Creating Magic Weapons.

[Alistriana]

I'm trying to improve the damage I put out as an Archery Ranger, thus getting into the creation of Magic Weapons. I am a newer player so forgive the simple questions. I have Point-Blank Shot and Precise Shot.

Basically what I've found, a +1 Flamming Longbow I think would be something to help me out.

Now, looking at cost I have 2375 for the +1, what would be the additional cost for the flamming?

Is there another direction you think I should go for more damage? She doesn't have the Str for composite (though could manage a +1 next level).

Please help.

[Doug Doug]

You're on the right track, although you have hobbled yourself with your low strength score. It is a common choice to go high-dex, low-strength. I won't call it a mistake though. However, you will cry if you ever see our local PFS archer with a 24 strength single-handedly clear a battlefield.

Here's the deal, you need to be able to enchant your bow to the equivalent of +2 to give it the flaming quality. You may also want to go with shocking instead of flaming. You will run into more creatures with fire resistance than with electricity resistance. Anyway, you need to have 8375gp to upgrade a longbow to +1 flaming. As you identified, 2375 gets you to +1. To add the flaming quality you have to pay for the +2 upgrade, only instead of the +2 bonus, you get the flaming quality instead.

Don't forget that although +1 enhancements are Always Available, you must have 27 total PA points to have access to that GP value item.

[Alistriana]

Doug Doug wrote:

You're on the right track, although you have hobbled yourself with your low strength score. It is a common choice to go high-dex, low-strength. I won't call it a mistake though. However, you will cry if you ever see our local PFS archer with a 24 strength single-handedly clear a battlefield.

Here's the deal, you need to be able to enchant your bow to the equivalent of +2 to give it the flaming quality. You may also want to go with shocking instead of flaming. You will run into more creatures with fire resistance than with electricity resistance. Anyway, you need to have 8375gp to upgrade a longbow to +1 flaming. As you identified, 2375 gets you to +1. To add the flaming quality you have to pay for the +2 upgrade, only instead of the +2 bonus, you get the flaming quality instead.

Don't forget that although +1 enhancements are Always Available, you must have 27 total PA points to have access to that GP value item.

Perfect, Thanks!! and omg 24 strength????? Yea I'm starting to learn more and going against the guy that's been helping me all along more and more each day (lol). I'll do much more research before making my next character, that's for sure.

[Charlie Bell]

To clarify: a +1 flaming longbow costs 8375. You already have a +1 longbow for 2375. To upgrade, all you have to pay is the difference: 6000 gp.

Also, to get your damage up, check out the gravity bow spell from APG. It's a 1st-level ranger spell. That means that you can buy one for 750 gp--pretty cheap for 50 minutes of base 2d6 damage from a longbow. Also, because it only costs 750 gp, you can spend 2 PA to purchase it without even paying any gp. Aspect of the falcon is another good 750 gp 1st level ranger spell wand.

[Doug Doug]

Thank you for clarifying that Charlie. Re-reading what I posted, it now seems like I should have been more specific about the cost.

[Noteleks]

Would you actually need the 27 TPA to upgrade your +1 longbow to a +1 flaming longbow or would you actually need 22 TPA to upgrade this weapon?

Remember your cost would only be 6,000 gp to upgrade from a +1 to a +1 flaming.

Edit: Taken from the Guide to Pathfinder Society, "Instead, you pay the difference between the cost of the +1 item and that of the masterwork
item. This rule also applies to upgrading from a +1 item to a +2 item and so on—you never have to repay the original cost or sell your current item for half to upgrade to the next step. Note that this only applies to items of the same kind—you can’t, for example, turn your masterwork rapier into a +1 greatsword."

"For example, a character who has earned 27 TPA with the Cheliax faction can purchase any item worth less than or equal to 11,750 gp that is legal for play. Purchasing items in this way represents your faction’s willingness and ability to find and sell you new and better equipment, weapons, and magic items."

So if I understand this correctly, I take it as your paying someone to enchant your weapon for you and if that is the case, then you would still be keeping the cost below 8,000 gp. or 22 TPA.

[Mark Garringer]

Noteleks wrote:

Would you actually need the 27 TPA to upgrade your +1 longbow to a +1 flaming longbow or would you actually need 22 TPA to upgrade this weapon?

You need 27 TPA.

You must have the TPA limit to cover the total final cost of the item. Any +2 (or equivalent, +1 and a special ability with a base price modifier of +1) weapon is going to have a final cost of 8300 + the original weapon cost. 22 TPA only gets you a purchase limit of 8000. Hope that helps!

[Dragnmoon]

Noteleks wrote:

Would you actually need the 27 TPA to upgrade your +1 longbow to a +1 flaming longbow or would you actually need 22 TPA to upgrade this weapon?

Yes you do need 27 TPA. The amount you can buy based on TPA is based on the Full cost of the item, not just the Upgrade cost. so since a +1 flaming Longbow is over 8000 gp, (22 TPA) you need to wait until you get 27 TPA (11,750 Max item cost).

[Callarek]

OP: You might also consider a non-damage adding enhancement, like Seeking (no miss chance? Awesome)

@Noteleks: TPA requierd is for the total cost of the final item, not just for the upgrade cost. You only pay the upgrade cost, but you must have enough TPA to "afford" the total item cost. (and Ninjaed!)

[Noteleks]

Yes, that does answer my question. I just misinterpreted the Guide. Still trying to get all the little nuances involved in both playing and GM'ing PFS scenarios and the answers you both gave go a long way in helping me understand PFS more easily.

Thank you.