Composite Bow Enchantment

[Crexis]

Let's say I have 16 STR and 18 DEX and I have a Composite LongBow (+3).

I know that for damage it gets a +3 but how bout the attack roll? Does it use dex and be a +4? Or same as strength +3?

How about if I wanted to make it a masterwork weapon, does that just increase the attack roll by 1?

And if I wanted to spend 2000 gp and make it a magical +1/+1, the masterwork would do nothing, but would I have to spend the extra 300 gp for masterwork before spending 2000 gp for +1 enchantment?

Thanks for any help

[bhampton]

Crexis wrote:

Let's say I have 16 STR and 18 DEX and I have a Composite LongBow (+3).

I know that for damage it gets a +3 but how bout the attack roll? Does it use dex and be a +4? Or same as strength +3?

How about if I wanted to make it a masterwork weapon, does that just increase the attack roll by 1?

And if I wanted to spend 2000 gp and make it a magical +1/+1, the masterwork would do nothing, but would I have to spend the extra 300 gp for masterwork before spending 2000 gp for +1 enchantment?

Thanks for any help

You use Dex to attack.

Masterwork increases the attack roll by 1, correct.
Magic applies to both attack and damage but doesn't stack with masterwork quality (but you need masterwork to make a magic weapon). Masterwork cost is added to the base price to determine price. So if you were after say a Magic Composite Longbow +1 (with a +3 str rating) it'd cost you 2700 GP (2000 for the +1, 100gp for the composite bow, 300gp for the +3 str, and 300gp for the masterwork).

[Speaker for the Dead]

Is the composite longbow +3 magic or +3 strength?

[Cevah]

Crexis wrote:

Let's say I have 16 STR and 18 DEX and I have a Composite LongBow (+3).

This is referred to as a Strength +3 Composite Longbow.

Crexis wrote:

I know that for damage it gets a +3 but how bout the attack roll? Does it use dex and be a +4? Or same as strength +3?

As indicated, strength does not affect the attack.

However, if you fail to have a +3 mod for strength, you get a penalty to attack equal to the amount you miss it by. For example, a +1 Str mod would attack with a -2 penalty.

Crexis wrote:

How about if I wanted to make it a masterwork weapon, does that just increase the attack roll by 1?

Yep.

Crexis wrote:

And if I wanted to spend 2000 gp and make it a magical +1/+1, the masterwork would do nothing, but would I have to spend the extra 300 gp for masterwork before spending 2000 gp for +1 enchantment?

Yep.

This would make it a Strength +3 Composite Longbow +1.
Cost = 400 [Str +3 Comp Longbow] + 300 [MW] + 2000 [Plus] = 2700 gp

/cevah

[Crexis]

Yeah composite bow (+3 str). Only difference is that its a hornbow so its an extra 30 gp.

I forgot that every weapon that gets enchanted +1 or more, always has to pay the 300 gp for masterwork before getting enchantments.

Thanks guys, you were very clear.

[PokeyCA]

Note that normally you can't just add the masterwork component to an already made weapon (GM call). Usually it has to be crafted that way, same with the Strength requirement (note that you can get away from the Strength requirement by adding Adaptive (+1000 gp) to a magical bow).

[Nyerkh]

Like many things : there's a spell for that.

Otherwise, you're right, it should be done as part of the crafting of the object. But magic cheats, if you need the help or want to keep your old weapon for sentimental value.

[Pink Dragon]

With composite bows, I usually like to buy features in this order:

1. masterwork composite bow
2. upgrade to +1 (+2,000 gp)
3. upgrade to adaptive (+1,000 gp)

After that, I will upgrade depending on character desires.