What's the definitive answer:stacking on magic bows and arrows

[krispykreme]

All,

What are the rules for magic bow and arrow stacking? In 3.0, since arrows did not penetrate damage reduction, what's the point in having a magic bow if bonuses did not stack? Also, what's the point of having magic arrows in 3.5 when you've got a magic bow, now that arrows launched from it can now penetrate damage reduction if bonuses do not stack (other than at some of the lower character levels, when a PC cannot necessarily afford a magical bow). The last bit in particular renders the useful class feature of the arcane archer PrC useless if the PC in question has a magical bow. An answer to this conundrum would be much appreciated.

 

[trentonjoe]

All,

What are the rules for magic bow and arrow stacking? .

Bows and arrows don't stack anymore.

In 3.0, since arrows did not penetrate damage reduction, what's the point in having a magic bow if bonuses did not stack? .

Bows are better. Arrows fired form magic bows work against creatures with DR/magic.

Also, what's the point of having magic arrows in 3.5 when you've got a magic bow, now that arrows launched from it can now penetrate damage reduction if bonuses do not stack (other than at some of the lower character levels, when a PC cannot necessarily afford a magical bow). .

+2 arrows are still better than a +1 bow. aLso +1 frost arrows fired from a +2 bow are essentailly +2 frost arrows

The last bit in particular renders the useful class feature of the arcane archer PrC useless if the PC in question has a magical bow. An answer to this conundrum would be much appreciated .

I don't know exactly but you use which ever bonus is higher.

 

[James McMurray]

In 3.0 bows and arrows stacked their enhancement bonuses. In 3.5 this is no longer the case.

The benefit to the Arcane Archer is that he can spend his money on special abilities and get the enhancement bonuses for free.

 

[Pax]

OH yeah. For both bow AND arrow. I've got an arcane archer (Valesian) in the Exodus, who did just that -- his bow is Truthkiller, a Dragonbone (mighty +4) Longbow ... that is also +1, Ghost Touch, Fierce, Seeking, Speed, Truesilver, and Enfeebling. His arrows are the Burrowing Arrows from CW -- base enhancement bonus of +1.

Yet he still gets +8 to hit and damage (Epic AA level 15), and his arrows count as Epic weapons.

 

[Hypersmurf]

OH yeah. For both bow AND arrow. I've got an arcane archer (Valesian) in the Exodus, who did just that -- his bow is Truthkiller, a Dragonbone (mighty +4) Longbow ... that is also +1, Ghost Touch, Fierce, Seeking, Speed, Truesilver, and Enfeebling.

I had a DM decide that he didn't like how Fierce worked, and changed it so that it subtracts from Dex bonus to attack rolls, not Dex bonus to AC, when placed on a bow.

Which makes me wish I'd just gone with two Elemental damages instead

-Hyp.

 

[Caliban]

A +1 bow passes on any damage enhancing abilities it has to the ammunition, and the ammunition counts as magic for the purposes of DR.

But if you are firing at an incorporeal creature, you still need a magic arrow to hit it, as that is not DR, and the enhancement from the Bow won't apply.

 

[Taren Seeker]

I had a DM decide that he didn't like how Fierce worked, and changed it so that it subtracts from Dex bonus to attack rolls, not Dex bonus to AC, when placed on a bow.

Which makes me wish I'd just gone with two Elemental damages instead

-Hyp.

So did you then put on your moderator hat and delete him?

 

[Hypersmurf]

So did you then put on your moderator hat and delete him?

No.

-Hyp.

 

[Pax]

A +1 bow passes on any damage enhancing abilities it has to the ammunition, and the ammunition counts as magic for the purposes of DR.

But if you are firing at an incorporeal creature, you still need a magic arrow to hit it, as that is not DR, and the enhancement from the Bow won't apply.

... where did you get that idea? Besides, that's why you make the bow ghost touch in the first place. ^_^

 

[reiella]

All,

What are the rules for magic bow and arrow stacking? In 3.0, since arrows did not penetrate damage reduction, what's the point in having a magic bow if bonuses did not stack? Also, what's the point of having magic arrows in 3.5 when you've got a magic bow, now that arrows launched from it can now penetrate damage reduction if bonuses do not stack (other than at some of the lower character levels, when a PC cannot necessarily afford a magical bow). The last bit in particular renders the useful class feature of the arcane archer PrC useless if the PC in question has a magical bow. An answer to this conundrum would be much appreciated.

The 3.0 reference is slightly off. Arrows (or bolts, whatever the actual projectile was) was what was used for determining if it penetrated DR.

Also for 3.5 usefulness, you have it slightly easier to breach Dual DRs (Holy + Silvered, just get holy arrows and a silver bow, ). Of course I could be wrong, and people will point it out rather quickly so don't believe me!

[ Edit ]
And Hyp proves me wrong . Ignore my statement about dual DRs, unless one of them happens to be magic (The bow only passes on the magical DR penetration I believe).