Weapon ranges way too short?

[Woodclaw]

It just occurred to me that we have a coincidence here. It might be only by chance, but interesting nonetheless. Please note that how Tolkien describes the Númenórean arrow-storm above with black arrows. Now, it might be that Bard's black arrow (who seems special and not "normal" in many ways) is such an ancient Númenórean arrow. It would make the special properties at least explainable (others exist of course as well).

Of course there is only the colour as a common marker here (which is far from being a strong one), though it could be used as a hook for the history and background of this special equipment (fluff-wise so to say).

Cheers
Tolwen

Not a far fetched idea to me. The BlackArrow was after all a family heirloom in Bard's house and had been handed down for generations.

"Arrow!" said [Bard] the bowman. "Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"

I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but according to Bard's quote, the Black Arrow was of dwarven craftmanship.

[DavetheLost]

Well shoot. Of course that was just the tradition in Bard's family as to the history of the Black Arrow. I will grant however that being forged by the Dwarves seems more likely than being of ancient Numenorean origin.

[Tolwen]

"Arrow!" said [Bard] the bowman. "Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"

I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but according to Bard's quote, the Black Arrow was of dwarven craftmanship.

No problem with differing views, that's the fun of exploring Middle-earth lore

Having just re-read the passage, it seems that Bard is speaking in subjunctive ("if") and not sure at all about it; e.g. like a fairy-tale with questionable content of truth.

Is this tradition really said to be a tradition handed down? In the book, we learn that the arrow was a heirloom of old, but I saw no associated story about it other than Bard's speculation quoted above.

From a historical point of view it would make perfect sense however and is thus probably better founded in history. If this arrow is from the 26th century TA where Durin's Folk had a lot of trouble with dragons (and finally gave up against them), it is not unlikely that the Dwarves made equipment that was especially effective against dragons.
The only issue with this is that the arrow fitted a great bow (e.g. comparable to an English Longbow) with the associated arrow length necessary for a powerful shot (see above for typical lengths). For Dwarves, who were much shorter, such an arrow would be unusable due to size restraints. Thus it could only have been made back then for someone being able to wield and draw a 6-foot bow. Thus, from the point of view of size, the Númenórean version fits better

Either way, it offers a good hook for an interesting background for the arrow.

Cheers
Tolwen

[Woodclaw]

"Arrow!" said [Bard] the bowman. "Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"

I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but according to Bard's quote, the Black Arrow was of dwarven craftmanship.

No problem with differing views, that's the fun of exploring Middle-earth lore

Having just re-read the passage, it seems that Bard is speaking in subjunctive ("if") and not sure at all about it; e.g. like a fairy-tale with questionable content of truth.

Is this tradition really said to be a tradition handed down? In the book, we learn that the arrow was a heirloom of old, but I saw no associated story about it other than Bard's speculation quoted above.

From a historical point of view it would make perfect sense however and is thus probably better founded in history. If this arrow is from the 26th century TA where Durin's Folk had a lot of trouble with dragons (and finally gave up against them), it is not unlikely that the Dwarves made equipment that was especially effective against dragons.
The only issue with this is that the arrow fitted a great bow (e.g. comparable to an English Longbow) with the associated arrow length necessary for a powerful shot (see above for typical lengths). For Dwarves, who were much shorter, such an arrow would be unusable due to size restraints. Thus it could only have been made back then for someone being able to wield and draw a 6-foot bow. Thus, from the point of view of size, the Númenórean version fits better

Either way, it offers a good hook for an interesting background for the arrow.

Cheers
Tolwen

I think that both ideas have their merits and your consideration on dwarven size is spot on (I used the same consideration in a custom-made setting where dwarves invented double-curve bow to circumvent this problem).
My knowledge of Middle-Earth lore is very limited (pretty much only to the "Big Three") hence I can't really estimate how likely it's for the Black arrow to be related to Numenorean designs. Or even if it's possible that the dwarves were inspire in their craft from relics of the Numenoreans (maybe something they get hold of before the gates of Moria were sealed).

[Glorelendil]

Why anybody (without naming names) thought it would be a good idea to turn "the" Black Arrow into a kind of ballista ammunition, and one of many at that, I'll never understand....

[Elmoth]

(I preferred it being a normal (longbow) arrow than a ballista, yup. But so is life. The ninja orcs (and blind elves) and the moronic strategy of trying to kill a fire dragon with gold (and said dragon leaving a bunch of thiefs in his hold to go and burn something somewhere instead irked me much more than that Even if I think it was much superior to the first movie. )

Given the fact that dwarves of the lonely mountain used to have constant, solid and significant relationships with the people of Dale, I would not be surprised if they made equipment specifically for humans. As such, a superior craftsmanship arrow (or even a bunch of them; maybe the black arrow is one in a group of say 12, a quiver worth of them; there you go with a potential treasure option ) is something I would expect them producing along with long blades, spears and some armour.

Or Bard might be wrong and this might be a Galadrim missile. Whatever fancies you. Or it might be a piece of wood with some feathers attached in a casual way in one of the extremes and he just happens to roll tengwars and gandalf runes by chance when using it

Cheers,
Xavi

[Corvo]

(I preferred it being a normal (longbow) arrow than a ballista, yup. But so is life. The ninja orcs (and blind elves) and the moronic strategy of trying to kill a fire dragon with gold (and said dragon leaving a bunch of thiefs in his hold to go and burn something somewhere instead irked me much more than that Even if I think it was much superior to the first movie. )

Given the fact that dwarves of the lonely mountain used to have constant, solid and significant relationships with the people of Dale, I would not be surprised if they made equipment specifically for humans. As such, a superior craftsmanship arrow (or even a bunch of them; maybe the black arrow is one in a group of say 12, a quiver worth of them; there you go with a potential treasure option ) is something I would expect them producing along with long blades, spears and some armour.

Or Bard might be wrong and this might be a Galadrim missile. Whatever fancies you. Or it might be a piece of wood with some feathers attached in a casual way in one of the extremes and he just happens to roll tengwars and gandalf runes by chance when using it

Cheers,
Xavi

For what is worth, I feel the same.
The black arrow is a mystery. In my game, I had king Bard privately wonder if really was him who fell the dragon. One of the PCs answered to him "I was with you amidst the flames, and I know you avenged our fathers that night"

[Hermes Serpent]

The only issue with this is that the arrow fitted a great bow (e.g. comparable to an English Longbow) with the associated arrow length necessary for a powerful shot (see above for typical lengths). For Dwarves, who were much shorter, such an arrow would be unusable due to size restraints. Thus it could only have been made back then for someone being able to wield and draw a 6-foot bow. Thus, from the point of view of size, the Númenórean version fits better

Either way, it offers a good hook for an interesting background for the arrow.

Cheers
Tolwen

Actually putting aside the possibility that the Professor did not have such a broad depth of knowledge about medieval archery that knowing the length of the arrow was relevant we have one other possibility.

The arrow was made for a Dwarven ballista! Problem solved and PJ got it right

[Elmoth]

I am somewhat expecting the movie-Bard to say something along the lines of "There he blows! There he blows! A wing like a red hill! Its Moby Smaug!

Rar!

[Stormcrow]

Why anybody (without naming names) thought it would be a good idea to turn "the" Black Arrow into a kind of ballista ammunition, and one of many at that, I'll never understand....

Probably to make the dragon invulnerable to Super Legolas.