What's the definitive answer:stacking on magic bows and arrows

[Hypersmurf]

... where did you get that idea?

Ranged Weapons and Ammunition: The enhancement bonus from a ranged weapon does not stack with the enhancement bonus from ammunition. Only the higher of the two enhancement bonuses applies.

Ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an enhancement bonus of +1 or higher is treated as a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

The enhancement bonus of the bow applies to attack and damage rolls... but the arrow does not actually have an enhancement bonus.

A magic weapon is one which has at least a +1 enhancement bonus (not counting an enhancement bonus due to the masterwork quality).

Since the arrow does not have an enhancement bonus (though the attack and damage rolls benefit from the enhancement bonus of the bow), it is not a magic weapon.

It is considered a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction, but not for any other purpose.

Incorporeal creatures can be harmed only by other incorporeal creatures, by magic weapons, or by spells, spell-like effects, or supernatural effects. They are immune to all nonmagical attack forms.

The arrow is not a magic weapon for the purpose of striking an incorporeal creature. Nor is it an incorporeal creature, a spell, spell-like effect, or supernatural effect.

Thus, a non-magical arrow fired from a magic bow can't hit an incorporeal creature.

Besides, that's why you make the bow ghost touch in the first place.

Well, that would let an incorporeal creature pick it up (for a 10% price increase, per the Savage Species rule)... but that's the only advantage. You can't add it as a weapon ability, since it's not a ranged weapon special ability... and even if you could, Ghost Touch isn't bestowed by a bow, crossbow, or sling upon its ammunition...

-Hyp.

 

[Nail]

Whoa.

...Can't hit Incorporeal creatures? Wha......????

 

[Pax]

Well, that would let an incorporeal creature pick it up (for a 10% price increase, per the Savage Species rule)... but that's the only advantage. You can't add it as a weapon ability, since it's not a ranged weapon special ability... and even if you could, Ghost Touch isn't bestowed by a bow, crossbow, or sling upon its ammunition...

-Hyp.

Beg to differ with you: generally speaking a bow passes it's qualities on to ammunition fired from it, yes? That would seem to include niceties like Ghost Touch.

Just because it's not expressly a ranged weapon enhancement, doesn't mean it cannot be put on one. And while it doesn't specify that the specific Ghost Touch property is conferred to ammunition ... it doesn't specify otherwise, either (which very status Brilliant Energy does specify, mind).

Absolute worst case, apply the Force enhancement from Arms and Equipment.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Beg to differ with you: generally speaking a bow passes it's qualities on to ammunition fired from it, yes?

No; generally speaking, a bow passes on such qualities as state "a bow passes this quality on to its ammunition".

Absolute worst case, apply the Force enhancement from Arms and Equipment.

That'd work.

-Hyp.