I found the link for the SCA legal crossbow for under $25. What is the best way to discuss modifications and design, here on the forum, facebook messages, email, drive out to Syskeville and hit Johan with it, sorry Richard Cleveland is a bit of a drive?

http://www.honorblade.com/stuff/CA-beer-budget.doc

Ha, I just learned a bit of good info with that link of yours I'll have to find some tensioning bars sometime. I think here is just fine for shop talk. With luck crossbows may yet become a staple of the battlefield.

Right on, my thoughts were build one to the spec, since I also fight SCA it wont hurt to have one. Then begin mods for Dagorhir. I was thinking along two lines, one adjusting the number/length of the lames to drop the draw tension down to 15lbs, two moving the prod back or extending the shelf out, basically mounting it in the middle so the shelf is long enough to handle a full size arrow. The first is necessary for it to be legal, I think the second is very important if you really want it to be usable on the field, there just are not enough bolts out there for you to have any ammo.

Just found some historical references on greek and roman crossbows, did not want to be out of period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbow#Ancient_Greece

The crossbow rules are different than those you are currently referencing.

4.5.3.3 - Crossbows must have a maximum draw weight of 35 lbs with a draw length of 12"

Also, I find normal arrows to fire just fine with my crossbow without any modification.

I think you'd gain multiple levels of badass if you came to the field with one of these. http://www.romanhideout.com/news/2005/20050224.asp.