Bane - Bows and Arrows

[Wrathamon]

From the way it is worded...

A +1 bow of Goblinbane shooting +5 arrows would be effectively shooting +5 arrows of Goblinbane, so +7 vs Goblins.

Where the +5 Bow shooting +1 arrows of goblinbane would only be doing +5 as the goblin bane doesnt jump back to the bow, as it is worded so they would be +3 arrows but the bow is +5 so you would use the higher of the two enchantments.


So this is a case where higher + enchantments on arrows is a better situation than having it on the bow and a reason to carry around magical arrows.

 

[Infiniti2000]

How special can it be, if it's referenced in the Monster Manual?

Special enough that there's a limit of +5.

 

[mvincent]

Let me see if I understand correctly:

A +1 bane bow firing a +5 arrow would result in a +7 bonus against an appropriate target (because it effectively becomes a +5 bane arrow, as the bow imparts the bane on the arrow)?

Conversely, a +5 bow bow firing a +1 bane arrow does not actually impart the +5 on the arrow, so the arrow is only the better of +5 or +3 against an appropriate target?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Let me see if I understand correctly:

A +1 bane bow firing a +5 arrow would result in a +7 bonus against an appropriate target (because it effectively becomes a +5 bane arrow, as the bow imparts the bane on the arrow)?

Conversely, a +5 bow firing a +1 bane arrow does not actually impart the +5 on the arrow, so the arrow is only the better of +5 or +3 against an appropriate target?

That's my reading. The situation I'm unsure about is the +5 bane bow firing the +1 arrow. Is it the better of +5 and +3, or the better of +7 and +3?

-Hyp.

 

[Artoomis]

....[blink] Really? What do you think the effective enhancement bonus of a +5 Goblinbane arrow works out to against a goblin? Or, indeed, of a +5 arrow that has had the Goblinbane property bestowed on it?...-Hyp.

Hey, I didn't say I disagreed. I said it was not indisputable. That's a VERY strong word.

 

[mvincent]

That's my reading. The situation I'm unsure about is the +5 bane bow firing the +1 arrow. Is it the better of +5 and +3, or the better of +7 and +3?

Since the entire bane ability is imparted directly onto the arrow, it is effectively a +5 bane arrow. A regular +5 bane arrows would certainly have a +7 bonus vs. its intended target, yes? If so, this would too.

Edit: oops... misread the quote. Nevermind

 

[Hypersmurf]

Since the entire bane ability is imparted directly onto the arrow, it is effectively a +5 bane arrow. A regular +5 bane arrows would certainly have a +7 bonus vs. its intended target, yes? If so, this would too.

The Bane ability is imparted onto the arrow, making it effectively a +1 Bane arrow. The arrow isn't +5 in this example, it's +1.

The question is whether it's being fired from a +5 bow, or an effectively +7 bow.

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

The Bane ability is imparted onto the arrow, making it effectively a +1 Bane arrow. The arrow isn't +5 in this example, it's +1.

The question is whether it's being fired from a +5 bow, or an effectively +7 bow.

Ok, got it now (my mistake). So, since the rules say:
"Against its designated foe, its effective enhancement bonus is +2 better than its normal enhancement bonus."

Wouldn't that apply to the bow in addition to (i.e. not instead of) "Bows, crossbows, and slings so crafted bestow the bane quality upon their ammunition"? Such a bow would recieve any other benefits from being so magic'd (possible bonuses to saving throws, Ego, etc.), not just its arrows.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Seems like a bit of a chicken or the egg situation.

When you fire a +1 arrow from a +5 bow you take the +5 bonus as the enhancement bonus for the attack.

When you fire an arrow from a bane bow you apply the bane bonus to the arrow.

Neither actually happens until you fire the arrow so which do you do first? Take the best bonus and then apply bane or apply bane and then take the best bonus?

I can't find anything in the rules but I'd go with taking the best bonus first as this is a standard property of magical ranged weapons and ammunition and then apply bane as it's a specific case, resulting in a +5 bane attack. It also keeps it consistent with the benefit provided by a similarly enchanted melee weapon.

Don't suppose this has cropped up in a FAQ or Sage column at some point?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wouldn't that apply to the bow in addition to (i.e. not instead of)

That's what I'm not sure of. I could see a DM ruling either way.

Same question with a Flaming bow, for example - is the bow sheathed in fire, or just the arrows it shoots?

-Hyp.