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Need help with confirming an idea is good or not. Bow-shield

Dayu

Scribe
Hi. Iam new here and really need help in identifying if my idea is good or not. Its an idea thats not really often used or seen due to ot probably being too weird or unique.

The idea is a tech-advanced and magical weapon Bow-shield. The bow cant basically project a magical shield from its sides that can also be used as a heads-up display that helps the user track its target, display a map of nearby surroundings, etc. Its magical energy comes from a built in mana stone. Its mana can run out and recharged by the users mana as well.

The user of the weapon is a Ranger type character that was once good, then bad, then good again.

What do you think?
 

Demesnedenoir

Myth Weaver
While cool in concept, it would require something to get me past asking: if capable of doing that, why the heck is it still a bow? Why use a string to throw a projectile at that tech/magic level? Not that all readers ask themselves these sort of things.

Hi. Iam new here and really need help in identifying if my idea is good or not. Its an idea thats not really often used or seen due to ot probably being too weird or unique.

The idea is a tech-advanced and magical weapon Bow-shield. The bow cant basically project a magical shield from its sides that can also be used as a heads-up display that helps the user track its target, display a map of nearby surroundings, etc. Its magical energy comes from a built in mana stone. Its mana can run out and recharged by the users mana as well.

The user of the weapon is a Ranger type character that was once good, then bad, then good again.

What do you think?
 

Dayu

Scribe
My explanation for that is actually in my story cause the weapon is actually an old weapon used by Rangers. Present Rangers use basically hightech-magic guns. So, the bow is more like an heirloom weapon. Circumstances forced him to use it and my other reasons would be the aesthetic cause the species that uses it is an Elf, from another planet. What says "Elf" than pointy ears, good looks and a bow right?
 
why does chewie use a "bowcaster" and not just blaster? Because it looks cool that is why. Sure you can make up some techno-babble reasons to justify but that is just justification for the aesthetic.

But it may be a bit OP - shield, targeting, and attack. It needs some limitations... like it goes down when the shot is fired (energy transfers to shot) or something or its pretty boring if they can just sit there invulnerable and shooting.
 

Dayu

Scribe
why does chewie use a "bowcaster" and not just blaster? Because it looks cool that is why. Sure you can make up some techno-babble reasons to justify but that is just justification for the aesthetic.

But it may be a bit OP - shield, targeting, and attack. It needs some limitations... like it goes down when the shot is fired (energy transfers to shot) or something or its pretty boring if they can just sit there invulnerable and shooting.

Is it weird i already an answer to what youre talking about? Hahahaha i know what u mean by being OP, but trust depending on what hes going up against (M.C.) he gonna need to.be OP. Iam not done yet actually with the weapon. The bow actually also acts as a scabbard for a sword inside. Pulled out when melee combat is needed. Thats not all, this Ranger also the ability to split himself or create a clone (based on my magic system), and how uses it to fight is basically either him or the clone is using the bow or the sword. Both can gang up on an opponent, without the sword user worrying getting hit by the bow user because of magic, skill, and guidance system to boot.
 
heh. I am not one to talk as my main protagonist is basically the impersonation of a Rosen-Einstein bridge, but this sounds like a character that is being subsumed by the weapon/power in that its function is more important than the character beneath it. take it as you may, but there is a danger there - which is the character? is it the weapon? that might be fun if so... but ...
 

Dayu

Scribe
heh. I am not one to talk as my main protagonist is basically the impersonation of a Rosen-Einstein bridge, but this sounds like a character that is being subsumed by the weapon/power in that its function is more important than the character beneath it. take it as you may, but there is a danger there - which is the character? is it the weapon? that might be fun if so... but ...

Huh. I see what you mean. I wouldnt have thought about the weapon overshadowing the character, although i already pretty much mapped the character and to me, he seems interesting. This is exactly why i came to this site, for view points other than my own that i could have never considered. Might i ask any ideas to fix this? Perhaps making sure the character is well defined or something?
 
Hey Dayu: It may not need fixing at all- it was just a thought since this thread is about the weapon. plenty of ways the weapon can be more powerful than the character and still work... but you have to recognize and make it part of the story. I mean one of the most iconic fantasy stories of all time was exactly that: Elric of Melniboné
 

Dayu

Scribe
Hey Dayu: It may not need fixing at all- it was just a thought since this thread is about the weapon. plenty of ways the weapon can be more powerful than the character and still work... but you have to recognize and make it part of the story. I mean one of the most iconic fantasy stories of all time was exactly that: Elric of Melniboné

Again, thanks a lot guys. Your comments really helped me. Iam pretty convinced now that the weapon is a good idea. Just a matter of how i present it that wont be too shocking. Elric looks like a badass btw, i just did a quick search on him.
 
One of the reasons I really like Seele Schnieder from Bleach is that not only are hybrid weapons awesome, but it was also a creative and interesting buff for a character that needed it badly. Archers and rangers tend to be downplayed because long-range combat isn't as fun as close-range combat. Your shield-bow reminds me of Seele Schnieder in the sense that it's a cool and creative concept that enhances an underrated archetype.
 
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