Order of the Bow Initiate, Close Combat Shot ability

[Galfridus]

I have a player who wants to bring in a character with this PC. The "absolute" nature of the Close Combat Shot ability (can fire a bow without invoking an AoO) bothers me...it seems a little unbalancing, but more importantly it seems very improbable. Has this been a problem for anyone else?

 

[Crothian]

Nope. I made it a feat so the Ranger in my group could get the ability without having to go for the prestige class. It worked just fine.

 

[Bob5th]

I've seen no problems from it. In our group the archer seems to stay out of combat anyway for fear of sunder.

 

[dvvega]

Bob5th hit the nail on the head ...

it is a powerful ability ... and I've seen it used to devestating effect (especially when the archer has a "sickening" AC), however a sunder destroyed his best bow.

Sunder suddenly changes peoples' minds about close combat shot.

 

[Galfridus]

Hm, didn't think about that, hardness and hit points for a bow are going to suck as compared to most weapons.

 

[Baron Von StarBlade]

Furthermore, and this will probably bring a shyte storm of a debate, the archer isn't threatening the area around him so the Sunder attempt won't provoke an AoO.

 

[Numion]

Remember also that close combat shot is only useful against opponents that have a longer than 5ft reach. If they don't, the archer can avoid AoO by just taking a 5ft step back, and then shooting. That doesn't of course work if there is chaotic situation where the archer is in the middle of a group of opponents.

 

[Numion]

And about the sunder: The sage has ruled that you don't get an opposed roll in sunder situation with a bow; it's treated as a static target in the opponents hand, with a sucky AC to go hand in hand with that. So you can't really prevent your bow from being sundered, if the sage is to be believed.

Me? I'm not that cruel to my players.

 

[Baron Von StarBlade]

And about the sunder: The sage has ruled that you don't get an opposed roll in sunder situation with a bow; it's treated as a static target in the opponents hand, with a sucky AC to go hand in hand with that. So you can't really prevent your bow from being sundered, if the sage is to be believed.

Me? I'm not that cruel to my players.

Well it is the Great Equalizer for Bows. Since at high levels its not unlikely to have +14 damage just from enchantment on the weapon it really needs some downside. Otherwise you'd just have a bunch of archers running around with +5 Mighty (+4) Composite Longbows shooting +5 arrows. Very nasty if not regulated

 

[kmdietri]

And about the sunder: The sage has ruled that you don't get an opposed roll in sunder situation with a bow; it's treated as a static target in the opponents hand, with a sucky AC to go hand in hand with that. So you can't really prevent your bow from being sundered, if the sage is to be believed.

Numion, where can I find this. His ruling I mean.

That would be a big help.

Thanks