Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kingmissile 09-21-04, 01:49 PM	I don't know if this has been covered before here. I'm new to these forums. I was looking for a ruling on a character idea DnD3.5 3rd lvl Barb 6th lvl archery Ranger Str18 Composite Longbow with +6 str rating does it make sense that the character can use his bow to maximum str bonus when raging or would you say that Rage precludes the use of a bow in combat? ie. Not raging, dmg 1d8 +4, -2 to hit Raging, dmg 1d8 +6, no minus to hit
JosephKell 09-21-04, 02:39 PM	I didn't think that the Mighty range extended past 4. But if in your campaign it does, then you can rage to get the added Str.
Tony Vargas 09-21-04, 03:35 PM	AFAIK, rage in no way prevents you from using a bow. You might want a lower-bonus bow, too, for when you're not raging, though, so you don't take the penalty. 'Barbarian Archer' conjured a different image in my head, though, FWIW: a Fighter/Barb or Ranger/Barb who mainly used archery, but, when forced into melee, Raged. Nasty little surprised for those expecting to put the archer at a disadvantage...
obrysii 09-21-04, 09:36 PM	I didn't think that the Mighty range extended past 4. Nothing says it can't....just outside of Half-Orcs, you'll be hard pressed to find a "standard" character with more than a +4 strength mod.
amethal 09-22-04, 06:51 AM	I used to think the idea of a character having two bows was a bit too munchkin for me, but on reflection it is actually a great roleplaying hook. "Now you guys have really ****** me off." <Drops very large composite longbow> "Its time for you to meet 'Big Bertha'." <Pulls out even more ridiculously oversized composite longbow and starts foaming at the mouth> Edit: Apologies for the asterixes; where I come from the six letter word beginning with P is considered socially acceptable in all situations other than job interviews and audiences with the Queen; hadn't realised it might not be the same on these boards.
Zelphi 09-22-04, 07:19 AM	Note that if you have a Comp Bow that has a Mighty bonus larger than one you can use - you take a -2 penalty on attacks. Longbow, Composite: You need at least two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. You can use a composite longbow while mounted. All composite bows are made with a particular strength rating (that is, each requires a minimum Strength modifier to use with proficiency). If your Strength bonus is less than the strength rating of the composite bow, you can’t effectively use it, so you take a –2 penalty on attacks with it. The default composite longbow requires a Strength modifier of +0 or higher to use with proficiency. A composite longbow can be made with a high strength rating to take advantage of an above-average Strength score; this feature allows you to add your Strength bonus to damage, up to the maximum bonus indicated for the bow. Each point of Strength bonus granted by the bow adds 100 gp to its cost. This would mean that you'd have to rage to use the Bow at peak effectiveness, or get one that doesn't let you use Rage as effectively as you'd like. 76–80 Longbow, composite +400 gp 81–85 Longbow, composite (+1 Str bonus) +500 gp 86–90 Longbow, composite (+2 Str bonus) +600 gp 91–95 Longbow, composite (+3 Str bonus) +700 gp 96–100 Longbow, composite (+4 Str bonus) +800 gp Taken from the magical weapon listings... it does state that +4 is the highest, though it doesn't so much define a cap. It does seem to suggest that the highest non epic bonus you can get is +4 mighty.
angryman 09-22-04, 10:09 AM	There's a great Conan story where he's in the jungle and is fighting Picts, when one of them kills his woman. So he's on top of this pyramid, with no sword, just a big bow, and this happens. He flies into a rage and begins tearing the Picts to bits with his bow, it's a very cool scene and makes IMO barbarian archers thematically viable- they angrily shoot arrow after arrow into people they want to kill.