Compound bow

[Ahrimon]

I was just wondering if anyone had tried introducing a compound bow into thier game yet. I'm not an archery buff, but I understand a compound bow has more force to it than a crossbow. Which is why they need aluminum arrows, so they don't shatter when fired. I don't know if it's true or not, it's just something I was told by the shopkeeper when I was younger.

So I was thinking of a compound bow as an exotic weapon. Of couse all of the arrows would have to be made of ironwood or whatever the really hard wood in the DMG is. Or possibly really special arrows made from Mithril.

I'm not sure where to go with the damage and threat ranges though. Here are my two thoughts:
1.
Light compound bow: Dam 1d8 Threat 20x3
Heavy compound bow: Dam 1d10 Threat 20x3

2.
Light compound bow: Dam 1d6 Threat 19-20x3
Heavy compound bow: Dam 1d8 Threat 19-20x3

3.
Light compound bow: Dam 1d8 Threat 19-20x3
Heavy compound bow: Dam 1d10 Threat 19-20x3

Obviously the third option is a bit overpowered. Personally I'm leaning more toward option 1 myself. Of course I'll need to come up with some rules for using normal arrows and how they would break, possibly hurting the shooter.

Ahrimon

Any thoughts

 

[Kalanyr]

I'd stick to option 1. Messing with the crit range usually reflects finesse (the ability to hit the enemy right where it hurts) rather than power. Power tends to be damage or crit multiplier.

 

[Goolpsy]

If you look at all other bows, they've got 20/x3

while crossbows have 19-20/x2

And this is a bow.. so.. it would be option # 1

Btw, even having this as an Exotic weapon... i think you should make a requirement in either strenght of some sort.. (maybe 13 or 14 str) while the exotic part does make up for some, a bow need to be pulled.. and if it shoots hard, then its gonna be hard to pull...

 

[Sledge]

Is a compound bow actually harder to use than a normal bow?

 

[Storyteller01]

One OGL book has a compound bow listed as a mighy bow that can be used without the strength restrictions. So your local elf with Str 12 and Dex 18 could get a +4 to Damage (Str 18 Mighty Bow).

I probably wouldn't make it an exotic weapon (it's still uised as a bow), but I would make it expensive to get a hold of.

 

[Storyteller01]

Is a compound bow actually harder to use than a normal bow?

It's a pain in the arse for the initial split second of the pull. After the break, it's pretty smooth and easy to pull.

This may help:

"There are several different types of compound bows to choose from, including round wheel, single cam, two cam, cam & 1/2, and hinge limb models. Compound bows have a 65-80% reduction in draw weight at full draw."

Found it by looking up 'compund bow + specifications' at Google.

 

[IcyCool]

Btw, even having this as an Exotic weapon... i think you should make a requirement in either strenght of some sort.. (maybe 13 or 14 str) while the exotic part does make up for some, a bow need to be pulled.. and if it shoots hard, then its gonna be hard to pull...

Unless, of course, it is a compound bow. They are designed for extreme power with a weak pull.

 

[baeleg]

IcyCool, you're only partially right. A compound bow has something commonly called "let-off" (not sure of the proper term) that requires a user to only hold back a percentage of the weight. If you have a 50 lb draw weight compound bow with 50% let-off, that means you have to initially draw 50 lbs back, but you're only holding 25 lbs while you aim and release. So, it doesn't allow extreme power with a weak pull, exactly. It allows you to pull more than you would be able to hold, but you must be able to pull that amount initially, or it does you no good.

Also, just fyi, my example was for easy math. They're typically between 60% and 90% let-off.

Edit: Ahriman, that shopkeeper was just pulling your leg. You can use a variety of arrows with compounds or with recurves/longbows. In fact, I think a recurve/longbow would be more likely to damage an arrow, as there is no gradual transmittion of force.

 

[JimAde]

Note that Complete Warrior has the Great Bow. This is an exotic weapon that does damage as your Heavy compound bow in option 1, and can be made in a "mighty" version as normal. That's for Medium users. Small does 1d8. So if you want to game-balance with that, this should definitely be an exotic weapon.

Of course I don't see how you can justify that in-game, but there you have it.

 

[Storyteller01]

IcyCool, you're only partially right. A compound bow has something commonly called "let-off" (not sure of the proper term) that requires a user to only hold back a percentage of the weight. If you have a 50 lb draw weight compound bow with 50% let-off, that means you have to initially draw 50 lbs back, but you're only holding 25 lbs while you aim and release. So, it doesn't allow extreme power with a weak pull, exactly. It allows you to pull more than you would be able to hold, but you must be able to pull that amount initially, or it does you no good.

Also, just fyi, my example was for easy math. They're typically between 60% and 90% let-off.

Edit: Ahriman, that shopkeeper was just pulling your leg. You can use a variety of arrows with compounds or with recurves/longbows. In fact, I think a recurve/longbow would be more likely to damage an arrow, as there is no gradual transmittion of force.

So you effectively 'dead lift' a given amount, then hold about 60% to 90% of that weight while you aim?