modding longbow unit

[vixtro]

hi guys i'm new here but i already have some basic understanding of modding mtw but now i'm stuck on trying to find something.

i have modded the english longbow unit by making thier projectiles stronger and more accurate but i'm trying to find out how to make them shoot like normal in bad weather. i dont want to make them any stronger cuz then they will be too good in normal weather :P

can anyone help please?

[vixtro]

is anyone going to help please?

[edyzmedieval]

Well, improve their accuracy.

As for the bad weather, I haven't figured it out.

[CBR]

I think the effect from bad weather is hardcoded so bows will always lose a bit when its raining.


CBR

[EatYerGreens]

I'm not 100% certain about this but I think bows were strung with either animal sinews or what we now call 'cat-gut' (as in violin strings) which is actually sheep's intestines, specially processed (like tanning leather, which involves some disgusting ingredients) to make them tough and stop them rotting.

In rain, this absorbs water and loses a considerable amount of tension, meaning the maximum draw weight of the bow is much reduced and this affects their maximum firing range. I think this is what the 'shoot poorly in bad weather' refers to and I would guess that it's a percentage reduction in range, accuracy or both, according to how heavily it is raining, as well as whether it's 'rain all day' (fully soaked strings at the start of the battle) or just occasional showers (minimal effect on the strings and range but the weapon is temporarily slippery to handle and accuracy is reduced).

Although archers would practice by firing at targets, I think you will find that this was only possible at 200 yards or less. A range of 600 yards (548m) was achievable but factors like wind-drift are near-impossible to compensate for at that distance. They are not sniper-rifles and, at best, work by firing volleys at an 'area target'. Some arrows will hit home but this is more by luck than judgement. Rate of fire (10+ per minute typical?) was far more important, in maximising the 'luck' factor. With six seconds per shot, most of the time goes on picking the arrow from the quiver, loading it and drawing the bow. A second, or less than that, to aim and loose the shot doesn't allow for much accuracy.

As you've discovered, tweaking factors to make them more to your liking in rainy conditions makes them far too powerful when it's dry. Personally, I would have left the original game settings alone, since they've been thouroughly tested already.

Rather than being totally dependent on Longbows for securing every victory, why not try changing the mix of your armies so that they can win, whatever the weather conditions are like but, in fine weather the LBs just make life that bit easier?

If I was faced with an archer-heavy army, I would *choose* to fight in heavy rain, with reduced visibility, to sneak up on the enemy, minimise the effectiveness of their missile fire (can't shoot what you can't see) and simply put up with the fact that my own archers will be similarly restricted in usefulness.