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Smiling_Bandit wrote:So I'm making a Ranger from the main book, pg. 90. I see that and I see the note saying they can get the special superior bowmanship detailed on pg. 83.

Greetings and Salutations. I'll start by asking this question: Where in the Ranger O.C.C. on page 90, does it refer the reader back to page 83 (as per your claim)? Where in the Ranger O.C.C. on page 90 does it specifically state "special superior bowmanship" (per your claim)?

What I see (all quotes from the Palladium Fantasy Second Edition main book, using a 3rd Printing) is the following information ...

Note: The ranger is the only O.C.C. that is allowed to take the long bow as a weapon proficiency - considered a separate W.P. from W.P. Archery. The archery skill covers all other types of bows. The ranger can pick one, both or neither; not all rangers are proficient with the bow and arrow.

The section does not refer me back to the Long Bowman O.C.C., the Long Bowman's O.C.C. special skill of Superior Bowmanship, or page 83. If I missed something, please let me know.

The section also states that taking the long bow is "a separate W.P." (which means it's still a Weapon Proficiency). When we look at W.P. Archery on page 59 we have another note.

Note: The long bow is exclusive to the Long Bowman and Ranger O.C.C.s.
[snip]
Average Ranges:
Long Bow - 640 ft (195 m)

Here we see that the Long Bow is still detailed under the W.P. Archery skill, just that access to it is exclusive.

Additionally, if we look at the Long Bowman O.C.C. on page 84 under their O.C.C. Skills we'll see: "W.P. Archery (all bows)." So with the O.C.C. that has access to the Long Bow, they add a special note to W.P. Archery.

The way I take all of this information is that the Ranger O.C.C. may select W.P. Archery (long bows) and/or W.P. Archery (all bows not long bows), or neither of them.

Further notes: Long Bowman O.C.C., page 83, Superior Bowmanship

The dedication to the use of the long bow ...
[snip]
Use these in place of the W.P. Archery numbers when using a long bow ...

Does the Ranger have "dedication to the use of the long bow"? If we look at the Ranger O.C.C. (in the above quote), we know that "not all rangers are proficient with the bow and arrow." So not only is the Ranger NOT dedicated to the long bow, they're not even dedicated to the bow and arrow. So the description of Superior Bowmanship doesn't make sense for a ranger. When we get to the benefits of "Superior" Bowmanship, we also not that the "Superior" aspects grant different numbers than W.P. Archery, which suggests that if it's not "Superior" then it would use the same bonuses from W.P. Archery.

Now, I'm willing to consider additional evidence if I missed some points of interest. However, by what I'm currently seeing, I don't find any evidence to suggest a Ranger is supposed to get "Special Abilities of the Long Bowman." Hope some of that helps. Farewell and safe journeys.