A question about large sized shortbows....

[The Blatant Rook]

A friend of mine is playing a medium sized character who is a Dire Wolf Lycanthrope. He wants to use a Large-sized shortbow, except that when he is in human form, he will unstring the bowstaff and use that as a quarterstaff. He argues it is roughly the same size, and should be legal.

My thoughts are that since bows are considered two-handed weapons when on size, and you can't use two-handed weapons when they are a size category bigger than your character, that he should, by extension, not be able to use the bowstaff as a quarterstaff. However, realistically, I can see where he got the idea.

I wanted to know if this idea was legal, if he can actually use the bowstaff of a large-sized shortbow as a quarterstaff while still in human form, and thus medium sized.

Keep in mind, a Dire Wolf lycanthrope becomes large size when in Hybrid or Animal form.

[Hendelbolaf]

A bow is not a quarterstaff as you say, but there is a spell for that, Bowstaff. However, a shortbow would be a club and a longbow would be a quarterstaff under the effects of the spell.

If you are the DM, then it is your call, but the rules do not normally allow it.

[maouse]

actually an unstrung bow would be an improvised melee weapon...

[The Blatant Rook]

I am not the DM unfortunately. I am just trying to prevent an argument between my friend who really wants to do this and the DM, who thinks like me and does not think it is allowed.

I get my friend's logic, though. A medium creature picking up a large-sized bowstaff of a shortbow, you would think that would be use-able as a club or something. I think at most an improvised weapon is in order, but I still would want to see chances of the bowstaff breaking.

[Hendelbolaf]

If it was a medium shortbow being used as a melee weapon, then sure you can look at it as an improvised weapon and take the penalty for that.

However, a shortbow is normally a two handed weapon and a large one would not be allowed to use for a medium character as it requires it to go up in not just size but in effort to use it so I would still say no. Just because it could be an improvised weapon, does not mean it is allowed. A sofa could be an improvised weapon but could I wield it?

I would not allow it.

[Nefreet]

Why not use a longbow? Same damage as a large-sized shortbow, and it would be closer to the quarterstaff he wants.

[CrystalSpellblade]

At most, it would be an improvised melee weapon. Quarterstaves are more rigid than a bow, so try and ask him to string a quarterstaff and see how it works out.

[The Blatant Rook]

Nefreet wrote:

Why not use a longbow? Same damage as a large-sized shortbow, and it would be closer to the quarterstaff he wants.

The bow is for his Large-sized Hybrid form.

I tried to explain to him that a quarterstaff and a bow were built differently, and wouldn't exactly function that same doing the other's job. I feel the bowstaff would break extraordinarily quickly.