+2 Enchantments for Ranged Weapons. (3.5)

[Grifthin]

Hello lads and lasses - Has anybody here got a neat idea for a Damage boosting Enchantment for a crossbow of +2 or less. It has to either increase the damage directly or indirectly.

I'm going to be using splitting (+3) so I need something else to add.

There's Exit Wounds +2 - but it's not great.

Then you could keep it +2 with no effect to give +2 damage per shot.

Force doesn't really increase damage but helps to cut through damage reduction.

Anything else a bit more substantial to suggest ?

[PhoenixRivers]

Force does more than that.

Slightly more damage.
Bypasses DR, and almost every form of Energy Resistance in the game (force immune creatures are crazy rare)
Hits ethereal/incorporeal creatures easily.

[Fizban]

Collision's always great: +5 damage and you can use it on a ranged weapon just fine.

[olelia]

Force does more than that.

Slightly more damage.
Bypasses DR, and almost every form of Energy Resistance in the game (force immune creatures are crazy rare)
Hits ethereal/incorporeal creatures easily.

+1

One of the biggest problems for archers it seems is they get a crazy number of attacks but not at wtfpwn damage. DR can be a major bummer but force fixes that right quick!

[BobVosh]

Bane is always nice, if you can decide in on the fly.

[Eloel]

Bane is always nice, if you can decide in on the fly.

Bane is great to have on arrows actually. If possible, buy arrows in packs of 10, and make them all Bane to different stuff - you won't regret.

[JaronK]

If you use poison, Assassination is awesome. +1d6 sneak attack damage, and you add the weapon's enhancement bonus to the poison DC, all for a +1 bonus. Also, don't make it have a higher bonus, get a Tooth of Leraje for free CL 20 Greater Magic Weapon once per day. It's perfect.

JaronK

[Grifthin]

Hmmm Force seems like a good bet, what about fiery burst ?

[Eldariel]

+1d6 damage? You only crit on 20s so that's not often. +2 for +1d6 damage is subpar. The best pure damage enhancement for bows is Splitting [CoR]; doubles your attacks, insane. The second best is either Holy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/magicWeapons.htm#holy) (/Unholy) or Collision (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/items/weapons.htm#collision). They're both +2.

[Skaven]

I'm fond of Holy, since many things you fight are evil.

[Person_Man]

Paralyzing: Any creature hit must make a DC 17 Fort Save or be Paralyzed. They get a new save every round, but it's still an awesome effect. +2 bonus, Book of Exalted Deeds pg 113.

Subjugating: Enemy must make a DC 20 Will Save or be Shaken for 5 rounds. Explicitly stacks with other Fear effects, but not with itself. But there are about a million other ways to add Fear effects. +2 bonus. Heroes of Battle pg 130.

[9mm]

Splitting is in Bunko's Bargain Basement for a reason... What's that? Double attacks for just +3? YES PLEASE!

I also find Explosive Lulzy.

But at just +2, Force and Collision are best.

[Ruinix]

i toke force every day and twice at sundays

force + spliting = no one can stop or reduce ur HUGE volley damage.

[Tehnar]

Can Wounding enchantment be applied to a bow?

[Grifthin]

If you have a Weapon enchanted with splitting, do you still get the benefit of the +3 to hit & Damage or just the splitting ?

So if a non epic weapon is capped at +5, can it only be splitting and +2 ? or +2 enchantment. Or can it be splitting and +5 for a non epic weapon ?

[Dusk Eclipse]

IIRC non-epic magic weapons are capped at an equivalent of +10 with a maximum enchancement bonus of +5 so you could get a +5 splitting (+3) force (+2?) crowsbow

[Grifthin]

Sweet... hehehehehe

[Vizzerdrix]

Splitting is in Bunko's Bargain Basement for a reason... What's that? Double attacks for just +3? YES PLEASE!

I also find Explosive Lulzy.

But at just +2, Force and Collision are best.

What book is Explosive in?

[Dusk Eclipse]

Pretty sure it is on the MiC

[Cyrion]

I'm fond of Holy, since many things you fight are evil.

What he said. Sometimes you lose the bonus because you opponent isn't evil, but the extra damage usually stacks up quickly as you take multiple shots.

[Zom B]

If you have a Weapon enchanted with splitting, do you still get the benefit of the +3 to hit & Damage or just the splitting ?

Just the splitting. It is the equivalent of a +3, not a +3 and splitting.

[Vizzerdrix]

Pretty sure it is on the MiC

Nope. Maybe Eberron?

[Eldariel]

IIRC non-epic magic weapons are capped at an equivalent of +10 with a maximum enchancement bonus of +5 so you could get a +5 splitting (+3) force (+2?) crowsbow

This is correct, but it's better to just have +1 Seeking Splitting Force Collision Corrosive weapon with Greater Magic Weapon is just better.

EDIT: Explosive is in Complete Warrior.