Archer O.C.C.™

Although archers are not all that common in the world, they are quite unique and very powerful. These people specialize in the arts of ranged combat. Capable of handling the long bow, short bow, or crossbow with amazing accuracy, these people are actively sought after for membership in armies.

Even though many archers find employment in the armed guards of various nations, most of them are wanderers and mercenaries. They are the most valuable of any fighters and people have been known to pay out exorbanite amounts of money in order to have these men and women protect and serve them.

All archers gain the following bonuses and penalties:

1. Aimed shot grants a bonus of +3 to strike. It uses up two attacks and targets must be "called" in order to hit specific locations.
2. Dodge and parry arrows at –3. Crossbow bolts cannot be dodged unless they are being fired from long range.
3. When using any weapon other than the area of specialization, all bonuses to strike are half.
4. The archer suffers no penalty when firing from an awkward position (firing on the move is always considered wild).

Not all archers are created equal. Each one specializes in one of three different types of bow: short bow, long bow, or crossbow. The individual specialization’s grant specific bonuses and abilities as noted below:

Short Bow is the skilled use of short range bows. Those who specialize in the short bow have the following bonuses:

1. +2 to strike with a short bow at any range (+5 for aimed shot).
2. Can fire 3 times at level one with an additional shot at levels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,10, and14.
3. Can hit moving targets at any range, requires a called shot but cannot specify locations.

Long Bow specialization grants specific bonuses for using long range bows. Those who specialize in the long bow can use the Palladium � rpg pages 83-84 with the following exceptions:

1. Obscene range! Long bow users begin with a maximum range of 700 feet, but gain an additional 25 feet per level!
2. Can hit moving targets at short range. This skill requires a called shot (cannot hit specific locations) and cannot be made against targets greater than half range.

Crossbow is an area unto itself. This is a specialized weapon similar to a bow, but its differences are so great that it cannot be included as a short bow or a long bow. Those who are proficient in it’s use are few and far between, but often fetch the highest prices. Crossbow professionals are proficient in both large and small crossbows. Crossbowman get 3 shots per melee at level one with an additional shot at levels 2, 4, 6, 10, and 14. Those who are not trained in the use of the crossbow get one shot per melee regardless of level.

Crossbows are the most powerful of all weapons in Vallinor because of their armor piercing ability. Due the pull of these weapons, the crossbow ignores all soft armor. If the target is wearing metal armor and the attack roll does not beat it’s A.R.™, half damage is done to the persons S.D.C.™ and full damage is done to the armors S.D.C.™.

Bolts cannot be made of wood alone. All cheap bolts are made of wood reinforced with metal, but the highest quality bolts are made of solid metal.

Large Crossbow – Range: 800’ Damage: 3D6 Cost: 160 gp
Small Crossbow – Range: 450’ Damage: 2D6 Cost: 100 gp
Metal Bolts – 15gp per dozen
Reinforced Bolts – 1pg per dozen

No weapon can ever exceed it’s maximum range! See the long bowman for clarification on this rule. Even with this addition to the rules, the archer is still incredibly deadly. Even though they cannot take the damage hand-to-hand, their targets are often unable to close in for close combat.

Weapons and Armor
Archers are, by definition, light fighters. They never wear any armor above chain and will not use a shield. Many do not use armor at all believing that it is nothing more than a barbaric display of insecurity. Those who do wear chain armor, always cover it with some sort of jerkin and legging.

Due to the fact that archers specialize in ranged combat, they are relatively ignorant of close fighting. They can never take a hand-to-hand form greater than expert, and cannot use any two-handed weapon other than their bow.

Attribute Minimums
P.S.: 9 P.P.:10