Longest shot possible

[Tyndmyr]

Aright, Im curious as to how far a projectile can be fired in D&D.

Obviously, cragtop archer is a given, at least for 4 levels. That gives us 15 range increments with no attack reduction. Next up, we'll want the ranged weapon with the biggest increment. Repeating Heavy Crossbow is 120 feet. Anything longer? This puts us at 1800 feet, which isn't bad, but Im certain more has to be possible.

Distance is a +1 enchantment from MiC, and doubles the range increment. Presumably you can't get it multiple times. This gets us to 3600 feet, which is fairly respectable.

Any other sources of distance boosting for the true hail mary shot?

[Zom B]

Across infinite distances. Deities and Demigods, I believe, had a power where the god could see any distance, even as far as other planes. Somewhere (I thought Epic but I thought wrong it seems), there's an ability that says something like "If you can see a spot, you can shoot at it." It may also be a divine power.

EDIT: It's a divine power called Divine Archery. I'm having trouble finding the first power, but either way, a deity can see for miles without any other powers.

[Tyndmyr]

Hmm, lets go with longest pre-epic, then, as yeah, epic/divine ranks tend to make the rules go a bit wonky. Good find, though.

[Hirax]

Distant Shot [Epic]
Prerequisites

Dex 25, Far Shot, Point Blank Shot, Spot 20 ranks.
Benefit

You may throw or fire a ranged weapon at any target within line of sight, with no penalty for range.

Epic, but getting line of sight is easy.

[Andion Isurand]

I think the Deepwood Sniper PrC increases range increment by 10 ft per level.

[Snake-Aes]

Hmm, lets go with longest pre-epic, then, as yeah, epic/divine ranks tend to make the rules go a bit wonky. Good find, though.

Cragtop archers get to increase their shooting range to 15 increments (and trade #of attacks to remove the distance penalty). Since it requires far shot, you're looking at 22,5 times the original increment of the weapon.

[Tyndmyr]

I think the Deepwood Sniper PrC increases range increment by 10 ft per level.

*digs out Masters of the Wild*

Right you are, sir. Slightly lower entry requirements than cragtop, too, meaning no difficulty in taking them both fully.

That alone gets us up to 220 ft range increments w a H Repeating Crossbow. Apply the 1.5 times from far shot, for 330 ft increments. (good catch, Id forgotten far shot!)
Apply distance modifier, for 660 ft increments.
Use 15 of those. 9,900 feet, or a bit under two miles. Quite good so far!

[balistafreak]

I think we can easily get better than a 120 foot range increment.

*digs*

Aha. Dragonbone is a material from the Draconomnomnomnomnomicon, applicable to standard bows.

A Composite Longbow goes from 110 feet to 130 feet range increments. Zing! A small boost, but a boost nonetheless.

[Halae]

I believe theres a spell, something like wind tunnel or similar, that can double the range of a projectile. Not sure about that though.

And what would be the level of kinetic energy this arrow is carrying? Two miles? In less than six seconds?

[Eldariel]

Eh, without Distant Shot it's something like:

• Comp. Greatbow 130'
• Colossal + Weapon Size: (*1.25)^5 (Medium > Large; Large > Huge; Huge > Gargantuan; Gargantuan > Colossal; Colossal > Colossal + - through a Scroll of e.g. Giant Size or Shapechange, and Strongarm Bracers)
• +20 Dragonbone
• +20 Ranged Weapon Mastery
• +100 Deepwood Sniper 10
• *1.5 Far Shot
• *2 Distance
• *1.25 Flight Arrows

Colossal + Comp. Greatbow has range of ~396', assuming we simply multiply the previous range each time. That gives us base range of 536' with all the adjustments. We then proceed to multiply that range by, assuming D&D-style multipliers, 2.75 getting us ~1476' total. Then we proceed to multiply that by 15 (Cragtop Archer) and our composite range should be about 22140'. So...there.

EDIT: Oh yeah, it's true; Wind Tunnel [Drd 5; SC] doubles range increment so if we use a scroll of that too (might as well, we're blowing a ton of money on this anyways), we'd get 44280'.

[Tyndmyr]

I believe theres a spell, something like wind tunnel or similar, that can double the range of a projectile. Not sure about that though.

I have a niggling feeling that I've seen one. Looking up the Distance enchantment didn't help...it's prereq is clairvoyance. No luck there.

And what would be the level of kinetic energy this arrow is carrying? Two miles? In less than six seconds?

Certainly enough to kill any catgirl on impact.

With a dragonbone composite longbow, we're up to 10,350 ft.

Edit: Eld is now shooting something like 8 miles. Awesomeness.

[Snake-Aes]

Wind Tunnel, Spell Compendium 239 (druid 5)
+5 competence to attack, doubles projectile's range. Can be cast on others.

[Lhurgyof]

Gnomish Crossbow Sight? AEG

[FelixG]

The catgirls are going to feel this one...

[Snake-Aes]

The catgirls are going to feel this one...

well, at 8 miles the arrow's flying at a good 2kilometers per second. That's like 6*10^-6 times the speed of light already.

[Reynard]

They won't, however, see it coming.

[BobVosh]

I think I have seen this posted on here before, got some where around 12 or so miles. Required scrying to even shoot since you have to see your target.

*edit* So completely wrong. http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showp...00&postcount=9

Maybe you can snag something from it to upgrade yours though.

[FelixG]

well, at 8 miles the arrow's flying at a good 2kilometers per second. That's like 6*10^-6 times the speed of light already.

Thats something like 730d6 of damage from velocity alone :P

[EnnPeeCee]

Eh, without Distant Shot it's something like:

• Comp. Greatbow 130'
• Colossal + Weapon Size: (*1.25)^5 (Medium > Large; Large > Huge; Huge > Gargantuan; Gargantuan > Colossal; Colossal > Colossal + - through a Scroll of e.g. Giant Size or Shapechange, and Strongarm Bracers)
• +20 Dragonbone
• +20 Ranged Weapon Mastery
• +100 Deepwood Sniper 10
• *1.5 Far Shot
• *2 Distance
• *1.25 Flight Arrows

Colossal + Comp. Greatbow has range of ~396', assuming we simply multiply the previous range each time. That gives us base range of 536' with all the adjustments. We then proceed to multiply that range by, assuming D&D-style multipliers, 2.75 getting us ~1476' total. Then we proceed to multiply that by 15 (Cragtop Archer) and our composite range should be about 22140'. So...there.

EDIT: Oh yeah, it's true; Wind Tunnel [Drd 5; SC] doubles range increment so if we use a scroll of that too (might as well, we're blowing a ton of money on this anyways), we'd get 44280'.

Deepwood Sniper's range increase is only added after all multipliers.

[Telonius]

Thats something like 730d6 of damage from velocity alone :P

What's the amount of damage required to BLOW UP THE MOON! ..?

[Tyndmyr]

What's the amount of damage required to BLOW UP THE MOON! ..?

Well, we've already got LOS. That makes the task a bit easier, actually.

[balistafreak]

According to the SRD, 20 arrows weigh 3 pounds. So one arrow is 0.15 pounds.

Now shoot this baby at the decided velocity. (Take into account what EnnPeeCee has pointed out.)

Someone do the force formula. A calculation in pounds of force on impact would be awesome. A comparison to pounds/tons of TNT or Hiroshimas would be hilarious.

[BobVosh]

What's the amount of damage required to BLOW UP THE MOON! ..?

Just gate in Piccolo.

[Reynard]

So, now we just need a magic crossbow that ignores hardness and DR. Then we shoot the moon till it breaks.

[Tyndmyr]

According to the SRD, 20 arrows weigh 3 pounds. So one arrow is 0.15 pounds.

Now shoot this baby at the decided velocity. (Take into account what EnnPeeCee has pointed out.)

Someone do the force formula. A calculation in pounds of force on impact would be awesome. A comparison to pounds/tons of TNT or Hiroshimas would be hilarious.

Well, given that it's above light speed, and to accelerate any finite mass to light speed requires infinite energy...

How many hiroshimas is this arrow as powerful as? All of them. Plus more.


Reynard, ignoring hardness is easy. Adamantium arrows and we're good.

[Spiryt]

According to the SRD, 20 arrows weigh 3 pounds. So one arrow is 0.15 pounds.

Now shoot this baby at the decided velocity. (Take into account what EnnPeeCee has pointed out.)

Someone do the force formula. A calculation in pounds of force on impact would be awesome. A comparison to pounds/tons of TNT or Hiroshimas would be hilarious.

It will first loose it's feathers, and then burn/fall apart in atmosphere, lol.

[FelixG]

Hmmm, the Ballista has a 120 foot range increment, i just had a brilliant idea of the worlds fastest small sized critter by strapping a gnome or halfling to it, make them ride it dr strange love style!

[BobVosh]

It will first loose it's feathers, and then burn/fall apart in atmosphere, lol.

Force arrow. Or fire arrow. Both should protect from minor fire.

[balistafreak]

Well, given that it's above light speed, and to accelerate any finite mass to light speed requires infinite energy...

STOP

That can't possibly be right.

The speed of light is fast. Like, really fast. Faster than TO fast.

To whit, the speed of light is exactly 299,792,458 METRES per second. We're not even close. Yet.

ARROWTIME

[Spiryt]

Force arrow. Or fire arrow. Both should protect from minor fire.

But can it protect from FRICTION?!

Du du dun.