Simple Question: Magic Bow/Arrow and Damage Reduction

[Nuntius]

Greetings, EN World community! First of all, let me thank you for the many ideas, answers and resources that you have unknowingly provided me during this year. A couple of days ago, my group and I succesfully finished our 2010 campaing with an extensive 12 hour long session with many key ideas taken directly from this forum (such as the spell selection for caster enemies and the overall wizard tactic). We had a really great time, thanks!

So, having that done, my question it's quite simple:

-> When attacking a creature with Damage Reduction with a bow and arrow, which enhancement counts for negating the DR?

If i shoot a normal arrow with a +1 bow, does it negate a 5/+1 DR?
What about the other way around (+1 arrow with normal bow)?
Or does any +1 count?

We play with the 3rd edition rules, but any clarification (from 3rd, or 3.5) woudl be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[BENINHB]

Bows and Crossbows apply their enhancements to the ammunition they fire.

 

[Nuntius]

Bows and Crossbows apply their enhancements to the ammunition they fire.

Thanks!

So a +1 bow would negate a 5/+1 DR regardless of the type of amunition they fire. One of my players will be delighted to hear this ^^
Could someone point me where in the books is this stated?

 

[bobhayes]

It's in the SRD for 3.5.

Special Abilities :: d20srd.org

"Ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an enhancement bonus of +1 or higher is treated as a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. Similarly, ammunition fired from a projectile weapon with an alignment gains the alignment of that projectile weapon (in addition to any alignment it may already have)."

 

[Empirate]

ACtually, from the way you handle DR (X/+1 etc.), it would seem you are still playing 3.0.
In 3.0, projectile weapons do not instill their bonuses in their ammunition! You need a sufficiently magical arrow or bolt to punch through DR.

 

[Nuntius]

ACtually, from the way you handle DR (X/+1 etc.), it would seem you are still playing 3.0.
In 3.0, projectile weapons do not instill their bonuses in their ammunition! You need a sufficiently magical arrow or bolt to punch through DR.

Indeed we do ! That was what i meant with "3rd".
So far we haven't found any clarification (nor in the enhancements or damage reduction sections of the DMG, nor in the damage reduction explanation in the MM).

Would you happen to remember where in the book is it specified, so i can show it to my players?

Thanks again!

 

[Empirate]

Sorry, I got rid of my 3.0 core books a while ago... can't really say where the rule is exactly, but I'm pretty sure it is the way I said earlier.

 

[Vegepygmy]

In 3.0, projectile weapons do not instill their bonuses in their ammunition!

Actually, they do...just not for purposes of damage reduction. Weird, huh?

Anyway, it's on page 183 of the 3.0 DMG.

 

[Empirate]

Yeah, that's what I mean: If you have a +2 bow and a +1 arrow, you'll get +3 to attack and damage - but you won't be able to ignore DR X/+2. Thanks for the reference, Vegepygmy.

 

[Nuntius]

Actually, they do...just not for purposes of damage reduction. Weird, huh?

Anyway, it's on page 183 of the 3.0 DMG.

Thanks man! There it is ^^