After glancing through the other recent thread on archery, I realized I could use some guidance. My current WIP is vaguely fantasy with a strong dash of romance and a sprinkling of sci-fi. The MC is female and after waking up with amnesia and being forced into a battle situation, she discovers that she's good with a bow. Not spectacular, but fair enough. What pitfalls should I look out for?
* Is shooting a bow going to hurt one of her breasts? (I've read of female archers having voluntary mastectomies so they could shoot better. Not sure if that's an urban legend or not.)
* Should her clothes have padding built into them to protect her shoulder or arm?
* Will she notice any particular calluses beforehand? (Remember, she has amnesia.) I don't think she used to practice daily, but perhaps several times a week, if that makes any difference.
* I gather she ought to wear an arm/wrist guard. Did this have a medieval name? Vambrace, perhaps? Or is that something totally different?
* If she's an average archer, nothing spectacular, how difficult would it be for her to hit a moving target, at dusk, in a smoke-filled environment?
That's all the specific questions I can think of. Is there anything in particular I ought to know or make mention of in the story?
* Is shooting a bow going to hurt one of her breasts? (I've read of female archers having voluntary mastectomies so they could shoot better. Not sure if that's an urban legend or not.)
* Should her clothes have padding built into them to protect her shoulder or arm?
* Will she notice any particular calluses beforehand? (Remember, she has amnesia.) I don't think she used to practice daily, but perhaps several times a week, if that makes any difference.
* I gather she ought to wear an arm/wrist guard. Did this have a medieval name? Vambrace, perhaps? Or is that something totally different?
* If she's an average archer, nothing spectacular, how difficult would it be for her to hit a moving target, at dusk, in a smoke-filled environment?
That's all the specific questions I can think of. Is there anything in particular I ought to know or make mention of in the story?