Crossbows or Bows?

[Shelt]

Which do you prefer? Since getting the DLCs, I'm loving the Xbows. They're the best thing since whoopidedodaday. I keep trying to 'draw' them like a bow with the other button because I've used bows so long, and wind up making a bunch of noise and giving my location away though.

YAY go me, I actually did some research

Advantages of Crossbows~~~~~~~~~>

Walking speed is not affected while the crossbow is readied.

Crossbows fire projectiles at a higher velocity than most bows, making them better for hitting moving targets.

Ammunition varieties also include exploding bolts in each of the 3 elements.

Crossbows are more powerful than most bows, with the regular crossbow having the same base damage as a Daedric Bow.

Crossbows have a built-in 50% chance to stagger opponents. If combined with the Power Shot Perk, it will stagger 75% of the time.

The Enhanced variety ignores 50% of enemy armor.

Disadvantages of Crossbows~~~~~~~~~>

Crossbows are loud, and can alert enemies at close range, making close-up assassinations difficult if surrounded.

Crossbows reload slower than most bows (even though game-data, speed of 1, suggests crossbows are faster, the reload speed uses different formulae).

The Dragonborn is vulnerable to melee attack for a few seconds during reload, since it cannot be cancelled and it's impossible to run.

Crossbows have a shorter default arc range than a standard bow (can be fixed by simply aiming higher).

There are only four types of crossbows to choose from; the Crossbow, the Enhanced Crossbow, the Dwarven Crossbow, and the Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow.

Bolts can only be purchased from Fort Dawnguard or picked up from dead Dawnguard members (or, in the case of Dwarven bolts, collected from a dead Dwarven Sphere or purchased or forged during or after the Ancient Technology quest), whereas arrows are available in shops everywhere.

Forging bolts are also available only if the Dragonborn is a member of the Dawnguard.
Bolts are crafted in groups of 10 while crafting arrows produces 24 at a time.

Fired bolts are less likely to be retrievable than arrows, even with the Hunter's Discipline perk.
Unenchanted Bolts deal less damage than higher tier arrows (Dwarven Bolts deal 14, Steel Bolts 10, Vs 24 and 25 damage for Daedric and Dragonbone Arrows respectively) offsetting the damage bonus of the crossbows themselves. This can be negated by using exploding bolts, but those are harder to acquire and craft than regular bolts, and don't benefit from sneak attack multipliers, meaning a higher-quality bows and arrows will far outperform any crossbows for sneak attacks except in the case of highly armored enemies where the enhanced crossbow's armor bypass may tip the scale.

If the Dragonborn joins the Volkihar Vampires, they will get basic ammunition much more rarely, only being able to collect them from fallen Dawnguard members, or even rarer, when fired at.

[jconan7777777]

i do both but i like the speed of the bows better

[Shelt]

Crossbows make a lot of racket when they fire. I wonder if the noise is audible to enemies moreso than regular bows. I mean I can still sneak and shoot with it, but I find myself relocating more often after the initial shot because the stealth meter seems more active.

[Trigger]

Check out-- Van Helsing crossbow, also a mod called Torch Arrows, they have torch bolts too

[Grathagis]

i play elves, so bows are the way to go. crossbows are for dwarves

[Vita, Mortis, Careo]

Depends on the character. If I am playing a ranger-type then it is a conventional bow. I once plaed a Dr. van Helsing-esque witchhunter and for him it was crossbow all the way. If in-game crossbows took as much time and effort to reload as real life crossbows it would be conventional bows all the way, but the reload time is only slightly longer.

[Shelt]

Here is an auto xbow on nexus

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/28555/?

[Breejuh]

Normal just feels better. Idk :3

[Eberhart]

Normal bows all day everyday :)

[Zefram Cochrane]

Personally bows, buts only because they reload faster. A crossbow is handy in a tight spot sometimes.

[Cord2k]

i like the bows ;)

[Alucard †]

Originally posted by Shelt:

Crossbows are loud, and can alert enemies at close range, making close-up assassinations difficult if surrounded.

Is this really the case?
Cause i never noticed a difference.
Either bow or crossbow seem to slightly alert enemies when shot near them or at them while sneaking.

EDIT: Actually i just checked in TESedit out of curiosity all the crossbows from Dawnguard dlc have their Detection Sound marked as "Silent" same as bows.

Guess i answered my own question.

[shoopy]

I only really use archery to train sneak and use shoot and leave tactics and to lure enemies, so I pretty much always use bows because I don't want to be caught reloading. I need the mobility after I shoot, not before.

[kyberion]

if anyone is still playing this in 2019+ on the Special Edition there is a lot of mis-information or outdated information above:
1) crossbows are as silent as regular bows
2) crossbows reload as fast as regular bows
3) crossbows also benefit from sneaking multiplier.
4) crossbows are easier to use as you aim and release to fire compared to aim, draw and release.

I see really no downsides to using crossbows especially highly upgraded ones that are really one-shot one-kill weapons.

In fact, it can be used to create a really OP silent sniper that can clear any dungeon in minutes on Master difficulty. Here is how:
- select Breton for the 25% magicka protection
- power-level alchemy, smithing and enchanting (there are plenty of guides how)
- get Faeldon as companion (he's actually the first available companion you encounter) and train Archery with him
- train Light Armor with Grelka in Riften and pay her with crafted potions or armor until you can get the matched armor perk.
- for sneaking either find a trainer or simply clear a few low level caves with some
- invest everything in health when you level up, you won't be needing magicka or stamina.
- once you're maxed out on all crafting skills you're able to craft some really insane light armor using dragon scales. 1000+ armor level with 60% protection against all elemental and magical attacks + 200% archery and sneaking skills.
- your bow should make 500 damage + whatever enchants.
- sneaking should give you 3x damage and at over 60 you're as good as invisible.
- if you also get one of the enhanced crossbows you can down everything with one shot, including giants.

[Alucard †]

Originally posted by kyberion:

if anyone is still playing this in 2019+ on the Special Edition there is a lot of mis-information or outdated information above:
1) crossbows are as silent as regular bows
2) crossbows reload as fast as regular bows
3) crossbows also benefit from sneaking multiplier.
4) crossbows are easier to use as you aim and release to fire compared to aim, draw and release.

I see really no downsides to using crossbows especially highly upgraded ones that are really one-shot one-kill weapons.

In fact, it can be used to create a really OP silent sniper that can clear any dungeon in minutes on Master difficulty. Here is how:
- select Breton for the 25% magicka protection
- power-level alchemy, smithing and enchanting (there are plenty of guides how)
- get Faeldon as companion (he's actually the first available companion you encounter) and train Archery with him
- train Light Armor with Grelka in Riften and pay her with crafted potions or armor until you can get the matched armor perk.
- for sneaking either find a trainer or simply clear a few low level caves with some
- invest everything in health when you level up, you won't be needing magicka or stamina.
- once you're maxed out on all crafting skills you're able to craft some really insane light armor using dragon scales. 1000+ armor level with 60% protection against all elemental and magical attacks + 200% archery and sneaking skills.
- your bow should make 500 damage + whatever enchants.
- sneaking should give you 3x damage and at over 60 you're as good as invisible.
- if you also get one of the enhanced crossbows you can down everything with one shot, including giants.

Your Conjuration skill level has increased.