5 Ridiculous Archery Tropes (that actually work!)

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Fantasy archery often gets a lot of criticism (including from me!) But despite stories of archers being in some cases deliberately unrealistic, the truth can sometimes be just as strange and exciting as fiction.

Here are 5 fantasy archery tropes, weapons, and trick shots that seem completely unrealistic at first, but which turn out to be perfectly realistic (or have a real-world counterpart!)

00:00 Intro
02:06 Bladed Bows
04:52 Acrobatic Archery
06:44 Musical Bows
10:06 Twin Shot
14:19 Curving Arrows

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#bowandarrow #archery #archer #fantasy #nerd #trickshots #ttrpg #gaming #film #history #writing

[daanwilmer]

Another option where shooting two arrows might be advantageous: you have a very heavy bow (say a 200 pound draw weight) but your only option is to shoot arrows that are designed for half that draw weight (you ran out of arrows, haven't ditched your bow for your sidearm, and you happen to come across somebody else's quiver of lighter arrows designed for a 100 pound bow). Since these are lighter and weaker, they might actually break with the force your heavy bow is trying to put into them. Shooting two arrows would allow you to still shoot, in this very unlikely scenario.

[blumineck]

Archers shown at 00:56

Clockwise from top left: Mihai Cozmei, Freedomandfeathers, Segredalreal (archer unnamed), Lars Anderson, Byron Ferguson

[MasterQui-Gon_Jinn]

I have learned you can do a lot with archery, but you need to be creative with it.

[darthtace]

Alright, props -- that's the first time somebody integrated an ad well enough into the video that I didn't feel the desire to skip it. I'm not even mad; if I could still run, I'd be downloading that app right now.

[ZelphTheWebmancer]

The berimbau is a really cool instrument and I recommend people to look up videos of it being played, specially in capoeira circles

[anitabalcer-whittle]

Love all of these tropes! But the curving arrow is always fun to see in reality as it’s such a party trick!

[SaganTheKhajiit]

As a Brazilian, I appreciate that you at least tried to play the berimbau. Hopefully you bring it back in the future, too.

[Antifrost]

The musical bows trope reminds me of Sir Tristian in the Fate series. His bow works by magic as you might assume, but it functions more like a harp that can fire sonic projectiles than a bow that can make music. As a result, he can actually attack with only one arm. Somehow, he's got the best of both worlds, where it simultaneously works as an instrument and a weapon.

[alexandredesouza]

What's interesting about the berimbau being alin to a bow and arrow is that it is intrinsically associated with capoeira. One does not exist without the other. And Capoeira was intended to be a martial art disguised as a dance. To allow slaves to train fighting without being found out and punished.

Fitting that the berimbau is a weapon disguised as an instrument.

[SuperByakhee]

In a wonderful confluence of two of these tropes, In times past, when the art was suppressed - or just because fights might happen the required it, it was not unknown for Capoeirstas to attach knives, spikes, or razorblades to the ends of their berimbau, to use as an improvised spear.

[siluixlp]

I have a coment on the 2 arrow thjing:

Yes, the arrows are slower, less powerfull and less acurate than a single arrow.
BUT: If you are in a situation, where you have basically a sniper position, and time to aim, and know, you have to be on the run the moment you are discoverd, AND you have multiple targets that you want to hit: Shooting 2 arrows may be viable.
It may be even more viable if combined with poison tipped arrpws, because then you don't have to rely on perfect acuracy and the full power of the bow.

Again not a battlefield tactic, but in poltical fantsy scenario, this may still be ones best option

[Xavieus]

As a guy who likes guns, the shotgun analogy is perfect. Same as with a shotgun blasting multiple pellets, the energy between all of them is reduced compared to a single slug. 00 buckshot is basically sending 8 9mm pistol rounds at once while a slug is like a cannon ball. Same thing also with multiple targets. As far as as rate of fire too, a rifle would be much faster to shoot one at a time accurately. Great video!

[ANDELE]

While the 69k is a NICE joke, its likely not real out of the 3 actually worthwhile analytical studies, the main Lombard one only managed to actually prove that the chipped stones had fractures as fitting to someone pushing on the top/edge side with the opposite end down into something, but lack any trace evidence of flexible wood (you know as would be needed for archery, be it on its own or with either sinew or wound plant strings) compared to explanations given and reproduced that show it could have as easily been from use as a peeling razors of animal skin and tendons from bones or simpler spears or even as darts (as do most sites with sharpened flint, bone, quartz or other stone materials older than 19-20k BC), much how the few "less research paper more book" ala Lyn Wadleys doorstop effectively concludes "its a cool possibility but i could just be bullshitting myself by reading implications into implications".

Edit for bit of context: i noted 19-20k BC because thats when pretty much when cave paintings of of people using something that is even vaguely resembling bow and arrow start appearing across the world, while darts, spears, javelins and other forms of "sharp stick" go back as far as relatively advanced hominids could put their hands in the closest pigmented liquid and press it against nearby surfaces.

[The_Smith]

I enjoy these longer form videos David, they sure show the work you put in.

[daniels]

It's great how enthusiastically you've applied yourself to the history and science of archery. These videos are very educational.

[nicholasvaultonburg]

Your shorts are great, but I'm a huge fan of your longer explanations. W upload.

[MauricioOsuna-etet]

Hey Mr. Blumineck Man, one question I've come to have: have there been, or would it be possible to have a SHIELD BOW? It'd be quite heavier, given you're holding it with the arm extended (that gravity lever effect), and with quite reduced visibility, but the very situation where you'd need one is on open spaces, far from cover.
You can check where I get this idea from in Warframe's Duviri Bowmen enemies. Their bows project a buckler-sized field in front and around the riser with a hole for the arrow. It doesn't exactly act as a buckler, but the concept is right there.
Were we to lean even more on the shield part, I extended the concept to having a TOWER SHIELD with an ARROW SLIT. Pair such a shield / barricade with a regular bow, and I think it's perfectly viable. 99% cover from enemy archers, portable, can deploy anywhere.
So, what's your say on my ramblings? 😂🏹🎯

[cathsaigh]

I think that the "DEX is the archery stat" being common is probably at least as much for the fine motor control of aiming accurately as it is for the acrobatics of shield surfing.

[SixDeadZeroHEMA]

Great video David, probably one of your best. Not just the subject matter but the presentation and the feel of it just all flows nicely together. Congrats on the cool sponsor as well!

[lycandula]

I really love when you make videos with so much research. I love to see the history and science behind modern/historical tropes. It brings things back down from fantasy to something (somehow) grounded in reality. Lastly, it's always great to see you enjoy yourself! Keep up the great work! :D