I've had some partial success, i changed all the crude shortbow references to basic shortbow, but now i have no graphics - i have archers with invisble bows

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the art references got changed too lol

<GameItemType InternalName="Shortbow_Flaming">

         <DisplayName>Flaming Shortbow</DisplayName>

         <Description>These are known for having a powerful enchantment on inferior material, and have been known to burst into flames in the middle of battle.</Description>

         <Type>Weapon</Type>

         <Type>Defense</Type>

         <WeaponType>Bow</WeaponType>

         <AdditionalTrainingTurns>30</AdditionalTrainingTurns>

         <CanBeEquipped>1</CanBeEquipped>

         <ShopValue>90</ShopValue>

  <ProductionRequirement>

      <Type>Resource</Type>

      <Attribute>RefinedCrystal</Attribute>

                    <Value>1</Value>

   </ProductionRequirement>

         <GameModifier>

             <ModType>Unit</ModType>

             <Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>

             <StrVal>UnitStat_Attack_Pierce</StrVal>

             <Value>7</Value>

         </GameModifier>

         <GameModifier>

             <ModType>Unit</ModType>

             <Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>

             <StrVal>UnitStat_Attack_Fire</StrVal>

             <Value>2</Value>

         </GameModifier>

         <GameModifier>

             <ModType>Unit</ModType>

             <Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>

             <StrVal>UnitStat_CombatSpeed</StrVal>

             <Value>-8</Value>

         </GameModifier>

         <GameModifier>

             <ModType>Unit</ModType>

             <Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>

             <StrVal>UnitStat_CurrentWeight</StrVal>

             <Value>10</Value>

         </GameModifier>

             <GameModifier>

                 <ModType>Unit</ModType>

                 <Attribute>UnlockRangedAction</Attribute>

                 <StrVal>BowAttack_Flaming</StrVal>

                 <Provides>Ranged attack</Provides>

             </GameModifier>

         <IsAvailableForSovereignCustomization>0</IsAvailableForSovereignCustomization>

         <Likelihood>400</Likelihood>

         <RarityDisplay>Uncommon</RarityDisplay>

         <TacticalRange>6</TacticalRange>

         <IsUsable>0</IsUsable>

       <Prereq>

                      <Type>AbilityBonusOption</Type>

                      <Attribute>Archers</Attribute>

                      <Target>Player</Target>

         </Prereq>

         <Prereq>

               <Type>Tech</Type>

               <Attribute>Enchantment</Attribute>

         </Prereq>

         <AIData AIPersonality="AI_General">

             <AIPrefType>AIPrefType_BOW</AIPrefType>

             <AIPriority>84</AIPriority>

         </AIData>

         <ArtDef>Shortbow_Ignys_ArtDef</ArtDef>

         <GameItemTypeArtDef InternalName="Shortbow_Flaming_ArtDef">

             <GameItemTypeModelPack InternalName="Shortbow_Flaming_Default">

                 <IconFile>W_Shortbow_Ignys_Icon_01.png</IconFile>

                 <TintR>0</TintR>

                 <TintG>0</TintG>

                <TintB>0</TintB>

                <AttackSFX>Hit_Arrow1</AttackSFX>

                 <AttackSFX>Hit_Arrow2</AttackSFX>

                <EquipSFX>Equip_BowandArrow_01</EquipSFX>

                 <EquipSFX>Equip_BowandArrow_02</EquipSFX>

                 <EquipSFX>Equip_BowandArrow_03</EquipSFX>

                 <SoundPack>SoundPack_Bow</SoundPack>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>AmarianFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>AmarianMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>EmpireFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>EmpireMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>FallenFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>FallenMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>HenchmanMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>IroneerFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>IroneerMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>KingdomFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>KingdomMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>MancerFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>MancerMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>QuendarFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>QuendarMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>SlaveMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>TarthanFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                <SupportedUnitModelType>TarthanMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>UrxenFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>UrxenMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>WraithFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <SupportedUnitModelType>WraithMale</SupportedUnitModelType>

                 <GameItemTypeModel>

                     <ModelFile>Gfx\HKB\Weapons\W_Shortbow_01.hkb</ModelFile>

                     <Texture_All>Gfx\HKB\Armor\FE_Weapons_02.png</Texture_All>

                     <Attachment>hand_Left_Lcf</Attachment>

                 </GameItemTypeModel>

                 <GameItemTypeModel>

                     <ModelFile>Gfx\HKB\Armor\K_ArcherQuiver_01.hkb</ModelFile>

                     <Texture_All>Gfx\HKB\Armor\K_Female_Armor_Archer_Texture_01.dds</Texture_All>

                     <Attachment>back_Lcf</Attachment>

                 </GameItemTypeModel>

            </GameItemTypeModelPack>

        </GameItemTypeArtDef>

     </GameItemType>

Heavenfalls escape scroll trick isnt working for me, so i need to look a little deeper. I will deal with that tomorrow.

Does anyone know if the venom bows are working properly ?

An item will only show up in the city shop if it has been

1) researched

or

2) unlocked using the <UnlocksShopItem> from an improvement.

I would recommend you add a prereq to unlock the bow from Training or something like that, it is by far the easiest solution. Otherwise, if you desperately want it in the shop from turn 1, I would recommend you create a techdef that isn't in the tech tree, and then automatically unlock it from the Archers playerability. All this can be done from /mods/.