This skill enhances a archer's ability with a bow. The archer's rank with this skill cannot exceed his rank with his bow.
Bow specialists and double specialists can learn this skill at a reduced EXP Multiple. Bow specialists have a multiple of 250 while bow double specialists have a multiple of 225.
Bonus to Initiative
Starting at rank 2, the master bowman gains a +1 to their initiative every 3 ranks (ranks 2, 5, 8, etc.) with his specialized bow(s).
Bonus to Damage
Starting at rank 3, the master bowman gains a +1 to damage every 3 ranks (rank 3, 6, 9, etc.) with his specialized weapon(s).
Reduced Range Penalties
Each rank with this skill reduces range penalties by 3%.
Reduced Movement Penalties
Each rank with this skill reduces movement penalties by 2%. For example, if the attacker is running and shooting at a target who is also running, the archer would normally be at -20 to hit. However, if he was rank 5 in this skill, that penalty would only be -10.
Reduced Chance of Hitting an Ally When Firing Into Melee
For each rank with this skill, the archer adds 2 to his roll to determine whether he hits friend or foe when firing into melee combat. At rank 10, the chance of hitting an ally in melee is equal to the number of allies (i.e., if 2 allies are fighting an opponent, a 1 or 2 means that attack goes against the ally, if 3 allies are fighting an opponent, a 1, 2 or 3 means that the attack goes against an ally).
At rank 12, an attack only hits an ally on a natural 1 regardless of how many allies are fighting an opponent.
Increased Chance of Critical and Grievous
At rank 10, the chance of a critical hit occuring is increased by +1 (i.e., normally a modified SC of 90 indicates that a 5 or less is a grievous and a 14 or less is a crit - at rank 10, the chance of a crit is 15 instead of 14). At rank 12, this improves to +2 for crit and +1 for grievous.
When a grievous is indicated, it is actually only a 20% chance of a grievous actually occurring for an arrow. Each rank with this skill improves that chance by 3%. Thus, at rank 5, the chance of a grievous actually occuring is 35%.
Double Shots
At rank 10 with this ability, the archer can fire 2 arrows at once doubling the damage that he does in melee. Doing this takes a little bit longer than firing a single arrow so he must lose one of his attacks for the round and suffers a -2 to all initiative rolls. Thus, if he could normally fire 3 arrows a round, he could instead fire twice per round but each shot would be two arrows. Note that each arrow is applied to Protection separately. The bowman rolls a single initiative, but a separate attack and damage roll for each arrow of the double shot.
Double shots are best suited for point blank range. At longer distances, they incur a penalty to strike chance of -1 per foot beyond point blank range.
Double shots are also not advised when shooting into melee. A roll must be made for each arrow of the double shot and the chance of hitting an ally is increased by 10 for each arrow.
Double shots cannot be used when bowman is in melee combat.
A character cannot develop skill in more than one "master" skill. For example, if someone has Master Bowman skill, they cannot develop Master Defender or Master of Thrown Weapons skill. |