Originally posted by Rhapsody:

Arbalest packs so much damage that, if you're heading out to some earlier biomes with it, it doesn't really matter what you load on it. It's good to have some options in case the player finds themselves wanting black metal or carapace for something else. Also depends on the user's skill level.

I wonder if primitive guns(with a big barrel and loading time) will be added at some point in the game, maybe at the end of ashlands. They would be a natural progression over the crossbow and deal even more damage, though it would be scientifically too advanced to associate with vikings, just like potentially industrial ♥♥♥♥ powered by in game coal. Still, the ashlands do seem like the most appropriate biome to introduce stuff like that.