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<blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 6498406" data-attributes="member: 2011">Because it is called out in the rules (and is very overpowered), it's a trap. Some DMs might think it is ok to allow it precisely because it is allowed and even encouraged in the rules.While it is true that advantage is not exactly equal to +5, it doesn't matter because most chances to hit will not show up in a game. It's close enough when talking about bounded accuracy and potential foes (+4.5 is closer to average). ACs are not evenly distributed. The chances of needing a natural 20 to hit a foe (especially at the level where a DM might hand out an Oathbow) are practically zero.The typical average is better than 4 as per the following chart:[code]1&nbsp; &nbsp; 6&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.9375&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.75&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 14&nbsp; &nbsp; 21.1625&nbsp; &nbsp; 10.581252&nbsp; &nbsp; 7&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.91&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.2&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 14&nbsp; &nbsp; 20.6125&nbsp; &nbsp; 10.306253&nbsp; &nbsp; 8&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.9&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.8775&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.55&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 13.275&nbsp; &nbsp; 19.9625&nbsp; &nbsp; 9.981254&nbsp; &nbsp; 9&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.85&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.84&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.8&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 12.55&nbsp; &nbsp; 19.2125&nbsp; &nbsp; 9.606255&nbsp; &nbsp; 10&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.8&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.7975&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 11.825&nbsp; &nbsp; 18.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 9.181256&nbsp; &nbsp; 11&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.75&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.75&nbsp; &nbsp; 5&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 11.1&nbsp; &nbsp; 17.4125&nbsp; &nbsp; 8.706257&nbsp; &nbsp; 12&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.7&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.6975&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 10.375&nbsp; &nbsp; 16.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 8.181258&nbsp; &nbsp; 13&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.65&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.64&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.8&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 9.65&nbsp; &nbsp; 15.2125&nbsp; &nbsp; 7.606259&nbsp; &nbsp; 14&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.6&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.5775&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.55&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 8.925&nbsp; &nbsp; 13.9625&nbsp; &nbsp; 6.9812510&nbsp; &nbsp; 15&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.55&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.51&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.2&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 8.2&nbsp; &nbsp; 12.6125&nbsp; &nbsp; 6.3062511&nbsp; &nbsp; 16&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.5&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.4375&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.75&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 7.475&nbsp; &nbsp; 11.1625&nbsp; &nbsp; 5.5812512&nbsp; &nbsp; 17&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.45&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.36&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.2&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 6.75&nbsp; &nbsp; 9.6125&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.8062513&nbsp; &nbsp; 18&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.4&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.2775&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.55&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 6.025&nbsp; &nbsp; 7.9625&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.9812514&nbsp; &nbsp; 19&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.35&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.19&nbsp; &nbsp; 1.8&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 5.3&nbsp; &nbsp; 6.2125&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.1062515&nbsp; &nbsp; 20&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.3&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.575&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.1812516&nbsp; &nbsp; 21&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.25&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.85&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.1812517&nbsp; &nbsp; 22&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.2&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.125&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.1812518&nbsp; &nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.15&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.4&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.1812519&nbsp; &nbsp; 24&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.1&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 1.675&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.1812520&nbsp; &nbsp; 25&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.05&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.0975&nbsp; &nbsp; 0.95&nbsp; &nbsp; 4.3625&nbsp; &nbsp; 2.18125[/code]The columns represent: Number need on dice with +5 Bow, Number need on dice with +0 Bow (or with Oathbow), Chance to hit +5 Bow, Chance to hit Oathbow, Oathbow plus equivalency (i.e. for a given chance to hit, what bonus of to hit equals the Oathbow), Chance to critical +5 Bow, Chance to critical Oathbow, DPR +5 Bow, DPR Oathbow, DPR Oathbow Piercing ResistanceSo regardless of number needed to hit, an Oathbow normally does more damage than a +5 bow (unless going up against piercing damage resistance). I put a break in the chart where a PC without a magic weapon would need a 16 to hit. As a general rule, a DM will probably not throw foes at PCs if without magic weapons, they need a 17 or higher to hit. Typically, the equivalent bonus to hit for that range of numbers is about +4.5 or better unless one includes the unlikely to occur averages beyond that break.But the important thing here is the DPR. A +5 Bow is nowhere near the DPR of an Oathbow. Granted, an Oathbow is one foe by day, but it will tend to be used against a really really tough foe. Instead of 50% more DPR, an Oathbow compared to the standard max damage +3 Bow is 90% or close to double damage. That's pretty potent.And, of course, the way to more quickly defeat a foe that does have Piercing Magic Resistance with an Oathbow is to use +1 magic arrows.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="KarinsDad, post: 6498406, member: 2011"] Because it is called out in the rules (and is very overpowered), it's a trap. Some DMs might think it is ok to allow it precisely because it is allowed and even encouraged in the rules. While it is true that advantage is not exactly equal to +5, it doesn't matter because most chances to hit will not show up in a game. It's close enough when talking about bounded accuracy and potential foes (+4.5 is closer to average). ACs are not evenly distributed. The chances of needing a natural 20 to hit a foe (especially at the level where a DM might hand out an Oathbow) are practically zero. The typical average is better than 4 as per the following chart: [code] 1 6 0.95 0.9375 4.75 0.05 0.0975 14 21.1625 10.58125 2 7 0.95 0.91 4.2 0.05 0.0975 14 20.6125 10.30625 3 8 0.9 0.8775 4.55 0.05 0.0975 13.275 19.9625 9.98125 4 9 0.85 0.84 4.8 0.05 0.0975 12.55 19.2125 9.60625 5 10 0.8 0.7975 4.95 0.05 0.0975 11.825 18.3625 9.18125 6 11 0.75 0.75 5 0.05 0.0975 11.1 17.4125 8.70625 7 12 0.7 0.6975 4.95 0.05 0.0975 10.375 16.3625 8.18125 8 13 0.65 0.64 4.8 0.05 0.0975 9.65 15.2125 7.60625 9 14 0.6 0.5775 4.55 0.05 0.0975 8.925 13.9625 6.98125 10 15 0.55 0.51 4.2 0.05 0.0975 8.2 12.6125 6.30625 11 16 0.5 0.4375 3.75 0.05 0.0975 7.475 11.1625 5.58125 12 17 0.45 0.36 3.2 0.05 0.0975 6.75 9.6125 4.80625 13 18 0.4 0.2775 2.55 0.05 0.0975 6.025 7.9625 3.98125 14 19 0.35 0.19 1.8 0.05 0.0975 5.3 6.2125 3.10625 15 20 0.3 0.0975 0.95 0.05 0.0975 4.575 4.3625 2.18125 16 21 0.25 0.0975 0.95 0.05 0.0975 3.85 4.3625 2.18125 17 22 0.2 0.0975 0.95 0.05 0.0975 3.125 4.3625 2.18125 18 23 0.15 0.0975 0.95 0.05 0.0975 2.4 4.3625 2.18125 19 24 0.1 0.0975 0.95 0.05 0.0975 1.675 4.3625 2.18125 20 25 0.05 0.0975 0.95 0.05 0.0975 0.95 4.3625 2.18125 [/code] The columns represent: Number need on dice with +5 Bow, Number need on dice with +0 Bow (or with Oathbow), Chance to hit +5 Bow, Chance to hit Oathbow, Oathbow plus equivalency (i.e. for a given chance to hit, what bonus of to hit equals the Oathbow), Chance to critical +5 Bow, Chance to critical Oathbow, DPR +5 Bow, DPR Oathbow, DPR Oathbow Piercing Resistance So regardless of number needed to hit, an Oathbow normally does more damage than a +5 bow (unless going up against piercing damage resistance). I put a break in the chart where a PC without a magic weapon would need a 16 to hit. As a general rule, a DM will probably not throw foes at PCs if without magic weapons, they need a 17 or higher to hit. Typically, the equivalent bonus to hit for that range of numbers is about +4.5 or better unless one includes the unlikely to occur averages beyond that break. But the important thing here is the DPR. A +5 Bow is nowhere near the DPR of an Oathbow. Granted, an Oathbow is one foe by day, but it will tend to be used against a really really tough foe. Instead of 50% more DPR, an Oathbow compared to the standard max damage +3 Bow is 90% or close to double damage. That's pretty potent. And, of course, the way to more quickly defeat a foe that does have Piercing Magic Resistance with an Oathbow is to use +1 magic arrows. [/QUOTE]

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