Bow against Sword!

[LokiDR]

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"

Thanks. Since this passage is under striking a weapon, I will assume that "energy" damage, such as acid is not covered.

 

[AuraSeer]

Re: Re: sundering bows

For restringing a bow, I'd call it a full-round action that draws an AoO. Plus, I'd want the archer to make a Craft (bowmaking) check, DC 10. If he fails, he hasn't managed to string the bow, but he can try again next round.

 

[mmu1]

Re: Re: Re: sundering bows

For restringing a bow, I'd call it a full-round action that draws an AoO. Plus, I'd want the archer to make a Craft (bowmaking) check, DC 10. If he fails, he hasn't managed to string the bow, but he can try again next round.

Umm... Stringing a bow requires a check about as much as nocking an arrow does. If you have the proficiency in the weapon, you have to know how to do it, it's like saying a soldier without Craft: Gunsmithing wouldn't know how to field-strip a service rifle.

I'd say a move-equivalent action to string a bow that was simply un-strung for carrying, and still had the string on, and a full-round action to do it from scratch.

 

[Fisk]

I guess if you have the feat to spend on it "Quickdraw" and carrying multiple bows is the answer.

If opponant attempts to strike weapon he opens himself ot AoO. By dropping bow and drawing sword (free actions) the opponant is potentially struck and now does not have the bow to sunder.

A 5'ft, a new bow, a cry for assistance because your running out of bows, and hopefully the sword slinging bastard is down.


That aside the swordsman still has to surpass the to hit roll of the Archer. So its not the given that everyone make it out to be.

And as his attempts miss the Archer is taking his 5' step and center massing a collection of arrows in the swordsman.

How much does damage does the swordsman want to take to chop a bow that is to be replaced with flying axes or daggers or even a sword itself.

It could be an out of the frying pan into the fire situation.


And as far as why the spiked gauntlet? Not everyone has a feat to use on quickdraw at the lower levels.

 

[LokiDR]

Bow strings are not simple devices, as a person who had to construct one. They are waxed often and are not good to get wet. If a person is wandering around with his bow partially strung on his back, he deserves penalties to his shots. This changes if he is expecting to have to string it quickly or can be sure it will be kept dry such as in a case or dungeon.

 

[mmu1]

Bow strings are not simple devices, as a person who had to construct one. They are waxed often and are not good to get wet. If a person is wandering around with his bow partially strung on his back, he deserves penalties to his shots. This changes if he is expecting to have to string it quickly or can be sure it will be kept dry such as in a case or dungeon.

I think most adventurers would simpy carry it partially strung most of the time and change strings often...

 

[LokiDR]

I guess if you have the feat to spend on it "Quickdraw" and carrying multiple bows is the answer.

If opponant attempts to strike weapon he opens himself ot AoO. By dropping bow and drawing sword (free actions) the opponant is potentially struck and now does not have the bow to sunder.

A 5'ft, a new bow, a cry for assistance because your running out of bows, and hopefully the sword slinging bastard is down.


That aside the swordsman still has to surpass the to hit roll of the Archer. So its not the given that everyone make it out to be.

And as his attempts miss the Archer is taking his 5' step and center massing a collection of arrows in the swordsman.

How much does damage does the swordsman want to take to chop a bow that is to be replaced with flying axes or daggers or even a sword itself.

It could be an out of the frying pan into the fire situation.


And as far as why the spiked gauntlet? Not everyone has a feat to use on quickdraw at the lower levels.

Hold on. Are you saying that you can drop the weapon that a person is trying to hit as part of sunder?

From the SRD:

Free Action: A combatant can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally. However, the DM puts reasonable limits on what a combatant can really do for free.

I would not call an AoO a normal action. This would mean a spiked gauntlet would be a good choice for the archer.

Next, on striking a weapon,

Then the attacker and the defender make opposed attack rolls. If the attacker wins, the attacker has made a successful attack against the weapon or shield.

There isn't a static AC. I'm not sure if the archer can use his dex, but it seems so.

The final comment I have on quickdraw is: do you carry that bow strung? If so, it won't be usable for long, since I am sure the tension and jostling can't be good for it. Archers in melee should have lots of problems, and letting them out with quickdraw is cheap.

 

[Stalker0]

I like the idea of hitting the bowstring instead of the bow, it allows sunder to do its job without putting teh bow out of business which I think in the end is a rule that makes sense and one the players will appreciate.

I would say however, that it would be nearly impossible to restring a bow in the middle of combat. From what you guys described, it involves putting the bow between your legs and so forth. That doesn't just provoke an AOO, that leaves you flat out vulnerable.

Basically I want the same results as if I sundered the bow, the bow is out of the combat. However, the benefit is the bow isn't out of combat permanently.

 

[Fisk]

Hold on. Are you saying that you can drop the weapon that a person is trying to hit as part of sunder?

From the SRD:


I would not call an AoO a normal action. This would mean a spiked gauntlet would be a good choice for the archer.

If an archer drops his bow in order to avoid it from being struck hasn't the attacker done what he has set out to do which is to keep the archer from using his bow against him?


And as far as an archer not having his bow strung while adventuring..... Please thats like saying the police officer is going into a crack house with his gun unloaded and the bullets are in his pocket.

If it is truly an issue of being technical and playing that the bow will be damaged if strung all the time. Then play your archers how you be if you the archer and carry more than one bow alternating which one is constantly strung.

 

[LokiDR]

The "bow unstrung" comments were meant to cover travel time / "off duty time". If you are going into a dungeon/are on watch/otherwise prepped for combat, of course your bow is strung. If you are just walking overland, I would question it. The comment is meant to bring more realistic constraints to your game. If you don't want to deal with it, you don't have to, but it can make the game more exciting.