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Author Topic: How do dwarven crossbows work?  (Read 3668 times)

Henny

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Re: How do dwarven crossbows work?
« Reply #15 on: August 26, 2014, 07:38:18 am »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxtHtPK2MH8

skip to about 1:20
And then just use your imagination for a similar mechanism using bolts instead of slingshot balls
I now imagine a dwarf speaking in a calm German accent while filling a goblin test subject with bolts. "That was fun."
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Grey langurs came over to steal something, only to be overcome by terror when they realized that they were stealing +grey langur bone gauntlets+.

ICBM pilot

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Re: How do dwarven crossbows work?
« Reply #16 on: August 29, 2014, 04:09:27 pm »

Dwarven crossbows function as small-clip 30mm autocannons.  No, I'm not kidding, I ran the math.
Until .40.05 wood and bone bolts were fired at speeds approaching a high-powered hunting rifle.
What speed are they fired at now?
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On the plus side, they managed to kill off 20+ children

PerfectDeath

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Re: How do dwarven crossbows work?
« Reply #17 on: August 31, 2014, 11:09:09 am »

Considering the mechanical energy output of screw pumps results in a surplus of energy it would be possible for the mechanical firing of the crossbow to result in enough surplus energy that it powers the re-draw of the bow automatically.
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BoredVirulence

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Re: How do dwarven crossbows work?
« Reply #18 on: August 31, 2014, 05:09:04 pm »

Considering the mechanical energy output of screw pumps results in a surplus of energy it would be possible for the mechanical firing of the crossbow to result in enough surplus energy that it powers the re-draw of the bow automatically.
I can see it now, there is a spring connected to the string and the stock of the crossbow. The crossbow string extends the spring so far forward that the string has enough energy to draw it back. Conservation of energy? Not in dwarf fortress! And this actually could be the solution! I assumed they used a hand cranked variant of the repeating crossbow, but it has to be this...
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