3.5 Can you use Craft Wondrous feat to make a Bow string for non-magical bows? [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 Can you use Craft Wondrous feat to make a Bow string for non-magical bows? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Harmor
02-23-04, 05:49 AM Can you use Craft Wondrous feat to make a Bow string for non-magical bows?

I want to create this bow string (2x cost because it doesn't use a 'slot').

I got this idea when I saw the Keenstone (casts Keen Edge on a weapon when brushed against it).

So I was thinking what about a bow string?

Note: I'm not sure if you could make a BOW + BOW STRING for a magical bow?

Bow strings for bow need to be replaced, typically. And I'm making that assumption for magical bows as well. So with that 'assumption' could I make a bow string using Craft Wondrous items?

Any help would be appreciated.
Heron_Marked_Blade
02-23-04, 07:19 AM If your DM allows it. You'd have to work with him to come up with something he thought was balanced and then he'd price it.

I personally would be a little leery about it. It seems a cheap way of getting a magical bonus to a bow...but I haven't done the math yet. Why don't you post an example of what you're looking for. What would the bowstring "cast," and what would the limitations be (times per day, etc)?
Seeker95
02-23-04, 09:49 AM Who's to say the magic in a magical bow isn't in the string in the first place? :P
Mith
02-23-04, 01:51 PM That's probably what his point was in mentioning that bowstrings must be replaced periodically. If the bow strings are being replaced regularly, the magic would logically be in the stave. Of course, you could say that the magic is in the string and that magical bow-strings don't wear out. That would raise some interesting questions as far as concealing weapons. How well crafted would a stave have to be to benefit from the string's magic? Does a poorly crafted stave with the magical string have penalties to hit or damage? Overall, I think his assumption is simpler.
Findar
02-23-04, 02:24 PM I think a quiver would work better. Take the Scabbard of Keen Edges and change it in to the Quiver of Keen Edges like so:
Quiver of Keen Edges: This quiver is fashioned from cured leather and fine silver. It can hold up to 50 arrows, bolts, or darts. Up to three times per day on command, the quiver casts keen edge on the projectiles placed within it.
Faint transmutation; CL 5th; Craft Wondrous Item, keen edge; Price 16,000 gp
TheGogmagog
02-23-04, 04:10 PM Unless the DM has it otherwise for some reason, the string is enchanted with the rest of the bow.

If he has some critical fumble table (Bad Idea) or some other reason to separate the string enhancement from the bow, you could craft a +1 bow string which would not break unles sundered by a +1 weapon.

Then at this point I would want some goofy enhancements for the string like speed, spell storing, and such.
Harmor
02-23-04, 06:03 PM No, I'm not asking to put any Craft Magical Arms and Armor bonuses to a bow string (+ to hit, acid, flaming, seeking, etc...)

To me if you wanted to make a bow do fire damage you need to use the Craft Magical Arms and Armor feat to do that on a masterwork bow.

Let me clarify, what I'm asking is what could I put into a bow string on a non-magical bow using the Craft Wondrous item feat?

Could I, for example, make a bow string that converts the arrow into a magic missle each time its fired?

Could I, for example, allow the bow string to cast True Strike on the user once per day?

Could I, for example, allow the user fire his arrow and have a 50-foot rope attached to the end of the arrow to the string? (The bow would be unstrung and the string would be the 50-foot rope)

Do you see what I'm unclear about?
Edymnion
02-23-04, 06:04 PM Well, he is basing this off of that keen whetstone, so he does at least have a good basis to work off of.

However, the whetstone is a tool that accompanies the weapon, it isn't part of the weapon itself. For a bow, it would be more appropriate to have either a bracer (Bracers of Archery come to mind), or an archery glove.

For those that don't do a lot of bow shooting, you typically wear a soft leather 2-3 fingered glove on the hand that you draw the string back with. Seriously helps your aim because it protects your fingers and knuckles from getting torn up, so they aren't sore, and you can draw easier.

Perhaps that is what you should use instead of a bowstring.
Perhaps make it identical to the whetstone and have it let you fire keen arrows once or twice per day, the same way the whetstone lets you do for swords.
Nick Soapdish
02-23-04, 06:16 PM A masterwork bowstring? :confused:

I think it'd be more appropriate to use something that's not actually part of the weapon for Craft Wondrous Item. You'd need Craft Magic Arms & Armor for that (just my opinion, of course). Bracers and quivers both go along with bows already. I think either of them would be better.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 02-23-04, 05:49 AM	Can you use Craft Wondrous feat to make a Bow string for non-magical bows? I want to create this bow string (2x cost because it doesn't use a 'slot'). I got this idea when I saw the Keenstone (casts Keen Edge on a weapon when brushed against it). So I was thinking what about a bow string? Note: I'm not sure if you could make a BOW + BOW STRING for a magical bow? Bow strings for bow need to be replaced, typically. And I'm making that assumption for magical bows as well. So with that 'assumption' could I make a bow string using Craft Wondrous items? Any help would be appreciated.
Heron_Marked_Blade 02-23-04, 07:19 AM	If your DM allows it. You'd have to work with him to come up with something he thought was balanced and then he'd price it. I personally would be a little leery about it. It seems a cheap way of getting a magical bonus to a bow...but I haven't done the math yet. Why don't you post an example of what you're looking for. What would the bowstring "cast," and what would the limitations be (times per day, etc)?
Seeker95 02-23-04, 09:49 AM	Who's to say the magic in a magical bow isn't in the string in the first place? :P
Mith 02-23-04, 01:51 PM	That's probably what his point was in mentioning that bowstrings must be replaced periodically. If the bow strings are being replaced regularly, the magic would logically be in the stave. Of course, you could say that the magic is in the string and that magical bow-strings don't wear out. That would raise some interesting questions as far as concealing weapons. How well crafted would a stave have to be to benefit from the string's magic? Does a poorly crafted stave with the magical string have penalties to hit or damage? Overall, I think his assumption is simpler.
Findar 02-23-04, 02:24 PM	I think a quiver would work better. Take the Scabbard of Keen Edges and change it in to the Quiver of Keen Edges like so: Quiver of Keen Edges: This quiver is fashioned from cured leather and fine silver. It can hold up to 50 arrows, bolts, or darts. Up to three times per day on command, the quiver casts keen edge on the projectiles placed within it. Faint transmutation; CL 5th; Craft Wondrous Item, keen edge; Price 16,000 gp
TheGogmagog 02-23-04, 04:10 PM	Unless the DM has it otherwise for some reason, the string is enchanted with the rest of the bow. If he has some critical fumble table (Bad Idea) or some other reason to separate the string enhancement from the bow, you could craft a +1 bow string which would not break unles sundered by a +1 weapon. Then at this point I would want some goofy enhancements for the string like speed, spell storing, and such.
Harmor 02-23-04, 06:03 PM	No, I'm not asking to put any Craft Magical Arms and Armor bonuses to a bow string (+ to hit, acid, flaming, seeking, etc...) To me if you wanted to make a bow do fire damage you need to use the Craft Magical Arms and Armor feat to do that on a masterwork bow. Let me clarify, what I'm asking is what could I put into a bow string on a non-magical bow using the Craft Wondrous item feat? Could I, for example, make a bow string that converts the arrow into a magic missle each time its fired? Could I, for example, allow the bow string to cast True Strike on the user once per day? Could I, for example, allow the user fire his arrow and have a 50-foot rope attached to the end of the arrow to the string? (The bow would be unstrung and the string would be the 50-foot rope) Do you see what I'm unclear about?
Edymnion 02-23-04, 06:04 PM	Well, he is basing this off of that keen whetstone, so he does at least have a good basis to work off of. However, the whetstone is a tool that accompanies the weapon, it isn't part of the weapon itself. For a bow, it would be more appropriate to have either a bracer (Bracers of Archery come to mind), or an archery glove. For those that don't do a lot of bow shooting, you typically wear a soft leather 2-3 fingered glove on the hand that you draw the string back with. Seriously helps your aim because it protects your fingers and knuckles from getting torn up, so they aren't sore, and you can draw easier. Perhaps that is what you should use instead of a bowstring. Perhaps make it identical to the whetstone and have it let you fire keen arrows once or twice per day, the same way the whetstone lets you do for swords.
Nick Soapdish 02-23-04, 06:16 PM	A masterwork bowstring? :confused: I think it'd be more appropriate to use something that's not actually part of the weapon for Craft Wondrous Item. You'd need Craft Magic Arms & Armor for that (just my opinion, of course). Bracers and quivers both go along with bows already. I think either of them would be better.