Shooting arrows into the water - rules?

[Asmor]

Heck, BULLETS don't even penetrate water more than a few inches. One of the Mythbusters shows did several tests with weapons up to .50 caliber and IIRC none really penetrated more than about 18" and many bullets "disintigrated" in the process of getting even that far. Obviously there are reasons of physics for higher velocities and calibers doing progressively WORSE at penetrating water, but it seems HIGHLY improbable that arrows should be able to succeed where bullets fail.

Sounds like a perfect example of an old sci-fi staple-- the "kinetic shield." A force field that stops objects which more too quickly... I think Dune came up with it first, but I'm better with Stargate, where Col. O'Neill hit Apophis with an arrow because it wasn't fast enough to activate his shield.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I'd also use the other rules from the DMG p. 93, that state that ranged weapons (other than thrown ones, which are ineffectual) take a -2 penalty on attack rolls for every 5 feet of water they pass through. Those are meant to be applied to ranged attacks made while underwater (mermen wielding bows, I suppose), but I would think they would apply in the reverse situation as well.

Hmm... maybe enchanting a bow with freedom of movement would make for a good underwater hunting weapon?

 

[Ed_Laprade]

Sounds like a perfect example of an old sci-fi staple-- the "kinetic shield." A force field that stops objects which more too quickly... I think Dune came up with it first, but I'm better with Stargate, where Col. O'Neill hit Apophis with an arrow because it wasn't fast enough to activate his shield.

Doc Smith was using them in the thirties. And I'm not sure that they weren't around before that. As for the question, water would slow them down but wouldn't stop them immediately. Just when would they stop? Who knows. Depends on speed, mass and aerodynamics.

 

[Heckler]

Many primitive tribes use bows and arrows for shallow water fishing, albeit with arrows specially designed for that purpose...

And some not-so-primitive people, as well. I went bow fishing with my Dad one time when he tried it. The trick (and I hope I remember this right) is to aim above the fish. Due to light refraction, the fish is not where he appears to be. You may want to consider the target to be Displaced.

 

[Catavarie]

Heck, BULLETS don't even penetrate water more than a few inches. One of the Mythbusters shows did several tests with weapons up to .50 caliber and IIRC none really penetrated more than about 18" and many bullets "disintigrated" in the process of getting even that far. Obviously there are reasons of physics for higher velocities and calibers doing progressively WORSE at penetrating water, but it seems HIGHLY improbable that arrows should be able to succeed where bullets fail.

Actually Arrows do maintain their velocity much better than bullets do when shot into water. Ever hear of Bow Fishing...You literally shoot fish in the water with a bow and arrow, in my experience the accuracy is still 90 effective upto about 10 feet and the Damage is about 60% at 10 feet of water, shot from surface.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Actually Arrows do maintain their velocity much better than bullets do when shot into water. Ever hear of Bow Fishing...You literally shoot fish in the water with a bow and arrow, in my experience the accuracy is still 90 effective upto about 10 feet and the Damage is about 60% at 10 feet of water, shot from surface.

OMG! How close was I then, with the last bit of my previous post here - which was 50% at/after 10ft. Heh. That's what I call. . . well, sheer luck actually. But I think I'll stick with what I had there: halve damage for each 10' it travels through water - rounding UP, I think, not down. I'll see how that goes.

Unless anyone has a really good reason why that would like, totally suck d00d. Or whatever.


edit --- or, for an alternative that might better approximate (emphasis on approximate there) reality, or a teensy little piece of it anyway, what about multiplying the damage by 3/4 for every 5 feet it travels through water, again rounding up. . .?