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The Arcane Might magic weapon property from the Magic Item compendium says:

ARCANE MIGHT

Price: +1 bonus

Property: Bows (not crossbows)

Caster Level: 15th

Aura: Strong; (DC 22) transmutation

Activation: Swift (mental)

This elegant, supple bow has intricate runes carved along its length. You can channel the energy of your arcane spells through this bow to make the arrows fired from it more damaging.

As a swift action, you can sacrifice a pre-pared arcane spell from memory (or an unused spell slot if you are a spontaneous arcane caster). Doing so grants a bonus equal to the sacrificed spell’s level on the next damage roll you make with the bow that turn.

Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, greater magic weapon.

Cost to Create: Varies

Is there a balance problem with applying this property to other weapons? To crossbows? To melee weapons?

I understand that the "not crossbows" is there to prevent very low-strength casters from using this. However, this shouldn't be an issue with melee weapons. Is there any reason to discourage this?

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    \$\begingroup\$ I really am curious why they thought this would be a problem for crossbows. I get the impression they had a blanket policy of just making something underpowered if they didn't have the time/resources to balance it properly. (I even vaugely recall Mearls mentioning something about this; it was with regards to how he ignored it for the Bo9s. :) ) \$\endgroup\$
    – starwed
    Commented Jun 10, 2013 at 19:07
  • \$\begingroup\$ @starwed I'd really love to see that quote if you can find it! \$\endgroup\$
    – KRyan
    Commented Jun 10, 2013 at 19:22
  • \$\begingroup\$ @KRyan I looked, but there's a post-4e blog he did about game balance that makes googling for anything he said earlier hard to find. \$\endgroup\$
    – starwed
    Commented Jun 10, 2013 at 20:07

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The balance problem is that Arcane Might is rather weak.

Realistically, I cannot imagine any situation where I’d want to sacrifice a spell and a swift action for just +spell_level damage. It’s just not enough damage. At the cost of a +1-equivalent? Vastly overpriced.

Compare the Arcane Strike feat (Complete Warrior). It’s costlier (feats are worth more than a +1-equivalent), and it’s still not great, but you get +spell_level to attack (more valuable than damage), plus (spell_level)d4 damage (on average, 2½× what arcane might offers). And Arcane Strike is a free action.

So really, opening this up to other weapons isn’t a problem except in the sense that you’re potentially tempting more players into the trap.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I see. Didn't know that feat. Thanks for your insight! \$\endgroup\$
    – kravaros
    Commented Jun 10, 2013 at 16:31
  • \$\begingroup\$ Also, note that Arcane Might works only on a single attack. Arcane Strike works at least on all attacks for a round with one weapon (if you go by RAI as indicated by the example), and all attacks made by that character for one round (and fuelable by divine once qualified for by arcane) by RAW (since the only text limiting the effect to arcane fuel and a single weapon are fluff and the example, and if the example directly contradicts the actual rules text, then, RAW, rules text trumps example). \$\endgroup\$
    – Matthew Najmon
    Commented Sep 16, 2013 at 23:11

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