Manyshot and Frost Bow

[elleon]

My ranger owns a longbow with the frost magical ability.

When I use the manyshot feat, I would expect that the frost magical damage (1d6) is applied to both arrows, as they are both "ammunition", and both hit the target.

On the other hand, my DM says that, as I only throw 1 ToHit dice, the two arrows count as a single hit and the magical damage is applied only once.

Who is right?

Cheers
elleon

 

[Dragonwriter]

You're right. Frost applies to every single hit. If you only got to roll one die of frost's damage for that, Frost would be a waste.

The entire point of weapon abilties like that is that you add the damage up. So, each arrow that hits does its normal damage and its icy damage.

EDIT: And welcome to EnWorld!

 

[Thatwackyned]

My ranger owns a longbow with the frost magical ability.

When I use the manyshot feat, I would expect that the frost magical damage (1d6) is applied to both arrows, as they are both "ammunition", and both hit the target.

On the other hand, my DM says that, as I only throw 1 ToHit dice, the two arrows count as a single hit and the magical damage is applied only once.

Who is right?

Cheers
elleon

Only Rogues, Ninjas, Scouts and Rangers only get to add their bonuses once.

 

[Herzog]

yes, apply bonus damage to each arrow except for sneak/skirmish/etc. damage.

On that subject: just re-read the 'special' of manyshot, which states the additional sneak attack damage is only applied to the 'first' arrow.

which arrow is that? (since you are supposed to fire multiple arrows at once.....)

 

[Umklapp]

I have to disagree (being the GM mentioned in the original post). The manual is clear: "The weapon deals 1d6 points of damage on a successful hit". The weapon (not the ammunitions) provides the additional damage giving 1d6 on a successful hit. As with manyshots you hit once (namley you make only one attack roll) the additional damage is 1d6 bestowed upon any number of ammuntions you are firing.

 

[Herzog]

From the DMG, page 224:

A frost weapon deals an extra 1d6
points of cold damage on a successful hit. Bows, crossbows, and
slings so crafted bestow the cold energy upon their ammunition.

Note the second line.

Edit: and also welcome to enworld!

 

[Umklapp]

Noted. The point is how much energy they bestow. I think it is 1d6 for every successful hit.

 

[irdeggman]

I have to disagree (being the GM mentioned in the original post). The manual is clear: "The weapon deals 1d6 points of damage on a successful hit". The weapon (not the ammunitions) provides the additional damage giving 1d6 on a successful hit. As with manyshots you hit once (namley you make only one attack roll) the additional damage is 1d6 bestowed upon any number of ammuntions you are firing.

For a composite bow do you add the str bonus to damage for each arrow or only for each "hit"? How about the enhancement bonus?

From the FAQ

When you use Manyshot, does your Strength bonus from a mighty composite bow apply to each arrow’s damage?

Yes, as would the enhancement bonus from a magic bow.

Oh and a ranger's favored enemy damage applies to each arrow - it is not considered precision damage.

Also from the FAQ

If the ranger uses the Manyshot feat against a favored enemy, does the favored enemy damage bonus apply to all arrows fired in the attack?

Yes.

 

[elleon]

Noted. The point is how much energy they bestow. I think it is 1d6 for every successful hit.

I get that the bow bestows the Frost magical ability to its ammunition, i.e. the two arrows. Each arrow then deals the 1d6 magical damage when it hits the target. The fact that the two arrows share the same ToHit roll to verify if they hit should have no influence on this mechanism...

elleon

 

[Herzog]

@Umklapp: I'm beginning to see your point, although I'm not convinced yet.

@irdeggman: those damage bonusses are not appended with the quoted text from the DMG.

As I now see it, since the quoted text mentions bestowing 'the' cold energy to the ammunition, and 'the' amount of cold damage being specified applies to a successfull hit, the question becomes: what is a successfull hit?

Umklapp reasons that, since there is only one attack roll, there is only one successfull hit.
I think that, although only one attack roll is made, each arrow fired is a successfull hit.