Originally posted by wizard_of_woz:

Originally posted by electricdawn:

Bows would absolutely not work at melee range, that's for sure. But I still don't get what the actual complaint of the OP is. Just like their first post. It's not like you can get one-shot by a bow when at melee range. An actual melee weapon - in fact the atgeir is way more op at that - will kill you much quicker.

As long as the arrow has a chance to move, it would definitely do damage at close range. At its release is when the arrow has the most power.

this is true if shooting totally level. If you use gravity in your favor, it will gain a little power from the falling acceleration, which is usually stronger than the air resist deceleration. The difference isnt enough to really blather on about, but bows are incredibly interesting physics problems (see the archer's paradox problem if you are a physics nut). Guns reach max velocity a fair bit out from their barrel, but its totally different physics.