Weapon Master (Bow) advantages

[thulben]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but does Weapon Master (Bow) confer any bonus aside from damage (assuming high enough skill)? It seems that the other benefits listed apply only to melee weapons (i.e. rapid strike, better parrying penalties, etc). What else does this ability confer?

[aesir23]

IDHMBWM, access to cinematic 'Chi' skills such as Power Blow, at least. You may have a case for arguing that Weapon Master should cost less for ranged weapons.

[mlangsdorf]

If you use the Heroic Archer rules from Martial Arts, Weapon Master also reduces penalties for loading and shooting a bow in the same round. It's probably not worth taking Weapon Master (Bow) just for that, though.

[Agramer]

For 20 points Weapon Master Bow:

Zen Archery :
-asses all penalties for a shoot and than divide them by 3

Dual Weapon attack bow:
- 2 fast draw rolls at -3 each and than Dual weapon attack bow at -3 for shooting 2 arrows/turn

Bonus on damage of +2 /die

Ability to Deceptive attack with bow and/or feint with bow

Pressure points with Arrows.

Im currently playing character with Weapon Master on Composite fine Bow and it is really funny.

In last session I shoot guy at point blank,grabbed arrow protruding from his chest(War arrow... +50% original dmg when pulled out) and Push Kicked him into another enemy while pulling arrow out and damaging him again in same turn(My char has extra attack,I had to pass DX check for grabing arrow and ST check for holding onto it while it gets pulled out by Push Kick).

Heh next turn I Kartate parried 3rd attacker and stuffed that arrow into his neck(at -3 default to Shortsword skill) after which I fast drawed 2 arrows and shooted into guy I pushed last turn.

Edit:
All out attacking is also fun.

When "strafing away" from melee fighters closing on me(my char has move 7...so in all out attack I can make 3 hexes/turn),thus keeping distance longer and shooting them into their foots.
(GM decided that he needs more ranged opponents lol).

[thulben]

Originally Posted by Agramer

Zen Archery :
-asses all penalties for a shoot and than divide them by 3

As long as you have the Meditation skill as well. It seems as though you need to make both your Meditation and your Zen Archery roll for it to work (even though it's not stated that way in the write-up for Zen Archery).

Originally Posted by Agramer

Dual Weapon attack bow:
- 2 fast draw rolls at -3 each and than Dual weapon attack bow at -3 for shooting 2 arrows/turn

Really? That doesn't seem like a Dual Weapon attack, but rather an Extra Attack. What do others think?


Ability to Deceptive attack with bow and/or feint with bow

Originally Posted by Agramer

Pressure points with Arrows.

The write-up for Pressure Points specifically says it can be used with blunt arrows, but yes.

20 Points still seems expensive for a bow when compared to a single melee Weapon Master skill given these.

[Kaldrin]

Originally Posted by thulben

As long as you have the Meditation skill as well. It seems as though you need to make both your Meditation and your Zen Archery roll for it to work (even though it's not stated that way in the write-up for Zen Archery).

If it doesn't explicitly say that in Zen Archery why would you think that it means that? Unless it says that you need to make a meditation roll in the ZA skill write-up, meditation is just a prereq skill that you need for it. I don't know since I don't have my book here.

Really? That doesn't seem like a Dual Weapon attack, but rather an Extra Attack. What do others think?

It's actually nocking two arrows in the bow and firing them both at the same time.

The write-up for Pressure Points specifically says it can be used with blunt arrows, but yes.

20 Points still seems expensive for a bow when compared to a single melee Weapon Master skill given these.

Damage bonus and penalty point breaks are pretty powerful, especially at a range. You can check out Martial Arts for the full write-up on Heroic Archer.

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by Kaldrin

Damage bonus and penalty point breaks are pretty powerful, especially at a range. You can check out Martial Arts for the full write-up on Heroic Archer.

Does Power Blow apply, or would you need a second bow with the higher ST value for its draw?

[Agramer]

Originally Posted by thulben

......

As Kaldrin already said..

[Phoenix_Dragon]

It also halves the penalty for quick-shooting bows, which is pretty important for any Legolass imitators.

[Phoenix_Dragon]

Originally Posted by vitruvian

Does Power Blow apply, or would you need a second bow with the higher ST value for its draw?

Sadly, you'd need a stronger bow, as it's the bow's ST that determins base damage, not your own (Modifiers for Weapon Master, etc, raise damage through skill, placement, or efficiency, not strength).

Which makes sense. Trying to Power Blow with a bow not made for it might well reduce it to kindling. Could be an effective intimidation method, I suppose. With someone else's bow ("Such puny weapons!").