A player in my game is running a halfling fighter (archer) and wants to switch up to a medium composite longbow.
I just need a rules clarification on this, can anyone help?
It is a -2 to hit for using an inappropriately sized weapon.
Now, in concept, it would be unlikely that a halfling has the draw distance to fully draw a human sized bow, but the game does not model this, so there's no penalty to damage.
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Can't be done. A medium longbow is a two handed weapon for a medium character, and is too large to be used by a small character.
A medium crossbow can be fired one handed, and so could be fired two handed by a small character, but then you are using crossbows (so don't).
Can't be done. A medium longbow is a two handed weapon for a medium character, and is too large to be used by a small character.
Yeah, I thought this too, but they aren't actually two-handed weapons; they are ranged weapons requiring two hands regardless of size (note, a human using a small bow still has to use two hands to fire it, though the human could use a small greatsword one handed).
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If this is legal, why isn't every single medium archer using a large bow for 2d6 per shot, or 3d6 with gravity bow?
-2 to hit not worth it, maybe?
My money is on the Can't Be Done -train.
-2 to hit will negatively affect your expected damage far more than what you gain from an increase in damage dice.
Now, there is an FAQ about using higher size category firearms and that it isn't possible, but nothing for a bow. So extrapolating the FAQ in a reasonable way, the answer to the OP's question is "no". However, for strict RAW types, it is just -2.
-2 to hit will negatively affect your expected damage far more than what you gain from an increase in damage dice.
Now, there is an FAQ about using higher size category firearms and that it isn't possible, but nothing for a bow. So extrapolating the FAQ in a reasonable way, the answer to the OP's question is "no". However, for strict RAW types, it is just -2.
I thought that gun faq only said that it wasn't intended to work, not that it doesn't.
Yep, I think that's what the FAQ is saying.
I thought it was more about how you can't wield it if you can't lift it (colossal musket is 144 lbs.).
So what if a Large sized goblin holds a double hackbutt?
Just a curiosity really
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A standard longbow is roughly 6 ft tall. A standard halfling is roughly 3 ft tall. There is simply no way a halfling could use that.Longbows were sized per their user, and typically, the length of the stave you see was the unstrung length. Once strung, it would be shorter.
That being said, there is a style of shooting where the bow is held parallel to the ground. If firing in this manner, the only thing that would matter would be if the firer had the strength to hold the bow up in a balance manner with one arm and still draw back the string. Length of the stave would be irrelevant to the height of the user.
OP stated medium sized weapon, so obviously not sized for the character that is small. A long bow would not be usable by someone 40 inches tall. They were 5 to 6 feet for modern humans. the "Wingspan" of the character would come into question as well. Wouldn't be able to pull it very far unless they had incredible monkey arms.
To OP: You are the GM, so you don't need to be a slave to what is written, as everything written cannot possible cover every fringe case. If you feel this could be done in your games, then let them do it. It is seems like a power play that would ruin immersion and verisimilitude, then deny it.
I usually point out how size limits don't apply to ranged weapons in pathfinder. Rules really should be written.
So while it hasn't been clearly written, I ruled that it doesn't work due to the fact that it is a two handed weapon. (requires two hands to use)
If I were to allow the player to use it a larger weapon it would just snowball.
But I would like to thank everyone for their imput