Arrows/Bow of healing [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arrows/Bow of healing [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rilion
01-06-05, 08:41 AM Hi,

One of my players asked me whether he could make arrows and/or a bow of healing with his Craft weapon feat.

I was thinking of the following magic ability for missile weapons (bows, crossbows, and slings):

Healing: This ability can be activated three times per day by the wielder as a free action. Upon activation the missile weapon is sheathed in ghostly blue light. The light does not harm the wielder. The next projectile fired with the weapon channels positive energy on the target in a burst of blue energy which destroys the projectile. The wielder must make a succesful ranged touch attack. If the projectile hits a living creature, it heals 2d8+3 points of damage rather than causing damage. Undead creatures take 2d8+3 points of damage upon a succesful ranged touch attack.
All other creatures are not affected.

Moderate conjuration; CL 10th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor and cure medium wounds; Price +1 bonus.

Do you think that it is balanced?
dantedarkstar
01-06-05, 09:10 AM I would make this special arrows, rather than the ability of the bow.
How to price the arrow ? I think as +1 and plus 300gp (the cost of potion of CMW), for a total of 340 gp per arrow (I know it's a bit pricey, but after all they are potions of CMW, just in different form).

As a weapon ability, I think +1 is wrong way to do the pricing. The ability doesn't increase the weapon power. I would just give it a constant price increase (like resistance on armor).
How to price it ? Just as you would an item that could cast CMW three times per day, plus 50% for both sticking it in the bow and for the fact that it can be used at range.

So I would say this ability should be priced as follows:
2 x 3 x 2000 (use-activated 2nd level spell) = 12000
x 3/5 (3 charges/day) = 7200
+50% (for reasons I listed above) = 10800

So I believe such an ability should have fixed +10800gp cost.
Besides, if it requires ranged touch attack, I think the arrow should be consumed and turn into a bolt of positive energy just after being shot, not upon impact. But that's just flavor.
Zelin
01-06-05, 09:18 AM hmm not sure if its balanced but it's interesting.

I'd probably make it a straight gp addition like dispelling (from Player's Guide to Faerun; free action to cast a targeted dispel 6,000gp)

Let's see CL 5th (min for Craft Magic Arms & Armor) so:
2 * 5 * 1800 * .6 (for 3/day) * 1.5 (adding an ability) = 16,200 for 2d8+5 3/day

Now that seems high when 3 potions are only going to cost 900gp... but consider the range of a longbow and the fact that its a renewable resource.. well it begins to look about right.
Zherog
01-06-05, 10:28 AM Let's see CL 5th (min for Craft Magic Arms & Armor)

That's not correct. While you must be 5th level to select the feat, you can use any caster level that is high enough to cast the effect you are looking for. In this case, if we are going to use cure moderate wounds than a caster level of 3rd is high enough.

As a point of reference, check out some of the rings. You have to be 12th level to select the feat, yet many of the rings in the DMG have a caster level well below 12. For example, a Ring of Animal Friendship has a CL of 3. Heck, a Ring of Feather Falling has a CL of 1.
tarkin
01-06-05, 11:26 AM This item was already created as one use Arrows of healing.

It was in a 3.0 book:

Masters of the Wild

Note, I sincerely dislike the idea of making it x/day.

Both the concept of ranged healing useable by anyone and the concept of an x/day item are EASY to munchkinize/abuse.

I personally would stick to the 1 use arrows as presented in Masters of the Wild.

Pricing etc. provided below by a helpful person.
Mirikon
01-06-05, 01:10 PM The place this would be really good is in an undead heavy campaign. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother, honestly.
Purkake
01-06-05, 01:40 PM Shoulden't the undead get a will save as the spell? And what if someone makes arrows on inflict modernate wounds :eek: Also the ranged touch attack and you can't(probably) use it on yourself should balance the +50% cost. (how do you shoot yourself with the bow? you can do it but it's wierd)
Fenris_CGA
01-06-05, 03:44 PM Can you put Spell Storing property on a bow? That might be one balanced way to do this, as you'd have to "recharge" the bow between shots.

I think spell storing weapons must do damage to trigger the spell, tho, so you'd have to design low-damage arrows (blunt, maybe, doing 1-2?)
Shadow Blade
01-06-05, 04:10 PM From Masters of the Wild:

For 107 gp: Arrow of Cure Light Wounds (1d8+1).
For 607 gp: Arrow of Cure Moderate Wounds (2d8+3).
For 1507 gp: Arrow of Cure Serious Wounds (3d8+5).
For 2807 gp: Arrow of Cure Critical Wounds (4d8+7).

These arrows don't deal normal damage, they only 'cure'.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rilion 01-06-05, 08:41 AM	Hi, One of my players asked me whether he could make arrows and/or a bow of healing with his Craft weapon feat. I was thinking of the following magic ability for missile weapons (bows, crossbows, and slings): Healing: This ability can be activated three times per day by the wielder as a free action. Upon activation the missile weapon is sheathed in ghostly blue light. The light does not harm the wielder. The next projectile fired with the weapon channels positive energy on the target in a burst of blue energy which destroys the projectile. The wielder must make a succesful ranged touch attack. If the projectile hits a living creature, it heals 2d8+3 points of damage rather than causing damage. Undead creatures take 2d8+3 points of damage upon a succesful ranged touch attack. All other creatures are not affected. Moderate conjuration; CL 10th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor and cure medium wounds; Price +1 bonus. Do you think that it is balanced?
dantedarkstar 01-06-05, 09:10 AM	I would make this special arrows, rather than the ability of the bow. How to price the arrow ? I think as +1 and plus 300gp (the cost of potion of CMW), for a total of 340 gp per arrow (I know it's a bit pricey, but after all they are potions of CMW, just in different form). As a weapon ability, I think +1 is wrong way to do the pricing. The ability doesn't increase the weapon power. I would just give it a constant price increase (like resistance on armor). How to price it ? Just as you would an item that could cast CMW three times per day, plus 50% for both sticking it in the bow and for the fact that it can be used at range. So I would say this ability should be priced as follows: 2 x 3 x 2000 (use-activated 2nd level spell) = 12000 x 3/5 (3 charges/day) = 7200 +50% (for reasons I listed above) = 10800 So I believe such an ability should have fixed +10800gp cost. Besides, if it requires ranged touch attack, I think the arrow should be consumed and turn into a bolt of positive energy just after being shot, not upon impact. But that's just flavor.
Zelin 01-06-05, 09:18 AM	hmm not sure if its balanced but it's interesting. I'd probably make it a straight gp addition like dispelling (from Player's Guide to Faerun; free action to cast a targeted dispel 6,000gp) Let's see CL 5th (min for Craft Magic Arms & Armor) so: 2 * 5 * 1800 * .6 (for 3/day) * 1.5 (adding an ability) = 16,200 for 2d8+5 3/day Now that seems high when 3 potions are only going to cost 900gp... but consider the range of a longbow and the fact that its a renewable resource.. well it begins to look about right.
Zherog 01-06-05, 10:28 AM	Let's see CL 5th (min for Craft Magic Arms & Armor) That's not correct. While you must be 5th level to select the feat, you can use any caster level that is high enough to cast the effect you are looking for. In this case, if we are going to use cure moderate wounds than a caster level of 3rd is high enough. As a point of reference, check out some of the rings. You have to be 12th level to select the feat, yet many of the rings in the DMG have a caster level well below 12. For example, a Ring of Animal Friendship has a CL of 3. Heck, a Ring of Feather Falling has a CL of 1.
tarkin 01-06-05, 11:26 AM	This item was already created as one use Arrows of healing. It was in a 3.0 book: Masters of the Wild Note, I sincerely dislike the idea of making it x/day. Both the concept of ranged healing useable by anyone and the concept of an x/day item are EASY to munchkinize/abuse. I personally would stick to the 1 use arrows as presented in Masters of the Wild. Pricing etc. provided below by a helpful person.
Mirikon 01-06-05, 01:10 PM	The place this would be really good is in an undead heavy campaign. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother, honestly.
Purkake 01-06-05, 01:40 PM	Shoulden't the undead get a will save as the spell? And what if someone makes arrows on inflict modernate wounds :eek: Also the ranged touch attack and you can't(probably) use it on yourself should balance the +50% cost. (how do you shoot yourself with the bow? you can do it but it's wierd)
Fenris_CGA 01-06-05, 03:44 PM	Can you put Spell Storing property on a bow? That might be one balanced way to do this, as you'd have to "recharge" the bow between shots. I think spell storing weapons must do damage to trigger the spell, tho, so you'd have to design low-damage arrows (blunt, maybe, doing 1-2?)
Shadow Blade 01-06-05, 04:10 PM	From Masters of the Wild: For 107 gp: Arrow of Cure Light Wounds (1d8+1). For 607 gp: Arrow of Cure Moderate Wounds (2d8+3). For 1507 gp: Arrow of Cure Serious Wounds (3d8+5). For 2807 gp: Arrow of Cure Critical Wounds (4d8+7). These arrows don't deal normal damage, they only 'cure'.