How does mounted crossbow work?

[Field Emergent Rescue]

During a raid, I rang the bell to change the status of pal to attack mode. No one seems to go and mount the crossbow. Any help please?

[Suicidoman]

Read on reedit that you need a chest with arrows beside in order to work. Haven't try IDK if you need an specific pal for the job

[Wyvern]

^^ this. but you also need pals with the handiwork skill, like a lamball or something.

[FlareFluffsune]

You also need to actually assign a pal to it, they won't automatically operate it. Pick up a pal and place them on it.

[Field Emergent Rescue]

Originally posted by FlareFluffsune:

You also need to actually assign a pal to it, they won't automatically operate it. Pick up a pal and place them on it.

Thanks guys, I did assigned my WIxens who has Handicraft 3 to man those crossbows I'm not sure if it's due to their elevated positions that they are not able to shoot down or not. But then it's only one foundation high above the ground tho.
I also wish the Pal could return to other work with a ring of bell instead of just manning those crossbow which won't even fire...
A bit frustrated.

[Vanhalla]

I have tried assigning pals to it like that but they just wander off and do something else.

[darkflint85]

Originally posted by Vanhalla:

I have tried assigning pals to it like that but they just wander off and do something else.

Mine stay at the crossbow, but dont fire a single time.

[Nemesis-489]

Whoever I had manned on the crossbow would ALWAYS be the first to die without making any kinda difference in a raid. Needing to have a chest of ammo nearby doesn't make any kind of intuitive sense either, since pals just magically have a gun and all the ammo they'll ever if you have their summon item.

[Field Emergent Rescue]

So after some testings... Like everyone here mentioned.
- Better position your mounted weapon on the ground floor (as low as possible). Certain height would mess up its firing range/angle. Also make sure your weapon is pointed at the entry of your base where the enemy comes in during a raid. The mounted weapons are not 360'C.
- Need to manually assign a Pal to that defensive position (Crossbow or Machine gun) which means they are permanently manning those weapons and won't do other work. (Even bell won't change their status)
- Put a chest nearby with correspondent ammo. (Arrow for crossbow mount/Rifle round for machine gun)
- During the raid, your Pal won't fire the mounted weapon until the enemy is fully "inside" your Pal box blue radius.
- Your Pal will start firing those mounted weapon assume no structure/Pal/player is blocking its line of fire.

*The mounted weapon efficiency at this stage of the game is so low you might as well just defend the whole base yourself with your own weapon of choice... Don't bother building the crossbow mount, they are not worth it (Low damage, slow firing rate). Machine gun is somewhat usable, but are you willing to sacrifice a Pal spot in the base for it?

[MasterZoen]

Originally posted by Field Emergent Rescue:

So after some testings... Like everyone here mentioned.
- Better position your mounted weapon on the ground floor (as low as possible). Certain height would mess up its firing range/angle. Also make sure your weapon is pointed at the entry of your base where the enemy comes in during a raid. The mounted weapons are not 360'C.
- Need to manually assign a Pal to that defensive position (Crossbow or Machine gun) which means they are permanently manning those weapons and won't do other work. (Even bell won't change their status)
- Put a chest nearby with correspondent ammo. (Arrow for crossbow mount/Rifle round for machine gun)
- During the raid, your Pal won't fire the mounted weapon until the enemy is fully "inside" your Pal box blue radius.
- Your Pal will start firing those mounted weapon assume no structure/Pal/player is blocking its line of fire.

*The mounted weapon efficiency at this stage of the game is so low you might as well just defend the whole base yourself with your own weapon of choice... Don't bother building the crossbow mount, they are not worth it (Low damage, slow firing rate). Machine gun is somewhat usable, but are you willing to sacrifice a Pal spot in the base for it?

Well, this is annoying. I've built my first base in a place with lots of ruined stairs.