Variable STR mod composite bow?

rowport

First Post
Is there a magic item or masterwork option that offers variable Strength bonus modifiers on a composite bow? I am contemplating the archer variant barbarian from UA, but would hate to give up the extra strength damage bonus while he is Raging. If such an item does not exist, how would one go about pricing it? Any advice is welcome! :)
 

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rowport said:
Is there a magic item or masterwork option that offers variable Strength bonus modifiers on a composite bow? I am contemplating the archer variant barbarian from UA, but would hate to give up the extra strength damage bonus while he is Raging. If such an item does not exist, how would one go about pricing it? Any advice is welcome! :)

I houserule it as a +1 market price modifier. Any higher, and it's just not worth it. Haven't playtested yet. Maybe for balance, require that the bow's maximum str bonus is determined by its make, so you don't have people with +10 str mods buying +1 str pull bows.

EDIT: And the first instance I can think of in 3E of such an item was the Elven Greatbow from the epic Level Handbook. So, yeah. It'd be nice to have a non-epic option.
 
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There's a bow in MIC that does this. No books handy so I can't give the name or price. If someone doesn't post it before I get home tonight I'll look it up.
 

Thanks, folks! If there is an item from the Magic Item Compendium, that would be great, because I have that book on order. I will also search for Hyp's comment from last week.

(BTW, before anybody catches me on the error: the barbarian variant loses rage to get the archer combat style. Oops. Still, I might do the same character idea as a barbarian/ranger instead.)
 



The Midnight setting has Icewood Longbows:

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Exotic Weapons Cost Dmg (S) Dmg (M) Crit Range Weight Type
Icewood Longbow 500vp (value points) 1d6 1d8 x3 120 ft. 4 lb. Piercing

Longbow, Icewood (restricted): These pwerful weapons are granted to those Erunsil who have proven themselves in battle. They have +2 hardness and +10 hit points, and are considered masterwork for the purpose of crafting times, though the creator must spend twice the normal time if he wishes to grant the normal +1 enhancement bonus to attack rolls as well. All icewood bows are composite longbows, though their strength ratings are variable.

This variable strength rating is one of the icewood bow's exceptional properties. It adapts itself to the Strenght of any proficient wielder, gaining a Strength rating equal to the wielder's Strength modifier. However, thanks to a combination of the bow's resilience, flexibility, and powerful pull, the bow's arrows do damage as if the wielder's Strength modifier was doubled, up to a maximum of a +6 Strength bonus to damage.

On the other hand, if attempted to be drawn by anyone with a 16 Strength or greater who is not proficient in the bow's use, it shatters. This has allowed the weaker snow elves to match their orcish opponents' strength in combat while preventing their foes from gaining much benefit from, or indeed learning how to use, the weapons.

Finally, the mystical properties of the icewood from which the bow is crafted means that it is easily enchanted; doing so costs only one-half of the standard resources of time and XP.
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It may need a price modification though.
 


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