shortbow vs longbow

[Memnarch]

Why wouId anyone ever choose shortbow over Iongbow?

they onIy do 1d6 vs the Iongbows 1d8

AND they are 50ft vs the shortbow 40ft.

and theres no weapon speed mechanic.

Someone enIighten me.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by Foori:

Why wouId anyone ever choose shortbow over Iongbow?

they onIy do 1d6 vs the Iongbows 1d8

AND they are 50ft vs the shortbow 40ft.

and theres no weapon speed mechanic.

Someone enIighten me.

I think it weighs less. That seems like the main reason. Some dex characters really lack for strength.

Also, if planing to always use point blank shot, there's no real difference in range (since that feat only works within 30ft).

There are also a few specific magical weapons that are one or the other, but not available as both.

Though on the topic of ranged weapons that make no sense: Halfling sling staff. I would get the logic if it applied Str x1.5 to damage, like a normal 2-handed weapon, but I really don't get the point of it as is. Perhaps there's some unwritten advantage?

[flyingscot1066]

Originally posted by Foori:

Why wouId anyone ever choose shortbow over Iongbow?

they onIy do 1d6 vs the Iongbows 1d8

Why would anyone ever choose shortsword over longsword?

They only do 1d6 vs the longswords 1d8.

[ayrtep]

Originally posted by flyingscot1066:

Why would anyone ever choose shortsword over longsword?

They only do 1d6 vs the longswords 1d8.

Apart from the proficiency issue, you can more easily dual wield short swords.

[fox5s]

Originally posted by Cutlass Jack:

Also remember that even if Ember can use longbows, avoid giving her a composite one. Her negative strength means she gets a damage penalty with a composite bow.

You don't want to give Ember any bows. Even the non-Composite versions give you further negatives if you don't have at least 10 Str. She's stuck with crossbows.

Originally posted by hilburnashua:

The reason why short bows have a lower damage base then long bows is a reflection of realism. Long bows have a longer draw, thus the arrows are typically longer and heavier. Combine that with the longer draw meaning they have a higher pull strength, the arrows have more force. Short bows would be more for horse mounted troops or a light hunting weapon.

That is indeed the given reasoning of rpg history. You can even see why they'd have thought that. However, this does not completely match reality. A shortbow can be made to have a higher draw strength and impart more force than a longbow. Shadiversity has talked about it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbF8BaGsuts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcsch6cR8MM

I think in one of those videos. However, he's made so many videos that I'm not completely certain. And the Mongols proved that longbows can work from horseback.

Regardless, that's a tangent and we work within the system we are playing in. You don't want to go down the rabbit hole that is Shad's annoyance with RPG swords. :D

Originally posted by ayrtep:

Apart from the proficiency issue, you can more easily dual wield short swords.

To add to your point:

That allows you to save feats compared to Dual Longsword (no need to an extra ability to count them as Light Weapons) and a Longsword/Shortsword pair.

Additionally, since a Shortsword is a light weapon, it is usable with Weapon Finesse when a longsword wouldn't be. Yeah, the true finesse build would prob want a rapier, but I'm giving possible reasons.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by ayrtep:

Originally posted by flyingscot1066:

Why would anyone ever choose shortsword over longsword?

They only do 1d6 vs the longswords 1d8.

Apart from the proficiency issue, you can more easily dual wield short swords.

Also different deity's favorite weapons. Iomedae and Norgorber.

And weight.

And weapon finesse.

[pete3great]

Maybe you want more than one archer but don't want them competing for weapons. This is something I always consider when playing.

[Raikon]

I think bards and rogues get shortbows as default options. Other then that, everyone should use a longbow if available. There are more of them, and thier generally batter.

[Chan]

Specific uniques with specific mythic and class.

[fiend394]

Originally posted by ProCastinator:

Originally posted by rumpelstiltskin:

same for light/heavy crossbows. i guess it's a dnd thing - some weapons are just better, and it's probably supposed to be balanced by availability. for instance, at some point the game might troll you with a very good shortbow (true story), so that you'd start thinking it might actually be worth it to invest in shorbow skills (it's not)

Thats exactIy my point too.

Paizo doesnt get to teII me how to pIay my game, just because theire awfuI at baIancing weapons.

Im so sick of Iongbows aIways and "going for a good shortbow in X area" is a trash argument.

sorry, not sorry.

Thats why i aIways wiII prefer Obsidians PoE2, they did a reaIIy good weapon baIance, some had Iow attackspeed, and others were sIower BUT with other reaIIy good benefis.

You faiIed again Paizo.

Why are you so angry? You ok bud? You need some tendies?

[fox5s]

Originally posted by fiend394:

Originally posted by ProCastinator:

You faiIed again Paizo.

Why are you so angry? You ok bud? You need some tendies?

It's not even a Paizo fail per se. It's an initial DnD and eventually d20 system fail that Paizo inherited. The logic, flawed though it may be, has been around since at least 2nd edition (though there may have been a speed system at the time) and possibly even the initial Chainmail system.

Blame Gygax if must blame someone.

But we work within the system we are playing and people have answered the actual questions you had already.

[Serendipitous]

One reason is if you have two bow users and if both of them would use same weapon type, there will be more competition for it, while using shortbow on a second character will allow to expand possible selection of weapons for the party. And there are at least a couple of very good shortbows on the way, so overall your party would be stronger than if you chose longbows for both, since the difference between d8 and d6 is only 1 damage on average. Range is more important, but still doesn't really make that big of a difference for 90% of the encounters.

[mbradtke]

there are more serious problems than that, f.e some weapons are more powerful than others, even in the same profiency, f.e a longsword deals 1d8 19/20 x2crit, while a flail also deals 1d8 but only 20 x2 crit, why? lol

[fox5s]

Originally posted by mbradtke:

there are more serious problems than that, f.e some weapons are more powerful than others, even in the same profiency, f.e a longsword deals 1d8 19/20 x2crit, while a flail also deals 1d8 but only 20 x2 crit, why? lol

You have named all the Longsword properties but the Light Flail that you listed has the Disarm and Trip qualities in PnP.

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons

Those qualities understandably didn't get translated to Kingmaker/WotR. :D

[Janthis]

I was actually wondering the same thing about light vs heavy crossbows.

[mbradtke]

Originally posted by fox5s:

Originally posted by mbradtke:

there are more serious problems than that, f.e some weapons are more powerful than others, even in the same profiency, f.e a longsword deals 1d8 19/20 x2crit, while a flail also deals 1d8 but only 20 x2 crit, why? lol

You have named all the Longsword properties but the Light Flail that you listed has the Disarm and Trip qualities in PnP.

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons

Those qualities understandably didn't get translated to Kingmaker/WotR. :D

well there are better some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ good flails in the games then...