Post/Author/DateTime	Post
greyscale1 04-22-07, 04:08 AM	My artificer wants to make a bolt that resembles a tac nuke. Im not sure if its possible, but it is essentially a use activated (impact activated) ballista bolt that casts widened explosive sunburst on arrival. So since its an 8th level spell, and I want to widen and explosive it (i forget the explosive adjustment so ill assume 2) it would be spell level 13. Caster level 15 because its the min a wizard could cast the spell. 50g*15*13 = 9750g to buy this nuclear bolt (9750*.75)/2 = 3656.25g for an artificer to create the item (with 25% cost reduction) Essentially this is a piece of siege ammo that has a 320 yard diameter explosion at the end that damages, blinds, and throws a massive amount of people around. This would hit 2048 squares. In a tightly packed medieval style army, this is doom. ESPECIALLY if its undead, fungi, oozes, or light sensitive things like drow or orcs! Now, would this work? Is this something I could actually make? Thoughts?
OnusBone 04-22-07, 08:47 AM	I am pretty sure that putting area-effect spells on a ranged weapon is a big no-no. I am not sure if this is a RAW, but there does not seem to be any precedent in either DMG or MIC. Regardless, in order to determine the correct price for a magic weapon, which a ballistae bolt is, you would have to determine the "+" of the weapon first...I am pretty sure that this would not be possible without slipping the DM $20 when WotC isn't looking :)
Warforged Goblin 04-22-07, 09:25 AM	Sadly OnusBone, this is not the case. In the Heroes of Battle book there are all types magic seige weapons. Granted, none this heinous :evillaugh but they are in there. grayscale1, it looks like you have the equivalent to Bigby's Crushing Tactical Nuke :D. Congrats
Captain_Kobold 04-22-07, 10:23 AM	I believe that the caster level for the item would be higher than 15. Unless there is some other way for a level 15 wizard to cast a level 13 spell? I'm not sure what caster level a character would be to cast a lvl 13 spell since I think things get iffy when you hit epic levels. It might be as simple as level 25. How did you determine the base cost of the item? Treat it simply as a one-shot wondrous item?
greyscale1 04-22-07, 04:19 PM	You dont necessarily have to use the caster level for the metamagic'd spell I'm relatively sure. And if you wanted to you COULD reduce the spell level to 9th with 10 levels of incantrix and arcane thesis sunburst. 15 is the min caster level for the base spell, at least. Either way, you could multiply the price x10 and countries would still buy it. Its one way war winner! Yeah, Im basing the calculation on single use wonderous item (crafting it as a piece of ammo would be a similar price if i was using craft magical arms and armor) BOOM-BABY! Just for fun, imagine this. The person hit with the bolt (is undead) takes 15d6 damage from the spell, + whatever damage the bolt does, then shoots up 160 feet, taking 16d6 damage from explosive spell, and then falling for another 16d6 damage. And they are blinded. 47d6 damage to the guy at the epicenter. FUNJAMS.:eek:
MDosantos 04-22-07, 09:28 PM	it looks like you have the equivalent to Bigby's Crushing Tactical Nuke :eek: please!! tell me you were just kidding with that one!! :plotting:
WolfHati 04-22-07, 09:46 PM	Magic items with spell levels higher than 9 are pretty darn iffy. Caster level 15 is very much on the low side for that. Also, with the way things stack in D&D, the widen spell and explosive would not multiply with each other, since I'm assuming they both double area, that would be a 240 ft radius and not a 320 ft. one. Even so, a sunburst bolt would be some pretty heavy artillery. Also pretty expensive artillery.
Cifer 04-23-07, 07:28 AM	Where is Explosive from? The problem right at the moment is that the thing can't be built by anyone normal in the setting - Spell level 13 translates into epic level, which basically leaves the Rakshasa Rajas, the Quori and the Daelkyr. Oh, and anyone with access to an eldritch machine. I'd prefer it if none of them had such a thing, although the Quori probably wouldn't use it.
Warforged Goblin 04-23-07, 11:41 AM	Where is Explosive from? Complete Arcane
korcheck 04-23-07, 04:49 PM	just something I thought of while reading this thread: imagine shooting a bolt through an army line or something with the spell greater shout on it. It wouldn't even touch people and would literally rip open gaps in an enemy line or a wall before it touched down at the end of its range. I got a picture in my head of the final battle in The Patriot with the cannon balls ripping through people as it skipped by. I don't know if its possible but the picture in my head was truly frightening to behold. can you use a cone shaped spell in that way?
Captain_Kobold 04-24-07, 07:11 AM	I imagine an instantaneous spell would have to be activated either upon firing, or when it hits, not continuously in flight. Explosive spell does not affect the radius, but instead blows targets to the edge of the area effect.
ChibiQueso 04-24-07, 08:25 AM	You know what makes explosive spell better? A bigger radius spell. More explosive fun here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=734636).
korcheck 04-24-07, 10:44 AM	I imagine an instantaneous spell would have to be activated either upon firing, or when it hits, not continuously in flight. Explosive spell does not affect the radius, but instead blows targets to the edge of the area effect. so would it work if the ballista itself was enchanted?
Cifer 04-24-07, 01:18 PM	so would it work if the ballista itself was enchanted? Not really. Since the whole thing is not a weapon enchantment, you would just have a really massive wand, meaning you'd lack the range of the ballista bolt. Oh, and you'd still need the epic caster.
korcheck 04-24-07, 04:58 PM	Well there goes my hopes and dreams for a WMD in my backyard.:D
Phalo 04-26-07, 03:22 PM	My artificer wants to make a bolt that resembles a tac nuke. Im not sure if its possible, but it is essentially a use activated (impact activated) ballista bolt that casts widened explosive sunburst on arrival. So since its an 8th level spell, and I want to widen and explosive it (i forget the explosive adjustment so ill assume 2) it would be spell level 13. Caster level 15 because its the min a wizard could cast the spell. 50g*15*13 = 9750g to buy this nuclear bolt (9750*.75)/2 = 3656.25g for an artificer to create the item (with 25% cost reduction) Essentially this is a piece of siege ammo that has a 320 yard diameter explosion at the end that damages, blinds, and throws a massive amount of people around. This would hit 2048 squares. In a tightly packed medieval style army, this is doom. ESPECIALLY if its undead, fungi, oozes, or light sensitive things like drow or orcs! Now, would this work? Is this something I could actually make? Thoughts? What you could do is take a large barrel and fill it with lamp oil(when i did this greek fire oil was still in game) cover top with a large glass disk and fill with alchemist fire(i used fire trap in older version) then with new rules tie in a contingent spell to a bead suspended in middle of barrel to cast fireball after the alchemist fire goes off. sequence of events 1. airship drops barrel 2. alchemist fire goes upon impact starts inital blast 3. fireball goes off shooting flaming oil all over figure blast radius of at least 50 ft 20 for spell + probably 30 from force ejection. grand total for spell cost of one one enchanted contingent spell and about 20 gold or you could enchant the barrel itself with fireball (a la necklace of fireballs.