So it actually has always been easy for me to picture the bow as a finesse weapon. Attributing finesse to aim and completely forgetting about the pulling arm part. Now the crossbow, I don't know much about weapons, but I think it doesn't need any pulling right? So... pure finesse right? Pure finesse 😄. Theoretically. Take it from someone that never touched a crossbow.
One could make an argument that a crossbow is essentially a weapon for the unskilled; obviously it's not
quite like that but it doesn't require the stamina and ballistic understanding of a longbowman nor the finesse and endurance of a swordsman. It's more a sort of proto-firearm that lets its user focus more on the target than how to actually deal with it.
In terms of strength, it varies depending on the crossbow. Smaller ones are made ready by holding the front on the ground by means of a "stirrup" and yanking the rope over the pawl; larger ones typically have a (usually detachable) winch of some sort to do the same thing which obviously takes a lot longer to make ready but is a lot more powerful. I dare say that it's possible some very strong people may be able to do so by hand but definitely not routinely.
I hasten to add that I haven't fired a crossbow myself but I have handled one and had it demonstrated to me up close. They are pretty serious business. I do own several swords but have no idea how to use them and thankfully I've never been entrusted with a longbow.
