Crossbow

weapons · medieval · engineering · hunting

Sideways bow design. Unlike regular bows that you hold upright, a crossbow has its bow part called a prod mounted horizontays on a wooden frame called a tiller. This makes it easier to hold steady and aim, almost like holding a rifle.

Shoots special arrows. Crossbows fire short, thick arrow-like projectiles called bolts or quarrels instead of regular arrows. These bolts are much heavier and fly straighter because of their special shape and the way they're launched.

Super strong power. The crossbow's elastic launching system stores up lots of energy before release, making it incredibly powerful. This means even someone without the arm strength of an expert archer could shoot it with great force.

The crossbowman. People who shoot crossbows are called crossbowmen, arbalister, or arbalists. In medieval times, crossbowmen were skilled warriors who could be trained faster than traditional archers because the weapon required less years of practice.

Steady aiming. Because the crossbow is held horizontally and stays braced against your shoulder like a gun, it's much easier to aim carefully and keep your shot steady compared to holding a traditional bow.