Bane arrow

[Lamoni]

AFAIK, special abilities stack, only enhancement bonuses overlap. So if you fired a +1 icy burst arrow from a +2 holy longbow, the shot would hit as a +2 holy, icy burst arrow.

That is what I thought also. I guess I just considered bane to be a special ability just like flaming or unholy instead of a normal enhancement bonus that just wasn't always there. I guess I should go back and read the description for bane.

edit: from the SRD... Bane: A bane weapon excels at attacking one type or subtype of creature. Against its designated foe, its effective enhancement bonus is +2 better than its normal enhancement bonus. It deals an extra 2d6 points of damage against the foe. Bows, crossbows, and slings so crafted bestow the bane quality upon their ammunition.

I thought the normal enhancement bonuses stacked just like everyone said... however, the 'effective enhancement bonus is +2 better against its designated foe' For damage, it deals an extra 2d6 vs. the foe so if abilities stack, the arrow would be a +2 bane(human) arrow. bane doesn't just equal a flat +2 enhancement bonus, because flat enhancement bonuses don't add any D6 to the damage. It is more like holy in that regard.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

the 'effective enhancement bonus is +2 better against its designated foe'

Yes, the effective enhancement bonus of the arrow. So instead of a +1 arrow, it becomes a +3 arrow that deals an additional +2d6 damage. Then you fire it from a +2 bow, which has a lower enhancement bonus, so it doesn't effect the outcome. You're trying tack on the +2 from the bow before resolving the arrow's own special ability on itself, which doesn't work. Resolve the arrow, then compare it with the bow.

It is more like holy in that regard.

Its only similarity to holy is that they both do +2d6 damage to a restricted type of target. That has nothing to do with the way in which the Bane ability affects the enhancement bonus of the weapon/ammunition to which it is applied.

 

[Lamoni]

Yes, the effective enhancement bonus of the arrow. So instead of a +1 arrow, it becomes a +3 arrow that deals an additional +2d6 damage. Then you fire it from a +2 bow, which has a lower enhancement bonus, so it doesn't effect the outcome. You're trying tack on the +2 from the bow before resolving the arrow's own special ability on itself, which doesn't work. Resolve the arrow, then compare it with the bow.Its only similarity to holy is that they both do +2d6 damage to a restricted type of target.

That makes sense. I just interpreted the 'effective enhancement' to not really be the true enhancement. The true enhancement on the arrow is still a +1, which becomes a +2 when fired from the bow. Only effectively it is 2 higher when targeting the bane opponent. That is how I did interpret it. Now I might like your interpretation better. I just like to keep things as simple as possible. I am still not completely convinced that by the rules it is definately one way vs. the other though. Unfortunately, there are always so many angles to look at things from that often give different interpretations and different results. Good thing there is always a DM there that can rule based on what is best for the campaign.

Edit: I just don't know whether it is simpler to say that every arrow is a +2 bane(human) arrow, or make it simpler by not trying to interpret what they might have meant by distinguishing effective enhancement from base enhancement, and say it is all just an enhancement bonus and non-stackable.

The 'every arrow is a +2 bane(human) arrow' is simple in that you just add 2 vs humans without concerning yourself with where the +2 came from.

The 'arrows are +2 arrows (ignore the bane) OR +1 bane(human) (add the +2 from bane) is only slightly less simple, but the reasoning behind it is quite simple after your posts.

 

[the Jester]

When they say 'effective enhancement bonus' of the arrow, I think they're considering factors like magic weapon or greater magic weapon spells.

So, for instance, my ultra-high level cleric casts gmw on the bane arrows +1. Now they're bane arrows +5 and become +7 against their specific target.

It still overlaps with the bow (rather than stacking with it).