A Shortbow (originally Short Bow) is the smallest of the three bow types, and is used to fire missiles at a target. Weapon and general stores have shortbows available for around 33-45
.
Description[]
| “ | Short bows were the first to be developed, although they were not called such. This is more of a default term that refers to anything which is not a long bow. Short bow staves are about 5' feet long on the average. As the years passed, attempts were made to increase bow ranges. Bows were either given longer staves or flexibility was increased with no change to the length. The former resulted in what is now called the long bow. | ” |
Properties[]
A standard shortbow paired with standard arrows deals a base 1d6 (1-6) missile damage, has a speed factor of 6, a boosted base APR of 2, and a minimum strength requirement of 6EE only.
Like other ammunition launching weapons, bows require an ammunition to function. In the case of the shortbow, Arrows must be purchased or found in order for the weapon to fire.
As the smallest of the bow weapons, the shortbow gets no inherent bonus to its accuracy or damage, unlike the Longbow and Composite Longbow. A benefit of the shortbow is its lack of a strength requirement (6 strength required in the Enhanced Edition game) to use.
Bows take two hands to wield, preventing the use of a shield.
As with other conventional ammunition such as Bullets and Bolts, every attack made with a shortbow uses one arrow, and spent arrows cannot be recovered.
Bows are the most common ranged weapon used by enemies throughout the game, allowing for easy acquisition of free arrows on a regular basis.
Acquisition[]
Sold by[]
Dropped by[]
- Goblin (archer)
- Goblin Elite
- Orc (archer)
- Orc Elite
- Goblin Archer
- Goblin Archer Marshal
- Skeleton Archer
- Skeleton (archer)
External links[]
- Shortbow article on the Baldur's Gate Wiki, a wiki for the Baldur's Gate games.