Alternatives to bows

[Stalker0]

I'd make xbows naturally mighty and then go stronger. Have them do x1.5 what their strenght requirement is. So a mighty xbow that needed a 14 str would do +3 damage. Then at least your exchanging rate of fire for a little more damage... although this still doesn't balance out at higher levels.

 

[The Souljourner]

I think that you could probably do away with all feat requirements and it would help a lot. So, whenever you need a feat to effectively use a weapon, you just get that ability for free - you get free quickdraw with thrown weapons after every attack, you get free rapid reload with crossbows and slings.

As for returning... fix the enchantment and just say that all magical thrown weapons are under the effect of the enchantment for free.

There, now you're balanced. Wasn't that easy?

-The Souljourner

 

[Darklone]

Just double the damage of Xbows, allow for mighty ones and remove the silly Rapid Reload feat.

Then you'll have the simple weapon that rocked the battlefields.

 

[DreamChaser]

Hay! Like fighters have a shortage of feats. Just take the dern rapid reload feat and call it good.

Or play a non-archer character.

Bows were historically the cheapest, fastest, and (when used right) most potentially damaging personal ranged weapons until the guns (even then they won on cheap).

DC

 

[Woas]

Alchemist fire? Acid? Holy Water? I once played in a game with a gnome 'grenadier'. Throwing axes? I love throwing axes, you can dual wield them in melee combat AND throw them.

Or are you looking for more range? If you are I wouldn't suggest darts or throwning daggers.

Javelins and spears are great thrown weapons. d6 and d8 respectively, plus you add strength. There short range again though.

What about a net? A fighter with a good strenth score could easily net someone and win opposed strength checks to keep it from running away. Then poke it.

There are a plethora of other real bows other than the proverbial 'short' and 'long' bows in this world. Reflex bows, horn bows, recurve bows, half bow, compound bow, natural bow, straight bow.

So if you wanted to talk to your DM about maybe either taking the bowmaking craft and crafting some of these variets, or pruchase them, they could add different effects.

Take the half bow for example. The half bow is of oriental design. It is very small, but in tight situations it is very helpful. So, maybe I half-bow would allow a user to fire it with out an AoO while in melee combat.

Stuff like that.

 

[two]

I'd just do what was suggested above

Make the +1 Throwing/Returning enchantment "instant" meaning, the weapon returns to your hand immediately, allowing for full attacks using one thrown weapon (axe, dagger, etc.).

So a +4 Throwing Axe of Returning is +3/+3, and may be chucked multiple times in a round by a irritated dwarf.

Fixes a lot of problems, and allows for thrown weapons to match up to a bow, almost, kinda.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Just to clarify it, I am the gm... just got tired of seeing every PC range specialist as an archers, simply because the other options just didn't match up to it... in fairness, someone started looking at a crossbow specialist, and just couldn't quite get it to work.

I like the idea of giving 'many returning' as a freebie enchantment on magical thrown weapons - although I might make some of them a limited version of dancing - i.e. you throw the weapon - it flies about performing the attacks, then flies back to their hand. Exactly the same mechanic - just adds some variety...

Tinkering with crossbows seems good - might come up with a 'war crossbow' thats a martial version of the basic crossbow, but with rapid reload built into it. Mighty versions on the same basis as bows...

Either of those end up too powerful?

I'm liking Woas idea about nets and grenades... have to stat together some annoying mooks who make use of that sort of stuff

 

[doghead]

Humbolt light (1d8, 19-20x2, 80ft, 8lb, P)
Humbolt heavy (1d10, 19-20x2, 120ft, 12lb, P)

Magical xbow bolt thrower - take 6 barrels, an old six shooter style reloading mechanism (single bolts in through a gate behind one barrel) and a lever mechanism to rotate the barrels, attach it to a stock and mix in a little magic. Just add xbow bolts.

Has the rate of fire of a bow, can fire all 6 at one go but has 1in6 chance of burning out the magic (or blowing up - depends how diirty you like it). Makes a humming noise when fired. Can reload each barrel individually or replace barrel (full action?).

OK, its probably not what you are looking for. But it popped into mind as I read this.

 

[c47]

How about the Chakram type weapon that goes from one target to the next like batman's boomerang?

Arms & Equipment Pg7.

Does not do a lot of damage but the returning is nicely handled for multiple targets (and the reasoning why the next shot is worse than the previous).

For Rapid Short/Many Short could have the device split?

 

[Felix]

... weren't bows historically the best bang for your buck ranged weapon? I mean the only thing that x-bows have on bows is range and the simple weapon proficiency. And I think that's just for balance reasons. There's a reason that all the buttkickin ranged specialists use bows: bows rock.

As for what to use if you want something other than a bow?
Light X-bow with the Rapid Reload feat.
Repeating X-bow with EWP
Sling

And that's another thing... a sling takes a MEA to reload? Did I miss something? (for SHAME Felix! )