Númenórean steel bows

[Yepesnopes]

It would have been cool to have one of these bows as a cultural reward for the Dunedain character option.

Any ideas on how to write down one of such hypothetical rewards?

[Otaku-sempai]

Use the rules for crafting new items in the Rivendell supplement to create such a bow as a Famous Weapon:

Companion: Any Ranger of the North
Item: Steel Bow of Númenór

Type: Great Bow
Craftmanship: Númenórean
Banes: Evil Men, Orcs
Qualities:
1. Superior Fell 2. Superior Grievous 3. Sure Shot

Notes: The ancient Númenóreans crafted hollow bows of a spring steel that were much feared by the Orcs and other evil creatures of the Second Age. Only the strongest of archers could wield this weapons, but they and their steel-tipped arrows were devastating. The secret of manufacturing these weapons was lost in the destruction of Númenór.

The standard version should not be this over-powered.

[Arthadan]

Steel bows were standard Númenorean equipment (just like the anket and eket), so I think it's a bit overpowered unless we are speaking about a magical steel bow.

For a normal one, I think I'd remove the Banes and tone down the Qualities a bit. Also keep in mind this were designed for Númenoreans so they must be really long thus I'd only allow heroes with the Tall trait (and a better-than-average Body score) to use them. Also, I'd double the Encumbrance of a normal long bow (despite being hollow, they're a huge metal piece)

[Yepesnopes]

I had in mind a steel bow will fit more as a reward instead of as a "magical" weapon.
Thing is I cannot come with anything new

[Otaku-sempai]

Weapon: Númenórean steel great bow
Damage: 9
Edge: 9
Injury: 18
Encumbrance: 3
Group: Bows
Notes: Ranged weapon.

Alternately, Númenórean Arrows appears as a Cultural Reward for Rangers of the North in the Rivendell supplement. To complement them, you could write up the Númenórean Steel Bow as a Cultural Reward--as a normal Great bow, but with an Injury of 18 due to the greater draw of the bow. I would also extend the range to half-again the normal range of a Great bow.

[Terisonen]

I would go for a similar reward as Spear of King Bladorthin:

-When you make a attack using a Numenorean Steel Bow, you roll the feat die twice and choose the best result.

[MattG]

Those Steelbows (Longbow template) dealt easier much more devastating wounds, so I would adjust damage, edge and injury rating by one level. I'd leave enc. as is, as well as the range.
It is mentioned, those bows were greatly feared by the enemies, so maybe a perk of some "fear striking" upon successful hit could be in order.

[Otaku-sempai]

Those Steelbows (Longbow template) dealt easier much more devastating wounds, so I would adjust damage, edge and injury rating by one level. I'd leave enc. as is, as well as the range.
It is mentioned, those bows were greatly feared by the enemies, so maybe a perk of some "fear striking" upon successful hit could be in order.

Okay, so that would be the same stats I used above when writing them up as a standardized weapon. How would you change that if you made it a Cultural Reward?

[MattG]

Yes, I guess I didn't get the OP's question quite right. Well, I would just consider it a Great bow, then.
Maybe like that?

Cultural Reward:
When making a ranged attack using a Steelbow, on great or extraordinary success, you automatically inflict a Piercing Blow and add your Valour or +4 to damage, whichever greater. This weapon can be paired with Numenorean Arrows.
If Numenorean Arrow was used while making Piercing Blow attack with Steelbow, additionally, all enemies with Attribute Level 7 and smaller, are automatically losing 1 Hate Point, as this devastating weapon inflicts fear in their hearts.

[Morgoth]

Hey Matt! That seems like a pretty power ability in all. I would say the ability to make a piercing blow on a great or extraordinary success would probably be plenty.

Alternatively, you could make it similar to the Bow of the North Downs only for great bows. I always assumed they got their best bows from the Númenóreans anyway.