Editing Ogre:CharacterCodex:Equipment:Weapons:Range (section)

=====Bow=====
: A bow is a weapon that shoots arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow and/or its string.

: '''Short'''

:: Other names: None

:: Short bow can be used when riding a horse.

: '''Medium'''

:: Other names: Longbow

:: Medium bow cannot be used when riding a horse.

: '''Construct'''

: '''Simple'''

:: The most simple bow construct made from a straight but flexible wood piece with a string attach to it. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a simple bow. If you have a bonus for high Strength, you cannot apply it to damage rolls when you use a simple bow.

: '''Recurve'''

:: A recurve bow is a bow that, in contrast to the simple bow, has ends that curve away from the archer when the bow is held in shooting position. The technical difference between a recurve and other bows is that when strung, the string touches the limbs of a recurve bow, and only touches the tips of other types. An unstrung recurve bow can have a confusing shape and incorrectly strung bow can be destroyed when attempts were made to fire them. The recurve shape in effect can reduce loading at full draw (let-off) and will impart more energy to the arrow than a simple bow of similar top draw force. If you have a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a recurve bow. If you have a bonus for high Strength, you cannot apply it to damage rolls when you use a recurve bow.

: '''Composite'''

:: A composite bow is made from different materials laminated together, usually applied under tension. Different materials are used so that different material properties can be taken advantage. All composite bows are made with a particular strength rating (that is, each requires a minimum Strength modifier to use with proficiency). If your Strength bonus is less than the strength rating of the composite bow, you can't effectively use it, so you take a –2 penalty on attacks with it. The default composite longbow requires a Strength modifier of +0 or higher to use with proficiency. A composite longbow can be made with a high strength rating to take advantage of an above-average Strength score; this feature allows you to add your Strength bonus to damage, up to the maximum bonus indicated for the bow.

: '''Compound'''

:: A compound bow is usually a composite recurve bow coupled with pulleys known as eccentric cams. With a traditional single string bow as the string is pulled back the tension increases, so the bow must be aimed and released quickly (else the archer's arm will tire, reducing accuracy). On release the string rapidly accelerates to its fastest and then decelerates for the rest of the string's return to stationary. Using cams reduce the load of the string and allow you to keep the bow ready for a long time. You can also use more weight than normal meaning that you use 1.5 times your strength modifier with compound bow.