Odds Bodkins

You might have noticed that bows give a disappointing performance against a fairly common form of armor, DR 4 medium scale.

That's when you use a bodkin.

This is the original armor piercing round.

It changes damage from impaling to piercing with an armor divisor of 2.

Longbow, $200, 1d+1(2) pi, 180/240; 2-7 raw, 0-5 penetrates, 0-5 damage (average of 2)

Regular Bow, $100, 1d(2) pi, 180/240; 1-6 raw, 0-4 penetrates, 0-4 damage (average of 1)

Short Bow, $50, 1d-1(2) pi, 180/240; 0-5 raw, 0-3 penetrates, 0-3 damage (average of 0)

Reflex Bow, $900, 1d+2(2) pi, 240/300; 3-8 raw, 0-6 penetrates, 0-6 damage (average of 3)

Straight Composite Bow, $600, 1d+1(2) pi, 180/240; 2-7 raw, 0-5 penetrates, 0-5 damage (average of 2)

It should also be mentioned that, despite the average damage seeming to do nothing, players have won fights with these weapons against this level of armor.

It just takes a while. 

Of note: Stone arrow heads have an armor divisor of (0.5) and you can't make a bodkin tip with it.

Longbow, $200, 1d+1(0.5) imp, 180/240; 2-7 raw, 0 penetrates, 0 damage (average of 0)

Regular Bow, $100, 1d(0.5) imp, 180/240; 1-6 raw, 0 penetrates, 0 damage (average of 0)

Short Bow, $50, 1d-1(0.5) imp, 180/240; 0-5 raw, 0 penetrates, 0 damage (average of 0)

Cro-Magnon Man will have a rough day against Smedley.