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Cascade · 04-24-2006, 06:11 AM

Hi all. [img]smile.gif[/img] Pretty much first post - great forum!

Ok, so I'm planning my new party, and it's come to the point of handing out proficiencies, and I'm starting to wonder - why use a crossbow on a fighter or part-fighter?

Really, why ever?

I mocked up a (NON-elven) character and gave her the following proficiencies:
2 x Bow (for bows)
2 x Missile (for xbows)

And I gave her a selection of missile weapons to compare. That includes the light crossbow of speed, which imo is the best xbow out there. There's Heavy XBow of accuracy, but you only get one shot with that, and a fighter should be hitting more often than not anyway. Gimme the rate of fire of light xbow of speed any day!

Composite Longbow
Thaco: 16
Attacks: 2.5
Damage: 1D6 + 2, i.e. average of 3.5 + 2 = 5.5

Light Crossbow of Speed
Thaco: 16
Attacks: 2.5
Damage: 1D8 + 1, i.e. average of 5.5

So the moment you line up:
Composite Longbow + 1
Longbow + 1
Eagle Bow
Longbow of Marksmanship

There really doesn't seem to be any reason to ever take the light xbow of speed, as those all surpass it!

Arrows are more plentiful than bolts. And magical arrows are better than magical bolts, as a rule.

The only justification I can see is that light xbow of speed is easily available, and that you will find magic bolts whatever you do so you may as well have someone who can use them.

I'm not sure if those justify having someone doing -1 damage or with -1 thaco through the rest of the game, though!

Thoughts...?

04-24-2006, 06:11 AM	#1
Cascade Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: February 23, 2006 Location: UK Age: 43 Posts: 36	Hi all. [img]smile.gif[/img] Pretty much first post - great forum! Ok, so I'm planning my new party, and it's come to the point of handing out proficiencies, and I'm starting to wonder - why use a crossbow on a fighter or part-fighter? Really, why ever? I mocked up a (NON-elven) character and gave her the following proficiencies: 2 x Bow (for bows) 2 x Missile (for xbows) And I gave her a selection of missile weapons to compare. That includes the light crossbow of speed, which imo is the best xbow out there. There's Heavy XBow of accuracy, but you only get one shot with that, and a fighter should be hitting more often than not anyway. Gimme the rate of fire of light xbow of speed any day! Composite Longbow Thaco: 16 Attacks: 2.5 Damage: 1D6 + 2, i.e. average of 3.5 + 2 = 5.5 Light Crossbow of Speed Thaco: 16 Attacks: 2.5 Damage: 1D8 + 1, i.e. average of 5.5 So the moment you line up: Composite Longbow + 1 Longbow + 1 Eagle Bow Longbow of Marksmanship There really doesn't seem to be any reason to ever take the light xbow of speed, as those all surpass it! Arrows are more plentiful than bolts. And magical arrows are better than magical bolts, as a rule. The only justification I can see is that light xbow of speed is easily available, and that you will find magic bolts whatever you do so you may as well have someone who can use them. I'm not sure if those justify having someone doing -1 damage or with -1 thaco through the rest of the game, though! Thoughts...?