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In the SR4 rulebook 20th Anniversary edition, Bows damage assisted as (STR min+2)p yet later on, in the rulebook it says to calculate the base damage as the lowest of the bow and arrow rating.

To clarify, this is the relavent text:

Bows have minimum strength ratings that indicate the minimum Strength a character must have to use that weapon....The weapon's minimum Strength rating is also used to determine the weapon's range and damage. Material science limits high-tech bows to a maximum strength rating of 8. Calculate base damage using the lower value of the bow rating and arrow rotting.

Now, that leaves me scratching my head. Is that to say the bow damage is (STR min+2+rating)p? Or is through damage listed in the table for a rating 2 bow? That would make the bow damage (STR min+rating)p where rating is the minimum of the bow and arrow rating?

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That is to say that the your DV is a minimum of (arrow rating, bow base DV).

Bow base DV is confusing. First, STR min = bow rating. Second, it was listed in different printings as (STR min) + 2P and as (STR min)P; I personally go with the former. Third, rating is capped at 8 (or at 6 during chargen). Fourth, total bow damage (net hits included) is capped at 1.5xrating (don't remember a source on this one, though; I personally don't use this rule anyway).

So, the base DV of a bow shot is a minimum of (arrow rating, bow rating + 2)P.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I've seen people saying that before, but i can't trace down where it says that in my rules version, the 20th anniversary edition. Could you give me page numbers? \$\endgroup\$
    – AncientSwordRage
    May 16, 2013 at 15:10
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Pureferret Well, p315 in the Bows table. Damage is (STR Min +2)P, and STR Min = Rating. \$\endgroup\$
    – Cristol.GdM
    May 16, 2013 at 16:50
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Pureferret the same page, description of the bow, says "Bows have minimum Strength ratings, ...". 1.5*rating cap is said to be mentioned in German printing of Arsenal (not necessarily first) or in the errata for it (along with the ratings for arrows), but I don't have access to German books. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jeor Mattan
    May 16, 2013 at 21:04
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Pureferret Yup, STR Rating = STR Min = Rating in that description, it is a bit awkward now that I think about it. As for the 1.5*rating cap, it is mentioned on p315-316 of 20th Anniversary Edition. \$\endgroup\$
    – Cristol.GdM
    May 17, 2013 at 5:07
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Pureferret as I said, 20th Anniversary Edition. After verification, yup, nothing about a damage cap in the "basic" book \$\endgroup\$
    – Cristol.GdM
    May 17, 2013 at 13:16

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