Do you let magic bow and magic ammo stack?

[green slime]

While a set of 12 +3 arrows are often not valued treasure, a set of +1 flaming/shock arrows are.

Or, +3 arrows are still good for someone with +1 Holy bow.

And with your rule, those +3 arrows fired from a +3 bow (maybe created by GMW) has +6 enhancement bonus and thus bypass DR/Epic. And at the higher end, archers can still get +10 to attack and damage, while melee weapon wielders can only get +5.

No, I don't let the combination of lesser bonuses trump DR/epic. I only consider the bonus of the arrow when penetrating DR.

And, if you consider the exhorbitant cost per use of +3 arrows, then there really isn't the danger that characters are going to be blasting +10 to attack and damage very often. Magical arrows are destroyed upon striking their target.

So a +3 bow (18,000 gp) and 50 +3 arrows (another 18,000 gp) for a total of +6 is available for a total 36,000 gp, only really a consideration for a character of 10th level or higher, and those arrows will be consumed in approx. 10-12 rounds of combat, depending on ability. Each arrow costs 720 gp. Each full round action is costing 2100 gp +.

When the resource becomes limited, it becomes something that must be cherished and harboured.

We have never had a problem with this.

 

[Nail]

And, if you consider the exhorbitant cost per use of +3 arrows, then there really isn't the danger that characters are going to be blasting +10 to attack and damage very often. Magical arrows are destroyed upon striking their target.

You've apparently not played with a 12th+ level Cleric, then.

 

[green slime]

You've apparently not played with a 12th+ level Cleric, then.

I have.

Perhaps you missed where I stated that the real change needed was to GMW. Affecting only a single piece of ammunition, and with a reduced duration, I have no problem with high level clerics (1 15th & 1 14th)

 

[Nail]

I have.

Perhaps you need to read were I stated that the real change needed was to GMW. Affecting only a single piece of ammunition, and with a reduced duration, I have no problem with high level clerics (1 15th & 1 14th)

Step #1) You've introduced a house rule:
"Bow and Arrow enhancements stack."

Step #2) That created a problem: GMW creates cheap enhanced arrows.

Step #3) So you introduced another house rule:
"GMW is nerfed."

..... ....I see a simpler solution...

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I at least like that his houserule improves the Arcane Archer from it's current status of...completely and utterly worthless.

 

[green slime]

Step #1) You've introduced a house rule:
"Bow and Arrow enhancements stack."

Step #2) That created a problem: GMW creates cheap enhanced arrows.

Step #3) So you introduced another house rule:
"GMW is nerfed."

..... ....I see a simpler solution...

No. See my house rule was created during 3.0, when...

1) Bow and arrow enhancements stacked, which they had from the very beginning of AD&D.
2) GMW, by design, introduced in 3.0, created a cheap method to access very cheap enhanced arrows.
3) Lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth by gamers caused the game's designer to react by changing something which had a long history within the game, because they couldn't bear the thought of having actually introduced a problem, so they kept the problem, caused others, and you think you see a simpler solution?

Indeed, prior to the release of 3.5, I found my solution to be simpler, by far. And post 3.5? Well, there are an enormous pile of changes there that do not benefit my game, and so it has only been implemented in part.

The OP asked if "you allowed". Not if the RAW allowed. I allow it. I have explained my reasoning. That I have no problem with the stacking, only with GMW. In fact, there are a multitude of problematical spells, that have caused major issues, with regards to their bonuses and durations. There was no problem with stacking ammunition and weapons in earlier editions of the game. So, an intelligent analysis of the "problem" as it existed in 3.0 quickly reveals the real culprit: GMW.

This is also revealed in that if you banished the spell, then, once again, there is no problem. The use of actual manufactured arrows of high bonii is prohibitively expensive.

 

[green slime]

I at least like that his houserule improves the Arcane Archer from it's current status of...completely and utterly worthless.

Yes, that was another one of the benefits.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Perhaps you missed where I stated that the real change needed was to GMW.

I disagree. You are not fixing the problem in its entirety. Consider a strawman, would you allow a melee fighter to buy arrows and "use them" in all his melee attacks, stacking with the melee weapon (consider such arrows as somehow combining with the melee weapon)?

In other words, think about it in terms of relative differences. Why let an archer pay a lot less for an added bonus than anyone else? (If not arrows in the above hypothetical, think of it in terms of a free action magic weapon wand that grants stacking enhancement bonuses, usable as a non-slotted item.)

 

[Shin Okada]

I at least like that his houserule improves the Arcane Archer from it's current status of...completely and utterly worthless.

While AA is rather a weaker side amongst prestige classes, not utterly worthless.

You should buy +1 Holy/shoking/flaming composite longbow instead of buying +5 composite longbow. Then you should just buy tons of normal arrows, cold iron arrows and silver arrows.

Use AA's ability for enhancement bonus. That is actually economic way to have a powerful bow attacks.

By the way, now you can be an AA with full BAB thanks to Duskblade.

 

[Nifft]

Use AA's ability for enhancement bonus. That is actually economic way to have a powerful bow attacks.

AA: "Hey guys, I took a 10 level PrC with annoyingly non-martial prereqs, and now at 16th level, all my arrows are +5!"

Cleric: "Hey guys, I used one of my 4th level spell slots today, and now Bob's arrows are +4."

Wizard: "As above, but a 3rd level slot."

Cheers, -- N