Bows: Striking ST vs. Lifting ST

[Jeminai]

I have a player that wants to use Lifting ST instead of Striking ST to raise damage with his bows.

Is this allowed?

[vicky_molokh]

Yes in TDS, no in normal rules.

[Bruno]

For clarity: TDS is "The Deadly Spring", a Pyramid article by Douglas Cole (who is on this forum quite actively).

[Jeminai]

Thanks so much for the clarification.

[mehrkat]

I would never allow that.

The entire reason lifting strength is cheap and striking strength is expensive is because lifting strength can't be used to attack. If they want to strike harder either buy full strength or striking strength.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by mehrkat

I would never allow that.

The entire reason lifting strength is cheap and striking strength is expensive is because lifting strength can't be used to attack. If they want to strike harder either buy full strength or striking strength.

In regular rather than cinematic games, Lifting Strength really only comes into play for extra damage every second or third turn because of the long reload times for bows. It's also definitely not a striking-speed biomechanics, so Lifting ST fit as a description better.

Still, of course: your game, your rules.

But given bows are based on thrust rather than swing, it's 6 points per +1 to damage, and that +1 happens every second to sixth turn depending on how quickly you're shooting, compared to 5 points for +1 to swing damage anywhere from one to many times per turn . . . I'm not worried about balance!

In a cinematic game (like DF) where you can quick-ready, quick-draw, Heroic Archer, and basically fire arrows like an elvish ferret on drugs, I'm in complete agreement. DF and the DFRPG take pains to make the scout as nasty on a turn-by-turn basis as many melee fighters, so putting them all on the same ST basis is probably the right call.

[mr beer]

Originally Posted by mehrkat

I would never allow that.

The entire reason lifting strength is cheap and striking strength is expensive is because lifting strength can't be used to attack. If they want to strike harder either buy full strength or striking strength.

1d of damage is 5 points via Advantages. Human variation is +2 Lift St, which is +1 damage for 6 points. Doesn't seem like a problem, especially since ranged combat compared to melee is slower and less accurate.