Best race and profession for crossbowers

[Darcthundar]

I am leaning towards bards, possibly of gnomish origins.

Anyone have any other thoughts?

[Maerit]

If you use a mechanical crossbow, it is actually 1s faster than a longbow when combined with Ranger's 608. This is because you can cock the crossbow while in cast RT.

1. Get bolt, load crossbow
2. Kneel, cast 608, cock crossbow (3s cast and hard RT)
3. Fire crossbow (2s RT), or aim and fire crossbow (3s RT)
Total RT = 5s or 6s for aimed, and you get +30AS from kneeling as well as an aiming bonus and higher DF from using a heavy crossbow.

Compared to a longbow:

1. Get arrow
2. Cast 608 (3s RT)
3. Fire longbow (3s RT) or aim then fire longbow (4s RT)
Total RT of 6s or 7s if you aim.

Any profession that opens with a spell can get the same benefit for the first attack. Bard with 1002, or 1005. Wizard with 410, 502, or 516. Monk with 1207 (believe it or not ranged monk works pretty well). If they do not use a spell to open, or the spell (i.e. stomped 909) has no cast RT, then it will technically be 1s slower than a longbow in almost all circumstances.

Using a non-mechanical crossbow will be better with a strong race, like a Half-Krol, Dwarf or Giantkin (probably lean towards the Half-krol unless you're interested in having better logic for XP gain) since STR is the primary factor in RT for cocking a crossbow, especially a heavy crossbow. The RT for cocking the weapon can be pretty long with low strength. Think 6 - 8s RT. Using a mechanical crossbow, you can chose any race you want. There is no STR requirement, it's a flat RT for cock and fire.