crossbow]]s.
  
 
In [[0.14]] [[Hellfire (unrand)|Hellfire]] was revamped to fire bolts that actually explode in [[hellfire]].
 
In [[0.14]] [[Hellfire (unrand)|Hellfire]] was revamped to fire bolts that actually explode in [[hellfire]].
  
 
[[Category:Crossbows]]
 
[[Category:Crossbows]]

Revision as of 16:40, 12 February 2015

Version 0.15: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Name Arbalest
Skill Crossbows
Damage 18
Accuracy +2
Base delay (%) 19 (190%)
Min delay 10 at skill 18
Hands 2H
Size Medium
Ranged? Yes
A large piece of machinery used for firing bolts, braced with steel and cranked with a windlass. It takes some time to load and fire.

"(TELL enters with his crossbow)
W. TELL:
My precious jewel now, -my chiefest treasure-
A mark I'll set thee, which the cry of grief
Could never penetrate,-but thou shalt pierce it-
And thou, my trusty bowstring, that so oft
For sport hath served me faithfully and well
Desert me not in this dread hour of need,-
Only be true this once, my own good cord,
That hast so often wing'd the biting shaft:-
For shouldst thou fly successless from my hand,
I have no second to send after thee."

-Friedrich Schiller, _Wilhelm Tell_, IV, iii. 1804.
trans. Sir Theodore Martin, 1898.

This weapon falls into the 'Crossbows' category. It uses bolts as ammunition.

Arbalests are powerful ranged weapons, capable of launching bolts for high damage and with excellent accuracy. However, the complexity of their design gives them a significantly lower rate of fire than bows: it takes nearly two normal-speed turns to fire them without training, and even with sufficient skill, they'll never achieve a mindelay better than 1.0.

Unless you happen to find a very nice shield for your offhand, wielders of a hand crossbow should eventually upgrade to one of these once they get near 18 Crossbows skill, as the jump in damage output is very significant. Later switching to a triple crossbow may be worthwhile if you're willing to put a lot of experience into the skill, but is by no means necessary; an well-enchanted, well-branded arbalest is a very capable ranged weapon.

Image
Mundane Crossbow 1.png
Magical Crossbow 2.png
Artifact Crossbow 3.png
Unrandart
arbalests
Hellfire Crossbow hellfire.png
Weapons
Axes Battleaxe • Broad axe • Executioner's axe • Hand axe • War axe
Maces & Flails Club • Demon whip • Dire flail • Eveningstar • Flail • Giant club • Giant spiked club • Great mace • Mace (Hammer) • Morningstar • Sacred scourge • Whip
Long Blades Demon blade • Double sword • Eudemon blade • Falchion • Great sword • Long sword • Scimitar • Triple sword
Polearms Bardiche • Demon trident • Glaive • Halberd (Scythe) • Spear • Trident • Trishula
Ranged Weapons Arbalest • Hand cannon • Longbow • Orcbow • Shortbow • Sling • Triple crossbow
Short Blades Dagger • Quick blade • Rapier • Short sword
Staves Lajatang • Magical staff • Quarterstaff
Throwing Boomerang • Dart • Javelin • Large rock • Stone • Throwing net


History

Arbalests were introduced in 0.15 (along with hand crossbows and triple crossbows), replacing standard crossbows.

In 0.14 Hellfire was revamped to fire bolts that actually explode in hellfire.

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