All Tangled Up -- Nets and Bolas [Archive] - Wizards Community

All Tangled Up -- Nets and Bolas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
R2
03-27-06, 01:16 PM Okay, they're no Spiked Chain. They're not even a Whip, for what you get out of your Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat. But certainly there are ways to maximize the way to use those bolas. All a net does is mimic a second-level Wizard spell, but eh, maybe there are some good strategies there, too.

At least it doesn't explicitly say under the description of Bolas or Barbed Bolas that you're not allowed to apply the effects of Improved Trip (the related feats are specifically disallowed for the Ranged Pin and Ranged Disarm feats, for instance). With Weapon Focus and Point Blank Shot, you'd get +2 on a touch attack, then +4 from Improved Trip to wrap up their legs and knock them prone. The downside is that it's not in melee combat, so you don't get your free attack when your victim hits the dirt.

Does anyone else have any ideas? Or are bolas and nets just a huge waste of time, effort, and feat slots?
Aufenshauft
03-27-06, 01:48 PM I could see Bolas getting some good use by a trick thrower. Trip them at range, and give your charger damage dealer even more reason to power attack.

Nets don't remove your dex bonus, which is a shame in my mind, since I would think it would be a cinch to SA someone in a net. It may function to help in grapples, though, since they get penalties to attacks. I have always liked the idea of a tough SA grapple rogue myself.

In general, though, they don't need proficiency. By the time you are going to be using them instead of helping out in the front lines, you are making touch attacks against rather low ACs of heavy fighters that need to be brought down a few notches to weaken them. The -4 will likely be negligable in the end. A buffed up strength is neccessary to do tripping against anyone, though. I would suggest the Axethrower feat from PgtF so you can just use the one stat for trips. Monks are the only classes you might have problems against really.
UMiskatonic
03-27-06, 02:31 PM I've never seen a use for EWP: bola. Since you are making a touch attack, you will generally hit. This is especially true if you are a great big fighter, the very guy who is most likely to trip the opponent.

Overall, if you are trying to inconvenience a foe, or prevent an escape, or deal with super-high AC, I think you do just as well with a tanglefoot bag, and it's not much more expensive.

You CAN sneak attack with a bola, which is very satisfying when it works, and it's a ton of fun as a spell-storing weapon, or when it's been silenced.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
R2 03-27-06, 01:16 PM	Okay, they're no Spiked Chain. They're not even a Whip, for what you get out of your Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat. But certainly there are ways to maximize the way to use those bolas. All a net does is mimic a second-level Wizard spell, but eh, maybe there are some good strategies there, too. At least it doesn't explicitly say under the description of Bolas or Barbed Bolas that you're not allowed to apply the effects of Improved Trip (the related feats are specifically disallowed for the Ranged Pin and Ranged Disarm feats, for instance). With Weapon Focus and Point Blank Shot, you'd get +2 on a touch attack, then +4 from Improved Trip to wrap up their legs and knock them prone. The downside is that it's not in melee combat, so you don't get your free attack when your victim hits the dirt. Does anyone else have any ideas? Or are bolas and nets just a huge waste of time, effort, and feat slots?
Aufenshauft 03-27-06, 01:48 PM	I could see Bolas getting some good use by a trick thrower. Trip them at range, and give your charger damage dealer even more reason to power attack. Nets don't remove your dex bonus, which is a shame in my mind, since I would think it would be a cinch to SA someone in a net. It may function to help in grapples, though, since they get penalties to attacks. I have always liked the idea of a tough SA grapple rogue myself. In general, though, they don't need proficiency. By the time you are going to be using them instead of helping out in the front lines, you are making touch attacks against rather low ACs of heavy fighters that need to be brought down a few notches to weaken them. The -4 will likely be negligable in the end. A buffed up strength is neccessary to do tripping against anyone, though. I would suggest the Axethrower feat from PgtF so you can just use the one stat for trips. Monks are the only classes you might have problems against really.
UMiskatonic 03-27-06, 02:31 PM	I've never seen a use for EWP: bola. Since you are making a touch attack, you will generally hit. This is especially true if you are a great big fighter, the very guy who is most likely to trip the opponent. Overall, if you are trying to inconvenience a foe, or prevent an escape, or deal with super-high AC, I think you do just as well with a tanglefoot bag, and it's not much more expensive. You CAN sneak attack with a bola, which is very satisfying when it works, and it's a ton of fun as a spell-storing weapon, or when it's been silenced.