If I have a wizard who takes a double weapon as an arcane bond, are both its ends masterwork quality?
If he takes a weapon that's also a piece of armor as an arcane bond (like a klar from the Campaign Setting), is it both a masterwork weapon and a piece of masterwork armor, or just a masterwork weapon?
I had a question regarding arcane bond weapons and this seemed like a good place to ask.
Is there any limit to the price of an arcane bond weapon? Could I have a mighty (+[insert ridiculously large number here]) composite longbow as my arcane bonded weapon?
If I have a wizard who takes a double weapon as an arcane bond, are both its ends masterwork quality?
If he takes a weapon that's also a piece of armor as an arcane bond (like a klar from the Campaign Setting), is it both a masterwork weapon and a piece of masterwork armor, or just a masterwork weapon?
I see it as a masterwork item, not a partially masterwork item.
Ultimately it will be up to the DM, but I can't see how it's game-breaking to allow both ends, or both functions, to have the masterwork quality. It's not like that wizard is going to lay waste to armies of kobolds with his dual-wielded masterwork double-weapon. With his BAB and combat skills, he'll be in the negatives even with the +1 bonus for masterwork.
Yup, and I'm making just now a Wizard 1/Fighter 6/Arcane archer x. My character is quite happy with his mwk composite longbow from the start.
I had a question regarding arcane bond weapons and this seemed like a good place to ask.
Is there any limit to the price of an arcane bond weapon? Could I have a mighty (+[insert ridiculously large number here]) composite longbow as my arcane bonded weapon?
I think the term "mighty" went out with 3.0. Since then, we just say "composite" and leave it at that.
As for the STR rating, sure, why not have a Composite Longbow with a STR rating of +50? Why not +100? +1,000?
Well, for starters, if you have, say, a 13 STR, your STR Mod is only +1. If your composite bow is rated at +2 STR or higher, then you automatically take a -2 penalty to hit with it, and if you do hit, you'll do 1d8+1 damage. So, you could pay for a long composite bow with a +50 rating which would cost you an extra 5,000 gp, but you would be -2 to hit and do 1d8+1 damage. So it's not a very good idea.
So to answer your actual question, strictly speaking you could choose a ridiculously high STR rating for your bonded composite longbow and be within the rules as written. But would ultimately be up to your DM. Is he willing to give you a masterwork composite longbow with a STR rating of +50 (worth 5,400 gp)? Are you willing to take that -2 penalty every time you use it? If you both think it's a good idea, then go for it.
Me, if I had a 13 STR wizard, I would settle for my composite longbow having a STR rating of +1 (500 gp including the price of masterwork) so I could use it all the time without penalties. Whatever my wizard's STR is, I would pick the bow that matches that STR.
And as a DM, I would only allow my player to select an item he was capable of wielding proficiently - I cannot envision a person forming a special, magical bond with something they cannot even use properly. Yes, I know, that's a personal ruling (houserule) that I would employ - it's certainly not written that way in the book.
Anyone capable of using it without penalty likely would "just take it", 50,000gp or no.
|
If I'd get a masterwork composite longbow with a strength rating of +1,000, I'd sell it. 50,200 gp here I come! (you could just bond with some new weapon anyways)
Of course, you have to find a buyer first...
Although I believe the OP was more referring to normal strength ratings. Hence the large monetary benefit of getting your expensive composite bow for free. Even at only a +1 to +4 modifier it gets a bit hard to afford for a little while starting out.
Nah, I was going for even higher strength ratings. Say 10^2938457298357 for starters. Going strictly by the RAW, I'd be able to sell that for nigh infinite amount of gold, and break the game in process. Also, even though I asked that question, I believe Hogarth to be this thread's OP. OP has therefore nothing to do with composite bows and strength ratings in this thread yet.