| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Hoondatha |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 07:26:01
One of the things that drives me most nuts about modern attempts at medieval battle scenes (whether written or in the movies), is that, sooner or later, you'll have some character yelling "Fire" at his archers.
"Fire" is not an archery term. It comes from early guns, that needed actual flaming wicks touched to their powder to explode (much like later cannons). Actual terms used by archers are "Loose," and "Release," (sometimes adding "...arrows!" afterward)
But what I can't remember seeing anywhere is an archery command equal to "Fire at will." A signal to switch from vollies to individual shooting. Can anyone fill me in? Also, if there are any other "Fire" equivalents that I missed, I'd love to learn them. |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| scererar |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 04:00:14
I was also trying to cross reference Archery sites for either voice or signal commands. I ran across several "whistle" commands also. I also remember something about flag signals in ancient armies for the signaling of archery units to move, prepare(load), pull, and loose |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 02:03:32
"Discharge", "loose" and "shoot" are all applicable terms for firing crossbow bolts (and two websites on archery suggest the terms are applied to standard archery bows as well).
"Fire" should only be used if the arrow or bolt has a flamed applied.
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| Kentinal |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 01:08:40
fire at will actually is a bastardization of shoot at Willian Tell with fire arrows. *wink*
Yes as range closed, those that did not get stoped other ways, the lead archers were expected to select their targets. |
| Hoondatha |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 00:45:23
"Pick your targets." Hmm. There's one I didn't think of. Thanks. |
| Beirnadri Magranth |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 18:44:18
i saw an old movie about rome vs germanic barbarians and they were told to shower or volley the enemy and then "to pick targets" when tehy would switch to targeting individuals (firing at will) |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 17:54:12
rewound = "Past tense and past participle of rewind. " and could very well refer to crossbows.
As for bow commands it appears that the command was ready, then ranged called out, so bows could be angled, loose. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 17:17:17
I'm reading one of the recent Drizzt books, and I saw the word "rewound" in there... That really threw me, because it was used in the "backing up to a previous point" sense. |
| silvermage |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 08:14:18
Fire is quite a common word that is ingrained into many minds, well, sometimes single words such as:
Release, Loose, Launch, Now!(Provided the archers understand the term)
Besides that, a bit long terms can also be used:
Unleash the storm, shoot at will, Stretch and release.
I will think a bit more and fill in later. |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 07:38:09
I think the order to fire is "Loose" |
