Bows and bowstrings [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bows and bowstrings [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Vennettai
03-21-06, 07:52 AM ok so apparently you can replace a bowstring. im guessing. cause apparently they can break from wear. so that means every weapon would nead something that needs replacing or resetting or polishing or whatever. so what im asking is could you get a new bowstring with a magical ability. and if you could sweet. cause i do see magic bow strings poping. since even magical items can be destroyed. and even more so in a bow that is used buy a ranger in a close combat setting. with people attacking him.
Artector
03-21-06, 11:55 AM Capitalization and grammar please.

In DND the fact that bows are delicate in some ways is ignored. Such as the bowstrings. From what I understand the weapons in the game are assumed to be taken care of by you. So the fighter will buff and sharpen swords and whatnot, not major repairs, simply sharpen and clean the kobold blood off. The ranger will restring his bow as necessary and keep everything in top shape.

As for a magic bowstring, is that really necessary? The bow itself is magical, why complicate things? I will give you an idea I have right now.

Bowstring of Tension
This bowstring is made from wire and has been enhanced to be flexible and strong.
Benefits:The bow gains a bonus to damage. If the bow already has the Mighty Composite feature this doesn't stack. The bow gains the bonus only if the character has the appropriate stregnth and is proficient.
Price: Varies with stregnth. +1-300 GP +2-600 GP +3-1200 GP and so on.
Magic:Moderate Transmutation. CL 7. (Can't think of requisite spells right now)

Now that is off the top of my head and has very little thought towards game balance.
Vennettai
03-21-06, 02:05 PM all i wanted to know was if i could use a cool magic bowstring i just like to complicate things. and it could always help to have another addon to a weapon.
Artector
03-21-06, 03:02 PM I don't mean to shoot down your idea. It just seems to add another complication.

However this seems more a KOTOR idea. Bowstrings yes could be better and add bonuses, but the idea of weapons that benefit from personal upgrades fits future-style better, guns are more complex than swords.
Dalthbar
03-21-06, 03:06 PM Bows are already broken as it is - the _LAST_ thing is another mechanism by which to add an additional buff to a bow.

Beyond that, if you are going to use a magical bow, I'd say you'd have to build in a way to know how long it lasts before it breaks/needs to be replaced, such as a 3% cumulative chance at it breaking or being crappy or whatever.

But again... this is the _LAST_ thing we need for bows.
Dannick
03-21-06, 10:30 PM As for the bowstring of tension idea, strictly from a realistic point of view, would not work at all. Bows get their power from the stave bending, not the string.
This enhancement would be much better suited to be cast upon the stave, while adding elemental effects to the string.
Thorak
03-21-06, 11:19 PM Bows are already broken as it is - the _LAST_ thing is another mechanism by which to add an additional buff to a bow.

Beyond that, if you are going to use a magical bow, I'd say you'd have to build in a way to know how long it lasts before it breaks/needs to be replaced, such as a 3% cumulative chance at it breaking or being crappy or whatever.

But again... this is the _LAST_ thing we need for bows.
On the other hand, maybe the magical bows require magical bowstrings. The string being an integral part of the bow. And thus, while your bowstring may be +5, that's no different than a sword having a +5 crossguard. Because without those necessary items, it's just a hunk of metal/wood/what have you.
Vennettai
03-22-06, 01:07 AM whats wrong with adding another variable. im not saying it should be a +12 hackmaster bowstring. im asking if its possible to add an ability since it is removable as well as replacible.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vennettai 03-21-06, 07:52 AM	ok so apparently you can replace a bowstring. im guessing. cause apparently they can break from wear. so that means every weapon would nead something that needs replacing or resetting or polishing or whatever. so what im asking is could you get a new bowstring with a magical ability. and if you could sweet. cause i do see magic bow strings poping. since even magical items can be destroyed. and even more so in a bow that is used buy a ranger in a close combat setting. with people attacking him.
Artector 03-21-06, 11:55 AM	Capitalization and grammar please. In DND the fact that bows are delicate in some ways is ignored. Such as the bowstrings. From what I understand the weapons in the game are assumed to be taken care of by you. So the fighter will buff and sharpen swords and whatnot, not major repairs, simply sharpen and clean the kobold blood off. The ranger will restring his bow as necessary and keep everything in top shape. As for a magic bowstring, is that really necessary? The bow itself is magical, why complicate things? I will give you an idea I have right now. Bowstring of Tension This bowstring is made from wire and has been enhanced to be flexible and strong. Benefits:The bow gains a bonus to damage. If the bow already has the Mighty Composite feature this doesn't stack. The bow gains the bonus only if the character has the appropriate stregnth and is proficient. Price: Varies with stregnth. +1-300 GP +2-600 GP +3-1200 GP and so on. Magic:Moderate Transmutation. CL 7. (Can't think of requisite spells right now) Now that is off the top of my head and has very little thought towards game balance.
Vennettai 03-21-06, 02:05 PM	all i wanted to know was if i could use a cool magic bowstring i just like to complicate things. and it could always help to have another addon to a weapon.
Artector 03-21-06, 03:02 PM	I don't mean to shoot down your idea. It just seems to add another complication. However this seems more a KOTOR idea. Bowstrings yes could be better and add bonuses, but the idea of weapons that benefit from personal upgrades fits future-style better, guns are more complex than swords.
Dalthbar 03-21-06, 03:06 PM	Bows are already broken as it is - the _LAST_ thing is another mechanism by which to add an additional buff to a bow. Beyond that, if you are going to use a magical bow, I'd say you'd have to build in a way to know how long it lasts before it breaks/needs to be replaced, such as a 3% cumulative chance at it breaking or being crappy or whatever. But again... this is the _LAST_ thing we need for bows.
Dannick 03-21-06, 10:30 PM	As for the bowstring of tension idea, strictly from a realistic point of view, would not work at all. Bows get their power from the stave bending, not the string. This enhancement would be much better suited to be cast upon the stave, while adding elemental effects to the string.
Thorak 03-21-06, 11:19 PM	Bows are already broken as it is - the _LAST_ thing is another mechanism by which to add an additional buff to a bow. Beyond that, if you are going to use a magical bow, I'd say you'd have to build in a way to know how long it lasts before it breaks/needs to be replaced, such as a 3% cumulative chance at it breaking or being crappy or whatever. But again... this is the _LAST_ thing we need for bows. On the other hand, maybe the magical bows require magical bowstrings. The string being an integral part of the bow. And thus, while your bowstring may be +5, that's no different than a sword having a +5 crossguard. Because without those necessary items, it's just a hunk of metal/wood/what have you.
Vennettai 03-22-06, 01:07 AM	whats wrong with adding another variable. im not saying it should be a +12 hackmaster bowstring. im asking if its possible to add an ability since it is removable as well as replacible.