Magical damage from ranged weapons

[Simira]

I play in two 3.5-campaigns with two different DMs. In one of them, an (non-magical) arrow shot from a +1 magical longbow makes 1d8+1 damage. In the other, it makes 1d8 damage, but it counts as magical damage. Which is "right"?

The DMG (p221) says:

Ranged Weapons and Ammunition: The enhancement bonus from a ranged weapon does not stack with the enhancement bonus from ammunition. Only the higher of the two enhancement bonuses applies.
Ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an enhancement bonus of +1 or higher is treated as a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. For example, a sling stone hurled from a +1 sling is treated as a magic weapon. Similarly, ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an alignment (such as a +1 holy longbow or a masterwork crossbow under the effect of the align weapon spell) gains the alignment of that projectile weapon (in addition to any alignment it may already have). For example, a +1 unholy arrow fired from a +2 anarchic shortbow would be both evil-aligned and chaos-aligned (the former from its own unholy special ability, the latter from the shortbow).

It doesn't really specify whether the bonus counts for the damage or not. So, what to you experts say?

 

[Patlin]

The +1 enhancement bonus from the bow is applied to the arrow, so it will deal 1d8+1 damage (Assumptions: medium sized, no strength modification or penalty) and is considered a magic weapon for penetrating DR.

The arrow gets both benefits, so if each DM is only allowing one benefit they are both "wrong" as far as the rules-as-written go. Except, of course, for the rule that says the DM is always right.

 

[irdeggman]

It doesn't really specify whether the bonus counts for the damage or not. So, what to you experts say?

It doesn't need to because it says earlier in the page:

Magic weapons have enhancement bonuses ranging from +1 to +5. They apply these bonuses to both attack and damage rolls when used in combat. All magic weapons are also masterwork weapons, but their masterwork bonus on attack rolls does not stack with their enhancement bonus on attack rolls.

So you put the two together and see that only the higher enhancement bonus applies to ammunition.

 

[LonePaladin]

This means that a +3 arrow shot from a +2 longbow would have a +3 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls.

In my opinion, it's always been more cost-effective to get the bow with as high as a basic bonus as you can (aim for +5), with maybe a property or two that affects every arrow you shoot (such as distance or keen). For the arrows, only give them a +1 bonus, but apply different properties. A truly effective high-level archer should have an efficient quiver/quiver of Ehlonna and a wide variety of +1 arrows: flaming burst, thundering, whatever. If an enemy resists the extra damage from one arrow, switch to a different type.

 

[Nifft]

The most effective archer has:

1/ A bow with a +1 enhancement bonus, Holy, and some other energy damage on it;

2/ A quiver full of +1 Bane arrows made of various special materials; and

3/ A cleric or wizard friend who casts greater magic weapon on his bow every day.

Cheers, -- N

 

[s-dub]

That's what my gestault Elf paragon/Fighter/Wizard/Rogue/Arcane Tricker/OTOBI is doing.