RoF and attacks per round

Menthro

How does weapon specialization and mastery and so forth effect a bows or crossbows RoF? Do they fire at their set RoF at all times or what is happening with that?

TJ_Hooker

I'm 99% sure that you gain bonus attacks from specialization the same for bows/crossbows as you do for any other weapon. So an extra 1/2 an attack for 2 pips, an additional 1/2 attack at 5 pips (although I don't think it's possible to get to 5 pips without modding the XP cap).

Menthro

So if that is true, then at two pips with a longbow, which has a RoF of 2 shots a round, I would get 3 shots a round? And at five pips I would get 3.5 shots a round, getting halfway through a shot before the round ended.

Oxford_Guy

TJ_Hooker said:

I'm 99% sure that you gain bonus attacks from specialization the same for bows/crossbows as you do for any other weapon. So an extra 1/2 an attack for 2 pips, an additional 1/2 attack at 5 pips (although I don't think it's possible to get to 5 pips without modding the XP cap).

All weapons (including crossbows) also benefit from the extra attacks from fighter levels 7 and 13. There are also magic crossbows (though only light ones, I think) that add +1 APR in both BG1 and BG2.

Also in BG2 (but not BG1) magic short, long and composite bows only add their +x to THAC0, whereas crossbows add +x THAC0 *and* +x damage (as do slings and all thrown weapons), so crossbows hit harder.

In addition, in BG2 (but not BG1) neither magic bolts nor magic arrows add +x damage, but magic sling bullets do. I really hope they standardise things in BG2 and add +x damage across the board for all bows, arrows and bolts, though. As it stands bows (and crossbows, to a lesser extent) are majorly nerfed in BG2, especially as there isn't any ammo above +2 until ToB, and even then, only +3 (apart from arrows of piercing, but I'm not sure whether they actually count as +4 weapons for purposes of what they can hit, for those immune to +2/+3 damage - can anyone confirm?)

BTW throwing axes (and, I think the Dwarven thrower throwing hammer) are the *only* missile weapons (apart from one sling, and I think one composite bow, though I might be wrong there) to add the character's Strength damage bonus.

Menthro

Alright! Thanks a lot you guys.

Oxford_Guy

Menthro said:

So if that is true, then at two pips with a longbow, which has a RoF of 2 shots a round, I would get 3 shots a round?

No, you'd get 2.5 shots per round, unless you were, say, a level 7 (not 3 as I said before I corrected this) fighter (or paladin and ranger), in which case you'd get 3

Menthro said:

And at five pips I would get 3.5 shots a round, getting halfway through a shot before the round ended.

No, you'd get 3, 3.5 if a level 7 (not 3 as I said before I corrected this) fighter (or paladin and ranger).

Menthro

Ah okay, I thought an extra half attack, when applied to RoF meant half the RoF. Thanks for clarifying. But then how did I get 3.5? SMH....sometimes I surprise myself....

TJ_Hooker

Oxford_Guy said:

Menthro said:

So if that is true, then at two pips with a longbow, which has a RoF of 2 shots a round, I would get 3 shots a round?

No, you'd get 2.5 shots per round, unless you were, say, a level 3 fighter, in which case you'd get 3

Menthro said:

And at five pips I would get 3.5 shots a round, getting halfway through a shot before the round ended.

No, you'd get 3, 3.5 if a level 3 fighter etc.

@Oxford_Guy
I think you mean to say "level 7 fighter" in a couple places there, instead of "level 3 fighter".

Also, in case @Menthro doesn't know, paladins and rangers also gain extra attacks at higher levels (+1/2 at level 7, +1/2 at level 13)

Oxford_Guy

TJ_Hooker said:

Oxford_Guy said:

Menthro said:

So if that is true, then at two pips with a longbow, which has a RoF of 2 shots a round, I would get 3 shots a round?

No, you'd get 2.5 shots per round, unless you were, say, a level 3 fighter, in which case you'd get 3

Menthro said:

And at five pips I would get 3.5 shots a round, getting halfway through a shot before the round ended.

No, you'd get 3, 3.5 if a level 3 fighter etc.

@Oxford_Guy
I think you mean to say "level 7 fighter" in a couple places there, instead of "level 3 fighter".

Also, in case @Menthro doesn't know, paladins and rangers also gain extra attacks at higher levels (+1/2 at level 7, +1/2 at level 13)

Oops! Yes, you're correct, I meant level 7, level 3 just gains you a proficiency, I'll correct my original post(s)