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<blockquote data-quote="green slime" data-source="post: 3044212" data-attributes="member: 1325">This has long been a bone of contention of mine. The problem, IMO, is not whether arrows and bows stack, but with GMW, which guarantees that there will always be powerful magical arrows available in the first place.1e, 2e, and 3e, all had bows and arrows stack.In previous editions of the game, magical arrows were at a premium. It didn't matter what &quot;+&quot; the bow was, when it came to penetrating DR. Given that 50 +2 arrows cost a small fortune, and was a limited resource (unlike a +2 sword, which lasts a lifetime), players would not use those arrows unless it was really required.In 3e, a high level (10th+) character could easily burn through 50 arrows in 10 rounds or less. Allowing GMW to be cast on multiples (batches) of ammunition was stupid. The opportunity cost was no longer 18,000 gp for 50 +3 arrows (limited resource), but a mere 4th level spell slot (renewable resource) or, for the more cost-efficient: 36,000 gp for a wand of divine greater magic weapon (CL 12), and easy access to 2,500 +3 arrows...Given that there is no core way for an archer to increase damage beyond strength, other than adding on magical abilities ( power attack), surplus &quot;to hit&quot; is wasted. If GMW was reduced to affecting only one arrow, and the bow &quot;+&quot; does not affect DR, then you have an opportunity cost for a +5 arrow at 1,000 gp each, turning the &quot;stacking&quot; problem into a non-issue.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="green slime, post: 3044212, member: 1325"] This has long been a bone of contention of mine. The problem, IMO, is not whether arrows and bows stack, but with [i]GMW[/i], which [b]guarantees[/b] that there will always be powerful magical arrows available in the first place. 1e, 2e, and 3e, all had bows and arrows stack. In previous editions of the game, magical arrows were at a premium. It didn't matter what "+" the bow was, when it came to penetrating DR. Given that 50 +2 arrows cost a small fortune, and was a limited resource (unlike a +2 sword, which lasts a lifetime), players would not use those arrows unless it was really required. In 3e, a high level (10th+) character could easily burn through 50 arrows in 10 rounds or less. Allowing [i]GMW[/i] to be cast on multiples (batches) of ammunition was stupid. The opportunity cost was no longer 18,000 gp for 50 +3 arrows (limited resource), but a mere 4th level spell slot (renewable resource) or, for the more cost-efficient: 36,000 gp for a wand of divine greater magic weapon (CL 12), and easy access to 2,500 +3 arrows... Given that there is no core way for an archer to increase damage beyond strength, other than adding on magical abilities ( power attack), surplus "to hit" is wasted. If GMW was reduced to affecting only one arrow, and the bow "+" does not affect DR, then you have an opportunity cost for a +5 arrow at 1,000 gp each, turning the "stacking" problem into a non-issue. [/QUOTE]

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