Improvised Ammunition rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Improvised Ammunition rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Prator_the_Legendary
09-29-07, 08:07 PM What happens when you fire something from a projectile weapon that is not normally meant to be launched from that projectile weapon? Does the range or accuracy change? What would the damage be for improvised ordnance?

Possible Examples:
1. Immovable Rod (Deactivated) from a crossbow?
2. Alchemist's Fire bottle from a sling?
3. Live halfling from a catapult?
StevenO
09-29-07, 08:25 PM DMs choice. Generally speaking you'll be taking at least a -4 (or is it -5)penalty for using an improvised weapon in all cases.

1. A crossbow would have a hard time firing anything accurately besides bolts. Rods are generally too big to fire from crossbow. I may allow arrows with only a slight attack penalty and a reduction in damage die from a normal bolt. Crossbow bolts will generally be impossible to use in a bow.

2. Halve range increment and limit max range to five instead of ten.

3. I'd say the halfling takes 1d6 dmg for each 10' thrown (max 20d6). I'd treat the halfling as shot type ammuntion except that it only damages a target with a direct hit instead of striking an area.
mvincent
10-01-07, 12:58 PM What happens when you fire something from a projectile weapon that is not normally meant to be launched fromThe standard D&D rules for improvised weapons is -4 to hit. In regard to range, halving it (but to no less than 10' increments) would be a reasonable house-rule.
Prator_the_Legendary
10-04-07, 07:56 PM 3. I'd say the halfling takes 1d6 dmg for each 10' thrown (max 20d6). I'd treat the halfling as shot type ammuntion except that it only damages a target with a direct hit instead of striking an area.
Okay, but how much damage does it deal to whatever it hits?
Ace_of_time
10-05-07, 05:32 PM I don't know if falling objects matters if it is a live person or not. The damage should be the same for the halfling unless he has Feather fall or some kind of slow falling thing.

You could reduce the size of the rod with magic and it might work but I don't know if that is in the rules or not. If not tieing a short peice of rope to the rod first should work. You would still reduce range.

The have Alchemist's Fire arrows and bolts already so a bullet should be that far of a stretch. Make it a glass ball with a bullet in side. Half range and it does 1d4 extra damge. Might be easier and cheapier to make a flaming sling.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Prator_the_Legendary 09-29-07, 08:07 PM	What happens when you fire something from a projectile weapon that is not normally meant to be launched from that projectile weapon? Does the range or accuracy change? What would the damage be for improvised ordnance? Possible Examples: 1. Immovable Rod (Deactivated) from a crossbow? 2. Alchemist's Fire bottle from a sling? 3. Live halfling from a catapult?
StevenO 09-29-07, 08:25 PM	DMs choice. Generally speaking you'll be taking at least a -4 (or is it -5)penalty for using an improvised weapon in all cases. 1. A crossbow would have a hard time firing anything accurately besides bolts. Rods are generally too big to fire from crossbow. I may allow arrows with only a slight attack penalty and a reduction in damage die from a normal bolt. Crossbow bolts will generally be impossible to use in a bow. 2. Halve range increment and limit max range to five instead of ten. 3. I'd say the halfling takes 1d6 dmg for each 10' thrown (max 20d6). I'd treat the halfling as shot type ammuntion except that it only damages a target with a direct hit instead of striking an area.
mvincent 10-01-07, 12:58 PM	What happens when you fire something from a projectile weapon that is not normally meant to be launched fromThe standard D&D rules for improvised weapons is -4 to hit. In regard to range, halving it (but to no less than 10' increments) would be a reasonable house-rule.
Prator_the_Legendary 10-04-07, 07:56 PM	3. I'd say the halfling takes 1d6 dmg for each 10' thrown (max 20d6). I'd treat the halfling as shot type ammuntion except that it only damages a target with a direct hit instead of striking an area. Okay, but how much damage does it deal to whatever it hits?
Ace_of_time 10-05-07, 05:32 PM	I don't know if falling objects matters if it is a live person or not. The damage should be the same for the halfling unless he has Feather fall or some kind of slow falling thing. You could reduce the size of the rod with magic and it might work but I don't know if that is in the rules or not. If not tieing a short peice of rope to the rod first should work. You would still reduce range. The have Alchemist's Fire arrows and bolts already so a bullet should be that far of a stretch. Make it a glass ball with a bullet in side. Half range and it does 1d4 extra damge. Might be easier and cheapier to make a flaming sling.