Bane - Bows and Arrows

[Nyeshet]

Hmm, from these arguments I'm guessing it might soon be a little more popular to use a +1 Bane bow with arrows graced with Greater Magic Weapon.

 

[mvincent]

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

The Storm Archer miniature appears to have an icy bow that is sheathed in ice.*

Also, the align weapon spell targets a weapon, so it seems that if a bow hit by this then the bow itself (rather than just its fired arrows) would become good. Curious: does such an affected bow bestow this on it's ammo? If so, then I see it being treated similar to Holy weapon (which also bestows it on its ammo), giving precedence for both the weapon and the ammo to be considered affected by the ability.

Edit: Actually, I believe it's electric

 

[Hypersmurf]

Curious: does such an affected bow bestow this on it's ammo?

Similarly, ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an alignment gains the alignment of that projectile weapon (in addition to any alignment it may already have).

Edit: Actually, I believe it's electric

He has an electric bow that's sheathed in ice?

-Hyp.

 

[Endur]

The 3.5 DMG does not say that a +5 bane weapon is +7 against the designated foe or is treated as epic for penetrating epic DR.

I have seen some WOTC publications that treat a +5 bane weapon as +7 against the designated foe (Deities and Demigods comes to mind).

But I think this is really something for GM interpretation.

Personally, I would probably rule against a non-epic magic weapon qualifying for penetrating epic DR. I'd probably want a weapon to be an artifact, epic, relic, or legendary (or something similar) to qualify for penetrating epic DR.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Personally, I would probably rule against a non-epic magic weapon qualifying for penetrating epic DR.

"A few very powerful monsters are vulnerable only to epic weapons; that is, magic weapons with at least a +6 enhancement bonus."

For purposes of beating DR X/Epic, a non-epic magic weapon with a +6 enhancement bonus is an epic weapon.

Similarly, a +5 Vorpal Everdancing longsword is not an epic weapon for the purposes of beating DR X/Epic, despite fitting all the other definitions of 'epic weapon'.

And I have no problem with that, conceptually, either - the Demon Prince laughs at the +5 Mace, but the +4 Greataxe specifically crafted to be deadly to fiends - Evil Outsider Bane - slices through his hide like butter. Works for me.

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

The 3.5 DMG does not say that a +5 bane weapon is +7 against the designated foe

It seems to

Personally, I would probably rule against a non-epic magic weapon qualifying for penetrating epic DR.

Agreed (Edit: well, if Hype doesn't think so, I might change my mind on that one)

 

[Goolpsy]

I'll also display this as the chicken and the Egg question...

"Against its designated foe, its effective enhancement bonus is +2 better than its normal enhancement bonus."

"Normal" is word here... now is the normal bonus the bonus of the arrow, og the higher bonus of the arrow and the bow? Could be either

 

[Evilhalfling]

Another question is if a +1 bow is bane (lawful outsiders), and you are shooting +1 bane (evil outsiders) arrows at a Devil, is it:
+3 to hit & 2d6 or
+3 & best of two 2d6 rolls
+3 to hit & 4d6 or
+5 to hit & 4d6

 

[mvincent]

Another question is if a +1 bow is bane (lawful outsiders), and you are shooting +1 bane (evil outsiders) arrows at a Devil, is it:
+3 to hit & 2d6 or
+3 & best of two 2d6 rolls
+3 to hit & 4d6 or
+5 to hit & 4d6

It should be "+3 to hit & 4d6", because damage normally stacks, but bonuses normally do not.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It should be "+3 to hit & 4d6", because damage normally stacks, but bonuses normally do not.

Bane doesn't add a bonus, though; it makes an existing bonus better. It's more like an increase than a bonus.

-Hyp.