Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Deathless_One 03-29-08, 01:35 PM	I know in PH II there is a feat for people using a crossbow to do damage that equals 1/2 of their dexterity score. I was just wondering is there a bow equivalent?
Lotus Crane 03-29-08, 01:43 PM	Not any that I can think of at the moment. However, keep in mind that normal bows by default already get bonus damage, in the form of being able to apply your Strength bonus to damage, assuming you have a properly adjusted bow (100 gp per +1 Str applicable). That's why bows were all-around mechanically superior choices to crossbows for everybody except those with Str scores below 10 and those who are non-proficient (non-elven wizards). Crossbow Sniper merely makes crossbows an equally effective choice; it still doesn't make crossbows better than normal bows.
StevenO 03-29-08, 02:07 PM	NO. There shouldn't be either. Crossbow sniper is one of the very few advantages a Crossbow would have over a Bow. The others are being able to fire prone and one-handed although both of these rarely come up. The slightly larger damage die for a X-Bow is easily overshadowed by the damage increases that Composite Bows get by allowing STR. Getting rid of a Xbows big disadvantage (slow reloading time) also takes a feat and is only really helpful with light crossbows which only puts it on par with an unimproved longbow.
mplindustries 03-29-08, 02:09 PM	There is a Dragon article about alternate fighter classes in, I believe, #310. It included one option, the Targeteer, which allowed you to trade a bonus feat for, I think it was called Vital Aim. It let you deal extra damage equal to your dex bonus on ranged attacks instead of your strength bonus. Unfortunately, it was precision damage, just like the Swashbuckler's Insightful strike. Oh, and I also don't think it could actually replace a strength penalty. Anyway, that is the only thing published by something even related to WotC that would let a non-magical character get dexterity to damage for bow attacks. I say non-magical because pretty much any spellcaster can break the game in 1587615897 ways, so I'm sure some spell somewhere lets you do this, too.
Deathless_One 03-29-08, 05:19 PM	That's too bad, because I have a level 3 halfling ranger who took the ranged combat specialization, and I gave him a bow. He has 20 dexterity (+5 modifier), and 12 str (+1 modifier), so I'd have to pay 100gp just to get a +1 damage on it?
StevenO 03-29-08, 11:02 PM	Picking up the Rapid Reload feat would allow a light crossbow to take advantage of Rapid Shot. You could then make use of Crossbow Sniper. Manyshot unfortunately doesn't seem to fair so well as its description calls for arrows
Shadowhowler 03-30-08, 01:00 AM	Crossbow Sniper merely makes crossbows an equally effective choice; it still doesn't make crossbows better than normal bows. Except for Rogues, who can take advanateg of the 60ft range for SA damage as opposed to 30ft. Thats a BIG advantage. Scouts too.
VulcanStormwrath 03-30-08, 02:34 PM	Dragon Compendium. The feat is called Deadeye
1 ton ghost 03-30-08, 03:11 PM	Yeah, bonus dmg is nice, but like Shadowhowler pointed out, 60ft is formidable. Especially when you shoot someone and take a 5 ft step back. Typically the following comes to light then: -You're beyond most normal charge ranges for "30 footers", and even if you weren't, Difficult Terrain forbids charges in many respects. Gives you a nice grace period, especially when you're a d6 HD w/ poor Fort. -Beyond normal Darkvision (60ft) range. So, 1 Surprise Rnd later, you shoot for a Standard, 5ft out and disappear basically so Hide is kinda' irrelevant. -In many terrains, 60ft is hard to get in terms of Max Spotting Distance -In urban fare, 60 ft is a world of distance. That's a block or 2 and affords all manner of cover, etc. Plus, you have 'x', 'y', and 'z' axis to contend with (building height) vs. normal enemies on a flat plane. -Coupled w/ Quick Loading to speed up fire rate, this combo is nightmarish. Shot on the Run (with the above) and X-Bow Sniper can destroy carefully laid melee combatants. You are losing Point Blank Shot beyond 30ft, but the protection and martial flexibility this provides is often worth it. Plus it's not like you couldn't surprise a target, shoot 'em @ 30ft, your friends move up to engage while you withdraw to 60 and "do your thing". And I concur, there should NOT BE similar feat for bows. Balance wise it's a deal breaker, but realistically, sniping w/ a bow is terribly hard. Waiting w/ that much tension and potential vs. kinetic energy in check means a very unsteady aim on your target. Sure some pros might pull it off (w/ modern bows and their bells and whistles), but not in proto-renaissance fantasy IMO.
StevenO 03-30-08, 03:20 PM	For a Crossbow Sniper idea I like using a modification of the Order of the Bow Initiate (CWar) that basically changes the prereqs to a crossbow class. As is all the abilities work with a Xbow and normally Xbows only get one shot (and can't benefit from Manyshot) anyway so the Precision damage is nice. I'd also modify the OotBI's expanded range to either double or at least add +30 to the range of precision damage. Sniping from 90-120 would be great.
wraithstrike 03-30-08, 11:26 PM	Dragon Compendium. The feat is called Deadeye which volume?