Human Crossbowman from the War of Four Centuries

In the human city states that existed before the War of Four Centuries (known to the Elves as "the Student Men"), the crossbow was the most commonly used ranged weapon. Crossbows (as well as more conventional bows of yew or wood, sinew and horn) were bought by low class peasant families whenever they could afford to get their hands on them, for reasons of defense and reasons of social advancement. Companies of wealthier Spearmen or Swordsmen militia would pool their resources to pay a few crossbowmen to march with them on the battlefield to provide ranged support. Noblemen who did not want to serve as cavalry would often search for the best crossbowmen and retain a couple of them as full time soldiers, typically producing the most formidable crossbowmen. Though they would also retain spearmen and swordsmen in a similar manner.

During the War, the roll of crossbowmen increased as skirmishing and raiding played a bigger role in battle, as well as providing vital fire support against Drow armies in battle. Even if a Human with a mundane crossbow was little match for a typical dark elf archer carrying an enchanted longbow. Crossbows were easy to learn to use. As the war progressed, more and more human states spent more effort in equipping their populations. This started with buying up large numbers of crossbows and bolts for public armories (a practice which some states did to a lesser extent), hiring instructors to train up peasants in their use and eventually creating and retaining formalized standing forces of crossbowmen. Among the innovations introduced which made crossbowmen more effective was that of the Pavise, which offered protection. This is an elite crossbowman from the war, the bow element of the crossbow is runic to allow it's string to be easily drawn back. For close quarters fighting he has a pickaxe. His armor is quilted cloth with a few plates attached and put behind another layer of cloth. These forces were well organized, but as cities were destroyed or devastated, organized forces became less and less common compared to barbarian raiders.