[BDP] Master at Arms - Ironstrike Archer released!

[BLACKDIRGE]

The next installment of the Master at Arms series highlights an often-overlooked missile weapon in the d20 system: the composite shortbow. Historically, a weapon of horse archers and charioteers, the composite shortbow packs as much punch as a longbow in a much smaller frame. The ironstrike archer prestige class allows an archer to take advantage of the composite shortbow’s great versatility, power, accuracy, and speed. Ironstrike archers are adept at firing their shortbows from horseback, sniping at enemies from cover, or simply feathering their enemies with arrow after arrow after arrow.

So shoot faster, shoot farther, and shoot harder than any shortbow archer has a right to with Blackdirge Publishing and Master at Arms: Ironstrike Archer.

Master at Arms – Ironstrike Archer contains 7 pages of new d20 material, which includes the following:

• A historical look at the composite shortbow
• Author’s design notes
• The ironstrike archer prestige class
• Indarra Whisperwood, a versatile horseman, scout, and ironstrike archer
• A new magic item: arrows of expansion
• Illustration by Jesse Mohn

 

[JiCi]

Looks pretty solid, especially since there are like 20+ feats that boost archery. Just purchase an elvencraft shortbow (Races of the Wild) and combine it with a bow dagger (Complete Scoundrel) and you have a versatile weapon: elvencraft shortbows can be used as clubs and bow daggers are used as punching daggers without letting go of the bow (the dagger is fixed at the handle).

Overdraw seems exclusive to the Manyshot feat. However, a scout could use it with its Skirmish ability and so could an Initiate of the Order of the Bow with its Ranged Precision ability (Complete Warrior).

That Arrow of Expansion looks nasty and not just with the shortbow. I mean, it could deal serious damage if used in a volley along with the rules in Heroes of Battle. Imagine a squadron of goliaths or half-giants or any race with the Powerful Build trait using Large greatbows (Complete Warrior), each arrow dealing 4d8 points of damage... ouch!

Keep up the good work

 

[BLACKDIRGE]

Looks pretty solid, especially since there are like 20+ feats that boost archery. Just purchase an elvencraft shortbow (Races of the Wild) and combine it with a bow dagger (Complete Scoundrel) and you have a versatile weapon: elvencraft shortbows can be used as clubs and bow daggers are used as punching daggers without letting go of the bow (the dagger is fixed at the handle).

Overdraw seems exclusive to the Manyshot feat. However, a scout could use it with its Skirmish ability and so could an Initiate of the Order of the Bow with its Ranged Precision ability (Complete Warrior).

That Arrow of Expansion looks nasty and not just with the shortbow. I mean, it could deal serious damage if used in a volley along with the rules in Heroes of Battle. Imagine a squadron of goliaths or half-giants or any race with the Powerful Build trait using Large greatbows (Complete Warrior), each arrow dealing 4d8 points of damage... ouch!

Keep up the good work

Hey JiCi,

The overdraw ability is not exclusive to the Manyshot feat. Really, the only limitation on overdraw is that it can't be used with the full attack action.

Yeah, the arrows of expansion could be pretty nasty. You know, storm giants use longbows; imagine that! =]

BD

 

[JiCi]

Yeah, the arrows of expansion could be pretty nasty. You know, storm giants use longbows; imagine that! =]

Huh... don't the arrows fit for bows of Small size to Large size only ? Storm giants are Huge creatures that can use Gargantuan weapony. Hate to break it to you, but it won't work... and it's a good thing too. While it's a nice image, it's not a good thing to encounter either.

 

[BLACKDIRGE]

Huh... don't the arrows fit for bows of Small size to Large size only ? Storm giants are Huge creatures that can use Gargantuan weapony. Hate to break it to you, but it won't work... and it's a good thing too. While it's a nice image, it's not a good thing to encounter either.

Heh, yeah. Sorry, I should have remembered that, seeing as I designed the item. Duh.