@SMZ & Kobal2fr: First I never said the Longbow wasn't overated. just to say that the crossbow was supiriour just dosen't add up to me.

First the Crossbow does carry les well over range, it's somthing i got from a discussion about modern 7.76mm rounds vs 5.56mm rounds. They both have the same momentum (and thus impact power), but the Light weight, high velocity 5.56mm round losses momentum over distance FASTER than he low velocity high mass 7.76mm round.

Crossbows are low mass high speed, whilst Longbows are high mass low speed weapons. In addittion gravity drop of the quarral will force you to fire it in an arc at greater ranges. Couple that with the aiming issues one of you mentioned and a crossbow really shouldn't be able to shoot to longbow ranges with any accurracy or power, even if you do take into account the higher velocity of the quarral, and it's greater overall launch power.

As to the Composite bows. My comments where based on a documentry i saw about Mongal (the big eastern faction that was enountered by the west). these used composite bows made of wood, animal bone, and animal sinew if i remeber the documentry right. they also combined this with the bow being bent a funny shape, (hard to describe and i don't know the proper name).

Also, as noted the fire rate and general better training of the longbowmen would make the supiriour to all crossbowmen anyway. I just don't belive a crossbow could match the range of a Longbow, whilst still having a useful accurracy and penetrating power.