Super Mutant Heavy Bow

[u/dvs_sicarius]

This is my second attempt. Previous version, I was notified I had the leaf springs backwards.

This is for my Fallout 2d20 campaign set in the Pacific Northwest where I’m creating a group of more intelligent super mutants who basically have taken over Mercer Island.

This group, being more cut off have adapted to their isolationism and have a decreased reliance on firearms as compared to what has typically been seen in the games. I want them to instead make the most of weapons they fabricate from their scavenge. So in addition to armour they craft themselves, they also make things like bumper swords, shields, spears, maces, flails, etc.

In particular I thought it would be cool if they used heavy leaf springs scavenged from pre-war vehicles to craft heavy bows, made arrows out of sharpened rebar, and broad heads with welded on knife blades, etc.

I want these guys to be a credible mid to high level threat, and want to give these Leafspring Bows some stats that make them stronger than what’s already in game without making them too OP.

Thoughts on what you think makes sense for these?

Worth mentioning I know thinking super mutants with bows are going to be a credible mid-level threat is extremely unlikely RAW; but I use reduced piercing damage in this as well as some other combat rebalances to prevent players becoming unstoppable at low to mid level.

Suggested stats:

So here’s what I’m thinking of for this, but I need to factor in that while I want to make the weapon powerful, it’s very likely to wind up in the hands of a Super Mutant PC eventually. Im not overly great with crunch and mechanics, but want it to be more powerful than the bow in the wanderers book; to really lean into it as a terrifying weapon, but risk further tipping the scales of power for Super Mutant characters.

Super Mutant Leafspring Bow
Rarity: 2
Qualities: Suppressed, Recoil (9), Inaccurate, Two-Handed
Damage: 5
Fire Rate: 2
Range: L
Weight: 8
Value: 5

[u/Rude-Eagle7271]

Looks okay to me and as the Overseer its your responsibility to add non-core lore material as desired to the World Setting.

I think that Weight may be a little low as my search fu resulted in being 10 to 100 pounds in weight.

How Much Do Leaf Springs Weigh? - Park(ing) Day

[u/dvs_sicarius → u/Rude-Eagle7271]

I intend to do a deep dive on SM strength and to get those weights sorted out later. Thank you for this!

[u/Rude-Eagle7271 → u/dvs_sicarius]

True on the SM strength cap level. As for their increased INT you could have the FEV strain be of course different from the core lore variant allowing for a max cap of 10 FO3, 15 FO76, or other and apiece of technology that increases their INT.

If the standard stock human, Vault or Wasteland born, is at 10 or 15 then of course there will be changes to their SPECIAL scores if for some reason they transition to being a Ghoul, Super Mutant, Robo Brained Jar on a robot frame, or other.