Bonebow, Why bother? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bonebow, Why bother? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
snakeman830
04-29-07, 06:12 PM The Bonebow from Frostburn is a weapon that confuses me as to why they think anyone would use it. The greatbow from CW does the same amount of damage, has longer range, and (correct me if I'm wrong) is a martial weapon.

Even more confusing is this:

The bonebow can be used as a martial weapon, but at a -4 penalty on the attack roll. Plus, it now takes a full-round action to fire a single shot.
For that, I'd just use it as an exotic weapon I'm not proficient with (taking the -4 nonproficiency penalty) and get my normal turn in.

Now, can anyone explain to me why anyone would want to use this thing?
InkBlot
04-29-07, 06:25 PM The greatbow from CW ... (correct me if I'm wrong) is a martial weapon.
The great bow from Complete Warrior is exotic.
snakeman830
04-29-07, 07:11 PM Okay. I have been corrected (I don't have CW).
ShinAkuma2
04-29-07, 09:15 PM Now, can anyone explain to me why anyone would want to use this thing?

Some of us don't have access to the materials for a Greatbow. We have bones and string.
BluEnigma
04-29-07, 09:17 PM Also, it works with WP: Longbow. Useful for getting an archer into Pious Templar while still using a big bow.
BW0222
04-29-07, 09:27 PM 1. Not many trees in the artic. http://www.pawprince.com/pawprince/photos/scanned/lifestyle/pages/baffin_3.html

2. If you find any trees, they are not those suitable for bows.

3. It is a little hard to bend and shape wood in sub-zero temperatures.

4. At -40, wooden bows will not maintain any pull and in most cases will shatter as any moisture in the wood will cause it to split.
snakeman830
04-30-07, 08:31 AM Also, it works with WP: Longbow. Useful for getting an archer into Pious Templar while still using a big bow.

Weapon Focus, not proficency.

Lack of wood. Good reason I suppose. So why are most of the other weapons in there made of wood?

Wood becoming brittle. True. It does. Yet the Icechucker is also made of wood and suffer no ill effects.
crow04
05-04-07, 01:46 AM nicest thing about the bone bow is the fact that it is auto-compsite for your str. plus, my reading of it was that it was a fullround action only when being used as a martial weapon
jaelis
05-04-07, 10:07 AM nicest thing about the bone bow is the fact that it is auto-compsite for your str. plus, my reading of it was that it was a fullround action only when being used as a martial weapon

If that's right, then it is enough right there to make it substantially better than the greatbow. Auto-composite is really useful.
tarkin
05-04-07, 10:57 AM I agree with Jaelis.

Particularly for people that routinely use magic/polymorphing, auto-compositing an infinite strength is of HUGE value.
snakeman830
05-04-07, 03:19 PM nicest thing about the bone bow is the fact that it is auto-compsite for your str.

Okay, that's a pretty good reason.

plus, my reading of it was that it was a fullround action only when being used as a martial weapon

That's what I said. I would use it as an exotic weapon that I'm not proficient with before I did that (same penalty on attack rolls plus I still get a normal turn? I'm going exotic.)
crow04
05-05-07, 03:11 AM gotcha, need new glasses
El_Machinae
05-05-07, 08:50 AM Holy smokes, I wish I'd noticed that 'auto-composite' earlier.
ShinAkuma2
05-05-07, 01:53 PM According to CustServ, that line only refers to the fact that you can create/buy it at an increased Str rating, like a normal Composite Longbow. It's not "Auto-Composite".

Do with that what you will.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
snakeman830 04-29-07, 06:12 PM	The Bonebow from Frostburn is a weapon that confuses me as to why they think anyone would use it. The greatbow from CW does the same amount of damage, has longer range, and (correct me if I'm wrong) is a martial weapon. Even more confusing is this: The bonebow can be used as a martial weapon, but at a -4 penalty on the attack roll. Plus, it now takes a full-round action to fire a single shot. For that, I'd just use it as an exotic weapon I'm not proficient with (taking the -4 nonproficiency penalty) and get my normal turn in. Now, can anyone explain to me why anyone would want to use this thing?
InkBlot 04-29-07, 06:25 PM	The greatbow from CW ... (correct me if I'm wrong) is a martial weapon. The great bow from Complete Warrior is exotic.
snakeman830 04-29-07, 07:11 PM	Okay. I have been corrected (I don't have CW).
ShinAkuma2 04-29-07, 09:15 PM	Now, can anyone explain to me why anyone would want to use this thing? Some of us don't have access to the materials for a Greatbow. We have bones and string.
BluEnigma 04-29-07, 09:17 PM	Also, it works with WP: Longbow. Useful for getting an archer into Pious Templar while still using a big bow.
BW0222 04-29-07, 09:27 PM	1. Not many trees in the artic. http://www.pawprince.com/pawprince/photos/scanned/lifestyle/pages/baffin_3.html 2. If you find any trees, they are not those suitable for bows. 3. It is a little hard to bend and shape wood in sub-zero temperatures. 4. At -40, wooden bows will not maintain any pull and in most cases will shatter as any moisture in the wood will cause it to split.
snakeman830 04-30-07, 08:31 AM	Also, it works with WP: Longbow. Useful for getting an archer into Pious Templar while still using a big bow. Weapon Focus, not proficency. Lack of wood. Good reason I suppose. So why are most of the other weapons in there made of wood? Wood becoming brittle. True. It does. Yet the Icechucker is also made of wood and suffer no ill effects.
crow04 05-04-07, 01:46 AM	nicest thing about the bone bow is the fact that it is auto-compsite for your str. plus, my reading of it was that it was a fullround action only when being used as a martial weapon
jaelis 05-04-07, 10:07 AM	nicest thing about the bone bow is the fact that it is auto-compsite for your str. plus, my reading of it was that it was a fullround action only when being used as a martial weapon If that's right, then it is enough right there to make it substantially better than the greatbow. Auto-composite is really useful.
tarkin 05-04-07, 10:57 AM	I agree with Jaelis. Particularly for people that routinely use magic/polymorphing, auto-compositing an infinite strength is of HUGE value.
snakeman830 05-04-07, 03:19 PM	nicest thing about the bone bow is the fact that it is auto-compsite for your str. Okay, that's a pretty good reason. plus, my reading of it was that it was a fullround action only when being used as a martial weapon That's what I said. I would use it as an exotic weapon that I'm not proficient with before I did that (same penalty on attack rolls plus I still get a normal turn? I'm going exotic.)
crow04 05-05-07, 03:11 AM	gotcha, need new glasses
El_Machinae 05-05-07, 08:50 AM	Holy smokes, I wish I'd noticed that 'auto-composite' earlier.
ShinAkuma2 05-05-07, 01:53 PM	According to CustServ, that line only refers to the fact that you can create/buy it at an increased Str rating, like a normal Composite Longbow. It's not "Auto-Composite". Do with that what you will.