Do bows get a stength penalty?

[0-hr]

This is just one of those things that I though I read somewhere but I can't find now. If you have a strength of 5 and use a shortbow, is your damage d6 or is it d6-3?

I know that thrown weapons get a penalty, and I know that crossbows don't. It seems like slings and bows should, but is that actually written anywhere?

 

[hong]

This is just one of those things that I though I read somewhere but I can't find now. If you have a strength of 5 and use a shortbow, is your damage d6 or is it d6-3?

I know that thrown weapons get a penalty, and I know that crossbows don't. It seems like slings and bows should, but is that actually written anywhere?

"A Strength penalty, but not a bonus, applies to attacks made with a bow or a sling." -- PHB p.8.

 

[0-hr]

Thanks Hong! Page 8 huh? I was looking under combat, and weapons; pretty much everywhere except under strength. doh!

 

[Storminator]

I believe the crossbow is the only weapon that does NOT get a strength penalty.

PS

 

[Dr. Zoom]

The ranger player IMC was quite surprised when I informed him of this rule after the first round of a deadly roper attack. He had a Str of 3.

 

[Theovis]

The ranger player IMC was quite surprised when I informed him of this rule after the first round of a deadly roper attack. He had a Str of 3.

The lesson...if Strength is your dump stat...USE A CROSSBOW!

It's pretty much the only thing that makes the repeating crossbow worthwhile.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

His normal Str was 13, but he lost 10 points of Str from the roper attack.