why can't I shoot my crossbow?

[Jon.Topps]

Just started playing this, I'm doing the opening mission where you save the merchants son. I have a crossbow and a 1h sword. I shot my crossbow during the initial attack on the 4 robbers, but now that I'm attacking their camp I can't shoot it anymore. I have bolts still, but under the number of bolts there's a red zero. Why can't I shoot my crossbow, and what do I have to do to get the ability to shoot it back?
Thanks for the help, I know this is probably a really dumb question.

[Miiiiiiiiiiiiike]

You probably dont have any bolts.

You either dropped them, or need to re-equip them from your inventory onto your characters weapon slots.

[DANG DIRTY TROLLS!]

god your such a casual but I commend u for trying to get out of your casualness. as for the bolts you either de-equiped them, shot them all out, or dropped them

[HuNgRyHiPpO]

This is what true innocence looks like

[El Diablo]

u just need to buy more

[Jon.Topps]

As I mentioned, I still had bolts. About 40 or so. This is proven to be true considering the next mission (fighting in the town) I was able to shoot again, even though I did not collect more bolts.
Additionally, I would find it incredibly surprising if anyone who's gotten through the intro would think you could actually shoot all of the bolts you're given in the first battle against only 4 people.

Just glad no one's saying "yeah that's a common problem", which would mean it's something buggy in the game.
Probably just a fluke bug.

[ForevaNoob Wonemorturn]

Some crossbow don't work on horse, not the one you first get with a fresh character though. Did you buy a horse after the merchant? Bolts have to be in the slot, not the inventory...

[Jon.Topps]

That's good to know that not all crossbows work while mounted, but no, I actually didn't change anything between the first and second battles of the intro. I killed the group of 4, then went to the bandit camp, and saw that I had bolts equipped, and yet the crossbow wouldn't reload. There was an active number of bolts under my crossbow, but a tiny little red 0 under the number of bolts. Why would there be two numbers under the crossbow?
Either way, pretty sure it was just a one time problem, considering it worked in the next battle, without changing anything.

[IamKnight]

did you not have enough str. to use the crossbow and then leveled up str? just throwing a random thing that might be true cause I'm bored.

[General Sherman]

What do you mean by "active number of Bolts"?. There shouldn't be two numbers. The only number that matters is the one in bottom right of screen overlaying the bolt/arrow icon. There shouldn't be a number near your crosshair at all.

[Thaiden]

^ yes, just make sure you have bolts equipped in one of your four equipment slots and you're good to go, you get x amount of bolts per battle (says amount on item)

[the smoking mค็็็็็n]

maybe just an isolated bug
if it stops happening all good
if not you might want to try starting a new game before you get to far

[Jugi]

u need to reload crossbow. stand still and press left mouse button

[BlueManX]

There are a few reasons you wouldn't be able to fire.
1. You don't have bolts equipped.
2. You have fired once and the red dot next to the number of bolts means you haven't reloaded.(click fire and wait)
3. You have a crossbow that can't be reloaded on horseback.

[stevebob]

Another thing, is if you get bumped or someone starts hacking away at you, you will not be able to reload. But from what you say I think it was a one time glich.

[Killroy]

,,,,,,Reload.