Anyone got an Opinion on Repeating Crossbows [Archive] - Wizards Community

Anyone got an Opinion on Repeating Crossbows [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Red_Rabbit
07-28-06, 03:33 AM Never used them or seen them in a game? Anyone know if they are worth using? Pretty much was looking at it just wanna know if it's worth taking Repeating Crossbow or a Regular Crossbow.

The Rabbit
Pindar
07-28-06, 04:09 AM If you aren't going to be a heavy hitting melee fighter then it's a great weapon.

Heavy repeating crossbow + rapid fire and point blank shot at 1st level.

Thats three feats but a human fighter can start out with them.

High level fighters with enchanted bows can dish a out a lots of shots for decent damage.
tarkin
07-28-06, 11:13 AM It is only worthwhile if you have a low strength.

Then it worth the proficiency feat.

Otherwise, just get a composite long bow.
WayneTheGame
07-28-06, 11:40 AM Not worth the feat slot. Hell, it shouldn't even require one IMO. Luckily my DM created a "Double Crossbow" that lets you fire two shots out of it at -2 penalty as a martial weapon, it just costs a nice bit more.
WolfHati
07-28-06, 03:31 PM They're good for sniping at range, because the weilder can fire while prone. Unfortunately, mass range battles don't occur that often in the course of a normal adventure. Or maybe that's just because the whole party has to be decent at it for that to work... too often the barbarian/melee dude just wants to charge in there without softening up the enemy a little.
Prince Indirian
07-28-06, 06:13 PM They are too weak for the price you pay. A compsite longbow is superior in almost all ways.
I would make them martial weapons and increase the clip to 10 bolts or so.
Dheran
07-28-06, 07:34 PM I used a heavy repeating crossbow under 3.0 because it didn't cost my character a feat. The AD&D 2 -> D&D 3 conversion rules stated that if you used a kit to create your character and the kit gave you a weapon, you got the proficiency without a feat. I'd used the Assassin kit from Complete Thief's Handbook, which gave proficiency in all weapons, and set my character up as a crossbow-wielding missile slayer.

With no feat cost the heavy repeating crossbow is an excellent weapon. Fire 5 times, doing significant damage, before having to drop it and switch weapons.

Since this was no longer grandfathered when converting the same character to 3.5 rules, I gave up the heavy repeating crossbow (although I did briefly consider taking the exotic weapon proficiency feat as the "free" feat I gained in place of Ambidexterity). I'd only recommend taking it for a character with
signficantly low Strength
high rate of fire (BAB 11+)
need to do a lot of damage in a hurry

For characters with Strength of 12+ a composite bow is a superior choice because the Strength bonus to damage makes up for the smaller damage die. Those with low Strength (where you'd need a special weak bow and incur a damage penalty on every hit), or proficiency only with simple weapons, are better off with a regular crossbow. It's the same cost (1 feat) to get Rapid Reload as to get Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Heavy Repeating Crossbow), and the former lets you choose either a regular crossbow (fire at full BAB) or heavy crossbow (do more damage). You'd only want to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Heavy Repeating Crossbow) if you're sure the extra range and/or damage is going to make the difference between victory and defeat within 5 shots.
Thane26425
07-28-06, 08:19 PM I've seen a reproduction based on the original Chinese design fired. It works rather differently from the representation shown in the PHB. It was not what you would call and adventurer's weapon nor very powerful. Instead, it was meant to be used in a large unit with poisoned bolts. The idea was basically the same as the modern machine gun: to lay down a lot of fire very quickly with a weapon that didn't take years to learn how to use.

However, they weren't too reliable. The mechanics of the system were fairly simple but prone to failure.

I would agree with those on here who say to go with a composite bow, if you have the strength to use one. If not, take one of the regular crossbows with the rapid reload feat.
Vegepygmy
07-29-06, 01:32 AM Not worth the feat slot. Hell, it shouldn't even require one IMO.I agree. Repeating crossbows should be simple weapons. So should hand crossbows, for that matter.
pres_man
07-29-06, 01:45 AM For light crossbows, you should take the rapid reload feat.

For heavy crossbows, the EWP for the repeater is a better choice.
Prince Indirian
07-29-06, 12:46 PM I agree. Repeating crossbows should be simple weapons. So should hand crossbows, for that matter.

Personlly that's taking it a bit too far. Although agree that the hand crossbow should be simple weapon...it's to damn weak...
Kamikaze Chicken
07-29-06, 04:28 PM What about the new feat in PHBII Crossbow sniper which adds some dex to ranged damage with a crossbow?

How do you think this feats stacks up in this conversation?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Red_Rabbit 07-28-06, 03:33 AM	Never used them or seen them in a game? Anyone know if they are worth using? Pretty much was looking at it just wanna know if it's worth taking Repeating Crossbow or a Regular Crossbow. The Rabbit
Pindar 07-28-06, 04:09 AM	If you aren't going to be a heavy hitting melee fighter then it's a great weapon. Heavy repeating crossbow + rapid fire and point blank shot at 1st level. Thats three feats but a human fighter can start out with them. High level fighters with enchanted bows can dish a out a lots of shots for decent damage.
tarkin 07-28-06, 11:13 AM	It is only worthwhile if you have a low strength. Then it worth the proficiency feat. Otherwise, just get a composite long bow.
WayneTheGame 07-28-06, 11:40 AM	Not worth the feat slot. Hell, it shouldn't even require one IMO. Luckily my DM created a "Double Crossbow" that lets you fire two shots out of it at -2 penalty as a martial weapon, it just costs a nice bit more.
WolfHati 07-28-06, 03:31 PM	They're good for sniping at range, because the weilder can fire while prone. Unfortunately, mass range battles don't occur that often in the course of a normal adventure. Or maybe that's just because the whole party has to be decent at it for that to work... too often the barbarian/melee dude just wants to charge in there without softening up the enemy a little.
Prince Indirian 07-28-06, 06:13 PM	They are too weak for the price you pay. A compsite longbow is superior in almost all ways. I would make them martial weapons and increase the clip to 10 bolts or so.
Dheran 07-28-06, 07:34 PM	I used a heavy repeating crossbow under 3.0 because it didn't cost my character a feat. The AD&D 2 -> D&D 3 conversion rules stated that if you used a kit to create your character and the kit gave you a weapon, you got the proficiency without a feat. I'd used the Assassin kit from Complete Thief's Handbook, which gave proficiency in all weapons, and set my character up as a crossbow-wielding missile slayer. With no feat cost the heavy repeating crossbow is an excellent weapon. Fire 5 times, doing significant damage, before having to drop it and switch weapons. Since this was no longer grandfathered when converting the same character to 3.5 rules, I gave up the heavy repeating crossbow (although I did briefly consider taking the exotic weapon proficiency feat as the "free" feat I gained in place of Ambidexterity). I'd only recommend taking it for a character with signficantly low Strength high rate of fire (BAB 11+) need to do a lot of damage in a hurry For characters with Strength of 12+ a composite bow is a superior choice because the Strength bonus to damage makes up for the smaller damage die. Those with low Strength (where you'd need a special weak bow and incur a damage penalty on every hit), or proficiency only with simple weapons, are better off with a regular crossbow. It's the same cost (1 feat) to get Rapid Reload as to get Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Heavy Repeating Crossbow), and the former lets you choose either a regular crossbow (fire at full BAB) or heavy crossbow (do more damage). You'd only want to take Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Heavy Repeating Crossbow) if you're sure the extra range and/or damage is going to make the difference between victory and defeat within 5 shots.
Thane26425 07-28-06, 08:19 PM	I've seen a reproduction based on the original Chinese design fired. It works rather differently from the representation shown in the PHB. It was not what you would call and adventurer's weapon nor very powerful. Instead, it was meant to be used in a large unit with poisoned bolts. The idea was basically the same as the modern machine gun: to lay down a lot of fire very quickly with a weapon that didn't take years to learn how to use. However, they weren't too reliable. The mechanics of the system were fairly simple but prone to failure. I would agree with those on here who say to go with a composite bow, if you have the strength to use one. If not, take one of the regular crossbows with the rapid reload feat.
Vegepygmy 07-29-06, 01:32 AM	Not worth the feat slot. Hell, it shouldn't even require one IMO.I agree. Repeating crossbows should be simple weapons. So should hand crossbows, for that matter.
pres_man 07-29-06, 01:45 AM	For light crossbows, you should take the rapid reload feat. For heavy crossbows, the EWP for the repeater is a better choice.
Prince Indirian 07-29-06, 12:46 PM	I agree. Repeating crossbows should be simple weapons. So should hand crossbows, for that matter. Personlly that's taking it a bit too far. Although agree that the hand crossbow should be simple weapon...it's to damn weak...
Kamikaze Chicken 07-29-06, 04:28 PM	What about the new feat in PHBII Crossbow sniper which adds some dex to ranged damage with a crossbow? How do you think this feats stacks up in this conversation?