Crossbowman

From Age of Empires

Crossbowman
Age	Colonial Age
Building	Barracks
Type	Archer
Wood	40
Food	40
Coin	0
Hit Points	100
Population Cost	Unknown (Please provide)
Attack	3
Range	4
Resistance	Unknown (Please provide)
Speed	Medium

Crossbowmen are a light infantry unit that uses a crossbow in battle. Crossbowmen are featured in Age of Empires II and Age of Empires III.

[edit] Age of Empires II

For the Age of Empires II Crossbowman, see Crossbowman (Age of Empires 2).

[edit] Age of Empires III

Crossbowmen are a counter infantry unit that is useful at attacking heavy infantry like Musketeers, but is easily defeated by Cavalry and Artillery. They are similar in many ways to the Skirmisher. And although the Crossbowmen might be out ranged by there Skirmisher counterparts, they are cheaper and are trainable early in the game. The exception is the Dutch, who can train Skirmishers in the Colonial Age. The Portugese can upgrade their crossbowmen to bestiero when the Royal Decree shipment has arrived.

[edit] Real Info

Crossbowmen were used from the second half of the 4th century BC and further on in time by ancient Asians. Crossbowmen were also used by the Greeks in limited numbers in the 5th century BC. Crossbowmen were commonly used in the Middle Ages because even though the Longbowmen had a longer range and a faster rate of fire the Crossbowmen could be trained in about a week and the Crossbow's power was stronger.

Crossbowmen were eventually replaced in warfare by musketeers and riflemen, although early guns had slower rates of fire and much worse accuracy than contemporary crossbows. Later, similar competing tactics would feature harquebusiers or musketeers in formation with pikemen, pitted against cavalry firing pistols or carbines.

Unit Evolution: Archer
Archer --> Crossbowman --> Arbalest