In all the games I’ve played (one exception being Half-Life, but that’s different) I really don’t like using crossbows and avoid doing so at all costs. I don’t really know why that is, but to me they don’t seem to fit the setting of games like Elder Scrolls or Gothic. I love using regular bows, however. Maybe crossbows feel too modern for me? I don’t really know anything about medieval weapons or when they were invented.
What about you? How do you feel about crossbows in these types of games or do you have a similar weird thing you just don’t like and refuse to do in video games?
My mind also raced to Age of Empires 2. I love crossbows and arbalester, especially the Britons. Just a big ball of units sending a clear message across the map: stay away!
I really didn’t like that crossbows were a direct upgrade to the archer unit line. At least Britons still had the longbowmen.
I much prefere the AoE4 aproach where archers and crowsbowmen are different unit lines.
It seems to be historically accurate at least: Wiki:
“The crossbow superseded hand bows in many European armies during the 12th century, except in England, where the longbow was more popular”
That said, I can understand your point. Aoe is not (and doesn’t need to be) historically accurate. How is it integrated in AoE4?
They are two independent units.
Archers are availible earlier, cheaper and do bonus damage to light infantry while the crossbowmen do more damage to heavy units.