Manyshot Damage Modifiers: HOW!?

[kreynolds]

Hey, good question!

Yeah it is! I'm glad somebody asked it!

Here's I would do it:

Precision based bonuses (apply damage only once):
1. Point blank shot
2. Weapon specialization

Non-precision bonuses (apply per arrow):
1. Strength (you pull back the string harder for all arrows)
2. Magical arrow bonuses (each arrow is inherently deadlier)
3. Magical arrow special abilities, flaming etc. (same reasoning as above)

I'd have to agree with you on this.

1. Magical bow bonuses
2. Magical bow special abilities, flaming etc.

To be honest, I'm inclined to apply them per arrow. I don't know. Maybe I should think on it as well.

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

The feat states clearly that damage is determined normally for each arrow. If you want realism, well, whats realistic about stringing 10 arrows at once...

Sorry. If you want realism, have all precision and strength based damage and apply it to the first arrow. Accuracy from the bow would count for all, as would enegy enhancements, as that power transfers to the arrow.

The real question is, if it uses one attack roll, is it considered one attack? Even without crits, 5 or 6 arrows could easily do enough damage to qualify for that FORT save.

 

[kreynolds]

If you want realism, well, whats realistic about stringing 10 arrows at once...

...or your unarmed attacks being as lethal as Vorpal weapons...

The real question is, if it uses one attack roll, is it considered one attack?

It would be just like shurikens. Each shuriken (you can throw up to 3 with one attack roll) deals it's own seperate amount of damage, which is why it's virtually impossible to bypass DR with them if they aren't magical.

 

[JavaBomberman]

The feat states clearly that damage is determined normally for each arrow.

The feat states "both arrows use the same attack roll to determine success (with a -2 penalty on the attack) and deal damage as normal (but see below)." then below it states "you only apply precision based damage once."

and so that's what my question was; what is considered precision damage? and I think Pit Fiend outlined it well. the only shady area was indeed the bow's magical qualities. I still think a bow can only apply it's magical qualities to one of the arrows it fires every time it fires. that's just my opinion on magic.

and as for whether it's considered one attack, I think that is a given, as all arrows either hit or miss (as per the single attack roll), and if they all hit, they all hit at the same time (since they're being knocked simultaneously) so I think massive damage would apply to the total of damage from all arrows.

I guess what it comes down to is that WotC needs to detail the rules on the feat a little better. Until then, I'm following Pit Fiend's chart, applying a bow's magic damage only once, and considering it a single attack in all aspects.

thanks for all the input though, very helpful.

 

[dead_radish]

Here's another issue - sneak attacking.

I would say that it works as a shuriken - one arrow is a sneak, the others are all just along for the ride. But if the feat specifically states "Determine damage normally", you could, in theory, sneak with each.

Imagine an epic rogue/shadow dancer, with many shot, hiding, popping out, shooting 6-7 arrows, all at +6d6 damage, and then hiding in plain sight. The mind boggles.

 

[kreynolds]

Imagine an epic rogue/shadow dancer, with many shot, hiding, popping out, shooting 6-7 arrows, all at +6d6 damage, and then hiding in plain sight...

...then swimming up a waterfall...

 

[mikebr99]

...then swimming up a waterfall...

Or balancing on a cloud.

 

[The Iron Mark]

Sneak Attack is precision based. It says that you only apply such damage to one of the arrows. In fact, it mentions Sneak Attack as somethinf that is only applied once. So no +6d6 Sneak Attack on all arrows. Improved Manyshot is much nastier considering it has no limit whereas Manyshot, you can have only up to 4 arrows. Magical modifiers and such from the bow would apply to all arrows IMHO.

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Perhaps the easiest way, and probably the intended way since it is stirring so much confusion, is to simply treat the attack as ONE arrow, that just does multiple D6's of damage.

Or D8's

 

[Marshall]

I mostly agree with kreynolds interpretation. That could make Manyshot a truly nasty feat.

On the other hand, it begs another question.
What if the arrows are of differing Enhancement bonus? Which attack bonus do the arrows get?