Kneeling and sitting is addressed a bit vaguely, and I couldn't find anything that supports or goes against that if one could use a bow while kneeling or not.
By common sense I could argue, that yes, I can shoot with a bow while I'm kneeling, without penalty, since I'm capable of pulling the string as much back as if standing up.
As well, by common sense, pulling a bow-string while sitting is nigh-impossible, like while prone (which is, on the other hand, addressed in the rules, although I couldn't find where exactly on a short notice)
So, is it possible, rules-wise, to shoot with a bow while kneeling?
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It depends on the bow. It's not a question of draw, but a question of whether the bow clears the ground. The Japanese daikyu was designed asymmetrically to allow fire while kneeling or from horseback, the English longbow not.
So I'd say yes with the appropriate kind of bow.
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There is no defined state of kneeling in game. You are either prone or you are not. If you are not prone and have use of two hands, you can shoot a bow.
The penalties/bonuses for kneeling are defined in the 'Armor Class Modifiers' Table. You gain +2 AC vs Ranged and -2 AC vs melee.
I would agree with Bacon666 and Orfamay.
As far as I can tell, RAW says you can do it sitting or kneeling by the fact that it doesn't say you can't. That said, it does stand to some level of GM fiat to have it really make any sense like people have ruled above. I'd argue you could shoot a bow sitting if what you're sitting on doesn't have arms or a back, so the chair (or at this point, stool, or horseback) doesn't fetter your motion at all, but even then, probably only short or compound bows would be viable. A traditional English Longbow would be difficult if not impossible to shoot while riding a horse or sitting in a chair, so I'd probably outlaw it, even if it's technically allowed.
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By common sense I could argue, that yes, I can shoot with a bow while I'm kneeling, without penalty, since I'm capable of pulling the string as much back as if standing up.
As well, by common sense, pulling a bow-string while sitting is nigh-impossible, like while prone (which is, on the other hand, addressed in the rules, although I couldn't find where exactly on a short notice)
By historical sources, the front line of England's longbow-men (probably Welsh yeomen, actually, but that's irrelevant) are usually depicted as kneeling so the second rank can fire above them at the same time. It's the same form used by the Redcoats in depictions of the Revolutionary War.
By personal experience, I have used a longbow sitting down. In SCA "speed shoot" competitions, I usually sat "Cleopatra style" (with my legs off to the side) to bring my bow and free-standing quiver as close together as possible. I held my bow at about a 40-degree angle to avoid touching the ground, which had the added benefit of providing a little more of an arrow rest when my form got sloppy. With this setup, I could launch 7 arrows a minute with acceptable accuracy. (Still nowhere near the 6-in-six-seconds we see in game, but I'm not built on a 20-point buy.)
In a home game, I would allow prone sitting characters to fire a bow with a -2 penalty to hit (based on how much my accuracy went down in speed shoots), and fire from kneeling without penalty.
In PFS, someone pointed out that there's no "kneeling" or "sitting" state: I would probably call kneeling equivalent to standing, since your legs are still underneath you, you still have a lot of mobility and you can even take a 5-foot (Berber) step. Sitting, I would call prone, especially if you were sitting on the ground.
You can certainly use a bow while sitting on the back of a horse (in other words, riding), so the only issue for sitting at a lower level would seem to be whether the bow itself is touching the ground and thus more awkward to handle.
I think you guys are wrong about having the capability.
A bow can be shot with the bow angled at an oblique to the ground instead of a perfect 90-degree between earth and bow.
Second, if you're shooting an arc for volley-type fire, it is common to kneel. Look at any medieval flick. Bows are often used in more than 1 rank, and the lead rank would kneel so the rear rank could shoot over more easily while standing.
A quick search of "archery kneeling" reveals an article by Field and Stream teaching the technique of kneeling archery, complete with pictures.
If someone is using a 6-foot English (non-composite) Longbow, maybe this isn't possible. For compound bows, which CAN be shorter in length and still have greater power (through the mechanical leverage principle), this would never be a problem.
My two cents.
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I would go with the mounted rules found under Longbow and Longbow, Composite.
Longbow can't be used while mounted, a composite one can. Both shortbows can. I am not sure what the reasoning is, but it seems like a good game mechanic comparison.
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: You can use most any bow sitting, kneeling, or from horseback. Even the English longbow. Here's a video of Mike Loades shooting a longbow from horseback.
So, unless you're talking PFS, allow it.
Edit: Oh, just noted this is in the rules forum and not general. In that case, I would say- the rules give no special limitations to actions while kneeling (that I know of), so there are none.
I would say shortbow and composite longbow can be used while kneeling, as they can be used from horseback. RAW does not say anything about it so by rules you can do it with any bow.
I'm no expert on archery, but realistically, no, you could not use a bow really from kneeling. I suppose you could but it would not be easy. People get this confused notion of archery from watching Lord of the Rings where Legolas uses a bow like he's Neo from the Matrix. You need planted feet and time to properly draw and release. That being said, most of what's realistic goes out the window in D&D with how you can move and shoot 4+ times in 6 seconds. I would say yes with shortbow, no with longbow which is usually ~6 feet.Kneeling and sitting is addressed a bit vaguely, and I couldn't find anything that supports or goes against that if one could use a bow while kneeling or not.
By common sense I could argue, that yes, I can shoot with a bow while I'm kneeling, without penalty, since I'm capable of pulling the string as much back as if standing up.
As well, by common sense, pulling a bow-string while sitting is nigh-impossible, like while prone (which is, on the other hand, addressed in the rules, although I couldn't find where exactly on a short notice)
So, is it possible, rules-wise, to shoot with a bow while kneeling?
Google Lars Andersen- he can shoot 10 arrows in 4.9 seconds. He can also shoot accurately while running and jumping, including shooting multiple arrows in mid-jump.
I would bet shooting while kneeling would be child's play to any experienced combat archer.
There's all sorts of speed archers out there these days. It's really pretty fun to watch. :-)
I'm no expert on archery, but realistically, no, you could not use a bow really from kneeling. I suppose you could but it would not be easy. People get this confused notion of archery from watching Lord of the Rings where Legolas uses a bow like he's Neo from the Matrix. You need planted feet and time to properly draw and release. That being said, most of what's realistic goes out the window in D&D with how you can move and shoot 4+ times in 6 seconds. I would say yes with shortbow, no with longbow which is usually ~6 feet.Kneeling and sitting is addressed a bit vaguely, and I couldn't find anything that supports or goes against that if one could use a bow while kneeling or not.
By common sense I could argue, that yes, I can shoot with a bow while I'm kneeling, without penalty, since I'm capable of pulling the string as much back as if standing up.
As well, by common sense, pulling a bow-string while sitting is nigh-impossible, like while prone (which is, on the other hand, addressed in the rules, although I couldn't find where exactly on a short notice)
So, is it possible, rules-wise, to shoot with a bow while kneeling?
Google Lars Andersen- he can shoot 10 arrows in 4.9 seconds. He can also shoot accurately while running and jumping, including shooting multiple arrows in mid-jump.
I would bet shooting while kneeling would be child's play to any experienced combat archer.
There's all sorts of speed archers out there these days. It's really pretty fun to watch. :-)
Thank you for that. That was really intriguing. I always thought it was strange to be able to fire so many arrows in one round, but seeing it done makes much more sense. I never even thought of holding all the arrows in hand while firing. Those ancient techniques are really something. Being able to shoot 10 arrows into the air before the first one hits the ground is all the proof anyone should need that this is possible.
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By historical sources, the front line of England's longbow-men (probably Welsh yeomen, actually, but that's irrelevant) are usually depicted as kneeling so the second rank can fire above them at the same time. It's the same form used by the Redcoats in depictions of the Revolutionary War.
By personal experience, I have used a longbow sitting down. In SCA "speed shoot" competitions, I usually sat "Cleopatra style" (with my legs off to the side) to bring my bow and free-standing quiver as close together as possible. I held my bow at about a 40-degree angle to avoid touching the ground, which had the added benefit of providing a little more of an arrow rest when my form got sloppy. With this setup, I could launch 7 arrows a minute with acceptable accuracy. (Still nowhere near the 6-in-six-seconds we see in game, but I'm not built on a 20-point buy.)
In a home game, I would allow prone sitting characters to fire a bow with a -2 penalty to hit (based on how much my accuracy went down in speed shoots), and fire from kneeling without penalty.
In PFS, someone pointed out that there's no "kneeling" or "sitting" state: I would probably call kneeling equivalent to standing, since your legs are still underneath you, you still have a lot of mobility and you can even take a 5-foot (Berber) step. Sitting, I would call prone, especially if you were sitting on the ground.
Good info Gwen. You have changed my mind.
Regardless of realism, you're not prone, thus you can fire. That's the end of it. If someone judges that you're in some tight space unable to attack while standing/kneeling, then you have to deal with that, but otherwise, you're completely fine to fire.
I leave the role playing in my head, and how the game works to the game. You're standing, able to attack, and have weapon that can attack, then you're attacking. No penalties listed for kneeling either.
I imagine if you did a stealth check, in game you'd be reflecting your character to have as little space as possible being viable, and be kneeling or crouching down.
