Firing a bow with a low or weakened Strength...

[RigaMortus]

Are there any rules about firing a bow (composite or normal) if you have a low strength score, or a strength score from being weakened (like Ray of Enfeeblement)?

I am aware that, if you are using a Composite Bow, your Strength modifier has to match that of the bow, or you get a -2 to hit with the bow.

But what if your Strength score is sapped to like 1? You can barely move yourself (I think your weight capacity is like 40 lbs or such). Would you be able to effectively pull a bow string back? Composite or normal?

Dexterity is used when using a bow, and that is understandable since it is more hand-eye coordination to actually hit the target. And Strength can add that extra umph you need for damage (when using composite bows). But shouldn't a low strength make it harder for you to pull the bow back and fire off an arrow? Besides the measily -2 you get for not using a composite bow with the right modifier.

Are there any rules about this that I just missed?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

When using a bow, any Strength penalty you have applies to damage.

So, that person using a Masterwork Composite Bow Mighty +2, once he's drained / damaged / enhanced down to 8 Strength not only fires at a -2 penalty, he's also doing 1d8-1 damage per shot.

At Strength 1, he's still got his -2 to hit, but he's doing 1d8-5 damage.

 

[RigaMortus]

Well that is true. Damage is one thing, but the ability to actually pull the bow back far enough so that the arrow actually flies is something else. It seems to me that, someone with a 1 in their Strength would lack the strenght to pull the bow back far enough to even launch the arrow. The arrow wouldn't fly far at all. Imagine a baby (or someone with the strength of a baby) trying to fire a bow.

 

[ARandomGod]

Well that is true. Damage is one thing, but the ability to actually pull the bow back far enough so that the arrow actually flies is something else. It seems to me that, someone with a 1 in their Strength would lack the strenght to pull the bow back far enough to even launch the arrow. The arrow wouldn't fly far at all. Imagine a baby (or someone with the strength of a baby) trying to fire a bow.

Under RAW, he's be able to. Yes, under reality, he'd not. But let's not confuse game rules with reality. Otherwise you'd have to look really seriously about being able to consistently move at 30' as a human (and that run speed!) and a number of other things.

 

[RigaMortus]

Under RAW, he's be able to. Yes, under reality, he'd not. But let's not confuse game rules with reality. Otherwise you'd have to look really seriously about being able to consistently move at 30' as a human (and that run speed!) and a number of other things.

That's fine, I was just wondering if there was a rule I was missing that gave some other type of disadvantage (other than damage) for a character with a low strength trying to pull back on a bow. Maybe half-distance or some such. But I guess there isn't such a rule...

Thanks!

 

[noeuphoria]

Under RAW, he's be able to. Yes, under reality, he'd not. But let's not confuse game rules with reality. Otherwise you'd have to look really seriously about being able to consistently move at 30' as a human (and that run speed!) and a number of other things.

Yep, if I could move 120' in 6 seconds, I wouldn't be posting here, you'd be watching me score tds on sunday night.

 

[Scion]

Back when I was on track I was running upwards of 180' per 6 seconds.. but you wont catch me anywhere near any game such as that


hmm.. I remember hearing about an archer build that worked off of making yourself very, very small.. I'll have to find it and see what it did about the pesky damage problem.

 

[BSF]

In HS I was easily able to do over 20'/second over the quarter mile. Of course, I was also able to do 10 mph, for an hour. I wasn't even all that fast in a sprint and I can think of at least 5 people in the city that were faster than me over a 3 mile race. I have always been annoyed at the limitations of the run speed in DnD.

The key is to understand that DnD does not model real life.

Realistically, a person with a 1 str would have trouble using their normal bow. But the damage penalty is where low strength is reflected in the mechanics.

 

[Darklone]

120ft in 6 seconds? That's not a lot for running... aren't there guys out there who do ~300ft in 10 seconds?

 

[Li Shenron]

Something you could do is to go very strict on the carrying capacity.

At Strength 1, you heavy load upper limit is 10lb, so if you carry more (the bow alone is 3lb) you can only stagger around, moving at 5ft as a full-round action and losing Dex bonus to AC. If the load is more than 20lb you cannot even move. If the load is more than 50lb I think you cannot even stand up.

These don't directly apply to shooting with the bow however, except for the part when you can only be prone