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[sonerohi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf97Fn11_Lc

This my friends, is what our dwarves use as a crossbow. If you don't want to watch the guy make it, just skip up to about 8:50. This guy makes a chinese repeating crossbow, and launches about a bolt a second with this thing. With wooden bolts he can punch through drywall, with the sharp tip and steel bolts from Dwarf Fortress, imagine the pain that could be done. If this doesn't inspire you to make your own ( like I'm doing soon) then you might as well shave bald, take a bath, and go join the elves. Discuss the epic presented to us here today.

[Muz]

Now that is a dwarfy crossbow. I doubt that thing could penetrate the heart, lungs, and brain at the same time, though

[Duke 2.0]

 At a close range, with somebody skilled in usage and proper ammo/string, it sure could. The Chinese Repeating Crossbow was made for close-range walls of bolts, which would be useful in taking down unarmored targets. Considering armor only really advanced particularly far in the West, it was perfect.

[JoshuaFH]

So the chinese invented gunpowder, guns, cannons, steam-powered engines, bitchin' repeating crossbows, and who knows what else, but they didn't have awesome armor?!

Also, Why the HELL do I not see these things inside of the Dynasty Warriors games? So i can get my ass kicked by Lu Bu, but i can't get my ass kicked by bitchin' repeating crossbows? Damn you Koei!

[Kanil]

Now that is a dwarfy crossbow. I doubt that thing could penetrate the heart, lungs, and brain at the same time, though

Duke, I've highlighted a portion of his post I believe you missed...

[Duke 2.0]

Now that is a dwarfy crossbow. I doubt that thing could penetrate the heart, lungs, and brain at the same time, though

Duke, I've highlighted a portion of his post I believe you missed...

I didn't miss it.
 

[beorn080]

They never invented armor because of a distinct lack of metal. What they used was very effective considering I believe they made it out of bamboo, and technically it was more advanced then European armor, just not as effective due to the material.

[Astus Ater]

Duke, I've highlighted a portion of his post I believe you missed...

You never did say "from the same bolt", did you?

[Marlowe]

So the chinese invented gunpowder, guns, cannons, steam-powered engines, bitchin' repeating crossbows, and who knows what else, but they didn't have awesome armor?!

Also, Why the HELL do I not see these things inside of the Dynasty Warriors games? So i can get my ass kicked by Lu Bu, but i can't get my ass kicked by bitchin' repeating crossbows? Damn you Koei!

Well, GUNPOWDER's pushing it a little. Firework powder yes.  Firearms started appearing in large numbers in China only a short time before they did in the west, and the west got better at making guns sufficiently quickly that by the 16th century most of the best small arms used were imported european models (and for the most part, it wasn't the Chinese that had them. Japanese sure did though).

[jester]

These things are interesting but inaccurate as hell, you cant actually aim the thing because you have to hold it at hip height to fire it properly,  they were basically a peasant weapon, whip up a few hundred and hand em out to the farmers when the neighbors get rowdy.  Duke is right, they were only really meant for spraying alot of unarmored targets.  I have read a few places that the romans had repeating ballistas at the height of their empire that could rapid fire spear sized bolts but I havent been able to find any footage.

[sonerohi]

Yah, I saw some documents about the repeating ballista while I did research on this. Just think of an defense force of 5 or so repeating ballista, a group of 10 guys with woomers or atlatls and a large supply of darts, and a force of 20 repeating-crossbow users. They would fall under the sheer amount of bolts and darts that would be sent out. Armor could only hold up for so long.

[Muz]

You guys just love making up stuff Some of you.

[Eagle]

These things are interesting but inaccurate as hell, you cant actually aim the thing because you have to hold it at hip height to fire it properly,  they were basically a peasant weapon, whip up a few hundred and hand em out to the farmers when the neighbors get rowdy.  Duke is right, they were only really meant for spraying alot of unarmored targets.  I have read a few places that the romans had repeating ballistas at the height of their empire that could rapid fire spear sized bolts but I havent been able to find any footage.

Yep, they weren't made to fire accurately; they were also used to defend wall, where you could just rest the front of the crossbow on a ledge/windowsill/etc.

On a similar note, anyone seen the movie Hero? They have one scene where a bunch of archers lay down and start raining arrows, using their legs to brace the bow; since legs are stronger than arms, this gives them long range and huge power. Go watch it.

[Marlowe]

When you think about it, it's a weapon designed to kill the poor and leave the rich (-guys with armour and shields) standing. How politically suspect.

[ductape]

I have read a few places that the romans had repeating ballistas at the height of their empire that could rapid fire spear sized bolts but I havent been able to find any footage.

I dont think they had camcorders back then, but I could be wrong.