Pricing Magic Arrows, Help Please!

[Tolen Mar]

Ok, we all know by now that the enhancement of a bow doesnt mean a thing against creatures with DR as far as the arrow is concerned. (Even when the bow puts various enchantments on the arrow as its fired).

Personally I think this sucks, but it makes sense to me why.

The reason I dislike it is the cost of arrows. Now according to the DMG, making a weapon a +1 weapon requires it to be masterwork and costs 2000gp, for a total of at least 2300 gp (plus the cost of your weapon).

2300+ per arrow? How could anyone support that habit? Even if you take it to mean per quiver (20 arrows as listed in the PHB), thats 2301gp. (and thats only a +1 enhancement).

Before we go any further, I know that they are changing DR in 3.5, but my questions still stand. How does anyone get around that price?

Furthermore, if it costs so much to make magical arrows like that, how come similar arrows in the DMG are so cheap? As an example...A Slaying arrow (DMG pg, 189) is 2282 (Close to the mark, but not quite, maybe adjusted down) and a Sleep arrow (same page) is only 132gp. Both of these arrows are +1, and they have extra effects.

I just want a way to use my super nifty bow against DR creatures, but the cost of arrows is simply rediculous, unless I missed something. Please tell me I missed something?

 

[Mr Fidgit]

2300+ per arrow? How could anyone support that habit?

according to Table 8-14 (DMG p 185) it's per 50 arrows...

 

[Tolen Mar]

Thanx Mr. Fidgit...

So thats for 50 arrows. Its still tough. I mean how long does 50 arrows last any of the rest of you?

I can go through 5-10 per fight at mid levels (more in long fights). I run out in 5 fights, while the guy with the +2 sword keeps on going...

Of course, I could go back and recover as many as I can find...But my GM's dont seem interested in letting me, they keep moving the plot along too quick...

 

[Mr Fidgit]

So thats for 50 arrows. Its still tough. I mean how long does 50 arrows last any of the rest of you?

for an archer type with multiple attacks and/or Rapid Shot? not very long at all

in my group, we used greater magic weapon quite often because magical arrows weren't available to us....

 

[Tolen Mar]

Thats understandable, but its still gonna be a big problem for the guy who has no access to spells (whats that? An archer without magic! Impossible!).

The group I was playing in had very little magic, Greater Magic Weapon wasnt an option..sux to be me.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

then you may want to see if there are other options available, like getting a bow that adds an energy to it's ammo (especially sonic!) because the damage will bypass DR

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Archers are quite strong, since the enhancement bonuses from arrows and bows stack. So the expensive arrows will mitigate it. You can of course use GMW to make 50 magic arrows, and they will cost the usual 2.5 gp only, but for more arrows (if you're fighting much), you'll need more castings of the spell, and at lower levels the duration's a problem. The other alternative is to play an arcane archer, whose arrows get an enhancement bonus.

I play an archer (Clr9/Divine Disciple 5 of Solonor Thelandira), and he uses extended greater magic weapon on his bow and on 100 arrows. So he blows 3 of his 5th-level slots just to have enough ammo...