SRD:Composite Shortbow

This material is published under the OGL 1.0a.

Shortbow, Composite

Martial Two-Handed Projectile Critical: ×3 Range Increment: 70 ft. Type: Piercing Hardness: 5
Size	Cost1	Damage	Weight1	hp
Fine	*	1	*	1
Diminutive	*	1d2	*	1
Tiny	*	1d3	*	1
Small	75 gp	1d4	1 lb.	2
Medium	75 gp	1d6	2 lb.	5
Large	150 gp	1d8	4 lb.	10
Huge	*	2d6	*	20
Gargantuan	*	3d6	*	40
Colossal	*	4d6	*	80
For values marked with an asterisk, the SRD gives neither this value directly nor a means to determine it.

Description

You need at least two hands to use a bow, regardless of its size. You can use a composite shortbow while mounted. All composite bows are made with a particular strength rating (that is, each requires a minimum Strength modifier to use with proficiency). If your Strength bonus is lower than the strength rating of the composite bow, you can’t effectively use it, so you take a –2 penalty on attacks with it. The default composite shortbow requires a Strength modifier of +0 or higher to use with proficiency. A composite shortbow can be made with a high strength rating to take advantage of an above-average Strength score; this feature allows you to add your Strength bonus to damage, up to the maximum bonus indicated for the bow. Each point of Strength bonus granted by the bow adds 75 gp to its cost.

For purposes of weapon proficiency and similar feats, a composite shortbow is treated as if it were a shortbow.

Enhancements

Composite Shortbow Material Enhancements

Material	Average	Masterwork1	Hardness	hp	Special
Wood	75 gp	375 gp	5	5	—
Adamantine	—	n/a	n/a	n/a	—
Deep Crystal	—	1,075 gp	10	15	Psionic
Mundane Crystal	—	375 gp	8	12	No rusting, not metal
Darkwood	—	395 gp	5	5	1/2 weight
Iron, Cold	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	—
Mithral	—	n/a	n/a	n/a	—
Silver, Alchemical	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	—
Masterwork weapons have a +1 enhancement bonus on attack rolls.

Magical/Psionic Weapon Enhancements

Bonus Value	Additional Cost1	Hardness Increase2	Additional hp2
+1	+2,000 gp	+2	+10
+2	+8,000 gp	+4	+20
+3	+18,000 gp	+6	+30
+4	+32,000 gp	+8	+40
+5	+50,000 gp	+10	+50
+6	+72,000 gp3	+12	+60
+7	+98,000 gp3	+14	+70
+8	+128,000 gp3	+16	+80
+9	+162,000 gp3	+18	+90
+10	+200,000 gp3	+20	+100
+11 or more	+ bonus squared × 20,000 gp	+ enhancement bonus × 2	+ enhancement bonus × 10
Increase total cost for magical enhancement by 2,000 gp for cold iron weapons. Unlike the additional cost, the increase the weapon's hardness and hit points are only gained from its enhancement bonus, not its special abilities. If the weapon has a magical bonus greater than +5 or a special ability worth more than +5, the weapon is epic. Multiply magic cost by 10.

See Also

• SRD:Weapon Qualities
• Magic Items: Weapons (SRD Rules)
• Wikipedia: Composite Bow
• Wikipedia: Bow

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Open Game Content → System Reference Document→ Weapons

Open Game Content (place problems on the discussion page).

This is part of the (3.5e) Revised System Reference Document. It is covered by the Open Game License v1.0a, rather than the GNU Free Documentation License 1.3. To distinguish it, these items will have this notice. If you see any page that contains SRD material and does not show this license statement, please contact an admin so that this license statement can be added. It is our intent to work within this license in good faith.