Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tchacotaa 12-26-07, 02:02 PM	In a recent game, my party was storming a keep, and on the approach, a mage in a tower cast fireball at us. I (a ranger) imediatly fired my bow in retailiation. I got off two shots before i reached cover. I thought how great it would be if i could shoot an arrow into the tower and have it do some spectacular effect like explode and take out or hurt the mage. It then dawned on me that i had some thunderstones with me. I quickly tied one to an arrow and fired. It had a positive effect for the party. I was happy. So my reason for this post is this: Does anyone know of any ideas to further this. I am happy to keep tying thunderstones when needed, but is there a good area effect spell that could be used to enhance a bow, or an existing bow or set of arrows, ect. I have looked in a lot of places and really have not found anything that would work. I do not want to make it overly powerful, the thunderstone worked well against a spell caster, but i would like a nice area of effect that would maybe stun the victems for a round or two or do minor damage. All suggestions are welcom. Thanks.
curtis_ownby 12-26-07, 02:43 PM	Try the arrows from Arms and Equuipment Guide. You can also try using poisons on the arrows. If you realy wannt to hurt a wizard use Vapid leaf extract page 37 of the Arms and Equuipment Guide.;) Use some twine to tie a alchemical weapon capsules to an arrow.(Complete Adventurer page 122) This may not work see DM for use with arrows.:confused: Tie a rust cube to the arrow head, very good if you use it on a knight.(Complete Scoundrel page 111):D Your bigest problem will be the cost but at mid to high levels it is not to bad.:(
tchacotaa 12-26-07, 02:50 PM	Hmmmmm..... I like all of these. Thanks. I will look this up and see what i can accmplish. My DM is pretty cool about stuff like this. I am a 7th lvl ranger and a 2nd lvl scout. so once i get back to a decent town i ought to be able pick the alchemical items up. The party is real good about spending party treasure to help the party. Any other ideas anybody?
Kouk 12-26-07, 04:37 PM	I will summarize a few special arrows that you can find in different books: Arms and Equipment Guide, 3e rules Alchemist's Arrow: Arrow filled with a mini-dose of Alchemist Fire. Blunt Arrow: Deal nonlethal (subdual) damage. Flight Arrow: Adds range to your shot, more expensive than normal arrows. Signal Arrow: Makes a sound like a bird when fired. Not as good as a weapon. Thunder Arrow: Exactly like what you did, an arrow tipped with a Thunderstone. Arrow of Disintegration: Disintegration. Arrow of Eyes: Launches a scrying sensor you can use. Elven Leaf Arrow: Can deal lethal or nonlethal damage. In a forest might cast Charm Monster. Fey Arrow: Faerie Fire. Summoning Arrow: Summons an eagle which attacks your target. Masters of the Wild, 3e rules Arrow of Cure Light Wounds, Arrow of Cure Moderate Wounds. Races of the Wild, 3.5 Blunt Arrow: Like AaEG, but shorter range. Dragonsbreath Arrow: Similar to Alchemist's Arrow, but less damage and may set enemy on fire instead. Serpentstongue Arrows: Does both piercing and slashing damage, and does full damage to objects. Swiftwing Arrow: Reduces range penalties. Races of Faerun, 3e rules Flight Arrow: Similar to AaEG, but less range added. Sea Arrow: Easier to shoot underwater. Signal Arrow: Same as AaEG. Monster Manual Pixie Arrows: A Sleep spell that works regardless of HD, but literally they come from Pixies. DMG Slaying Arrow: Kills specific kind of creature. Sleep Arrow: A weak Sleep effect, also deals nonlethal damage. Magic Item Compendium Arrow of Biting: Injects CON poison. Fountainhead Arrow: Creates a small explosion of Acid where it lands, lasts a few rounds. Raptor Arrow: Relic update(?) from Complete Divine. Auto-reloads itself, and has Bane against what you fire it at. Dragon Compendium Blunt Arrow: Like AaEG. Flight Arrow: Like AaEG. Signal Arrow: Like AaEG. Smoke Arrow: Smokestick on an arrow. Thunder Arrow: Thunderstone on an arrow.
tchacotaa 12-26-07, 04:48 PM	Excellant, Excellant. Wonderful Ideas. I will start making plans on all this. Thanks. this is exactly what i love about the message boards.
Legdiwena 12-26-07, 07:47 PM	If you use Delayed Blast Fireball on an arrow, would it travel with the arrow and explode at end or would it be left behind?
Kouk 12-26-07, 08:22 PM	If you use Delayed Blast Fireball on an arrow, would it travel with the arrow and explode at end or would it be left behind? You could I guess, but this line is at the end of the spell: "If a creature handles and moves the bead within 1 round of its detonation, there is a 25% chance that the bead detonates while being handled." Also, if someone is casting the Delayed Blast Fireball, why not have that person send the spell to the target himself? It has an incredible range, 920ft at minimum CL. Becoming an Arcane Archer is an option if you like special arrows, but it seems a bit late for the OP's character to start.
StevenO 12-26-07, 08:59 PM	If you want to add area effects to arrow attacks that sounds just like the Imbue Arrow feature of a second level arcane archer. While it is a possible build it sort of does require that goal from first level so you can get the spells before and after taking a two level dip into AA.
tchacotaa 12-26-07, 09:00 PM	Reading in the DMG on p 282 and 283, in making a magic item, the wizard casts the spell into the item. But it requires the item to be prepared properly. And, the wizard can only work on one item at a time. I seem to remember in past editions that a group of arrows, maybe a quivers worth, (usually 20) were considered one item. I'd say that is up to the DM. Anyway, an arrow could have a spell cast into it, so delayed blast fireball is certainly possible. Of course i would think that the process of creating the arrow would allow the wizard to dictate how the spell would be activated, such as, on impact. Which is fine, i can only afford so many arrows to be made that way, (we rangers have little need for money) so that would keep from overpowering the use of the arrows.
tchacotaa 12-26-07, 09:07 PM	If you want to add area effects to arrow attacks that sounds just like the Imbue Arrow feature of a second level arcane archer. While it is a possible build it sort of does require that goal from first level so you can get the spells before and after taking a two level dip into AA. well that and i beleive part of the prereqs for AA are to be able to cast arcane spells, so that would require a level in wizard or sorcerer before AA. Longer than i want to spend to do this. I will be satisfied to buy magical arrows. However, i love the idea of being the AA.
1 ton ghost 12-27-07, 03:54 PM	nice innovation on the improvised arrow vs. mage. mechanically, i'm not sure how that'd work given weight of the stone and aerodynamics. guess i'd just give a minus and reduce it's range. i'd go w/ the proper thunderarrows i guess. -Burrowing Arrows (CompWarrior), big fan. hits, hurts and all, soon as they heal, regen, whatever, additional d8 as it is ejected painfully from wound. -Dragon mag had an all ranged article, very comprehensive. can't remember the issue, but it was in it's last year of publication, the cover was predominately green w/ an elf chick (ranged) for coverart. yuan-ti serpent bow impressed me, bayonets for x-bow (this was pre-CompScoundrel btw), bow/swords, etc. -get Goggles of Accuracy (MagItmCmp); shaves off cover, very cheap/effective
Arco Versipellis 12-28-07, 12:36 AM	If you use Delayed Blast Fireball on an arrow, would it travel with the arrow and explode at end or would it be left behind? Sounds to much like an Arcane Archer for me, I wouldn't allow it.