Fable 2 Development : On the topic of bows

On the topic of bows

Published Monday, October 29, 2007 6:33 AM by Sam

This is from a forum post I made last week, I figured it needed to be posted in this blog as well.

I've started playing Fable 2 recently, and it's during times like these that you discover and find out a lot of new things about the game. Now, I think I'm quite privileged to get this opportunity, most of you won't be able to play the game until it's finished - so it's only fair for me to report on my findings by means of community updates, video diaries and of course, posts like these on forums. Of course, there are always the PR overlords looking over my shoulder but bleh...most of the time I just ignore them. Wink [;)]

So what's the reason for this post, I can hear you ask. Well, my friends, I have to give you a small update on the topic of bows in Fable 2, after finding out that there has been a slight change in the design. Bows just don't work in Fable 2 and so, there won't be any in the final game (OK, never say never, but at the moment there won't be any bows, and if it changes, I'll let you know).

Bows just don't work in Fable 2, for numerous reasons. Probably the most important reason why not, is that it's just silly. These aren't the composite bows that we have now (anno 21st century), these are quite basic wooden long- or short bows. Now, it's one thing to have ranged combat in Fable 1 with bows and taking out a bandit from afar, but when that same bandit in Fable 2 has a steel blunderbuss shooting at you, a wooden arrow just doesn't really cut it. Crossbows are a different story, they are much more accurate and powerful, so they are still in Fable 2 (and we can also technically advance them). We've increased the number of ranged combat weapons that we have (so it's not just guns) but none of them futuristic models of course, all based on models that fit the setting, theme and time of Fable 2. I found that most of the time when I pulled out my bow and tried shooting a bandit from a distance, he'd pull out his blunderbuss and just take me out in a few shots, while I was still trying to aim with my silly little bow! Ha ha ha.... Big Smile [:D] So yeah, they don't work and won't make it into Fable 2. That was my small update for the day! Smile [:)]

You can find the original post here.

Comments

	ProfYaffel said: No bows! What will I put in my hair now! Thanks for the confirmation Sam... October 29, 2007 10:08 AM
	tigereyes said: I never really got bows, but felt that pelting bullets and a hellfire of sword attacks was more effective than wooden sticks... October 29, 2007 10:37 AM
	toddquest said: Other ranged weapons !!! Must resist the urge to speculate Oh forget it Speculation: The bombs that were only in the code of TLC w00t October 29, 2007 11:25 AM
	stomp224 said: "But none of them futuristic models of course" Damn, no BFG9000 or needlers then October 29, 2007 2:55 PM
	Fable2CantWait said: Hm.. I have one question! You say there will be no bows. But to me, in Fable 1, Crossbows were so HARD to use.. Will they still be hard to use in Fable 2, because Bows were easier to use in Fable 1 than crossbows, and it wouldnt make any sense to use a crossbow in Fable 2, while it's harder to use than a bow :(. Maybe you could make bows more advanced and more powerful!? October 29, 2007 4:44 PM
	sam-o said: only crossbows?! i hate crossbows! i always use my longbow! and its always cool to snipe someone with a bow....oh well.... :( October 29, 2007 9:10 PM
	blacksabbith102 said: But will the crossbows be a pain in the ass to use and take long as hell to load October 30, 2007 12:15 PM
	Duckanator said: aint crossbows more effective in that era, also I think there too lazy to recreate pinpoints to make it look like hes using a long bow (notice that the pin-points for crossbows and guns, look almost the same, you load it you hold it the same, you shoot it the same (that is probabley why no bows (just a guess))) October 30, 2007 9:21 PM
	Shiningsoul said: How do you lot know? Crossbows might have changed for Fable 2, they might not be a pain in the ass October 31, 2007 12:51 PM
	Beowulf71 said: If the bows don't work, it's probably because you didn't make them correctly or it's the steel blunderbuss that are not correct. The bows in Fable 1 were not correct either, since when holding your bow bent longer makes it shoot harder??? Thats a waste of time. A bowman could shoot many more arrows while someone using a steel blunderbuss is recharging it. October 31, 2007 3:29 PM
	s1yf0x said: Guns are no fun...especially primitive guns and big dumb looking rifles...how ami supposed to chop up some ppl if i have to worry about getting buck shot?horrible. October 31, 2007 7:33 PM
	zander121 said: hhm... admittedly the crossbows in fable 1 were rather clumsy so if you must get rid of bows, improve crossbows and make light, fast weapons such as pistols and handcrossbows available... ooooh and really big cannons too... gasp a dog mounted cannon, now THAT would be cool! November 4, 2007 11:48 AM
	Whore-I-Os said: Rawr!!! I super-<3 bows! Crossbows were awful in Fable, but bows were awesome! November 4, 2007 1:39 PM
	ShaneTheMountainSage said: i know that long bows will be a pain in the *** in fable 2 but some people will still want to use them anyways if people want to take the risk let them November 7, 2007 5:59 PM
	ShaneTheMountainSage said: oh yeah HANDGUNS AND NORMAL BOWS RULE MAN!!!!!!! SAVE THE PLANET FROM AL GORE AND HIS POLLUTION WOOO HOOO November 7, 2007 6:00 PM
	harky said: I think a bow could be a really handy weapon for a kind of assassin stealthy character if you make them quiet and such. November 18, 2007 10:52 AM
	wrongfire said: Meh ima stick with 2 flintlock pistols and a cutlass! November 19, 2007 12:48 AM
	mcpaddyb said: What about a repeater crossbow like in Van Helsing [great film]. That would be cool to pump as many arrows in them in a second as you can. November 26, 2007 7:04 AM
	Corjha said: I'm ok with this decision, as long as I get to play the character who runs and jumps around in combat, taking advantage of the environment while nailing the enemies with 2 flintlocks at the same time, being able to kick would be nice, and there's no reason that it shouldn't be possible when holding a weapon. December 1, 2007 9:18 PM
	madcasey said: Big mistake. Fable was an excellent game because it was pure "Ye Olde" Medieval warfare--lots of games try to mix themes or time periods and are worse for it. Onimusha 2 tried to have guns and it was a distinctly inferior for it. The process of firing a gunpowder pistol or an old musket was just completely flat and unsatisfying. Maybe the Fable team has come up with a way to make it exciting, but I ask you: will firing a gun ever have the pure, tangible feeling that firing a bow did--drawing back on the bowstring and holding it, building up your power for maximum damage? No, it will not. December 4, 2007 1:59 PM
	mcpaddyb said: Bow (and magic actually) are great to use and im sure that guns will be as well. There is just one problem the hounds every game not just fable, but for the purposes of everyone reading this i will make refferences to fable. Imagine the scene.... your faced with 5 to 6 hobbes but they havent seen you yet so you get your bow/magic out and knock one of them off. They all see you and run straight at you. So you load you weapon again and knock another off. 2 down 3 to go but whats this?! Their on top o you and you have no choice but to bash them to death with your sword/axe. You need to.... A. make it easier to accumulate points for skill/magic as you cant kill as many in the same time. So basically reward people more for be duifferent and not just sword swinging. B. Make it easier to kill more, in the time you have before they reach you, with a bow or magic. Saying that however "Divine Fury" on Fable 1 was great and visually amazing, some times i just cast it to watch. It was just excessively huge! I would like it more if you went with A, granted any of the Fable team even read this (which they will im sure). Thatnks for taking the time to read this small novel on my thoughts about bows ad skill. December 5, 2007 1:57 PM
	ArMnD9 said: Their HAS TO BE bows...alot of ppl need bows...of course theirs a chance of getting shot with a gun before you can even aim, but if you're skilled with it, you can own any1!! ....as long as you still have the other choices, im sure keeping the bow is a way better decision then no bows.....cross bows arnt the same March 24, 2008 6:34 PM