Your First Bow

Your First Bow: A Beginner's Guide

Archery in Fletcher's Trestle is no longer a simple 3-stick recipe. It is a craft that requires patience, specialized tools, and a bit of forestry. This guide will take you from breaking grass to firing your first modular arrow.

---

Step 1: Gathering String

Before you can have a bow, you need a string. While standard spider silk works, you may find Flax is more accessible (but does have a drawback).

To get Flax String, refer yourself to the Flax Farming page.

Step 2: Preparing the Wood (The Steam Box)

You cannot simply bend a dry branch into a bow. You must first make it pliable.

1. Craft a Shaving Horse: This workstation is the only way to obtain Rough Limbs. Refer to The Shaving Horse page.
2. Obtain Rough Limbs: Harvest logs (Oak, Spruce, Birch, etc.) and use the Shaving Horse to obtain Rough Limbs.
3. Craft a Steam Box: This workstation is essential for softening wood fibers. Refer to The Steam Box page.
4. Steam the Wood: Place your Rough Limbs into the Steam Box. After a short time, they will have become Pliable Limbs.

Step 3: Crafting the Riser

The riser is the central handle that holds the bow together. For your first bow, a simple wooden one will do.

1. Craft a Wood Riser: Use 3 sticks in a Crafting Table to create a Wood Riser.
   • Note: Later on, you can upgrade to Copper or Iron Risers for better durability and different modifiers.

Step 4: Final Assembly

Now that you have all the components, it’s time to build the weapon.

1. Use a Fletching Table: This is where modular assembly happens.
2. Combine Components: Place your parts in the following slots:
   • Top and Bottom Slots: Pliable Limbs (e.g., 2x Pliable Oak Limbs)
   • Left Slot: Wood Riser
   • Right Slot: Flax String
3. Success: You now have a Modular Bow!

---

🏹 What's Next?

A bow is useless without ammunition. Check out the Modular Arrows page to learn how to craft custom projectiles using the same woodworking techniques.