Bow/Arrow making? : V

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:09 am

Through the various interviews, Todd Howard has mentioned the ability to cut wood, possibly mine, and craft armor and weapons. I'm wondering if this could include making bows and arrows.

I would like to see this, it would add to the crafting abilities. Maybe having to collect some feathers from the local bird population (if there is one).

I know they have also mentioned that arrows will be a limited resource, but if you want a strictly bow-wielding character, it may be difficult to stick to only bows.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:05 pm

It would be nice if we could make our own arrows, it would only make sense. Maybe be able to add your own style of fletchings.

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:23 am

hoping for a way to use ivory tusks from mammoths as a material for one of my bows.

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:12 am

hoping for a way to use ivory tusks from mammoths as a material for one of my bows.

That's something I hadn't though of. It would be great to take various natural resources and customize a bow to your liking. It would really give a reason to collect items from things you kill, other than to sell them.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:21 pm

plus add in all the different types of ore to smith arrowheads!!!

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:17 pm

It'd be great

Example:

Ivory Arrows (From Mammoths)
Dragon Tooth/Dragon Claw (Dragons)
SabreTooth (SabreTooth Tigers)
Bonehead Arrows (Skeletons)

etc.. any one can think of more of these?

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:29 am

It'd be great

Example:

Ivory Arrows (From Mammoths)
Dragon Tooth/Dragon Claw (Dragons)
SabreTooth (SabreTooth Tigers)
Bonehead Arrows (Skeletons)

etc.. any one can think of more of these?

you would be better off to leave arrow heads metal. this would help strengthen the economy because smiths would have to forge all the arrow heads.

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:08 am

If arrows are as rare as he initially stated they would be, I'm sure they've implemented an arrow crafting ability. What use would the woodcutting have, other than fires?
Hopefully crafting is a fully integrated system. You need to go cut some wood for the hilt, forge the steel for the blade, and enchant with magical items. Same for arrows, I hope.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:01 pm

Snakes are confirmed, right? I'd love to make snake fang arrows - they could be poisonous or something.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:18 pm

Snakes are confirmed, right? I'd love to make snake fang arrows - they could be poisonous or something.

or just normal arrows you could coat with any poison you have in your inventory.

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:05 am

Well yeah, but snake fang arrows are more unique, and sound better. P:

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Well yeah, but snake fang arrows are more unique, and sound better. P:

and easily break against armored foes

i'd rip out the venom glands of the snake, refine its venom and put it into a vial from which i can use it whenever i want

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 12:11 pm

I think this will be part of the smithing skill, since there is 3 skill related crafting systems.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:27 pm

I'm fairly sure crafting arrows will be a feature. Todd said on a few occasions that any job we see an NPC doing, we can actually do ourselves. He also said that burning down a lumber mill may result in less arrows available in that area. So, with those two things in mind; we can tell NPC's will make arrows from wood, meaning by extension, the PC will also have that ability.

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:09 am

That'd be cool. How are you going to craft elven bows and the like though?

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 12:07 pm

That'd be cool. How are you going to craft elven bows and the like though?

Very good question, one to which I don't have the answer.

My guess would be like anything else. It would have a list of components needed, and then you can craft it. Depending how mining plays out, maybe a certain type of metal, or maybe a certain type of tree from woodcutting. Chances are you would have to gather other components, maybe from elven ruins, maybe from a certain type of magical item.

In its simplest form it would probably just be get a certain type of wood/metal and cut/smith it a certain way. Maybe learning recipes will be a component to crafting, similar to Fallout

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:29 pm

Most of these suggestions for teeth & claws as arrowheads are silly or uninformed, no offense.
Teeth and claws are rarely straight enough to be used as arrowheads, one of the only exceptions being sharks teeth.
There's a reason mainland Native Americans used stone arrowheads & not random teeth/claws.
So, given the probable lack of sharks in Skyrim, arrowheads will likely be metal, possibly also stone.

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:25 am

Most of these suggestions for teeth & claws as arrowheads are silly or uninformed, no offense. Teeth and claws are rarely straight enough to be used as arrowheads, one of the only exceptions being sharks teeth.
There's a reason mainland Native Americans used stone arrowheads.
So, given the probable lack of sharks in Skyrim, arrowheads will likely be metal, possibly also stone.

...Couldn't you just carve the bone into the shape of an arrowhead though? |:

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:42 pm

...Couldn't you just carve the bone into the shape of an arrowhead though? |:

Yes, it is possible. It was used by some native peoples when stone was unavailable. However, since stone is available, as well as metal, it may be less likely.

I guess we will see.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:57 pm

...Couldn't you just carve the bone into the shape of an arrowhead though? |:

Bone & stone may seem similar, but are quite different.
Stone arrowheads weren't made from just any rocks lying around either, particular stones were used with the qualities required for effective arrowheads.
Bones were carved as tools & ornaments mainly.
So you you could carve bones, but they would be inferior or outright ineffective as arrowheads.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:51 pm

Bone & stone may seem similar, but are quite different.
Stone arrowheads weren't made from just any rocks lying around either, particular stones were used with the qualities required for effective arrowheads.
Bones were carved as tools & ornaments mainly.
So you you could carve bones, but they would be inferior or outright ineffective as arrowheads.

Bone has the ability to splinter. This makes it possible for the use of arrowheads, if nothing else is available.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:52 pm

hoping for a way to use ivory tusks from mammoths as a material for one of my bows.

I really like your idea. I bet we will now that you mention it. I was thinking dragon bone bow and arrows but I never thought about ivory. :foodndrink:

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:12 pm

Bone has the ability to splinter. This makes it possible for the use of arrowheads, if nothing else is available.

Being an apparently mountainous region stone would seem to be more readily available as a material for arrowheads.
It may be a moot point to speculate, unless there is a stonecraft perk set with mining.
Haven't seen anything to indicate animal materials will go beyond meat & hides.

» Sat Dec 12, 2009 3:17 pm

I really like your idea. I bet we will now that you mention it. I was thinking dragon bone bow and arrows but I never thought about ivory. :foodndrink:

Sounds cool, but how would ivory tusks or dragon bones bend in a working bow?
No flexibility to the degree necessary to draw a bowstring before breaking either the string or bow.
Just sayin

» Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:36 am

Being an apparently mountainous region stone would seem to be more readily available as a material for arrowheads.
It may be a moot point to speculate, unless there is a stonecraft perk set with mining.
Haven't seen anything to indicate animal materials will go beyond meat & hides.

I said about the abundance of stone in my original post to bone arrowheads. I am stating it is possible, but may or may not be included.