How do you break a bowstring in combat?

[reapersaurus]

What are the rules for breaking a bowstring in combat with a melee weapon?

Sorry if it's obvious from the rules - I'd appreciate a point in the right direction.

 

[Hypersmurf]

How do you break a bowstring in combat?

With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry...
With a knife, dear Henry, dear Henry... with a knife!

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Seriously, though, it gets into Called Shots territory. Just use the hardness/hit points of the bow to resolve an attack on the bow.

-Hyp.

 

[magnas_veritas]

Seriously, though, it gets into Called Shots territory. Just use the hardness/hit points of the bow to resolve an attack on the bow.

Ugh. I'm reluctant to call it a Sunder attempt, since you're only going for the bowstring. Yet, at the same time, that delves into all sorts of things...will that +5 Shocking Screaming Holy Composite Longbow work with an ordinary bowstring?

Hrm. I was thinking of using a grapple check and making the grappler have a knife or something in hand, and then realized that it might be much better as a Disable Device check in combat.

Brad

 

[Hypersmurf]

will that +5 Shocking Screaming Holy Composite Longbow work with an ordinary bowstring?

I'm inclined to say no - it requires the +5 Shocking Screaming Holy bowstring it was made with. If the string gets cut (by a +5 hand axe, for example), then the bow is a broken magical item, requiring half the initial cost and time to repair.

Which is why I'd use the hardness and hit points of "bow" when someone attacks a "bow", whatever bit of it they declare they're aiming for.

-Hyp.

 

[magnas_veritas]

I'm inclined to say no - it requires the +5 Shocking Screaming Holy bowstring it was made with. If the string gets cut (by a +5 hand axe, for example), then the bow is a broken magical item, requiring half the initial cost and time to repair.

Which is why I'd use the hardness and hit points of "bow" when someone attacks a "bow", whatever bit of it they declare they're aiming for.

If you're swinging at it, that is an acceptable compromise. I still like using Disable Device on it, though.

Brad

 

[Oni]

My personal inclination would be to say that it should be treated as a sunder attempt against the bow. That is the simplest way of doing it and within the realm of the rules. There really isn't anything for attacking a specific part of a weapon, as far as the rules are concerned a weapon is all one unit.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you're swinging at it, that is an acceptable compromise. I still like using Disable Device on it, though.

Joe the Fighter: Okay, before the guards come back, I cut all their bowstrings.
DM: Sorry, that's a Trained Only skill... better get the rogue to do it...



-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

My personal inclination would be to say that it should be treated as a sunder attempt against the bow. That is the simplest way of doing it and within the realm of the rules. There really isn't anything for attacking a specific part of a weapon, as far as the rules are concerned a weapon is all one unit.

Yup.

Also remember - a bow isn't a weapon, it's a Held Object, for such purposes.

-Hyp.

 

[Saepiroth]

unless you buy a scimitar bow or something similar.