A moral question, opnions sought [long]

[Hatchling Dragon]

My situation: I'm an Elven Wizard that tends to use his Mighty Composite Longbow (+1) to supply the majority of my offensive firepower. This is due to three factors: 1) I like 'utility' spells, as well as variety, playing 'artillery' would ruin that. 2) It's a low gold/magic campain and I'm far too broke to go making scrolls; 3) I got very lucky with a couple rolls and have a 20 Dex, seemed a shame to waste that

In combat to date I think I've only missed twice with my bow. The down-side to this claim is that my shots are notorious for hitting targets I was not aiming at, ie: the bad guys. Let's just say I should either get Precise Shot or give up the bow

One of the other players, running a Halfling Rogue, took an arrow in the back (I said I was sorry! I even meant it! ) and, unbeknownst to my character (yet), has been sabotaging my bow strings. Well, I'm pretty sure he's the culprit, pesky note-passing.

When we arrived at a small village I managed to purchase 4 new strings, thinking my former string simply broke (so I forgot to bring spares...). In the last fight we had, against a big group of orcs threatening the village, I discovered that all four of my replacement strings were 'frayed' and useless.

My dilema. I'm not totaly convinced that someone in the group's deliberately sabotaging my bow. I've also gotten comments to the effect that I should put the damned thing away, or at least give up shooting into melee. I'm the sort that will make a point of finding out who's behind this, most probably the Halfing (he could streak through a camp and nobody'd notice ). I'm just wondering what I would be justified in doing about it. I've already been circulating the 'Polymorph List' around the table, unfortunately everyone's already on it.

Would this be totaly out of line: I cast Alarm in such a way as to catch anyone attempting to tamper with my strings. When somone sets off the alarm I jump up and attack them, probably with magic (as we've already established that my Bow can't be trusted ) I was thinking of casting Blindness/Deafness on the little bugger, agreeing to release the spell if/when I get a promice that the tampering stops.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Crothian]

Alarm sounds like the perfect solution. By now it should be obvious that someone is messing with the bow strings.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

i think that's a fine way to handle it, especially since Blindness/Deafness is dismissible

and, personally, i would set the Alarm to be audible. wake everyone in the camp to prove what you've suspected all along...

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Did an Edit, mostly cuz I really shouldn't post with 4.5 hours of sleep to my credit.

I'm sure someone's doing this on purpose, the Alarm is just to let me find out who is doing the tampering. I have to catch someone red-handed to have any faint hope of justifiable retribution.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Katerek]

This sounds like a case of Note-Passing PC on PC crime.

There is an argument to be made here, but neither side is winnable, so I would advise AGAINST it. By that I mean, if htey do want shot, stay out of the way VS if you wouldnt shoot into combat then they wouldnt be shot.

It may also be a plot contrivance that your DM is working with. Bear that in mind.

You might want to cast alarm, but I wouldn't take retalliatory action, that will just end up worse for wear.

Take the Feat. Ask your DM if you shoot at larger targets if you can target other areas that the other PC's aren't standing near.

With your DEX, take the Improved Init. Feat so that you go first more times, thus ensuring you get a few shots off against unengaged opponents. Then wade in with a Weapon Finessed Rapier, again taking advantage of your Dex. Grab some levels of rogue so you can get sneak attack and then after a few rounds of arrow fire you can tumble through to an advantageous spot and Sneak Attack away.

Dont change your character because another player is whining, but at the same time be cognizant of the other players. Try to achieve a synergy where everyone is happy. (Easy sounding aint it?)

I have ran into this before in an old campaign I ran, it eventually led to disaster. Be careful.

 

[Dispater]

Perfectly fine - to be honest I don't see the moral dilema. Only thing is this party conflict might get out of hand and your DM might disapprove.

Those annoying halflings...

 

[Palantir]

No problems that I can see. And, as Mr. Fidget said, the fact that the spell is easily reversible means that the punishment lasts only as long as the crime.

We had an archer who fired into melee. After he shot two of his own guys in the back (one was killed in the same melee,) he doesn't do it so much anymore. Shocker...

-Palantir

 

[Zenon]

Personally, I'd use the Magic Mouth spell. Cast it on the bow & your spare bowstrings.

This should catch him in the act next time (and be pretty embarrassing to him also).

 

[Tom Cashel]

You know, Hatchling...you should keep in mind that you started all of this.

Whether you meant it or not, whether you're sorry or not, you're the one who shot your ally with an arrow during a combat. It's not the kind of thing D&D players tend to forget (hoo-boy, do I have experience with that one... ).

Anyway, stop firing into melee. The fact that you keep doing it has got to be irritating to the halfling who got shot, and irritating to the other PCs, who feel that they might be next.

Once you get the Feat, you're justified to fire to melee all you want.

As for the tampering...that's a big no-no as well. I'd start with the alarm, and if you catch him you can just say, "I'm learning to be more precise with my shots. But don't touch my stuff. That's your only warning."

Then put your strings in a little box warded with fire trap, explosive runes, or best of all, sepia snake sigil. That'll learn 'em to mess with wizards.

 

[Katerek]

I remember once upon a time in the real world my friend Dale shot me in the back of the head with a BB gun. He didnt mean to, these things just happen.

I was angry yes, but I didnt spend the rest of my mortal days playing saboteur with his BB Gun. that was just playing around.

Accidents happen.

Now, if I had lived in a world where that BB Gun was one of the primary things that helped me continue breathing each morning because of all the nasties it helped to defeat each day, I would be even LESS inspired to sabotage said weapon. Yeah, he shot me once, but it was clearly accidental, and it just might save my ass some day. In fact, I would probably work with him so that it didn't happen again, either get him training or a better BB Gun.

Now, had that happened, AND I saw him roll a dice that indicated a completely random result, then I would be even more forgiving.

Whoever is damaging the bow and string is a complete boob.