Note that if you want to make a "crossbower" you should download the Kaedrin Hak and take Crossbow Sniper.2.103.239.34 20:58, August 17, 2012 (UTC) Kaedrin, isn't a cure for Munchkinism
In terms of the Notes section, could somebody unpack that whole "lower item level requirement" thing? I'm not understanding it at all, nor why crossbows somehow have an advantage with item property adds. 199.82.243.103 21:03, July 17, 2014 (UTC)Happycrow
Neither do I and some is conjecture, so I will relocate the original notes to this talk page. Ragimund (talk)
Note: Although the heavy crossbow's size is medium, even medium sized characters must keep their off-hand free to reload it. Crossbows can only fire three bolts per round maximum and it requires both Rapid Reload, and Rapid Shot (doesn't work on crossbows without rapid reload). However all crossbows have the lowest value (determines the Item Level Requirement) jump when adding Massive Criticals and a 17-20 critical threat range (better crit range than bows) with the appropriate Improved Critical feat.
Crossbows only have a x2 crit multiplier, while bows have a x3 crit multiplier the reduced Massive Critical cost in terms of Item Level Requirement more than makes up for this fact. Furthermore a character with 26+ BAB will fire these three shots at the highest AB of their six attacks, slightly offsetting (with better accuracy, higher base damage, and better criticals) the rate of fire superiority on regular bows versus high AC enemies which those three extra attacks are very unlikely to hit at all.
Some helpful information that should have been copied across from NWN
"A crossbow's damage is unaffected by its wielder's strength unless given an explicit mighty property, so characters with less than 10 strength will not have a damage penalty when wielding most crossbows."
However official NWN2 Campaigns do not have Mighty Crossbows
Although the character sheet may display the normal strength modifiers, the crossbow damage will not be affected by the wielders strength in game. This allows characters with less than 10 strength to benefit using crossbows while the normal number of attacks are still low. Even though thrown weapons or bows have a minimum of 1 damage regardless of strength penalties, some lower strength characters may only have an average damage of 1 while switching to heavy crossbows brings 5.5 damage on average.
Suggested for characters with less than 10 strength and limited attacks per round. Enlarge Person is also useful with +3 damage to ranged weapons and Many Shot.
Investing in rapid reload and rapid shot for low level characters? needs further investigation, will strength remain below 10 and attacks less than 3. Ragimund (talk) 11:08, May 9, 2019 (UTC) Its an investment for 2 Feats to get 2 attacks but its possible at 2BAB to have 2 attacks with crossbow, each doing 1d10. Then considering Manyshot is available a bit later, it's potentially very effective ranged damage.