Bow against Sword!

[Elder-Basilisk]

As for sundering the bow, yes the sunder attempt will usually work.

The bow has a hardness of five and, since bows aren't an inch thick cylinder, probably between 5 and 7 hit points. Consequently, depending upon the DM's ruling, it takes either 10 or 12 points of damage to sunder the bow in a single attack.

A monster manual orc with a greataxe deals an average of 9.5 hit points damage. However, he will deal 12 hit points of damage about 42% of the time. He will deal 10 hit points of damage 50% of the time.

A raging orc barbarian with a greataxe deals an average of 12.5 hit points of damage. He deals at least 12 points of damage 58% of the time and 10 hp of damage 75% of the time.

As characters go up in levels, they may get magic bows which prevent sunder from working unless the opponent also has a magic weapon. Their opponents' damages, however, will climb much faster than the bow's hardness and hit points. Consequently, while an archer becomes immune to sunder attempts by grunts, the archer becomes even more vulnerable to sunder attempts from worthy foes.

 

[Fisk]

I think the sunder issue is why there are a number of players who's characters take along more than one bow.

The magical weapon issue is huge as well as long as you stay one step ahead.

The 5' step is great especially but its true that you can get yourself backed into a few tight spots. Thank goodness for tumbling. You know its not that difficult to move through threatened areas with that feat to create some new space.

And as far as being with out the ability to deliver an AoO there is always the arrow itself at a -4 to hit. Or an even better option witch is the spiked guantlet. When you attack with the spiked guantlet you do not open yourself to further AoO.

And all Bow users know that Sundered bows are just part of the territtory.

 

[Coredump]

Better than spiked gauntlet (IMO) would be getting quick draw, then use any weapon you want...

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[LokiDR]

Where is the rule that magic weapon can't be harmed? I have heard several references to it, but have never read the passage.

As far as a weapon for the archer to AoO the would be sunderer, I don't believe you can take free actions as part of a reaction/AoO. Is there any rule that says you can or can't specifically?

Finally, sunder. How often do you use this feat/tatic? I am loath to get rid of hard earn equipment, often that is hard to come by. Is it comon in other games?

 

[shilsen]

Where is the rule that magic weapon can't be harmed? I have heard several references to it, but have never read the passage.

The rule doesn't say that magic weapons can't be harmed, but rather that they can't be damaged by other magic weapons which have a lower enhancement bonus (e.g. a +2 sword cannot be damaged by a +1 axe). See PHB pg.136 under "Strike a Weapon"

 

[Rel]

I looked through the thread and didn't see it mentioned (if I missed it, sorry) but this is how I'd handle it if I was the fighter:

After the first time the Archer did the "5' step and shoot" thing, I'd ready an action - "If the archer moves away from me, I move with him and attack."

So the Archer steps back 5 feet and I step up and clobber him with my melee weapon. Then he has a choice: He can either stand there and do nothing or he can try to shoot me with his bow which provokes an AoO or he can move away again, which also provokes an AoO.

I'd say the fighter has an advantage if he can survive long enough to see the pattern in what the Archer is doing.

 

[efreet]

sundering bows

Hi all,

The way I rule sundering bows in my game is that you don't have to chop the bow into tinder to stop an archer, you just have to cut the bowstring. In game terms any attack with a slashing weapon which deals 1 point of damage does the trick. I also rule that magic bows sunder resistance only applies to the bow - not the string.

This makes things a bit harder for archers in melee, but also ensures their expensive mighty composite longbows don't end up on the campfire! What do you think about this? Is it too harsh?

Something that hasn't come up so far - but probably will - is how long it take to string a bow. How quickly can it be done? I don't have a clue and would appreciate anyone who can help me out on this.

efreet.

 

[efreet]

sundering bows

double post

 

[LokiDR]

Re: sundering bows

Something that hasn't come up so far - but probably will - is how long it take to string a bow. How quickly can it be done? I don't have a clue and would appreciate anyone who can help me out on this.

efreet.

To string a long bow, you loop the string on one end, wedge that end between your legs, pull on the other end, and loop the string over. I can see a professional easily doing it in under 6 seconds, though I had a problem with that. With all the foot work required though, I don't know if it should be a move, standard, or full round.

 

[mmu1]

Re: sundering bows

(...)
This makes things a bit harder for archers in melee, but also ensures their expensive mighty composite longbows don't end up on the campfire! What do you think about this? Is it too harsh? (...)
efreet.

Yes, it is. Sundering a bow, which might be around 1/2" thick on average, is easy enough. I have always felt that archers had it a little too easy in combat, what with the 5' step, but this basically allows anyone to disarm them at will. Having someone take a good whack at their prized bow, and nearly breaking it, should be enough to convince anyone with half a brain not to stand around in melee with a bow drawn.