An Effective way to Dual Wield Crossbows [Archive] - Wizards Community

An Effective way to Dual Wield Crossbows [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xevron
07-05-06, 09:02 PM A while ago I saw a post on how to build a crossbower to rival an archer. The general consensus was that the only advantage a crossbower had is that a crossbow only takes 1 hand to fire.

The problem that was never really solved (at least when I last saw the thread) was how to reload. There were various impractical schemes (like carrying 30 loaded crossbows and using Quick Draw), or having 4 arms, but none of these are particularly appealing.

While considering some wand/weapon holding issues for my artificer, I came up with an interesting idea.

Gloves of Storing:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#gloveofStoring

Most importantly:
Storing or retrieving the item is a free action.

This means you can store and retrieve the same item as many times in a round as you like (up to DM discretion of course). So if you have the Rapid reload feat, you could dual-wield light or hand-crossbows.

Your sequence is kinda funny:
Fire Right-hand
Fire Left-hand
Store the left one (free action)
reload the right one (free action)
store the right one (free action)
retrieve the left one (free action)
load the left one (free action)
retrieve the right one (free action)
continue firing sequence.

But then you could get ALL of your iterative attacks, and you only need 2 crossbows, so you can enchant them with impunity.

As a side bonus, you can keep your bows in your gloves at all times, so you never look armed but you're always ready to fight. (Free Quick Draw esssentially)
Sikyanakotik
07-05-06, 09:31 PM From what I can see, the only problem with this is the expense; each glove costs 10,000 gp, and twenty thousand is hardly chump change. Other than that, it seems to work out just fine.

Unfortunately this won't work to let you use a crossbow with a heavy shield, since the latter is mounted on the forearm as opposed to merely held in the hand; while it could be stored, I doubt the DM would allow it to return readied.
BloodSpill
07-05-06, 09:47 PM I can hear the entire character optimisation board smacking their heads against their hands because they hadn't thought of it first.

Well done!
skydragonknight
07-05-06, 09:58 PM Bigby's Helpful Hands. Two of them. Take one level of Sorceror(or wizard if your Int bonus is at least 2 higher than your Cha bonus) and have the hands reload it for you. Take the Practiced Spellcaster feat to have the hands around for hours.

But seriously, what's the cost/enhancement to make unlimited ammunition? Your DM would have to be very nice to allow you that many free actions. Such DMs exist, but not many.

Someone has to be Asmodeus's Advocate. :cheer::devil::cheer:
BloodSpill
07-05-06, 10:16 PM QUIVER OF ANARIEL! (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/lonedrowstats) :D

except modified to carry bolts.

28,000gp.
ck2001wendt
07-05-06, 11:06 PM Quick Loading enhancement (+2), Arms and Equipment Guide. 100-bolt extra-dimensional space. Free action to reload.
GaffeR
07-06-06, 12:48 AM Quick Loading enhancement (+2), Arms and Equipment Guide. 100-bolt extra-dimensional space. Free action to reload.
Word.
Zheon
07-06-06, 01:48 AM :eek: wow.. i might start a thread: 1001 uses for a glove of storing as a tribute to this. congrats.
LiamDeclan
07-06-06, 05:05 AM You guys all know who Monte Cook is right?
Well in a couple of his Books of Eldritch Might he created a spell that is a 0 level cantrip that creates a bolt, arrow or sling stone. This missle will disappear after a minute or so.

In another of his books he created a magic ring (has almost the same name as the spell) that when worn and every time you pull back the string on your bow it created a arrow already nocked and ready to fire. This ring costs 2000gp.

So right there is your unlimited bolt supply for your combo.

I even made a conceptual character about a month ago that was a dual hand crossbow wielding master. I used 2 items to do this. The ring (mentioned above) with an extra enchantment on it called Ghostly Reload (from Races of the Dragon). So having the Ghostly Reload on it as well means that once I pulled the string back to get the system started the ring created a bolt & nocked it ready to fire. After I fired it just once it would draw back again and reload. Getting 2 rings with those 2 spells on it and 2 hand crossbows and your making about 6 attacks per round as a 12th level fighter without rapid shot.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xevron 07-05-06, 09:02 PM	A while ago I saw a post on how to build a crossbower to rival an archer. The general consensus was that the only advantage a crossbower had is that a crossbow only takes 1 hand to fire. The problem that was never really solved (at least when I last saw the thread) was how to reload. There were various impractical schemes (like carrying 30 loaded crossbows and using Quick Draw), or having 4 arms, but none of these are particularly appealing. While considering some wand/weapon holding issues for my artificer, I came up with an interesting idea. Gloves of Storing: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#gloveofStoring Most importantly: Storing or retrieving the item is a free action. This means you can store and retrieve the same item as many times in a round as you like (up to DM discretion of course). So if you have the Rapid reload feat, you could dual-wield light or hand-crossbows. Your sequence is kinda funny: Fire Right-hand Fire Left-hand Store the left one (free action) reload the right one (free action) store the right one (free action) retrieve the left one (free action) load the left one (free action) retrieve the right one (free action) continue firing sequence. But then you could get ALL of your iterative attacks, and you only need 2 crossbows, so you can enchant them with impunity. As a side bonus, you can keep your bows in your gloves at all times, so you never look armed but you're always ready to fight. (Free Quick Draw esssentially)
Sikyanakotik 07-05-06, 09:31 PM	From what I can see, the only problem with this is the expense; each glove costs 10,000 gp, and twenty thousand is hardly chump change. Other than that, it seems to work out just fine. Unfortunately this won't work to let you use a crossbow with a heavy shield, since the latter is mounted on the forearm as opposed to merely held in the hand; while it could be stored, I doubt the DM would allow it to return readied.
BloodSpill 07-05-06, 09:47 PM	I can hear the entire character optimisation board smacking their heads against their hands because they hadn't thought of it first. Well done!
skydragonknight 07-05-06, 09:58 PM	Bigby's Helpful Hands. Two of them. Take one level of Sorceror(or wizard if your Int bonus is at least 2 higher than your Cha bonus) and have the hands reload it for you. Take the Practiced Spellcaster feat to have the hands around for hours. But seriously, what's the cost/enhancement to make unlimited ammunition? Your DM would have to be very nice to allow you that many free actions. Such DMs exist, but not many. Someone has to be Asmodeus's Advocate. :cheer::devil::cheer:
BloodSpill 07-05-06, 10:16 PM	QUIVER OF ANARIEL! (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/lonedrowstats) :D except modified to carry bolts. 28,000gp.
ck2001wendt 07-05-06, 11:06 PM	Quick Loading enhancement (+2), Arms and Equipment Guide. 100-bolt extra-dimensional space. Free action to reload.
GaffeR 07-06-06, 12:48 AM	Quick Loading enhancement (+2), Arms and Equipment Guide. 100-bolt extra-dimensional space. Free action to reload. Word.
Zheon 07-06-06, 01:48 AM	:eek: wow.. i might start a thread: 1001 uses for a glove of storing as a tribute to this. congrats.
LiamDeclan 07-06-06, 05:05 AM	You guys all know who Monte Cook is right? Well in a couple of his Books of Eldritch Might he created a spell that is a 0 level cantrip that creates a bolt, arrow or sling stone. This missle will disappear after a minute or so. In another of his books he created a magic ring (has almost the same name as the spell) that when worn and every time you pull back the string on your bow it created a arrow already nocked and ready to fire. This ring costs 2000gp. So right there is your unlimited bolt supply for your combo. I even made a conceptual character about a month ago that was a dual hand crossbow wielding master. I used 2 items to do this. The ring (mentioned above) with an extra enchantment on it called Ghostly Reload (from Races of the Dragon). So having the Ghostly Reload on it as well means that once I pulled the string back to get the system started the ring created a bolt & nocked it ready to fire. After I fired it just once it would draw back again and reload. Getting 2 rings with those 2 spells on it and 2 hand crossbows and your making about 6 attacks per round as a 12th level fighter without rapid shot.