Archers not firing.

[Dank Matter]

Why aren't my archers not firing and my crossbowmen do? Bows are longer range then crossbows in real life....

[Bumbleton]

Depends on the bow. A mere hunting-bow won't match the range of even a light crossbow. Fianns and Vlandian sharpshooters tend to start firing before lesser units because their gear simply has greater range.

[Morkonan]

Archers will try to avoid Friendly Fire situations, so make sure they're far enough away so friendly units aren't between them and the enemy. And, if crossbows are in the same spot and still firing... then, "Taleworlds."

Make sure they still have ammo, too. Especially if they're Imperials. (Only one quiver)

[Dank Matter]

I have Vlandian crossbowmen, scattered in loose formation, with no infantry blocking them. Finians take longer to fire before the crossbowmen do.

[Admod, the Equivocal]

Are they at the same tier level?

[Dank Matter]

Originally posted by Admod, the Equivocal:

Are they at the same tier level?

Yes. Finian Champions and Vlandian Sharpshooters are same tier I think. But Longbow beats crossbow in range by far. It's an issue that's been persisting for quite some time.

[Asphe]

Fian Champions are elite and 1 tier above Sharpshooters, no? Stats-wise though, FC bow/arrow aren't that much better though.

As for "real-life" realism... longbow practice ranges a few centuries ago had targets 220 yards distant. Max range of around 400 but accuracy is... you'd win prizes for hitting anything at 300.

Crossbows though... could HIT men (especially on horsies) 400 yards away. Comparable to some rifles today with intermediate cartridges.

TLDR, crossbows tended to far out-range bows in terms of ACCURATE fire. Absolute max ranges were comparable. The x-bows in the game are ♥♥♥♥♥♥ by just pulling on them. There are x-bows that need to be cranked (like a draw-weight of around 500lb) that have longer ranges but aren't in the game [someone go mod a cranked/windlass x-bow with a rate of fire of around 2-3 shots per minute, these things could knock a horse out from under a rider ^_^].

So when you did have a mixed group of bows and crossbows... you'd have your 'expert' x-bows shoot first, then expert bowmen, then .../etc (and nowhere, nowhen did you have some dude telling bowmen to knock, aim and loose. That's only in movies/TV). Not in the game, it's all x-bows regardless of troop quality, then all bows...

In the game the range at which the NPCs 'engage' is in the code. It's arbitrary. You can try testing this with your companions, using different bows. Better bows / better arrows should have then start shooting earlier, no? Naah... just affects damage & accuracy.

Maybe someone should mod it in? Higher troop quality already gives you better accuracy. Better gear gives better damage, or the orders menu could have troops fire at max range with an accuracy / damage penalty.

[Mr. No]

Maybe you accidentally pushed F4 in battle.. (which is "Hold Fire") :))

[Dank Matter]

Originally posted by Mr. No:

Maybe you accidentally pushed F4 in battle.. (which is "Hold Fire") :))

No.

[Chaotic Entropy]

Imperial archers and trained archers seem to have the same firing range as thrown weapons... also the "trained" archers seem to have shorter range than previous tier.