Great Composite Longbow
Health: 14
Hardness: 12
Craft DC: 40
The Great Composite Longbow is the largest of all bows. It is extremely difficult to use. Without the appropriate exotic weapon proficiency it cannot be strung, let alone drawn or used at all. In addition, characters with a strength of 6 or less take a -2 to attack with this bow, but strength, no matter how high, is always added to damage. Attacking without a strength of at least 6 deals 1d4 points of Sublethal Damage, bypassing Endurance, as you tire yourself out
This bow can shoot only arrows designed specifically for it. All other arrows are nonfunctional.
When shooting at range with this bow, for every range increment that the arrow must fly, the arrow deals one less die of damage. Once the damage is down to three dice it doesn't decrease any farther.
It takes 8 AP to fire this bow, and no move actions may be completed in the same round. This bow has an Armor Penalty of -2, normally reserved for shields and armor. This penalty applies even when the bow is only being carried on the back and not wielded. Because of these limitations, it is a favorite weapon of cavalry archers - it has no effect on ride checks.
Far Shot increases the range increment of this bow to 150 feet instead of the normal benefits, giving it a maximum range of 1500 feet.
Manyshot may not be applied to this bow.
Characters hit by this bow within the first range increment must make an opposed strength check against the wielder of the bow or fall Prone. This includes characters who block the arrow with a shield check. Bonuses against tripping apply to this check.
A great composite longbow must be dried for six months before use - if it does not, it takes 1 point of damage every time it is fired, bypassing hardness. If a great composite longbow is ever submerged in water, it takes 1d6 damage each round (bypassing hardness). Heavy rain deals 1d4 per round if it is out in the open. This is a result of the glue being dissolved. Naturally, it may be kept in an oilskin to prevent this.
