Originally posted by Rethys:

Originally posted by cswiger:

Real bows and crossbows will break if you try to keep them under tension all of the time. That's why you string your bow before using it and need to unstring it afterwards.

This tidbit is brought to you by the Archery merit badge.

100% this is the truth of it. Crossbows were not used in single combat, they were used behind the lines shooting at cavalry and infantry or from defensive fortifications. Even after the invention of the crossbow, the British Long Bow continued to be the go-to ranged weapon on the attack because of the rate of fire, and even then was usually used behind a line of infantry to protect them. Crossbow =/= assault weapon.

All true, however, I also see OPs point about being able to ready it and stow it (tho I wouldn't do that in the real world for safety reasons).

Side note, I remember hearing in some history class eons ago that people were pissed about cross bows because it simply didn't take nearly as much training to be able to use vs a longbow.