I have a level 5 ranger with elf favored enemy +4, Elfbane arrows, Gravity Bow, and Deadly Aim using a Composit Longbow (3)
If I calculated this correctly, the bow goes to 2D6 from grav. bow, gets 2D6 from bane, +3 from str, +2 from bane, +4 from favored enemy, + 4 deadly aim. Am I really going to be shooting an elf for 4D6+13 damage?
Do these all stack or are some nullified? The chapter boss we're about to fight is an elf and my DM may be pissed if I crit and one shot the guy...
You should probably have at least another +1 damage from the +1 elf-bane arrows. More if they (or your bow) have a higher enhancement bonus.
I do get to pre-buff. We know who and where he is and are about to storm the room. He also knows who we are and has a 50/50shot of knowing we're coming so he may be pre-buffed as well. I think he's some sort of cleric.
DM said I found Elfbane Arrows, but as far as I know they aren't +1 Elfbane. Similar to Rise of the Runelords when you find Elfbane arrows on the one Bugbear early on, I think.
So...
1) Gravity bow does take medium bow damage from 1d8 to 2d6. This is correct assuming you are normally medium sized
2) Assuming you are using your bane arrows against the correct creature type the enhancement bonus increases by +2 (which adds to damage and attack) and adds an additional 2d6 damage
3) Favored Enemy (Humanoid(Elf)) will add +4 to attack and damage
4) Deadly Aim adds -2 to attack and +4 to damage
5) Assuming you have strength 16 you get to add 3 damage with your composite longbow 3.
All these are different damage types.
2d6 (gravity bow) + 2d6 (bane) + 2 bane + 4 FE + 4 Deadly Aim + 3 strength = 4d6 + 13, or 27 average damage.
SO you are correct.
For what it's worth though, if you can't pre-cast gravity bow it's usually not worth spending the standard action to cast it instead of simply full attacking. 2 arrows (using rapid shot) in round 1 at 24.5 average damage (49 total damage) is much better than casting a spell for 2.5 points of damage more per shot. You would need combat to last about 8 rounds if even one arrow hits on the first round as opposed to casting gravity bow.
You're trading a standard action to go from 4.5 average damage to 7 average damage. It's just not worth it during combat.
If you're fighting a caster and they have a chance to prebuff as well, you may be completely unable to shoot them. Obscuring Mist is a first level cleric spell that will shut down all your ranged attacks.
True, but that applies to pretty much every ranged attacker. And also severely impacts melee attackers.
In this sense, Fighters and Rangers have the best go of it because the fighters attack and damage bonuses are always up, and ranger's only need a swift action to make it work.
Edit: Whoops, confused this thread for another although the statement still stands.