Alright, props -- that's the first time somebody integrated an ad well enough into the video that I didn't feel the desire to skip it. I'm not even mad; if I could still run, I'd be downloading that app right now.
Plus the app is actually really nice ! I hadn't heard of it in years, but it's fun to use, lets you set your own goals, and doesn't require you to pay for much iirc. I don't mind seeing it here !
You don't need to be Brazilian to enjoy the berimbau. (Greetings from Spain. My Capoeria apelido is Matrix). (And I'm in utter terror of, were Blumineck to do Capoeira, what his apelido might be...)
@@notfeedynotlazyyou do capoeria, thats awesome i myself am a kick boxer, i have been noticing that people practicing martial arts is seemingly on the rise i keep seeing dojos pop up everywhere which really fills me with joy.
What's interesting about the berimbau being alin to a bow and arrow is that it is intrinsically associated with capoeira. One does not exist without the other. And Capoeira was intended to be a martial art disguised as a dance. To allow slaves to train fighting without being found out and punished. Fitting that the berimbau is a weapon disguised as an instrument.
@@alexandredesouza3692 I mean, "more instances of it happening" which I guess *could* end in "try to overthrow the government" but that seems like that would end poorly.
I was going to complain about the unusable nature of bladed bows but after seeing how accurate and objective you were about their shortcomings i realized this wasnt going to be a shitty clickbait video and ended up watching the whole thing… you earned a new sub
That's his whole shtick really. 'Can it be done?', 'Is it effective?' and 'Is it fun anyway?' are the questions he's always asking with these little videos lol
Another option where shooting two arrows might be advantageous: you have a very heavy bow (say a 200 pound draw weight) but your only option is to shoot arrows that are designed for half that draw weight (you ran out of arrows, haven't ditched your bow for your sidearm, and you happen to come across somebody else's quiver of lighter arrows designed for a 100 pound bow). Since these are lighter and weaker, they might actually break with the force your heavy bow is trying to put into them. Shooting two arrows would allow you to still shoot, in this very unlikely scenario.
It might help! It's a niche scenario but it could come up. But also once you get above a certain bow weight, the arrows tend to be relatively interchangeable- in the 100 years' war for example, everyone used the same arrows regardless of their bow - you just shot what you could get!
@@blumineck Maybe I am talking out my ass here, but wouldn't that be because their bows are proportionally closer to each other so an "average" arrow has more or less the same performance? Say, the difference between 200 pound bow and a 160 one is 40 pounds, but that is just 20% weaker, where the difference between an 80 pound and a 40 pound bow is still 40 pounds, but that is half as weak.
@@louisvictor3473 I would think that this is more a logistic supply problem. You need plenty of arrows, and you need them now, especially as an invasive army on campaign. So you would probably shoot heavier arrows. Not because they didn't have the knowledge about the perfect arrow, but because they might not have spruce or pine and replace it with heavier wood like walnut tree or chestnut
@Blumineck The hazuyari actually isn't the only weapon where it was done. The elites of the Sioux indians also had 2 versions of what they call a ghost lance bow. The first version looks a lot like a western version of a hazuyari, but second had a spike attached at a different angle functioning more like warpick.
Ayep. It only has two notes, high and low, but that's exactly as many notes as a drum has, and we all know how much a good drummer can sound and how much energy it can transmit. The berimbau is the same. The energy a good berimbau gives to a _roda_ (the circle) is simply amazing.
@@notfeedynotlazy the berimbau can actually make up to 5 notes. Some of those are made by combining two different notes at the same time. Just like some kinds of drums, as you pointed.
The curve shot is unreal, at first when you shot wobbly I thought 'that'll never look good, but your last shots were crazy. Amazingly made, loved your explanations
That's the interesting thing about horse archery, a horse is not only a means of fast transportation, but it's also much better at melee fighting than the average person. I was going to suggest in the first bit that the real good way to have a backup melee option as an archer was to get real good at kicking, but honestly a mediocre horse is better at kicking than you will ever be.
Love how you take some time to breathe or think. We sometimes get tired of perfect speakers in a mashed up video. Gives perception the speaker is more like a person and less like a product for the evil algorithm
As a guy who likes guns, the shotgun analogy is perfect. Same as with a shotgun blasting multiple pellets, the energy between all of them is reduced compared to a single slug. 00 buckshot is basically sending 8 9mm pistol rounds at once while a slug is like a cannon ball. Same thing also with multiple targets. As far as as rate of fire too, a rifle would be much faster to shoot one at a time accurately. Great video!
shooting multiple arrows is only superficially similar to a shotgun though. the important thing is to differentiate between energy and momentum. -energy is equal to mass times velocity squared -momentum is mass times velocity -energy equals range and penetration -momentum equals accuracy and stopping power shooting two arrows cuts their velocity in half. this equates to quartering their energy so you're loosing a LOT of penetration, while their momentum is only cut in half and actually remains the same if both hit, meaning you still have plenty of stopping power. in a shotgun however (lets just assume it's somehow only two projectiles because it makes the maths easier) the two projectiles are not the same mass as a single slug would be, so if you're shooting two projectiles, you can make each half the mass of the slug and now you can shoot two projectiles while maintaining full velocity, meaning you're only loosing half the energy (instead of three quarters you loose with the arrows) and your momentum is still only halved because there is no squaring in that equation. issue is you can't really make arrows lighter, they need to be a certain length for the bow to function right and they need to have the right amount of flex and strength so messing with the diameter isn't going to work either, lightening the tip messes with the balance and so on. now the maths isn't going to perfectly reflect reality because of stuff like friction and air resistance but this should tell you why a shotgun makes sense whereas shooting multiple arrows really doesn't
@@windhelmguard5295"now the maths isn't going to perfectly reflect reality because of stuff like friction and air resistance but this should tell you why a shotgun makes sense whereas shooting multiple arrows really doesn't" Against armored targets, a shotgun *doesn't* make sense. Even slugs aren't great with penetration against modern body armor. Though, it's correct in that it's more like if you were to load multiple slugs into a shotgun.
@@basedeltazero714 that hugely depends on the slug that is used, while most shotgun slugs are designed for hunting medium to large game, there are shotgun slugs that are specifically designed to penetrate armour and honestly most body armour probably wouldn't prevent serious injury even if the slug doesn't penetrate.
I think that the "DEX is the archery stat" being common is probably at least as much for the fine motor control of aiming accurately as it is for the acrobatics of shield surfing.
Yea, espeacially if you consider that those where seperate stats in some older RPGs (dex and agility) and often only affects precision and not the basedamage.
@@michaeledmunds7056 I guess in 5e terms, a longbow would have it's attack roll modifier be based on DEX, since you need to aim the shot to hit them, and have it's damage modifier be based on STR, since the amount of power you put in is proportional to what is delivered on impact. I suppose you could put a strength requirement on them too, make it like Heavy weapons and have attacks be at disadvantage when you don't meet the requirement.
@@branhan215124 That's exactly how it worked in 3rd edition D&D: Bows used DEX for attack rolls but damage was based on STR. (Crossbows did a bit more base damage (1d10 for a heavy crossbow vs 1d8 for a longbow), but couldn't add STR.) Technically, bows were actually a little more complicated: Every bow had a 'Strength Rating' which determined the maximum damage bonus. If your strength was equal to or higher than the bow's strength rating, it did that much additional damage. (So if you were an 22 STR fighter wielding a longbow with a Strength Rating of 16, it would do 1d8+3 damage.) However, if your strength was lower than the bow's strength rating, you took a penalty to attack rolls equal to the difference in strength, up to -4, in addition to a lower damage. (So if the 13 STR rogue picked up that longbow, they'd take a -3 penalty to attack rolls and deal 1d8+1 damage. The 8 STR wizard would take a full -4 penalty to attack rolls and deal 1d8-1 damage. This is on top of any proficiency penalty they might have (and indeed Rogues and Wizards are not proficient with bows by default). ... Thrown weapons also worked similarly, in that they used DEX to hit and STR for damage, though there was a feat to allow you to apply your strength to the attack roll instead. Slings also worked using the same system of DEX to hit, STR for damage, and were a simple weapon (unlike bows) capable of multi-attacking (unlike crossbows). It also had a range increment of 50', which wasn't great but was better than most thrown weapons. They did base 1d4 damage for some incomprehensible reason, weren't served by many feats, and were generally slept on (for some reason the Pathfinder designers especially hated them?), but if you were a barbarian you could theoretically be doing 1d4+6 damage, which, y'know, wasn't 1d12+9, but if you can't reach the enemy it's nothing to scoff at. They were also a Monk Weapon so you could flurry of blows which was neat (less neat was everything about the 3.X Monk).
@@branhan215124 Most realistically, DEX (or its equivalent) should probably be used for the accuracy rolls of all physical attacks period, with strength determining the damage it dealt.
Fun fact about the body of the berimbau- historically, it was made of biriba wood, which was specifically chosen for its flexibility (I'm told it was considered the "bamboo" of the amazon), which would make it great as an actual bow. Modern berimbaus however are (usually) not made of this type of wood, because due to deforestation it has become an endangered species
The musical bows trope reminds me of Sir Tristian in the Fate series. His bow works by magic as you might assume, but it functions more like a harp that can fire sonic projectiles than a bow that can make music. As a result, he can actually attack with only one arm. Somehow, he's got the best of both worlds, where it simultaneously works as an instrument and a weapon.
I think you could design a "somewhat functional" crossbow harp. If you take a reverse draw and have harp limbs below that so if you where to look from above it looks like a cross with a bunch of extra crossbeams. Now that I think about it if we are going separate limbs and we put that sort of on a forked limb. 1 that moves like with any bow and 1 that remains static for the harp playing stuff. If the harp strings are close enough the feathers from the arrow might even be able to sort of strung the harp, though I don't know if you'll stay accurate with that.
It does help that since archery has been around for so long, mankind has had plenty of time to get creative with it. Compared to a lot of other skills, it's had more time to develop and adapt to different situations. We can see the same thing with melee weapons as well, with them generally answering the same question of "how do I make the enemy less alive", but creating a variety of fighting styles and weapons to adapt to different situations. It's just that with melee weaponry, it's much easier to see the differences at a glance with an untrained eye, while bows tend to be more subtle in their differences when it comes to both style and design.
Interesting to note on the music archery connection: The mythological origin of the Yamatogoto instrument comes from the tale of Amaterasu and the Cave. The party goddess Ame-no-Uzume needed music to dance to to draw out Amaterasu from the cave, so six hunters brought their bows and used them to play a melody for everyone to party to. When Amaterasu came out of the cave one of the celebrations was the act of taking the six strings and weaving them into the first ever Yamatogoto
I really love when you make videos with so much research. I love to see the history and science behind modern/historical tropes. It brings things back down from fantasy to something (somehow) grounded in reality. Lastly, it's always great to see you enjoy yourself! Keep up the great work! :D
This is exactly the style of archery I got into several years ago when first coming across Lars Andersen, I’d always been into archery but the more mobile and fantastical trick-shooting with a lighter bow that Lars mastered is what really captivated me. I’d spend hours day after day in my garden practicing all sorts of ridiculous shots incorporating rolls, somersaults, catching arrows I’d shot in the air, jumping, multiple arrows, curving shots, etc. It was an absolute blast and was so much more fun and interesting than static target shooting. One of the things I picked up during this is that you can actually curve the flight path of arrows quite substantially just by twisting the bow string as you pull it back. Bending it at the nocking point using your knuckles adds significant wobble to the arrow as it releases in the same way that moving the nocking point above or below the centre does, without compromising much on the power because you can still get to full draw this way.
I have a coment on the 2 arrow thjing: Yes, the arrows are slower, less powerfull and less acurate than a single arrow. BUT: If you are in a situation, where you have basically a sniper position, and time to aim, and know, you have to be on the run the moment you are discoverd, AND you have multiple targets that you want to hit: Shooting 2 arrows may be viable. It may be even more viable if combined with poison tipped arrpws, because then you don't have to rely on perfect acuracy and the full power of the bow. Again not a battlefield tactic, but in poltical fantsy scenario, this may still be ones best option
@@TheAzureGhosttrue, but that would also be more noticeable with both light and sound marking the attack. The poisoned arrows could be very subtle, perhaps even undetectable by anyone but the targets.
@@emilyrln Unless you managed to create a poison that kills or incapacitates within a second or so, an alarm would be raised anyhow. Explosives might actually be more advantageous regardless, for their shock factor. In any case, you'd have to be really sure of yourself to attempt that shot. Unless you're sure you can take both targets out instantly, you're probably still better off shooting the first and then taking care of the second as that one is still processing what just happened.
I have to wonder if, designed properly so as not to interfere with the firing of the bow, a better solution to the bladed bow concept might be something more akin to a punching dagger integrated into the middle/handle area of the bow. It certainly wouldn't have the range of the bow/spear concept, but I feel like that placement might be less likely to damage the bow since more of the force of striking with it could be absorbed by your hand and arm, in addition to possibly being less detrimental to the firing of the bow by keeping the added weight in the center rather than at the ends where the bending happens. I could be completely wrong about all of this, I'm no expert, and I'm not sure it'd be much more effective than just using an arrow as an improvised dagger, but it's a thought. If nothing else, it'd probably be another fun fantasy weapon concept.
Reminds me of some fantasy bow i saw somewhere in the past which had a blade in firing direction above and below the grip and some round cover over the hands as protection. Can't remember where i saw that, but i think it was some videogame RPG.
You're right. Physically that makes sense. It would be impractical and expose the bow to damage from blocking incoming strikes, but then again, knives and daggers historically have often been weapons of last resort anyway. Other approaches would be adding brass knuckles or spikes to the glove you hold your bow with, or getting proficient with using arrows as melee weapons.
While the 69k is a NICE joke, its likely not real out of the 3 actually worthwhile analytical studies, the main Lombard one only managed to actually prove that the chipped stones had fractures as fitting to someone pushing on the top/edge side with the opposite end down into something, but lack any trace evidence of flexible wood (you know as would be needed for archery, be it on its own or with either sinew or wound plant strings) compared to explanations given and reproduced that show it could have as easily been from use as a peeling razors of animal skin and tendons from bones or simpler spears or even as darts (as do most sites with sharpened flint, bone, quartz or other stone materials older than 19-20k BC), much how the few "less research paper more book" ala Lyn Wadleys doorstop effectively concludes "its a cool possibility but i could just be bullshitting myself by reading implications into implications". Edit for bit of context: i noted 19-20k BC because thats when pretty much when cave paintings of of people using something that is even vaguely resembling bow and arrow start appearing across the world, while darts, spears, javelins and other forms of "sharp stick" go back as far as relatively advanced hominids could put their hands in the closest pigmented liquid and press it against nearby surfaces.
Great video David, probably one of your best. Not just the subject matter but the presentation and the feel of it just all flows nicely together. Congrats on the cool sponsor as well!
Easily the best written and presented video of yours, as an essay, it is well constructed and versed, clearly supported and researched, the flow is logical and coherent. The video is fantastic, the inclusion of insert clips and side-by-sides at appropriate times without over-use. Your skills as a presenter have increased greatly beyond simply showcasing your talents and expressing fondness for archery and pop culture. Bravo, David!
In a wonderful confluence of two of these tropes, In times past, when the art was suppressed - or just because fights might happen the required it, it was not unknown for Capoeirstas to attach knives, spikes, or razorblades to the ends of their berimbau, to use as an improvised spear.
Unlikely. Capoeira is already enough of a close-quarters thing, and merges well enough with having the knives or machetes on hand (google "makulele", basically it's Capoeira with a machete in each hand, and even braggiest songs!), that they would not likely bother. An African hunter of teh kind who actually used their hunting bows as instruments? More likely, if only barely. A Capoeirist? Not so much. But I like how you think, my friend. 😀
@@notfeedynotlazy I mean, I've only been practicing Capoeira for 23 years, and have been told this by multiple Mestre's across that time. Like much in Capoeira, it may be semi-mythological / folkloric retelling, but if so, its pretty pervasive.
@@SuperByakhee Funny, my own mestres never mentioned that to me in roughly 30 years (I started back in the late '90s). It's the funny thing of myths, sometimes some people hear themm, others don't.
I haven't heard about knives and the like attached to the end of the instrument but I did hear about the end of the baqueta (vaqueta) being sharpened on the end with poison applied to the tip as a way of weaponizing the berimbau even if indirectly.
first impression is that you mesh a relaxed descriptive language, "their own pointy stick", with knowledge, facts, integrity. for me it works. well done!
The musical bow is the one that surprised me the most! Next chance I get to roll up a bard, I might just have to ask the dm if I can flavor a longbow as a berimbau
I love the look of the bow you're holding, with the arms that have such a pronounced forward curve at the tips. It looks so elegant and dangerous. What an interesting dichotomy.
This is one of the most interesting archery videos I've seen in a long time. Fantastic. Really enjoyed it... and enjoyed how you not only explained the principles behind the concept but also gave historic references. -- So... let me tell you about the time I accidentally shot an arrow through a microscopic wormhole and it hit the target the day before...
I used to START LARP fights with a two-arrow shot (already nocked and ready to go) but yeah, the power loss isn't a huge deal when you're not often full drawing anyway (close shots) and the effect is the same (damage is damage). They do have less power (less than half, but not by much, half the energy but with the mass factored in as well).
FYI, a yumi is generally taller than the archer, such that it has to be asymmetrical (otherwise, the bottom end would dig into the ground). I imagine that has to factor in to the practicality of putting a small blade at one end.
Great video man, as someone who started archey recently (in part due to your content) I really appreciate the effort you put in and all the references and demonstrations. Bonus points due to showing the Berimbau cus I'm also Brazilian! Keep up the good work!
Just wanted to say I love the energy you bring to this. You acknowledge what isn't realistic, but it doesn't stop these tropes from being cool and inspirational. Too many people let realism ruin the magic for them. Thanks for reminding us that we're allowed to do impractical stuff just because it's cool or fun. Keep it up.
Hey Mr. Blumineck Man, one question I've come to have: have there been, or would it be possible to have a SHIELD BOW? It'd be quite heavier, given you're holding it with the arm extended (that gravity lever effect), and with quite reduced visibility, but the very situation where you'd need one is on open spaces, far from cover. You can check where I get this idea from in Warframe's Duviri Bowmen enemies. Their bows project a buckler-sized field in front and around the riser with a hole for the arrow. It doesn't exactly act as a buckler, but the concept is right there. Were we to lean even more on the shield part, I extended the concept to having a TOWER SHIELD with an ARROW SLIT. Pair such a shield / barricade with a regular bow, and I think it's perfectly viable. 99% cover from enemy archers, portable, can deploy anywhere. So, what's your say on my ramblings? 😂🏹🎯
The best way to feasibly achieve what you are asking(with traditional archery), is to carry around a shield that you can deploy as cover. When it comes to crossbows, attaching a small shield to it is much more feasible, since you can use both of your arms to support the extra weight. Additionally, modern shields are made from much lighter material than traditional shields, and some of those materials are even capable of stopping bullets. the downside is that the shield would need to be pretty small still, so it would work well in an urban environment(where you can bolster it by positioning around other forms of cover), but not so well in a open field. For that, you would be much better off carrying a tall shield on your back, to be deployed once you reach your position, or to cover you while moving to another location/retreating.
It would certainly be possible to attach a buckler or shield boss to the front of your bow. Depending on the situation the counterweight might even be beneficial. And in theory you could use it in a way similar to a gou-rang hook shield. But blocking strikes with your bow limb is not exactly a good idea if you plan to shoot some more arrows after that. You'd probably be better off with an actual buckler or a lightweight leather or wicker shield you can strap to your back or as others mentioned, bring a full pavise to hide behind.
I think I've heard of some Turkish mounted archers strapping their shields to their arms so they have cover while shooting, so that might be the closest thing
Yes, Ottoman and Turkish archers sometimes had small round shields called kalkan shields that they could wear while using their bows. I think a thumb draw would be easier to use with such a shield than the finger draw, especially considering which side the arrow typically rests with each technique.
Came here to mention the berimbau because I had 0 expectation anyone would even know about it. Needless to say I cheered when you actually pulled one out.
This was a really fun video from a fantasy writer aspect. I actually have a character in my book who has a blade on her bow. It's less at the end of the arm and more in the front of the bow's riser. I definitely got some new ideas from seeing these other tropes though, such as a specific arrow used to curve around a target with a some sort of specialized head on it. Less about penetration, and more about scaring the crap out of someone to get them out from behind cover for a direct hit. Great content bro!
Great video! It's amazing to see what enough practice and training can make people do with archery. To the question of applying said techniques, we have to remember that warfare/fighting wasn't always an army or armored guys facing another one. Actually, most soldiers in armies were very lightly armored. Until the Renaissance (and arguably even after), going to war meant you had to buy your equipment. Only the richest had a full set of armor. So a lot of soldiers were very lightly armored. Shooting multiple arrows at once could have been used to shoot at a faster target (like light cavalry or maybe for hunting?). Curving the arrow could help hunt a bandit hiding behind something. The bow-spear could be a repellant against cavalry charge as horses always got afraid of going into a spear wall or simply a stopgap solution when a tactic or technology was missing (as is often the case with mixed weaponry). And lastly, a big part of popular entertainment could be archery competitions which maybe implied a trick shot. Yes, the situations where such tropes were useful might not be numerous, but maybe more than what we expect. Or since people were already thinking the same way we did, maybe they just came from a simple "what if?"
The shoting a bow with your feet thing reminds me of Tulin from "The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom". He is an anthropomorthic bird who uses his feet to carry his bow abd shoot with it while his arms/wings carry him in the air. He is an adorable little archer.
Found this channel a couple of days ago and loving it! Whilst I enjoy my target archery, I love the "unconventional" archery far more. Suspect my club will frown on me if I start messing around at the range unless I'm by myself though :P
I have to point out that arrows don't spin normally. There may be some rotation due to imprecision in vane position, but not a significant rotation. Spinning requires a force to accelerate the spin, which requires energy. A spinning arrow will also have much more drag from the fins. This energy loss is a very noticeable portion the arrow's total energy. Any spin velocity is also insufficient to provide gyroscopic stabilization. The except is some types of arrows used for bird hunting. These arrows have vane intended to have high drag and are attached in an orientation to cause spin for the purpise of more drag. The reason for all this drag is to avoid losing an arrow if you miss as it severely reduces range when shooting up. These are typically called Flu Flu arrows.
love the video, and glad that you found a way to include the silly Bard Bows from Final Fantasy. I love Final Fantasy, and love the Bard, and the Dancer, but the bow with a harp, pure silly, but wait theirs more... We have keyboard bow now.
You really are such an inspiration, thank you for.... everything, really. Funnily enough, the first thing I kind of want to invest time/energy would be poledancing, so I'll have to look into that but I doubt there's anything in my town or frankly, most towns in my country, but.... one can dream. Or plan, as the case maybe. Fortunately, we have a really nice HEMA section here, specifically for archery :)
Given some fairly specific contexts, I could see the spear/bow setup being useful. In the case of a last stand where there's little room to retreat and the enemy may be too fast to fall back carefully, it may be necessary for your archers to be able to swift switch weapons from ranged to melee (and, hopefully, vice versa). Situations where a group is low on melee weapons might not want to give up even a short sword to archers. Not to mention, using a spear at a basic level is generally straightforward; it may not be effective in the long run (as you said, the weapon isn't really designed for that), but if you just need your archers to hold something off for short term (and/or die trying), well... a crappy spear wall is better than nothing. Other situations I could think of would be situations where capture is unlikely; that is, the enemy isn't taking prisoners - in that case, might as well try anything.
I don't know of any texts that would prove my theory/hypothesis that some types of spearbows could also be used in a similar manner to how certain spears were used in a certain way. What I'm getting at is that we have a fairly decent knowledge of how a spear could be used offensively while retreating (like the Parthian shot/salute for the bow) and sometimes on horseback. A number of Asian martial arts will have you draw a half semi circle with the backhand so that the speartip makes a circular motion and you knock thrust off course by swiping side to side. The Korean martial manuscript the Muyedobotongji also describes spear combat while mounted and some of those pictures (I have the book at home) look a lot like what would be necessary. There is also a Japanese spear that has been translated as a tube spear. This is a spear that has tube that you hold with your leading hand that helps with a really smooth thrust from the backhand. The thing about this spears martial arts school is, is that it teaches a way of running backwards in retreat while still delivering accurate thrusts at the foe. I think that if we combine all of this stuff while mounted switching back and forth between bow and a thrusting spear we could have a really fun style. If they persue us too hard that's a bunch of thrust to the face or their mount,but if they slow down even just a little bit /or their horse gets really tired they are gonna get shot at by arrows. I have done some mounted archery for a while and shooting backwards is really not that hard and I'm a terrible shot.
Lars Andersen has shown a lot of these things as well. It's nice to finally have proof that some of these crazy shots are plausible if not outright doable, and it has changed the way I do my D&D games. :edit for spelling:
This is absolutely one of the videos ever made. In the novel saga I'm writing, I decided to introduce a band of infamous sellswords (designed to be a homage to Vinland Saga's Askeladd and his ilk). Their leader, Eðall Gimbrosa, is a fabled archer with blessed sight, known for two things: his impeccable accuracy and his archery quirks. One of those quirks is that he dons a custom made dress, designed to stabilize or tense specific parts of his body, enhancing his peculiar fighting style. Another quirk is what he calls "Heljarheilsan" (Old Norse for "Death's Greeting", corny, I know) - each time he shoots an arrow, he raises his right hand in a provocative gesture which may draw his enemy's attention and blind them to where the arrow is flying. But even so, this being a low fantasy, mostly realistic setting, I wanted for his character to employ physically possible, yet widely mocked techniques. The curved shot you showed us lands in his arsenal as of now. Keep it coming, David, and if I devise something equally absurd though feasible, I'll be sure to share with you and get you to try it out 😉
The wildest mounted archery shot I saw was very recently. Mongolian archery contest and the guy's barely hanging onto the horse, his body sideways practically horizontal to the ground, and his aim is lateral to the horse run. The guy was impressive, but I was also blown away by the horse able to adjust to the center of mass shift.
I find it extraordinarily impressive how perfectly you managed to pair the recording of this video, to the minute, with the 70000th anniversary of archery.
I’m reminded of Kevin James’ comedy bit about trying to nock an arrow while jouncing around on horseback and finally resorting to just throwing the arrow-more like a ball than like a javelin or dart (which might have worked?) I realize it wouldn’t have worked for camp kids, but could warriors effectively use their arrows as javelins or darts? Or would the arrows not be weighted enough or something to serve that purpose even with warrior strength behind them?
I think one thing to keep in mind when it comes to the applicability of a couple of these techniques - primarily the bladed bow and the curving shot - is that historically speaking, most battles were not two sides rushing into each other, and then dissolving into hundreds - if not thousands - of individual duels. Rather, most battles were for a long time a game of chicken on the scale of armies. You'd approach slowly, poke at each other a bit, then withdraw for a few minutes, and then get back at it, until one side ran. That's when most of the killing began. So a bladed bow, used as a sorta spear, doesn't need to be brilliant at killing someone. It only needs to be a sharp bit of metall that no one wants to get near to be effective. Same with the curving shot. If you can shoot around a corner, the guys on the other side of the corner don't know when you can hit them, and are going to be a lot more careful about rounding that corner. It's essentially a form of suppressive fire. Which is great, if you're trying to delay your pursuers when getting out of dodge. My point is: Something doesn't have to be good at killing to be a good weapon. It just has to be able to scare your opponent for long enough for you to accomplish your goal.
Imagine everyone knowing you as this breakdancer who always plays this cool stick guitar thing, and then when trouble comes, you grab your weird fiddlesticks set with feathers in the middle of the sticks, duck under a strike and capoeira kick the baddie in the face, then curve some arrows with your berimbau bow into the body of a dude hiding behind a rock. He's not dead cus it didn't pierce deep, so you run, stab him, retrieve your arrow, roll back and shoot another dude's face out of the roll.
for anyone interested in seeing the more extreme side of curving arrows, and for those who havent seen him somehow, look up Lars Anderson. he's basically a real life fantasy archer. course his setups are staged, but the principles make archers look better than melee users even in close range
Hey there, David. I've been watching your short and long-form videos for a little while, and I felt I had to comment on this one as it incorporates the trope that I felt vindicated about. Namely, the one about bladed bows. Let me explain: See, I have a roleplaying character on the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online who is basically a sniper/ranger archetype. By that, I mean that his ranged weapon of choice is a war-bow that is specifically designed with an immensely high draw weight in order to punch through solid defense, or the sturdy hides of things like dragons and similarly scaled beasts in the setting. It's pretty much overkill in other situations beyond those two in context. And contrary to most archer archetypes in media, his standard modus operandi is that he finds a perch and stands his ground there-since he's essentially a longbowman in function. To speak of the draw weight a bit more, magic in itself is ingrained into the setting as Aether-or what in reality we would know simply as energy. Spellcasters use it to cast magic, fighters and the like use it to reinforce or enhance their bodies to superhuman levels when using their skills in combat. One aspect of this war-bow is that its draw weight is so immense that the act of drawing, stringing, and unstringing requires aether to accomplish-even when the wielder is physically strong enough to draw a heavy war-bow crafted in more conventional ways. By that logic, the arrows loosed from it are quite powerful indeed. In terms of the standard concerns about snapping the string or breaking the limbs, it's mitigated by the fact that the entire thing is crafted from the parts of a dragon. Particularly, its bones make up the limbs, and a heartstring makes up... well, the bowstring-both of which may well be able to endure that level of punishment. To talk about the blades a bit, they're shaped like claws; the pointed end can reasonably stab or pierce, and the outward curve of the claw is itself a blade. The war-bow has a single claw-blade on either end of the limbs, essentially making it a double-ended glaive weapon. However, I don't roleplay the idea of using the blades when the bow is strung. Rather, I make it so that he has at least the option to use it as a war-bow, or as a short spear-since bows cannot be under tension forever. TL;DR: it's a bow when strung, it's a spear when unstrung. Your short form video about it actually made my day since that's a concept I'd been working with for a little while. Further, another video of yours that talked briefly about needing to unstring a bow-which I totally forgot was a factor. That reminder allowed me to give the war-bow a 'melee form' as it were, rather than having the blades be weapons of last resort as you discuss in the 'bladed bows' section of this video. Also, this has gone on for long enough so I'll keep this section as short as I can: With regard to the topic of bows as musical instruments, the war-bow in question can somewhat do that. You see, dragons in FFXIV communicate with each other through aetheric waves that they call 'dragonsongs'. When aether is poured or channeled into the bowstring-crafted from a dragon's heartstring-it releases a consistent wave that sounds like gibberish to most people, but is a broken dragonsong to other dragons. Very dangerous when the need to imbue arrows with magic through the string is done in areas that is home to dragonkind
Sorry for reacting early AF in your comments... but... 24 seconds in... I have found thousands of rocks that look almost exactly like that... in USA. Those look fairly like 'everyday rocks'. Sure, one could assign them some significance, and say they were 'arrowheads'... but, they do not resemble them, and could easily just be everyday existence that formed them to be as such. However, I have watched multiple videos of yours... and definitely deserves a subscribe!! Very sound, factual info!!
Man, watching your videos (and especially this one) really makes me wish there was actually *better* representation for archery in video games. I would love a game where having multiple arrow types in a quiver meant different techniques were available, where you could change your shot style as you got better, or relied on something like mouse gestures or even like fighting game inputs to change the type of shots you made.
I love your videos. Great stuff. From this one, I’ll be trying your demonstrated technique for curving arrows. Happy shooting, dancing, creating, D&Ding, and general best wishes 🙂😎🏹
1: shooting 2-3 arrows only needs you to hold the bow horisontally so both can be on top and the angle between the arrows will be much less (not set by the thickness of the bow). the old robin hood shown this trick pretty well how it can be used in short range when a pair is attacking you. 2: loading multiple arrows work fairly quickly you just have to learn how to. you should grab them between 3 fingers instead of pinching them. speed shooters can do it nicely, also shown in the great wall when Matt does the 3 quick release shots at the bowl, its the same technique all in all its still pretty silly and very situational, but who knows, some archers might have saved their life with it (no, they probably havent) 3: a multi arrow shot is not necesserily weaker. bows have a maximum energy they can transfer to the arrows, but thats many times not utilised. its solely there to launch heavier and heavier arrows. if you fire a 300grain arrow from a 40 pound recurve or a 140 pound recurve it will have about the same energy as the speed of the bow does NOT come from the energy stored in it. the difference is the 140 pound bow can launch even 1200grain arrows OR 4x 300grain arrows in the same time on (close to) full energy (there will be some discrepancy but not the half energy for twice the arrows). now when you have a 40pounds bow, that will be ok with 1x 300grain arrow but not with 4, so yes, putting 2 arrows on it will in general halve the power of the arrow other than that, i really love your content, that +8 dex modifier really shows lol :D
I understand that an arrow would typically pass through a lamp or bulb rather than ricochet. However, I'm curious about a hypothetical scenario where you combine a curve shot with a glancing blow off a non-solid object like a bulb or lamp. Do you think this could create a sufficient deflection to hit a target behind a crowd, even if the arrow can't curve enough or ricochet at all on its own given the targets to work with?
A few fantastical solution to the bladed bow's issues: - Integrating the blades directly into the construction of the bow's arms rather than being mounted on the ends, making it less unwieldy by keeping the weight more in-line with the typical points of flexion (but a bit more dangerous with regards to slicing yourself, certainly for an untrained user) - Using supernaturally light-yet-strong fantasy metals, such as mithril or ironwood, to make them more resistant to the stresses of melee combat - Have a supernaturally strong wielder and reinforce it with stronger materials, similarly to a horn-/composite bow In my case, I'm using all three for an NPC I've recently introduced into my D&D campaign, who wields a composite longbow made from the metallic bones of a bladetail felldrake (imagine a T. rex with a giant blade for a tail-or Glavenus from Monster Hunter, which is what I've not-so-subtly adapted). The arms are made from ironwood, felldrake horns and sinew, with curved blades made from the felldrake's tail molded directly into the arms. Ironwood is only slightly heavier than yew but substantially stronger, while felldrake horns and sinews are almost identical in weight to those of large bovines (the creatures typically sourced for hornbows) but are as strong as high-carbon steel (a wizard did it). The tail is denser and stronger still, but still lighter than iron or steel. The composite construction also allows for a vastly increased draw strength compared to a simple pure-wooden bow. Fortunately, the wielder (Dame Veille Drake, the Iron Vanguard) happens to be jacked as all hell and has a Belt of Stone Giant Strength to boot.
14:47 Yeah, but Yondu's arrow is technically an arrow, but it's high tech and has an independent propulsion system that, I guess, converts high pitched sound waves into propulsion. The curving arrows I think of is that one scene from Robin Hood: PoT.
I've seen some incredibly curving shots by another archer on RUclips. He's known for his trick shots and speed shooting, so yeah. The other stuff was pretty neat, too. Thanks for the lessons!
I made a balded bow for tabletop, but it was more a scimitar blade sharing the grip of the bow, separate from the limbs. it was ultralight fantasy metal too, so it wasn't unduly heavy, but it was generally less effective as a melee weapon because of the weight of the bow and the fact that you had an entire bow limb as a "pommel"
I believe that there was a Native American tribe that used their bows as lances from horseback. I believe some formed metal around the tip, while others fire hardened and ground tips. May have been fire hardened in one era, tipped in the next. I can't remember which tribe but I believe it was a plains tribe.
FINALLY Lars Andersen gets some compettition. GOOD JOB! Don't lett people - historians with theoretical knowledge etc - tell you it is not good, what you are doing. Just like in experimental archeology you are showing what is IN FACT possible. If somebody in history REALLY did it may be discussed. But you also rule things out of the discussion which is impossible or makes no sense at all.
Regarding the first one - there are also bows in early medieval (around the 6th and 7th century) Europe which were originally interpreted by archaeologists as spears because they had a pointy metal tip on one limb. Since then, additional finds and tests with reproductions have shown that they were in fact bows. Around that time, bows were mostly used for hunting, so the question arises whether this was intended as a sort of backup weapon or perhaps for personal defense in case you ran into some unsavory characters. A military use is pretty unlikely because the bows weren't that strong and the "spear tip" wasn't that effective either. Plus the sources don't really mention military application of bows and arrows around the time.
![COLOMBIA vs. CHILE [4-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 10](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TDjN4W3yy1k/mqdefault.jpg)
Try Zombies, Run! on the ZRX app for free: zrx.app/zombies
Such a great app! Well executed and easy to use, plus it takes your mind away from the monotony of running. 10/10
I actually used that a couple years ago for my runs and jogs and it's kind of fun
In the traditional Bowyers Bible there's a page where either a Cherokee or some other tribes bow where there a blade attached to it
There's bows with speartips in the plains of North America
Alright, first time I've seen an sponsor placement I'm willing to listen to in full.
Alright, props -- that's the first time somebody integrated an ad well enough into the video that I didn't feel the desire to skip it. I'm not even mad; if I could still run, I'd be downloading that app right now.
The only reason I skipped it was because he uploaded the short. It's that smooth.
Thank you! I really appreciate that! I'm trying to make my ads more interesting and less jarring
@@blumineck it honestly blended pretty seamlessly with the video, I didn't notice until the phone recording.
Honestly I first thought that the zombie tangent was just interesting, not even an ad lol
Plus the app is actually really nice ! I hadn't heard of it in years, but it's fun to use, lets you set your own goals, and doesn't require you to pay for much iirc. I don't mind seeing it here !
As a Brazilian, I appreciate that you at least tried to play the berimbau. Hopefully you bring it back in the future, too.
You don't need to be Brazilian to enjoy the berimbau. (Greetings from Spain. My Capoeria apelido is Matrix).
(And I'm in utter terror of, were Blumineck to do Capoeira, what his apelido might be...)
@@notfeedynotlazyyou do capoeria, thats awesome i myself am a kick boxer, i have been noticing that people practicing martial arts is seemingly on the rise i keep seeing dojos pop up everywhere which really fills me with joy.
What's interesting about the berimbau being alin to a bow and arrow is that it is intrinsically associated with capoeira. One does not exist without the other. And Capoeira was intended to be a martial art disguised as a dance. To allow slaves to train fighting without being found out and punished.
Fitting that the berimbau is a weapon disguised as an instrument.
I was thinking the same thing. So much planning went into that and yet sadly not enough uprisings came from having such skills and equipment.
@@InfernosReaper More than you'd think
@@alexandredesouza3692 Yeah, but still not enough.
@@InfernosReaper I mean, what's enough? Escaping slavery, throwing a revolt or overthrowing the government?
@@alexandredesouza3692 I mean, "more instances of it happening" which I guess *could* end in "try to overthrow the government" but that seems like that would end poorly.
Love all of these tropes! But the curving arrow is always fun to see in reality as it’s such a party trick!
It's so fun when it works!
I was going to complain about the unusable nature of bladed bows but after seeing how accurate and objective you were about their shortcomings i realized this wasnt going to be a shitty clickbait video and ended up watching the whole thing… you earned a new sub
i always appreciate the objective approach and flashiness of this channel
consistently good, good sub
^ THIS ditto
That's his whole shtick really. 'Can it be done?', 'Is it effective?' and 'Is it fun anyway?' are the questions he's always asking with these little videos lol
Another option where shooting two arrows might be advantageous: you have a very heavy bow (say a 200 pound draw weight) but your only option is to shoot arrows that are designed for half that draw weight (you ran out of arrows, haven't ditched your bow for your sidearm, and you happen to come across somebody else's quiver of lighter arrows designed for a 100 pound bow). Since these are lighter and weaker, they might actually break with the force your heavy bow is trying to put into them. Shooting two arrows would allow you to still shoot, in this very unlikely scenario.
Perfect arrow weight is greatly overrated.
It might help! It's a niche scenario but it could come up.
But also once you get above a certain bow weight, the arrows tend to be relatively interchangeable- in the 100 years' war for example, everyone used the same arrows regardless of their bow - you just shot what you could get!
@@blumineck Maybe I am talking out my ass here, but wouldn't that be because their bows are proportionally closer to each other so an "average" arrow has more or less the same performance? Say, the difference between 200 pound bow and a 160 one is 40 pounds, but that is just 20% weaker, where the difference between an 80 pound and a 40 pound bow is still 40 pounds, but that is half as weak.
@@louisvictor3473 I would think that this is more a logistic supply problem. You need plenty of arrows, and you need them now, especially as an invasive army on campaign. So you would probably shoot heavier arrows. Not because they didn't have the knowledge about the perfect arrow, but because they might not have spruce or pine and replace it with heavier wood like walnut tree or chestnut
@@autre1806 That is looking at it from a different angle. I was looking from a "why bow still shoot good" point of view.
Archers shown at 00:56
Clockwise from top left: Mihai Cozmei, Freedomandfeathers, Segredalreal (archer unnamed), Lars Anderson, Byron Ferguson
Appreciate the namedrops, I'd love to see more of this community of skilled arrowslingers
@Blumineck The hazuyari actually isn't the only weapon where it was done. The elites of the Sioux indians also had 2 versions of what they call a ghost lance bow. The first version looks a lot like a western version of a hazuyari, but second had a spike attached at a different angle functioning more like warpick.
For anyone who hasn't seen her stuff freedomandfeathers (her name escapes me) is awesome
And i beat all of these Guys with Bows they are trice as strong 🤣🤣🤣
The berimbau is a really cool instrument and I recommend people to look up videos of it being played, specially in capoeira circles
Ayep. It only has two notes, high and low, but that's exactly as many notes as a drum has, and we all know how much a good drummer can sound and how much energy it can transmit. The berimbau is the same. The energy a good berimbau gives to a _roda_ (the circle) is simply amazing.
I really need to get into capoeira!
@@notfeedynotlazy the berimbau can actually make up to 5 notes. Some of those are made by combining two different notes at the same time. Just like some kinds of drums, as you pointed.
@@blumineckWith you being an archer and a dancer, and with the berimbau existing, it's honestly surprising you have not yet got yourself into it.
The curve shot is unreal, at first when you shot wobbly I thought 'that'll never look good, but your last shots were crazy. Amazingly made, loved your explanations
That's the interesting thing about horse archery, a horse is not only a means of fast transportation, but it's also much better at melee fighting than the average person. I was going to suggest in the first bit that the real good way to have a backup melee option as an archer was to get real good at kicking, but honestly a mediocre horse is better at kicking than you will ever be.
As someone who got a bone bruise from a horse kick, I can confirm.
@@LongForgottenJ for a horse kick? I got a bruise from a horse play-biting me XD
something tells me a bone bruise is a bit different than a bruise bruise.
@@cookie856_bone_ bruise
It's great how enthusiastically you've applied yourself to the history and science of archery. These videos are very educational.
Love how you take some time to breathe or think. We sometimes get tired of perfect speakers in a mashed up video. Gives perception the speaker is more like a person and less like a product for the evil algorithm
As a guy who likes guns, the shotgun analogy is perfect. Same as with a shotgun blasting multiple pellets, the energy between all of them is reduced compared to a single slug. 00 buckshot is basically sending 8 9mm pistol rounds at once while a slug is like a cannon ball. Same thing also with multiple targets. As far as as rate of fire too, a rifle would be much faster to shoot one at a time accurately. Great video!
shooting multiple arrows is only superficially similar to a shotgun though.
the important thing is to differentiate between energy and momentum.
-energy is equal to mass times velocity squared
-momentum is mass times velocity
-energy equals range and penetration
-momentum equals accuracy and stopping power
shooting two arrows cuts their velocity in half.
this equates to quartering their energy so you're loosing a LOT of penetration, while
their momentum is only cut in half and actually remains the same if both hit, meaning you still have plenty of stopping power.
in a shotgun however (lets just assume it's somehow only two projectiles because it makes the maths easier) the two projectiles are not the same mass as a single slug would be, so if you're shooting two projectiles, you can make each half the mass of the slug and now you can shoot two projectiles while maintaining full velocity, meaning you're only loosing half the energy (instead of three quarters you loose with the arrows) and your momentum is still only halved because there is no squaring in that equation.
issue is you can't really make arrows lighter, they need to be a certain length for the bow to function right and they need to have the right amount of flex and strength so messing with the diameter isn't going to work either, lightening the tip messes with the balance and so on.
now the maths isn't going to perfectly reflect reality because of stuff like friction and air resistance but this should tell you why a shotgun makes sense whereas shooting multiple arrows really doesn't
@@windhelmguard5295"now the maths isn't going to perfectly reflect reality because of stuff like friction and air resistance but this should tell you why a shotgun makes sense whereas shooting multiple arrows really doesn't"
Against armored targets, a shotgun *doesn't* make sense. Even slugs aren't great with penetration against modern body armor.
Though, it's correct in that it's more like if you were to load multiple slugs into a shotgun.
@@basedeltazero714 that hugely depends on the slug that is used, while most shotgun slugs are designed for hunting medium to large game, there are shotgun slugs that are specifically designed to penetrate armour and honestly most body armour probably wouldn't prevent serious injury even if the slug doesn't penetrate.
I think that the "DEX is the archery stat" being common is probably at least as much for the fine motor control of aiming accurately as it is for the acrobatics of shield surfing.
Yea, espeacially if you consider that those where seperate stats in some older RPGs (dex and agility) and often only affects precision and not the basedamage.
I prefer settings where you need both strength and dex for archery, because that's most realistic
@@michaeledmunds7056 I guess in 5e terms, a longbow would have it's attack roll modifier be based on DEX, since you need to aim the shot to hit them, and have it's damage modifier be based on STR, since the amount of power you put in is proportional to what is delivered on impact. I suppose you could put a strength requirement on them too, make it like Heavy weapons and have attacks be at disadvantage when you don't meet the requirement.
@@branhan215124 That's exactly how it worked in 3rd edition D&D: Bows used DEX for attack rolls but damage was based on STR. (Crossbows did a bit more base damage (1d10 for a heavy crossbow vs 1d8 for a longbow), but couldn't add STR.)
Technically, bows were actually a little more complicated: Every bow had a 'Strength Rating' which determined the maximum damage bonus. If your strength was equal to or higher than the bow's strength rating, it did that much additional damage. (So if you were an 22 STR fighter wielding a longbow with a Strength Rating of 16, it would do 1d8+3 damage.) However, if your strength was lower than the bow's strength rating, you took a penalty to attack rolls equal to the difference in strength, up to -4, in addition to a lower damage. (So if the 13 STR rogue picked up that longbow, they'd take a -3 penalty to attack rolls and deal 1d8+1 damage. The 8 STR wizard would take a full -4 penalty to attack rolls and deal 1d8-1 damage. This is on top of any proficiency penalty they might have (and indeed Rogues and Wizards are not proficient with bows by default).
... Thrown weapons also worked similarly, in that they used DEX to hit and STR for damage, though there was a feat to allow you to apply your strength to the attack roll instead. Slings also worked using the same system of DEX to hit, STR for damage, and were a simple weapon (unlike bows) capable of multi-attacking (unlike crossbows). It also had a range increment of 50', which wasn't great but was better than most thrown weapons. They did base 1d4 damage for some incomprehensible reason, weren't served by many feats, and were generally slept on (for some reason the Pathfinder designers especially hated them?), but if you were a barbarian you could theoretically be doing 1d4+6 damage, which, y'know, wasn't 1d12+9, but if you can't reach the enemy it's nothing to scoff at. They were also a Monk Weapon so you could flurry of blows which was neat (less neat was everything about the 3.X Monk).
@@branhan215124 Most realistically, DEX (or its equivalent) should probably be used for the accuracy rolls of all physical attacks period, with strength determining the damage it dealt.
Fun fact about the body of the berimbau- historically, it was made of biriba wood, which was specifically chosen for its flexibility (I'm told it was considered the "bamboo" of the amazon), which would make it great as an actual bow. Modern berimbaus however are (usually) not made of this type of wood, because due to deforestation it has become an endangered species
The musical bows trope reminds me of Sir Tristian in the Fate series. His bow works by magic as you might assume, but it functions more like a harp that can fire sonic projectiles than a bow that can make music. As a result, he can actually attack with only one arm. Somehow, he's got the best of both worlds, where it simultaneously works as an instrument and a weapon.
I think you could design a "somewhat functional" crossbow harp. If you take a reverse draw and have harp limbs below that so if you where to look from above it looks like a cross with a bunch of extra crossbeams.
Now that I think about it if we are going separate limbs and we put that sort of on a forked limb. 1 that moves like with any bow and 1 that remains static for the harp playing stuff. If the harp strings are close enough the feathers from the arrow might even be able to sort of strung the harp, though I don't know if you'll stay accurate with that.
I have learned you can do a lot with archery, but you need to be creative with it.
It's the same with most skills I think 😁
It does help that since archery has been around for so long, mankind has had plenty of time to get creative with it. Compared to a lot of other skills, it's had more time to develop and adapt to different situations.
We can see the same thing with melee weapons as well, with them generally answering the same question of "how do I make the enemy less alive", but creating a variety of fighting styles and weapons to adapt to different situations. It's just that with melee weaponry, it's much easier to see the differences at a glance with an untrained eye, while bows tend to be more subtle in their differences when it comes to both style and design.
Interesting to note on the music archery connection:
The mythological origin of the Yamatogoto instrument comes from the tale of Amaterasu and the Cave. The party goddess Ame-no-Uzume needed music to dance to to draw out Amaterasu from the cave, so six hunters brought their bows and used them to play a melody for everyone to party to. When Amaterasu came out of the cave one of the celebrations was the act of taking the six strings and weaving them into the first ever Yamatogoto
Man, that was a wild day. No sun, woman crushed by cow, roosters everywhere, a stripper goddess, new musical instrument invented...
I enjoy these longer form videos David, they sure show the work you put in.
Your shorts are great, but I'm a huge fan of your longer explanations. W upload.
Really appreciate how much effort you put into making the more impractical tropes work, gives a very mythbusters kinda vibe to the video structure
I really love when you make videos with so much research. I love to see the history and science behind modern/historical tropes. It brings things back down from fantasy to something (somehow) grounded in reality. Lastly, it's always great to see you enjoy yourself! Keep up the great work! :D
This is exactly the style of archery I got into several years ago when first coming across Lars Andersen, I’d always been into archery but the more mobile and fantastical trick-shooting with a lighter bow that Lars mastered is what really captivated me.
I’d spend hours day after day in my garden practicing all sorts of ridiculous shots incorporating rolls, somersaults, catching arrows I’d shot in the air, jumping, multiple arrows, curving shots, etc. It was an absolute blast and was so much more fun and interesting than static target shooting.
One of the things I picked up during this is that you can actually curve the flight path of arrows quite substantially just by twisting the bow string as you pull it back. Bending it at the nocking point using your knuckles adds significant wobble to the arrow as it releases in the same way that moving the nocking point above or below the centre does, without compromising much on the power because you can still get to full draw this way.
I have a coment on the 2 arrow thjing:
Yes, the arrows are slower, less powerfull and less acurate than a single arrow.
BUT: If you are in a situation, where you have basically a sniper position, and time to aim, and know, you have to be on the run the moment you are discoverd, AND you have multiple targets that you want to hit: Shooting 2 arrows may be viable.
It may be even more viable if combined with poison tipped arrpws, because then you don't have to rely on perfect acuracy and the full power of the bow.
Again not a battlefield tactic, but in poltical fantsy scenario, this may still be ones best option
change the poisondip into improvised light explosives and you need even less accuracy while dealing more chaos and damage to the enemy lines.
@@TheAzureGhosttrue, but that would also be more noticeable with both light and sound marking the attack. The poisoned arrows could be very subtle, perhaps even undetectable by anyone but the targets.
@@emilyrln Unless you managed to create a poison that kills or incapacitates within a second or so, an alarm would be raised anyhow. Explosives might actually be more advantageous regardless, for their shock factor.
In any case, you'd have to be really sure of yourself to attempt that shot. Unless you're sure you can take both targets out instantly, you're probably still better off shooting the first and then taking care of the second as that one is still processing what just happened.
I have to wonder if, designed properly so as not to interfere with the firing of the bow, a better solution to the bladed bow concept might be something more akin to a punching dagger integrated into the middle/handle area of the bow. It certainly wouldn't have the range of the bow/spear concept, but I feel like that placement might be less likely to damage the bow since more of the force of striking with it could be absorbed by your hand and arm, in addition to possibly being less detrimental to the firing of the bow by keeping the added weight in the center rather than at the ends where the bending happens. I could be completely wrong about all of this, I'm no expert, and I'm not sure it'd be much more effective than just using an arrow as an improvised dagger, but it's a thought. If nothing else, it'd probably be another fun fantasy weapon concept.
Why a dagger? Put a montante! It will double as stabilising counterweight, too! 😀
Reminds me of some fantasy bow i saw somewhere in the past which had a blade in firing direction above and below the grip and some round cover over the hands as protection.
Can't remember where i saw that, but i think it was some videogame RPG.
@@TheAzureGhostI recall seeing that type of design in Neverwinter Nights, maybe a sketch in the PHB.
I mean, aren't you just better off with a bladed glove? But yeah, that would work
You're right. Physically that makes sense. It would be impractical and expose the bow to damage from blocking incoming strikes, but then again, knives and daggers historically have often been weapons of last resort anyway. Other approaches would be adding brass knuckles or spikes to the glove you hold your bow with, or getting proficient with using arrows as melee weapons.
While the 69k is a NICE joke, its likely not real out of the 3 actually worthwhile analytical studies, the main Lombard one only managed to actually prove that the chipped stones had fractures as fitting to someone pushing on the top/edge side with the opposite end down into something, but lack any trace evidence of flexible wood (you know as would be needed for archery, be it on its own or with either sinew or wound plant strings) compared to explanations given and reproduced that show it could have as easily been from use as a peeling razors of animal skin and tendons from bones or simpler spears or even as darts (as do most sites with sharpened flint, bone, quartz or other stone materials older than 19-20k BC), much how the few "less research paper more book" ala Lyn Wadleys doorstop effectively concludes "its a cool possibility but i could just be bullshitting myself by reading implications into implications".
Edit for bit of context: i noted 19-20k BC because thats when pretty much when cave paintings of of people using something that is even vaguely resembling bow and arrow start appearing across the world, while darts, spears, javelins and other forms of "sharp stick" go back as far as relatively advanced hominids could put their hands in the closest pigmented liquid and press it against nearby surfaces.
Great video David, probably one of your best. Not just the subject matter but the presentation and the feel of it just all flows nicely together. Congrats on the cool sponsor as well!
@@SixDeadZeroHEMA thank you so much! That's lovely to hear!
Easily the best written and presented video of yours, as an essay, it is well constructed and versed, clearly supported and researched, the flow is logical and coherent. The video is fantastic, the inclusion of insert clips and side-by-sides at appropriate times without over-use. Your skills as a presenter have increased greatly beyond simply showcasing your talents and expressing fondness for archery and pop culture.
Bravo, David!
0:07 hang on, when were you on Britain's got talent, and where can I watch a clip of your performance?
Also wanna know
Curious too i tried to google but couldnt find much
The jumpscare at 2:09 are scarier than the sound of zombies groaning into your ears while you are running in the middle of the woods
In a wonderful confluence of two of these tropes, In times past, when the art was suppressed - or just because fights might happen the required it, it was not unknown for Capoeirstas to attach knives, spikes, or razorblades to the ends of their berimbau, to use as an improvised spear.
Unlikely. Capoeira is already enough of a close-quarters thing, and merges well enough with having the knives or machetes on hand (google "makulele", basically it's Capoeira with a machete in each hand, and even braggiest songs!), that they would not likely bother. An African hunter of teh kind who actually used their hunting bows as instruments? More likely, if only barely. A Capoeirist? Not so much. But I like how you think, my friend. 😀
@@notfeedynotlazy I mean, I've only been practicing Capoeira for 23 years, and have been told this by multiple Mestre's across that time. Like much in Capoeira, it may be semi-mythological / folkloric retelling, but if so, its pretty pervasive.
@@SuperByakhee Funny, my own mestres never mentioned that to me in roughly 30 years (I started back in the late '90s). It's the funny thing of myths, sometimes some people hear themm, others don't.
I haven't heard about knives and the like attached to the end of the instrument but I did hear about the end of the baqueta (vaqueta) being sharpened on the end with poison applied to the tip as a way of weaponizing the berimbau even if indirectly.
first impression is that you mesh a relaxed descriptive language, "their own pointy stick", with knowledge, facts, integrity. for me it works. well done!
6:52 Maybe Apollo was just the god of string.
The musical bow is the one that surprised me the most! Next chance I get to roll up a bard, I might just have to ask the dm if I can flavor a longbow as a berimbau
It's really no different than a washtub bass. Put your bow on a sounding box and pluck the string!
18:22 Fully equipped trickster's bow.
I'm just here to appreciate the little colorful pots of plants you have on your shed wall, that looks really cute! Glad we got to see them!
That's adorable that you noticed that. Have a great day! :D
I love the look of the bow you're holding, with the arms that have such a pronounced forward curve at the tips. It looks so elegant and dangerous. What an interesting dichotomy.
Absolutely love this! Love your knowledge and displaying of archery!
This is one of the most interesting archery videos I've seen in a long time. Fantastic. Really enjoyed it... and enjoyed how you not only explained the principles behind the concept but also gave historic references. -- So... let me tell you about the time I accidentally shot an arrow through a microscopic wormhole and it hit the target the day before...
I used to START LARP fights with a two-arrow shot (already nocked and ready to go) but yeah, the power loss isn't a huge deal when you're not often full drawing anyway (close shots) and the effect is the same (damage is damage). They do have less power (less than half, but not by much, half the energy but with the mass factored in as well).
FYI, a yumi is generally taller than the archer, such that it has to be asymmetrical (otherwise, the bottom end would dig into the ground). I imagine that has to factor in to the practicality of putting a small blade at one end.
You are so clearly a performer. The thought you put into the presentation of this shows!
Those curving arrows are unbelievably awesome
That's really cool! I didn't think that it was possible to do the moving arrow around something trick shot. Very cool! Thanks for showing that off!
Great video man, as someone who started archey recently (in part due to your content) I really appreciate the effort you put in and all the references and demonstrations.
Bonus points due to showing the Berimbau cus I'm also Brazilian!
Keep up the good work!
Just wanted to say I love the energy you bring to this.
You acknowledge what isn't realistic, but it doesn't stop these tropes from being cool and inspirational.
Too many people let realism ruin the magic for them.
Thanks for reminding us that we're allowed to do impractical stuff just because it's cool or fun.
Keep it up.
Hey Mr. Blumineck Man, one question I've come to have: have there been, or would it be possible to have a SHIELD BOW? It'd be quite heavier, given you're holding it with the arm extended (that gravity lever effect), and with quite reduced visibility, but the very situation where you'd need one is on open spaces, far from cover.
You can check where I get this idea from in Warframe's Duviri Bowmen enemies. Their bows project a buckler-sized field in front and around the riser with a hole for the arrow. It doesn't exactly act as a buckler, but the concept is right there.
Were we to lean even more on the shield part, I extended the concept to having a TOWER SHIELD with an ARROW SLIT. Pair such a shield / barricade with a regular bow, and I think it's perfectly viable. 99% cover from enemy archers, portable, can deploy anywhere.
So, what's your say on my ramblings? 😂🏹🎯
Better to use a pavise or some sort of defensive position or structure, or move around on transportation such as a horse or vehicle.
The best way to feasibly achieve what you are asking(with traditional archery), is to carry around a shield that you can deploy as cover. When it comes to crossbows, attaching a small shield to it is much more feasible, since you can use both of your arms to support the extra weight. Additionally, modern shields are made from much lighter material than traditional shields, and some of those materials are even capable of stopping bullets. the downside is that the shield would need to be pretty small still, so it would work well in an urban environment(where you can bolster it by positioning around other forms of cover), but not so well in a open field. For that, you would be much better off carrying a tall shield on your back, to be deployed once you reach your position, or to cover you while moving to another location/retreating.
It would certainly be possible to attach a buckler or shield boss to the front of your bow. Depending on the situation the counterweight might even be beneficial. And in theory you could use it in a way similar to a gou-rang hook shield. But blocking strikes with your bow limb is not exactly a good idea if you plan to shoot some more arrows after that. You'd probably be better off with an actual buckler or a lightweight leather or wicker shield you can strap to your back or as others mentioned, bring a full pavise to hide behind.
I think I've heard of some Turkish mounted archers strapping their shields to their arms so they have cover while shooting, so that might be the closest thing
Yes, Ottoman and Turkish archers sometimes had small round shields called kalkan shields that they could wear while using their bows. I think a thumb draw would be easier to use with such a shield than the finger draw, especially considering which side the arrow typically rests with each technique.
Came here to mention the berimbau because I had 0 expectation anyone would even know about it. Needless to say I cheered when you actually pulled one out.
This was a really fun video from a fantasy writer aspect. I actually have a character in my book who has a blade on her bow. It's less at the end of the arm and more in the front of the bow's riser. I definitely got some new ideas from seeing these other tropes though, such as a specific arrow used to curve around a target with a some sort of specialized head on it. Less about penetration, and more about scaring the crap out of someone to get them out from behind cover for a direct hit. Great content bro!
Great video! It's amazing to see what enough practice and training can make people do with archery.
To the question of applying said techniques, we have to remember that warfare/fighting wasn't always an army or armored guys facing another one. Actually, most soldiers in armies were very lightly armored. Until the Renaissance (and arguably even after), going to war meant you had to buy your equipment. Only the richest had a full set of armor. So a lot of soldiers were very lightly armored.
Shooting multiple arrows at once could have been used to shoot at a faster target (like light cavalry or maybe for hunting?). Curving the arrow could help hunt a bandit hiding behind something.
The bow-spear could be a repellant against cavalry charge as horses always got afraid of going into a spear wall or simply a stopgap solution when a tactic or technology was missing (as is often the case with mixed weaponry). And lastly, a big part of popular entertainment could be archery competitions which maybe implied a trick shot. Yes, the situations where such tropes were useful might not be numerous, but maybe more than what we expect. Or since people were already thinking the same way we did, maybe they just came from a simple "what if?"
The shoting a bow with your feet thing reminds me of Tulin from "The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom". He is an anthropomorthic bird who uses his feet to carry his bow abd shoot with it while his arms/wings carry him in the air. He is an adorable little archer.
Found this channel a couple of days ago and loving it! Whilst I enjoy my target archery, I love the "unconventional" archery far more. Suspect my club will frown on me if I start messing around at the range unless I'm by myself though :P
I have to point out that arrows don't spin normally. There may be some rotation due to imprecision in vane position, but not a significant rotation. Spinning requires a force to accelerate the spin, which requires energy. A spinning arrow will also have much more drag from the fins. This energy loss is a very noticeable portion the arrow's total energy. Any spin velocity is also insufficient to provide gyroscopic stabilization.
The except is some types of arrows used for bird hunting. These arrows have vane intended to have high drag and are attached in an orientation to cause spin for the purpise of more drag. The reason for all this drag is to avoid losing an arrow if you miss as it severely reduces range when shooting up. These are typically called Flu Flu arrows.
love the video, and glad that you found a way to include the silly Bard Bows from Final Fantasy. I love Final Fantasy, and love the Bard, and the Dancer, but the bow with a harp, pure silly, but wait theirs more... We have keyboard bow now.
Well I think you could make it work if the limbs of the harp and bow string fork out early enough.
@@woutvanostaden1299 just look up "FFXIV Bard Relic weapon"
You really are such an inspiration, thank you for.... everything, really.
Funnily enough, the first thing I kind of want to invest time/energy would be poledancing, so I'll have to look into that but I doubt there's anything in my town or frankly, most towns in my country, but.... one can dream. Or plan, as the case maybe.
Fortunately, we have a really nice HEMA section here, specifically for archery :)
I immediately thought of a berimbau as an instrument. I love to see it portrayed and publicized.
Given some fairly specific contexts, I could see the spear/bow setup being useful. In the case of a last stand where there's little room to retreat and the enemy may be too fast to fall back carefully, it may be necessary for your archers to be able to swift switch weapons from ranged to melee (and, hopefully, vice versa). Situations where a group is low on melee weapons might not want to give up even a short sword to archers. Not to mention, using a spear at a basic level is generally straightforward; it may not be effective in the long run (as you said, the weapon isn't really designed for that), but if you just need your archers to hold something off for short term (and/or die trying), well... a crappy spear wall is better than nothing. Other situations I could think of would be situations where capture is unlikely; that is, the enemy isn't taking prisoners - in that case, might as well try anything.
I don't know of any texts that would prove my theory/hypothesis that some types of spearbows could also be used in a similar manner to how certain spears were used in a certain way.
What I'm getting at is that we have a fairly decent knowledge of how a spear could be used offensively while retreating (like the Parthian shot/salute for the bow) and sometimes on horseback. A number of Asian martial arts will have you draw a half semi circle with the backhand so that the speartip makes a circular motion and you knock thrust off course by swiping side to side. The Korean martial manuscript the Muyedobotongji also describes spear combat while mounted and some of those pictures (I have the book at home) look a lot like what would be necessary. There is also a Japanese spear that has been translated as a tube spear. This is a spear that has tube that you hold with your leading hand that helps with a really smooth thrust from the backhand. The thing about this spears martial arts school is, is that it teaches a way of running backwards in retreat while still delivering accurate thrusts at the foe.
I think that if we combine all of this stuff while mounted switching back and forth between bow and a thrusting spear we could have a really fun style. If they persue us too hard that's a bunch of thrust to the face or their mount,but if they slow down even just a little bit /or their horse gets really tired they are gonna get shot at by arrows. I have done some mounted archery for a while and shooting backwards is really not that hard and I'm a terrible shot.
Fn 10/10 sir! Informative and entertaining. I hope you get all the subscriptions.
Lars Andersen has shown a lot of these things as well. It's nice to finally have proof that some of these crazy shots are plausible if not outright doable, and it has changed the way I do my D&D games.
:edit for spelling:
This is absolutely one of the videos ever made. In the novel saga I'm writing, I decided to introduce a band of infamous sellswords (designed to be a homage to Vinland Saga's Askeladd and his ilk). Their leader, Eðall Gimbrosa, is a fabled archer with blessed sight, known for two things: his impeccable accuracy and his archery quirks.
One of those quirks is that he dons a custom made dress, designed to stabilize or tense specific parts of his body, enhancing his peculiar fighting style. Another quirk is what he calls "Heljarheilsan" (Old Norse for "Death's Greeting", corny, I know) - each time he shoots an arrow, he raises his right hand in a provocative gesture which may draw his enemy's attention and blind them to where the arrow is flying.
But even so, this being a low fantasy, mostly realistic setting, I wanted for his character to employ physically possible, yet widely mocked techniques. The curved shot you showed us lands in his arsenal as of now. Keep it coming, David, and if I devise something equally absurd though feasible, I'll be sure to share with you and get you to try it out 😉
Your range of abilities is pretty impressive. Means it goes well with your charm and wit :)
The wildest mounted archery shot I saw was very recently. Mongolian archery contest and the guy's barely hanging onto the horse, his body sideways practically horizontal to the ground, and his aim is lateral to the horse run. The guy was impressive, but I was also blown away by the horse able to adjust to the center of mass shift.
I find it extraordinarily impressive how perfectly you managed to pair the recording of this video, to the minute, with the 70000th anniversary of archery.
I’m reminded of Kevin James’ comedy bit about trying to nock an arrow while jouncing around on horseback and finally resorting to just throwing the arrow-more like a ball than like a javelin or dart (which might have worked?)
I realize it wouldn’t have worked for camp kids, but could warriors effectively use their arrows as javelins or darts? Or would the arrows not be weighted enough or something to serve that purpose even with warrior strength behind them?
As a brazilian i never expected to be watching your videos and out of nowhere see you holding a berimbau
That is just about the smoothest ad transition Ive ever seen
I think one thing to keep in mind when it comes to the applicability of a couple of these techniques - primarily the bladed bow and the curving shot - is that historically speaking, most battles were not two sides rushing into each other, and then dissolving into hundreds - if not thousands - of individual duels. Rather, most battles were for a long time a game of chicken on the scale of armies. You'd approach slowly, poke at each other a bit, then withdraw for a few minutes, and then get back at it, until one side ran. That's when most of the killing began.
So a bladed bow, used as a sorta spear, doesn't need to be brilliant at killing someone. It only needs to be a sharp bit of metall that no one wants to get near to be effective.
Same with the curving shot. If you can shoot around a corner, the guys on the other side of the corner don't know when you can hit them, and are going to be a lot more careful about rounding that corner. It's essentially a form of suppressive fire. Which is great, if you're trying to delay your pursuers when getting out of dodge.
My point is: Something doesn't have to be good at killing to be a good weapon. It just has to be able to scare your opponent for long enough for you to accomplish your goal.
Imagine everyone knowing you as this breakdancer who always plays this cool stick guitar thing, and then when trouble comes, you grab your weird fiddlesticks set with feathers in the middle of the sticks, duck under a strike and capoeira kick the baddie in the face, then curve some arrows with your berimbau bow into the body of a dude hiding behind a rock. He's not dead cus it didn't pierce deep, so you run, stab him, retrieve your arrow, roll back and shoot another dude's face out of the roll.
This kid is great; he makes me have some hope for the future. His fun loving exuberance is infectious.
I actually had an idea for an rpg game where everyone's weapons are also musical instruments. Thanks for making that thought work
for anyone interested in seeing the more extreme side of curving arrows, and for those who havent seen him somehow, look up Lars Anderson. he's basically a real life fantasy archer. course his setups are staged, but the principles make archers look better than melee users even in close range
OH MY GOD my wife had a berimbau archer bard this year on a TTRPG and i always wanted to see an actual archer trying to shoot from it. ty sir!
Incredible as always sir.
Interesting fact, the curving arrow is actually utilized in the Mahabharata.
Funny how we’ve all decided/agreed that’s what zombies sound like.
Hey there, David.
I've been watching your short and long-form videos for a little while, and I felt I had to comment on this one as it incorporates the trope that I felt vindicated about. Namely, the one about bladed bows.
Let me explain:
See, I have a roleplaying character on the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online who is basically a sniper/ranger archetype. By that, I mean that his ranged weapon of choice is a war-bow that is specifically designed with an immensely high draw weight in order to punch through solid defense, or the sturdy hides of things like dragons and similarly scaled beasts in the setting.
It's pretty much overkill in other situations beyond those two in context. And contrary to most archer archetypes in media, his standard modus operandi is that he finds a perch and stands his ground there-since he's essentially a longbowman in function.
To speak of the draw weight a bit more, magic in itself is ingrained into the setting as Aether-or what in reality we would know simply as energy. Spellcasters use it to cast magic, fighters and the like use it to reinforce or enhance their bodies to superhuman levels when using their skills in combat.
One aspect of this war-bow is that its draw weight is so immense that the act of drawing, stringing, and unstringing requires aether to accomplish-even when the wielder is physically strong enough to draw a heavy war-bow crafted in more conventional ways. By that logic, the arrows loosed from it are quite powerful indeed. In terms of the standard concerns about snapping the string or breaking the limbs, it's mitigated by the fact that the entire thing is crafted from the parts of a dragon. Particularly, its bones make up the limbs, and a heartstring makes up... well, the bowstring-both of which may well be able to endure that level of punishment.
To talk about the blades a bit, they're shaped like claws; the pointed end can reasonably stab or pierce, and the outward curve of the claw is itself a blade. The war-bow has a single claw-blade on either end of the limbs, essentially making it a double-ended glaive weapon. However, I don't roleplay the idea of using the blades when the bow is strung. Rather, I make it so that he has at least the option to use it as a war-bow, or as a short spear-since bows cannot be under tension forever. TL;DR: it's a bow when strung, it's a spear when unstrung.
Your short form video about it actually made my day since that's a concept I'd been working with for a little while. Further, another video of yours that talked briefly about needing to unstring a bow-which I totally forgot was a factor. That reminder allowed me to give the war-bow a 'melee form' as it were, rather than having the blades be weapons of last resort as you discuss in the 'bladed bows' section of this video.
Also, this has gone on for long enough so I'll keep this section as short as I can:
With regard to the topic of bows as musical instruments, the war-bow in question can somewhat do that. You see, dragons in FFXIV communicate with each other through aetheric waves that they call 'dragonsongs'. When aether is poured or channeled into the bowstring-crafted from a dragon's heartstring-it releases a consistent wave that sounds like gibberish to most people, but is a broken dragonsong to other dragons.
Very dangerous when the need to imbue arrows with magic through the string is done in areas that is home to dragonkind
Sorry for reacting early AF in your comments... but... 24 seconds in...
I have found thousands of rocks that look almost exactly like that... in USA.
Those look fairly like 'everyday rocks'. Sure, one could assign them some significance, and say they were 'arrowheads'... but, they do not resemble them, and could easily just be everyday existence that formed them to be as such.
However, I have watched multiple videos of yours... and definitely deserves a subscribe!! Very sound, factual info!!
Man, watching your videos (and especially this one) really makes me wish there was actually *better* representation for archery in video games. I would love a game where having multiple arrow types in a quiver meant different techniques were available, where you could change your shot style as you got better, or relied on something like mouse gestures or even like fighting game inputs to change the type of shots you made.
Love these videos. Thanks for the content. Definitely want to go to a range again now.
I love your videos. Great stuff. From this one, I’ll be trying your demonstrated technique for curving arrows. Happy shooting, dancing, creating, D&Ding, and general best wishes 🙂😎🏹
1: shooting 2-3 arrows only needs you to hold the bow horisontally so both can be on top and the angle between the arrows will be much less (not set by the thickness of the bow). the old robin hood shown this trick pretty well how it can be used in short range when a pair is attacking you.
2: loading multiple arrows work fairly quickly you just have to learn how to. you should grab them between 3 fingers instead of pinching them. speed shooters can do it nicely, also shown in the great wall when Matt does the 3 quick release shots at the bowl, its the same technique
all in all its still pretty silly and very situational, but who knows, some archers might have saved their life with it (no, they probably havent)
3: a multi arrow shot is not necesserily weaker. bows have a maximum energy they can transfer to the arrows, but thats many times not utilised. its solely there to launch heavier and heavier arrows. if you fire a 300grain arrow from a 40 pound recurve or a 140 pound recurve it will have about the same energy as the speed of the bow does NOT come from the energy stored in it. the difference is the 140 pound bow can launch even 1200grain arrows OR 4x 300grain arrows in the same time on (close to) full energy (there will be some discrepancy but not the half energy for twice the arrows). now when you have a 40pounds bow, that will be ok with 1x 300grain arrow but not with 4, so yes, putting 2 arrows on it will in general halve the power of the arrow
other than that, i really love your content, that +8 dex modifier really shows lol :D
8:08 the wash tub bass.. or the Brazilian thing. Great fun video as always.
HUH, neat! That last trick of forcing your arrows to curve is really fun. :o
I understand that an arrow would typically pass through a lamp or bulb rather than ricochet. However, I'm curious about a hypothetical scenario where you combine a curve shot with a glancing blow off a non-solid object like a bulb or lamp. Do you think this could create a sufficient deflection to hit a target behind a crowd, even if the arrow can't curve enough or ricochet at all on its own given the targets to work with?
This was a most formidable résumé (from every possible point of view)!!!👏🙏🙇
I kind of love that your onscreen graphic for "literature" was a comic book.
A few fantastical solution to the bladed bow's issues:
- Integrating the blades directly into the construction of the bow's arms rather than being mounted on the ends, making it less unwieldy by keeping the weight more in-line with the typical points of flexion (but a bit more dangerous with regards to slicing yourself, certainly for an untrained user)
- Using supernaturally light-yet-strong fantasy metals, such as mithril or ironwood, to make them more resistant to the stresses of melee combat
- Have a supernaturally strong wielder and reinforce it with stronger materials, similarly to a horn-/composite bow
In my case, I'm using all three for an NPC I've recently introduced into my D&D campaign, who wields a composite longbow made from the metallic bones of a bladetail felldrake (imagine a T. rex with a giant blade for a tail-or Glavenus from Monster Hunter, which is what I've not-so-subtly adapted). The arms are made from ironwood, felldrake horns and sinew, with curved blades made from the felldrake's tail molded directly into the arms. Ironwood is only slightly heavier than yew but substantially stronger, while felldrake horns and sinews are almost identical in weight to those of large bovines (the creatures typically sourced for hornbows) but are as strong as high-carbon steel (a wizard did it). The tail is denser and stronger still, but still lighter than iron or steel. The composite construction also allows for a vastly increased draw strength compared to a simple pure-wooden bow. Fortunately, the wielder (Dame Veille Drake, the Iron Vanguard) happens to be jacked as all hell and has a Belt of Stone Giant Strength to boot.
14:47 Yeah, but Yondu's arrow is technically an arrow, but it's high tech and has an independent propulsion system that, I guess, converts high pitched sound waves into propulsion. The curving arrows I think of is that one scene from Robin Hood: PoT.
It's a bargain basement Knife Missile.
Fun video, well done! That was very enjoyable to watch. Now off to the range :D
for the curving arrow it would be really cool to have a slow-motion video.
anyway: this was cool to watch. Thank you!
I've seen some incredibly curving shots by another archer on RUclips. He's known for his trick shots and speed shooting, so yeah. The other stuff was pretty neat, too. Thanks for the lessons!
This was very interesting, informative, and entertaining. Thank you.
Wow man, you are having fun with life. Much respect
I made a balded bow for tabletop, but it was more a scimitar blade sharing the grip of the bow, separate from the limbs. it was ultralight fantasy metal too, so it wasn't unduly heavy, but it was generally less effective as a melee weapon because of the weight of the bow and the fact that you had an entire bow limb as a "pommel"
Any chance to try horseback archery ?
Sneaking up and shooting two unarmored guards in the back is a possible scenario for dual arrows.
I believe that there was a Native American tribe that used their bows as lances from horseback. I believe some formed metal around the tip, while others fire hardened and ground tips. May have been fire hardened in one era, tipped in the next. I can't remember which tribe but I believe it was a plains tribe.
Cheyennes had a slightly wiggly lance which I think was called a bow-lance. I think it was associated with 'Contraries'.
FINALLY Lars Andersen gets some compettition. GOOD JOB! Don't lett people - historians with theoretical knowledge etc - tell you it is not good, what you are doing.
Just like in experimental archeology you are showing what is IN FACT possible. If somebody in history REALLY did it may be discussed. But you also rule things out of the discussion which is impossible or makes no sense at all.
Love your vids man!
Regarding the first one - there are also bows in early medieval (around the 6th and 7th century) Europe which were originally interpreted by archaeologists as spears because they had a pointy metal tip on one limb. Since then, additional finds and tests with reproductions have shown that they were in fact bows. Around that time, bows were mostly used for hunting, so the question arises whether this was intended as a sort of backup weapon or perhaps for personal defense in case you ran into some unsavory characters. A military use is pretty unlikely because the bows weren't that strong and the "spear tip" wasn't that effective either. Plus the sources don't really mention military application of bows and arrows around the time.