Bow

A bow is a two-handed muscle-powered projectile weapon used to shoot arrows at a distant target. Bows come in a variety of different sizes and can be made wood, horn, or bone. Composite bows are made of thin layers of these materials laminated together for extra strength. Often the price of a bow is greater than the price of a sword, and there is the added cost of arrows to be used as ammunition.

Elves esteem the art of archery and are proficient with long and short bows and the composite versions of each. Rangers are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and can choose archery as a combat style. Rogues are proficient with the shortbow but not the longbow because it is not easy to conceal or carry while moving stealthily.

Bows in the Realms
Bows generally fall into one of two classifications: the shortbow, as the name implies, is smaller with correspondingly less range and penetration than the longbow. The strength of the archer can increase range and damage but the bow must be built to withstand the higher forces and this increases the cost dramatically. Composite bows are necessary to take full advantage of great strength.

One of the biggest problems facing any archer is deciding what to do when a foe gets within melee reach. Elf bowyers craft bows that can stand up to melee combat. Thanks to elven ingenuity, these weapons work just as well as melee weapons as they do as ranged weapons. An elven bow is thicker and heavier than a normal bow.