[UA] Unknown Skills

[Rayburn, Russell E.]

Ok, this is getting into deep geek, but FWIW:

The hydrostatic shock factor is debatable, to say the least.  

What isn't under debate is the permanent wound channel (the actual path of
the projectile) AKA the crush cavity.

Crossbow bolts and Bow arrows both have a significant crush cavity.
Crossbows and longbows can send their projectiles completely through a human
torso (even one that is armored, as seen on the History Channel).  

The diameter of this crush cavity is, at least, the diameter of the shaft of
the projectile.  Now I'm not enough of a geek to know the diameter of the
average arrow / crossbow bolt off the top of my head, but 1/4" (6.35mm)
seems reasonable.  This compares with the 5.56mm round of the M-16.
Admittedly, the 5.56mm has a much higher velocity, yet both projectiles can
penetrate a human torso.

In short (yeah, I know... too late), I'd give crossbows and bows fire arm
damage, but would impose significant negative shifts (say ... -20% or -30%)
to any target farther than 30 meters.

This would reflect the lower velocity arrow/bolts travel at, yet also
acknowledge their lethality at close range.

See also: http://www.dhna.org/Articles/CbowsBheads.htm



-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Norwood [mailto:rowan at media.mit.edu]
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 2:36 PM
To: ua at lists.uchicago.edu
Subject: Re: [UA] Unknown Skills


Eh. I'd stick with HTH damage. Most of the damage from a bullet is from 
the hydrostatic shock -- bullets enter the body with such velocity that 
they end up tumbling around and breaking bones, pulverizing tissue, and 
generally fucking shit up. An arrow or a crossbow bolt tends to slide 
right in, making a clean puncture wound. My understanding is that 
getting hit withan arrow isn't significantly different from having one 
pushed into your body by hand. An arrow is also extremely unlikely to 
kill anyone from shock unless it hits them in the brain or heart, while 
a bullet can send the body into fatal shock no matter where it hits.

I'm not an expert, but HTH damage seems to be in order.

Matt Norwood

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