diablo2

[piterdevries]

so whats the difference between crossbow and bow??

[Tatar Khan]

I think the difference is that crossbow is faster rate of fire but lower range while the bow is bigger range but slower rate of fire

[Cyborg]

A crossbow should have a considerably slower rate of fire than a bow in reality...

[Andrew]

My understanding from LotR:II  (I know different game), would be that a crossbow have slower rate of fire, possibly shorter range, but better against piercing armor. Bows faster rate of fire, longer range.

http://www.diabloii.net/characters/amazon/bow-crossbow.shtml

http://www.diabloii.net/items/weapons/crossbows.shtml

might help. Googling it might also help :)

[Anathema]

Realisticly, crossbows would have better range and penetration then bows (except maybe the best composite bows from steppe nomads), and of course a slower firing rate.

In the game, they just have a slower firing rate with generally more damage, and they use a different type of ammo (bolts instead of arrows)

[Cyborg]

They had almost the same range, both of them. (Depending on different periods. The crossbow started as being not very powerful to be very powerful).

But a skilled archer in the battles you see in Diablo II would never use a crossbow over a bow, because of the slow rate of fire, and high vulnerability while loading. There is almost no point in the existence of crossbows in Diablo II.