Why do you think a projectile will do more damage at a greater distance?
When an arrow immediately comes off of a bow string, it has a lot of "wobble" to it. Once it flies 15m or so, at minimum, the flight starts to stabilize. A stabilized flying arrow will impart more force it its target when it strikes than a wobbly flying arrow. The distance depends on the bow being used and the material the arrow is made of, but this is the general truth.
In cRPG distance heavily affects damage for ranged and as far as I know closer means higher damage. Which is realistic as a missile gets its propelling energy from the bow string and then starts to lose it due to friction, apart from the aforementioned arrow wobble, can't imagine that having an enormous effect though
I can understand it losing dmg over longer distance...but I always thought of the dmg as:
none...low...lower...normal..higher....HIGH...lower...low....
Hey, I'm high, cant explain better atm :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Well, by "wobble" i mean the arrow flexes or wiggles for a bit as it flies. You can look up videos of arrow flight in slow motion to see what I mean.
I'm no physics expert, but I've drawn a picture to communicate my understanding of this.(click to show/hide)
So basically imagine you have a straight piece of wood, like a long thin dowel rod, and you jab it at someone's chest with it. Then imagine you flop it around a bit and jab again. The 2nd jab will likely impart less force because it will be flexed when it strikes.
The arrow shot at point blank will still have energy and straighten itself after it hits, but the straight arrow has the entire shaft driving directly behind the point.
]visitors can't see pics , please register or loginThe thing is, does the upper arrow have more energy than the lower one? No, it has not. Because at the moment the arrow is released the energy would be 1/2* mass* (initial) velocity. However when it travels, energy is indeed lost, mainly due to air friction, also gravity affects it, and i think if the arrow starts rotating it loses energy to it but i am not sure.
So basically imagine you have a straight piece of wood, like a long thin dowel rod, and you jab it at someone's chest with it. Then imagine you flop it around a bit and jab again. The 2nd jab will likely impart less force because it will be flexed when it strikes.Yea true you would expect that the rod would resist like some sort of spring and bend even more because it is already bent, but i dont think you can make that comparison because now you have made that a property of the rod, while the arrow is actually straight.
When an arrow immediately comes off of a bow string, it has a lot of "wobble" to it. Once it flies 15m or so, at minimum, the flight starts to stabilize. A stabilized flying arrow will impart more force it its target when it strikes than a wobbly flying arrow. The distance depends on the bow being used and the material the arrow is made of, but this is the general truth.
It's true that point blank bow shots should do a bit less damage. The damage should peak somewhere around 15-25m, and then fall off again as air friction slows down the projectile.
Source: I do archering.
Yes due the "wobble" engery is lost, but it wont come back when the arrow is stabilized.(click to show/hide)
You play too many video games and not enough time studying the world you actually live in. :P
Ever see anyone say:
"Shoot him!"
"I can't! He's too close and it does no damage at that range!"
Well, by "wobble" i mean the arrow flexes or wiggles for a bit as it flies. You can look up videos of arrow flight in slow motion to see what I mean.one of the most important laws in physics and chemistry: energy can not be created, neither can it be destructed.
I'm no physics expert, but I've drawn a picture to communicate my understanding of this.(click to show/hide)
So basically imagine you have a straight piece of wood, like a long thin dowel rod, and you jab it at someone's chest with it. Then imagine you flop it around a bit and jab again. The 2nd jab will likely impart less force because it will be flexed when it strikes.
The arrow shot at point blank will still have energy and straighten itself after it hits, but the straight arrow has the entire shaft driving directly behind the point.
I'll try to test in a couple days...I'm not sure if the guy that owns the archery shop will want me making point-blank shots in his range tho. :?
I'll do my best!
I would say statistically that is a very small number for a proper trial, especially as the papers weren't machine packed. My other question would be whether you unconsciously drew further back when loosing at 8 yards as opposed to 1 yard. Lastly, it appears the target is on the ground and the angle would naturally be steeper up close than from further away and wonder if that didn't have an effect on the penetration as well.
But certainly a valiant effort at testing the theory! +1
Why do you think a projectile will do more damage at a greater distance?
It will only suffer from air drag and loose its initial speed, which is highest after released from the bow, and reduces in flight.
Unless you would shoot in an arc and the shooter is on an elevated position, if the velocity of the projectile in the descent>initial velocity, which could be possible, but i dont think this is the case in crpg.
Regarding the pikes and spears, it is impossible to stab someone point blank (unless you do some fancy 360 moves or something). But even when you are able to stab, the distance doesnt matter as long the velocity of the stab is constant, more corectly would be if the energy transfer is the same, but yea it does cost more energy to move an object further away, but i think these variables are a bit too much for a game like crpg and it wouldnt really matter that much.
Anyway, an arrow hitting at a closer distance than about twice the length of the arrow should do strictly nothing, considering it has not yet reached its cruising speed. This would also really affect gameplay.
flexing has nothing to do with actual damage, when the arrow hits, thats when the energy is absorbed by target.
as for xbows. damage potential is actually much greater upon release of bolt, as this is the moment when the projectile has most energy.
Maybe read what I said first next time. When the arrow or bolt is halfway released, it should not do as much damage, and preferably none. Try to shoot at something less than the length of your arrow away from the point you grab your bow.