Talk:Bowman (3.5e Class)

referring to dexterous impact, in case the bowman has a composite bow does the strength bonus always get halved? i.e. lets say a Bowman and a Fighter who both have a 16 strength and 18 dexterity and also use composite longbows +3, both deal damage to an enemy dealing a average of 5(1d8)+4(dex) equaling 9 damage before adding strength, the fighter adds his strength modifier as his strength score would have its modifier added as damage for 12 damage total to his foe. HOWEVER the bowmans dexterous impact states to halve his/her strength bonus rounding down bringing his damage total to 10. In the event of a critical hit the fighter in this case would deal an average of 22 and the bowman deals an average of 30 which is the same as in the example on the main page. This is because if the bowman must round down then he gains no bonus from composite longbows if the longbow in question is +0 or +1 as half rounded down is zero and +2 or +3 is a mere +1! The best composite longbow in common martial weapons at +4 strength added to damage does only +2 when for any class that is not supposed to be as good at bowmanship as this class benefits more for non critical and the bowman still has to be much stronger than anyone else has to be. To put this in a final comparison the fighter has at most a damage of 8(1d8)+4(dex)+4(str) equaling 16 normal and 32 on a critical (assuming he/she has the strength to wield the +4 meaning he/she must have 18 strength score) the bowman has a normal 14 and a crit of 42 and so in conclusion is this half strength meant to nerf crit damage because if for overall damage calculations then this seems to hurt those who have a high strength score and want the extra damage that they could easily get so do bowmen half the strength mod all the time or some of the time.

also side question can a bowman use a crossbow and use all these abilities or must they use a bow all the time and these abilities DO NOT transfer from bow to crossbow

Q:"Referring to dexterous impact, in case the bowman has a composite bow does the strength bonus always get halved?"

A:Yes, you are not meant to get full Strength damage, that's the trade off with adding the Dex damage

Q:"lets say a Bowman and a Fighter who both have a 16 strength and 18 dexterity and also use composite longbows +3, both deal damage to an enemy dealing a average of 5(1d8)+4(dex) equaling 9 damage before adding strength, the fighter adds his strength modifier as his strength score would have its modifier added as damage for 12 damage total to his foe. HOWEVER the bowmans dexterous impact states to halve his/her strength bonus rounding down bringing his damage total to 10."

A:You do not add your Dexterity modifier to ranged damage rolls as a fighter, so actually, the fighter would do 5(1d8)=5 before strength While the Bowman would do 5(1d8)+4(dex)=9 before strength Now adding the strength, the fighter would do 5(1d8)+3(Str)=8 Whilst the Bowman would do 5(1d8)+4(dex)+1(Str halved and rounded down)=10

Q:"In the event of a critical hit the fighter in this case would deal an average of 22 and the bowman deals an average of 30"

A:Bows have a critical multiplier of x3, meaning that with your numbers, the fighter would do 36 on a crit, while the actual number is 24, while the bowman does do 30, that hasn't changed

Q:"must round down then he gains no bonus from composite longbows if the longbow in question is +0 or +1 as half rounded down is zero"

A:Yup, better off using a non composite unless you're going for the 10' range increase

Q:"and +2 or +3 is a mere +1!"

A:Yup.

Q:"To put this in a final comparison the fighter has at most a damage of 8(1d8)+4(dex)+4(str) equaling 16 normal and 32 on a critical (assuming he/she has the strength to wield the +4 meaning he/she must have 18 strength score) the bowman has a normal 14 and a crit of 42"

A:Fighter=1D8+4=Avg9 Bowman=1D8+4+2=Avg11 Fighter Crit=9x3=27Avg Bowman Crit=11x3=33Avg

Q:"is this half strength meant to nerf crit damage because if for overall damage calculations then this seems to hurt those who have a high strength score and want the extra damage that they could easily get"

A:Nope, but your mistake is excusable since you aren't 100% on the rules of 3.5

Q:"so do bowmen half the strength mod all the time or some of the time."

A:100% of the time that they use a composite longbow of the proper strength modifier

Q:"also side question can a bowman use a crossbow and use all these abilities or must they use a bow all the time and these abilities DO NOT transfer from bow to crossbow"

A:Strictly bow, part of the reason that they are not proficient in simple ranged weapons, the category that crossbows are in.