Strength Bows

[Bob Mackenzie]

Folks

This is probably a dumb noob question but...

Two handed weapons get 1.5xstr damage. A Long Bow needs two hands. So a strength bow (ie one built to take advantage of the character's above average strength) gets 1.5xstr bonus + usual damage?

Is this correctly interpreting the rules?

Cheers

Bob

 

[shilsen]

Nope. That rule applies only for melee weapons, not ranged ones. Check the descriptions on Pg.97 of the PHB under "One-Handed" and "Two-Handed" weapon use. Each section specifically refers to melee weapons.

 

[kehaar]

I'd say no, because....

From the SRD: <http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/SRDEquipmentI.rtf>

One-Handed: If the weapon's size category is the same as a character's, then the weapon is one-handed for that character. If a one-handed melee weapon is used two-handed, apply one and a half times the character's Strength bonus to damage (provided the character has a bonus).

Melee and Ranged Weapons: Melee weapons are used for making melee attacks, though some of them can be thrown as well. Ranged weapons are thrown weapons or projectile weapons that are not effective in melee. Apply a character's Strength bonus to damage dealt by thrown weapons but not to damage dealt by projectile weapons (except for mighty composite shortbows or longbows).

Mighty Composite Longbow or Shortbow: A mighty bow is a composite bow made with an especially heavy pull to allow a strong archer to take advantage of an above-average Strength. The mighty bow allows a character to add his or her Strength bonus to damage up to the maximum bonus listed.

My conclusion:
Bows are not melee weapons and therefore the general 1.5 rule doesn't apply. For mighty composite bows the special rule applies that you may add from +1 to +4 dam, depending on bow and str bonus.

 

[Bob Mackenzie]

Thanks fot the help - I should learn to read better!

Cheers

Bob

 

[jlhorner1974]

Remember, whether something is a melee or ranged weapon is determined totally by how it is used. In the case of a strength bow:

If you use your longbow to shoot an enemy with an arrow, you do only normal (+ Str bonus) damage because the bow is used as a ranged weapon.

If you actually strike an opponent WITH THE BOW (using it like a big club), then you do indeed do normal (+ 1.5 * Str Bonus) damage because you are attacking with a Large melee weapon in two hands.

 

[Aaron2]

If you use your longbow to shoot an enemy with an arrow, you do only normal (+ Str bonus) damage because the bow is used as a ranged weapon.

You only get your strength bonus to damage in missile fire if using a Mighty bow (in this case a +2 mighty bow). Otherwise its just straight 1d8.


Aaron

 

[jlhorner1974]

I did say "in the case of a strength bow" before I described the two options.

Granted, to be more clear. I should have "in the case of a mighty bow", but I did have the qualifying statement there..