In the One Hour Wargames rules, there are four unit types including Knights, Men at Arms, Archers and Levy. The Archers are actually crossbow equipped, gaining a +2 for missile fire but a -2 modifier for hand to hand combat. I could use this profile for English longbows, which would be a simple way to incorporate them in the system, but it doesn’t seem quite right to treat crossbows and longbows as exactly the same weapon type?

Instead, I’m thinking of using the same profile but giving the longbow units an additional casualty modifier against mounted opponents, representing the use of defensive stakes – this would half the number of hits inflicted by cavalry against the longbow unit. 

The other option is to extend the range of longbows to 18″ but then remove the +2 modifier for missile fire, reflecting the lesser stopping power of longbows compared to crossbows and their greater effective range. I would also incorporate the casualty modifier for defensive stakes with this to create a bespoke option, the two things giving longbows a distinctive tactical profile.

Thoughts? 

Incidentally, I’m also thinking of ways to represent bills and bows as unit types for the Wars of the Roses period, but that’s another story….