Primitive Ranged Weapons

This broad skill provides a character with training in the use of

primitive ranged weapons, including bows and crossbows, slings, and

even primitive firearms such as flintlock pistols and rifles.

Other factors that can influence the situation die used in a primitive

ranged weapon attack are listed under “Ranged Weapon Attack Modifiers”

in the Modern Ranged Weapons skill section.

Weapon Technical Knowledge: Mastery of primitive ranged weapons

goes far beyond pulling a trigger or releasing a string. Experienced

practitioners — hunters, archers, and survivalists — inevitably absorb

a working technical understanding of their weapons. They know how the

feathering affects arrow trajectories, how the stiffness of a bow’’s

limbs affects draw weight, and how different materials react to

humidity and damage. As well as keeping informed of the various

craftsmanship and weapon types that exist. A character with the

Technical Science broad skill can use the appropriate Primitive

Ranged Weapons specialty skill for checks that involve knowing the

existence (and quality) of a particular weapon, customizing weapons

and ammunition, as well as recognizing, repairing, and maintaining

primitive weapons in the field.

TABLE P22: RANGE MODIFIERS BY WEAPON TYPE

| Weapon | Short | Medium | Long |

| :— | :— | :— | :— |

| Flintlock Pistol | -1 step | +1 step | +2 steps |

| Primitive* | -1 step | None | +1 step |

| Musket | -1 step | None | +1 step |

*Bow, crossbow, sling only.

Bow

With the bow skill, a character can become proficient with long

bows and short bows. Although there are significant differences

between them (see Chapter 11: Weapons & Armor for more

information), all primitive weapons have the same modifiers for

range (see TABLE P22: WEAPON TYPE on this page).

As a character achieves higher ranks in this specialty, he gains

additional abilities as described in “Ranged Weapons Rank

Benefits” on the next page.

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Crossbow

With the crossbow skill, a character can become increasingly more

proficient with this type of primitive weapon. This same action to

load a crossbow, and it takes one action to fire it. A character

obtains higher ranks in this specialty he gains additional

abilities as described in “Ranged Weapons Rank Benefits” on the

next page.

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Flintlock

This specialty skill covers the use of all types of flintlocks,

including both pistols and muskets.

As a character achieves higher ranks in this specialty, he gains

additional abilities as described in “Ranged Weapons Rank

Benefits” on the next page.

It takes one action to load a flintlock pistol and a separate

action to fire the weapon—and it takes a character two actions to

load a musket, plus a separate action to fire the weapon. As a

character achieves higher ranks in this specialty, he gains

additional abilities as described in “Ranged Weapons Rank

Benefits” on the next page.

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Sling

With the sling skill, a character can become increasingly more

proficient with this type of primitive weapon. A sling can be

loaded and fired in this same action by any character.

As a character achieves higher ranks in this specialty, he gains additional abilities as described in “Ranged Weapons Rank Benefits” on the next page.

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