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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6515869" data-attributes="member: 42582">My recollection is that, in Gygax's DMG,  the option of "STR bows" and the like is presented as just that - an option. And I don't remember seeing any instantiation of it in any module (eg in NPC damage numbers).The question was not whether the fighter is a better ranged combatant than the cleric - which is true in 4e also - the fighter is proficient in bows and heavier thrown weapons while the cleric is not). The comparison is of fighter ranged attacks to fighter melee attacks. I don't really agree with your comparisons of fighters to thieves, though. A 5th level fighter has a THACO of 16. A thief with the same number of XP is 6th level, and has a THACO of 19. With a DEX of 17 the thief hits as well in missile combat as the fighter does; the fighter has not outstripped the thief.A 9th level thief needs slightly fewer XP than an 8th level fighter, and at that point the gap closes a little - the fighter has a THACO of 14 (8th level THACO is the same as 7th unless an optional rule is being used), and the thief a THACO of 16. So a 16 DEX will close the gap. (DEX 17 if the optional rule for fighter to-hit is being used.)An assassin needs more XP than a thief, but even then the gap doesn't quickly open up beyond 4: a 9th level assassin needs slightly fewer XP than a 9th level fighter, and the THACO is 16 compared to 12; and a 13th level assassin, with the same XP as an 11th level fighter, has a THACO of 14 compared to 10.And in UA a thief can use a shortbow.Comparing a fighter's damage with a bow to melee damage: 2d6 averages 7, compared to (at 1st level) 3/2 * 7.5 (for 1d8+3 from 16 STR and specialisation), which is greater than 11, or more than 50% better damage. If the fighter has 18/01 STR, the melee damage is 3/2*9.5 (for 1d8+5), or greater than 14, which is more than double the bow damage. And that's before allowing for the +2 to hit (+1 STR, +1 specialisation).Even without UA, the longsword does more damage with 16 STR (7.5 vs 7) and noticeably more with 18/01 STR (9.5 vs 7). And that's before we get to size L creatures do, where the longsword steps up to 1d12. And the +1 to hit also increases damage, especially at lower levels where base chances to hit are often less than 50%.Once magic items come into play the gap opens up, as magic bows in the DMG don't go above +1, and magic arrows tend not to be reusable.I think that missile combat is a step down for the fighter, especially in UA (assuming melee weapon specialisation).The STR bonus may be a core rule in AD&D 2nd ed (I don't know), but is not in AD&D 1st ed.As for bow specialists, yes they are strong. But my comparison was of a melee-oriented fighter's melee attacks compared to his/her missile attacks.EDIT: My thief DEX numbers are out by one - so DEX 16 should be 17, and DEX 17 should read 18. And once the assassin gap opens by 4, the fighter has a +1 to hit advantage over the 18 DEX assassin.</blockquote>

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