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Author Topic: Are Crossbows overpowered in Lion Rampant 2?  (Read 2154 times)

Offline soldieroftheline

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 95
Are Crossbows overpowered in Lion Rampant 2?
« on: October 20, 2023, 12:42:39 PM »
My gaming group really like LR (and derivatives) but we have had a few games recently where crossbows have rather dominated. We played one last night using the Garrison and Rebel forces suggested in the rule book and the two units of Garrison Crossbows just trashed the Rebels who were really unable to deal with them. In real life of course, such rebel forces did lack firepower, but even so. It's not the first game we've had where one side has struggled against a wall of Crossbows.

I think the problem is that, although Crossbows require a higher shoot activation than Archers which is supposed to represent their slower rate of fire, with everyone now having the command ability which allows one re-roll of a failed activation both units activated just about every time. With them hitting on 4+ within 12" they can really do some damage especially against lighter armoured troops and it seems disproportionate.

I would be interested to hear peoples thoughts/experiences. At the moment we are considering upping their Shoot activation roll to 8+ instead of 7+. This would put them on a par with Artillery in Pikeman's Lament. I'm not keen to reduce the fire factor, which would just make them the same as Archers.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2023, 01:01:40 PM by soldieroftheline »

Offline SteveBurt

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1283
Re: Are Crossbows overpowered in Lion Rampant 2?
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2023, 01:58:38 PM »
In our games they get shot to pieces by enemy archers and then charged early on. But we mostly play Crusades, so the opposition have lots of horse archers.

Offline soldieroftheline

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 95
Re: Are Crossbows overpowered in Lion Rampant 2?
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2023, 02:52:34 PM »
they get shot to pieces by enemy archers

But in our El Cid games (not overly different to Crusades) they win the shootout with Archers because they activate just as often and hit better. I suppose having multiple units shooting at them is one way to deal with them, they can only shoot back at one. Easier said than done though.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2023, 02:55:17 PM by soldieroftheline »

Offline SteveBurt

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1283
Re: Are Crossbows overpowered in Lion Rampant 2?
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2023, 03:08:21 PM »
Archers are easier to activate, and mounted ones can skirmish, so can move back out of 12” range. Even with a re-roll, crossbows will fail to activate roughly one time in 6, and you have used your re-roll up one time in three (roughly), which will often mean your turn ends sooner

Offline jon_1066

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 909
Re: Are Crossbows overpowered in Lion Rampant 2?
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2023, 09:24:29 AM »
As a house rule what about this:

Shoot is 5+ but Armour is always taken as 2

So they are worse against regular archers due to activation 7 but better vs armoured targets.  Probably slightly too good the other way but not a lot in it

Eg shoot 4+ armour 3 is equivalent shoot 5+ armour 2.  Makes them best against Armour 4 targets.

 

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