Post/Author/DateTime	Post
maxt60 09-19-07, 05:32 PM	I'm needing an Epic Level Mighty Composite Longbow created for a "boss" in my upcoming campaign. I am quite burnt out from working on this campaign at the moment and would like some of the more skilled DM's and item creators here to come up with a few different bows for me if at all possible. I'm not telling anyone to do this, it's just a "help if you have the free time" type thing.
Kihon 09-19-07, 08:59 PM	I always liked the 'Thunder & Lightning' idea so: +7 (or whatever) ThunderBurst & Lightning Burst FarSeeker Speed Longbow. The bow does an additional 3d6 Sonic & 3d6 electric damage on each arrow that hits it's target (with cool sound & visual effects). Farseeker is an epic idea - you can shoot as far as you can see and it's all medium range, or short range under 100'. Speed ability gives you one more attack per round at your highest bonus. Add in Ghost Touch if you might face an opponent that goes etheral, and perhaps keen to increase the threat range (always nice). Now add in an endless quiver of Fire Arrows - a gift from the Lord of the City of Brass perhaps - a quiver where you pull out +5 sheaf flameburst sheaf arrows, so every arrow does 1d8+5 & 3d6 fire. It's endless because they are being made in the City of Brass and stock piled, and all you are really doing is pulling from the endless stockpile as you use the quiver. Every arrow you shoot now does 1d8 +5 (arrow) +3d6 fire, +7 Bow, +3d6 Sonic, +3d6 Electric. Not bad considering you are probably firing 5 per round now. Each arrow could in theory do 9d6+12 points of damage x 5 per round + any feats you might have that could also increase that. You could also increase that damage by making the bow "mighty" and then you could add in your strength modifier also. Now if he is the big bad guy- make sure he can fly and stay out of sword range, make sure he has improved invisibility, make sure he's up with stone skin, mirror image (so if they do see invisibility they still see several of him), protection from normal missiles and magical missiles if possible, and lets throw in lots of protection from elements and other magic. Now add in lots of ground troops to keep them busy, and never tell them where the Thunder & Lightning is coming from. I've made high level groups go running with this because they couldn't figure it out - they thought it was one of the ground guys raining death on them with magic...lol. Last point, never give them the idea that he uses a bow - always drop false hints that he's some type of blackguard that uses a massive sword or something like that - lies he's spread to be sure:)
rob_douglas 09-20-07, 02:01 PM	A good idea - but very expensive. Note that as of 3.5E, the damage from the amo bonus and the damage from the bow bonus don't stack. So your arrows may as well be +1 flaming burst as +5. Another problem is that all that bonus damage is virtually negated by energy resistance. At epic, everyone has 2, 3 or 4 types of resistance, and fire and electric are up there on the list. You might get the sonic through. So there goes a lot of damage. You have to worry as well about Infinite Reflection. That could ruin your day. He should be getting 6 arrows a round - 4 from BAB, 1 from speed, and 1 from Rapid Shot. A brilliant energy bow lets you ignore armor, which could come in handy. +1 brilliant energy, speed. The biggest issue is you want a mighty bow that gives a decent STr bonus to damage. That is missing from the rules. You can infer that they exist, but I have no idea the cost. There is the Solar bow, that has a higher than normal one, but it is also Large, so could argue that Large size allows higher STR bonus to your mighty. There is also an enhancement in the Arms and Equipment Guide that lets you use all your STR. Without further rules, I am not sure of the designer's intent - so should it be possible to make a +20 to STR damage bow? I don't know. ROB