Bow proficiencies

[kengar]

When dealing with bow proficiencies, how do you split them up for purposes of feats like Weapon Focus and Martial Weapon Proficiency?

Here's how I've been doing it:

Longbow
Shortbow
Composite Longbow (includes Mighty)
Composite Shortbow (includes Mighty)

i.e. A Ranger takes "Weapon Focus (Composite Longbow)". The +1 would then NOT apply to use of a normal Longbow.

Also, if a Wizard takes the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat to use a bow, he must choose one of the four categories above, not a generic "Bows" proficiency.

Is this right?

 

[Darklone]

Right.

 

[Knight Otu]

Yes, the normal and composite bow types are different weapons.

I would add a source, but I'm away from my books and can't read rtfs (for the SRD) or pdfs (for the faqs) on this computer

 

[Thimble the Squit]

Archery Proficiencies

I believe there's a suggestion in Sword and Fist or somewhere about optionally allowing a character with proficiency in longbows to apply that to composite longbows as well; this might be because whereas, at 1st-level, a character might not be able to afford that funky Mighty Composite Longbow (Str 18), despite having the required ability scores, at higher level, these costs become negligible.

I'd certainly allow it anyway. I suspect the Weapon Proficiency feat will be broadened in 3.5 in any case; after all, the proliferation of multiclassing often obviates the need entirely.

 

[Destil]

Personally, I just break them up like this:
(mighty)(composite) Shortbow
(mighty)(composite) Longbow

I like this over the Sword and Fist variant. For instance that rule only really makes sense for weapon focus, since you can increase the attack bonus other ways. For weapon spec. or improved critical you'd need to become worse with the original bow when you transfer your feats...

 

[Zad]

Sword and Fist does indeed have an optional rule that allows people to shift bow feats around each time they level. So you could start with weapon focus (composite longbow) and when you level, shift it to (longbow) then level again and change it back.

Personally I think there's no reason to be too uptight over the difference between composite and regulra bows.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I rule it the same as Destil. Classes that have martial weapon proficiency don't have to worry about this problem. And classes that buy it will naturally want the best bow they can afford and use. I don't see the point in forcing them to either: wait until they can afford a good bow, or waste another feat once they can afford the better bow.

Longbows and shortbows. It's enough for me.

 

[Ranger REG]

I have considered make it one Bow Weapon Group Proficiency feat, but the separate Longbow Group Proficiency and Shortbow Group Proficiency feats sound reasonably fair.