Barreled crossbow [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barreled crossbow [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
HomebrewedMonster
03-08-05, 04:02 PM I am currently creating a homebrewed campaign and the goblins (replaced the gnomes) have small gadgets and various little mechanical items. One of their inventions is the barreled crossbow.

Crossbow, barreled: This crossbow looks like similar to the standard crossbow, except where the bolt is placed is an enclosed chamber with a barrel attatchment that feeds the crossbow. With a series of counter wieghts and pullies the crossbow can "auto-****" itself. Anyone proficient with a barreled crossbow treats the crossbow as a bow for purposes of firing ammunition (so it is a free action to load). Even though the goblins would claim this weapon is full proof, it is not. If you roll a natural 1 while using a barreled crossbow it becomes jammed, you must spend a full-round action to clear the chamber before you can use it to shoot again. A auto feeder holds 20 arrows and takes a full-round action to change out a auto feeder.

Damage (S) (M) Critical Range Increment Wt. Type
Crossbow, barreled: 1d6 1d8 x3 120ft. 12lbs. Pericing

It requires an exotic weapon proficiency. I changed the critical over to represent that its shot power is more like a bow than a crossbow.

The question that I have is what do you think the price should be on this item? I was thinking 500-600 gold piece range.

If you need a better visual...
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002KVUKM.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Ogre4Hire
03-08-05, 04:27 PM So it's basically just a Light Repeating Crossbow with a different threat/crit?
Mirror, Mirror
03-08-05, 04:34 PM Cost it as a masterwork repeating crossbow.

As an aside, a repeating heavy crossbow that magically auto-reloads each round yould be a much better weapon.
HomebrewedMonster
03-08-05, 04:46 PM So it's basically just a Light Repeating Crossbow with a different threat/crit?

And a larger clip.

Cost it as a masterwork repeating crossbow.

As an aside, a repeating heavy crossbow that magically auto-reloads each round yould be a much better weapon.

Its a low magic world, so this is the better weapon.
Watchman
03-08-05, 05:51 PM Going steampunk, huh ?

...and just because I can't resist... so what the fig cocks the thing between shots ? That was always the big issue with real crossbows, after all..
princelian
03-08-05, 06:26 PM A simpler and less expensive solution to the crossbow's slow reload rates is the over-under crossbow as seen in the movie Ladyhawk. Captain Nevar (sp) is a great example of the high-level fighter in a world of men-at-arms (1ED terminology; sorry, I date back that far).

The Van Helsing-esque weapon you've described would require:

A) A tremendous technological base from which to build it. It must have dozens of machined parts that would require tolerances down to millimeters.

B) A TREMENDOUS!!! source of energy to **** the weapon between shots. Adamantium springs wound for days before battle, maybe?
HomebrewedMonster
03-08-05, 07:52 PM Going steampunk, huh ?

...and just because I can't resist... so what the fig cocks the thing between shots ? That was always the big issue with real crossbows, after all..

A little bit, some steam elements will be in the world.

Ok, well after watching Van Helsing I have come to this conclusions. It was not a mechanic reload. It seem to be more of a conpressed air crossbow of some sort, but I do not want to go that high tech.

So, I am thinking that the goblins have invented an alchemical process that creates pressure within the bolt chamber that pushes the bolts out. The chemicals would be built into the bolt cyclinders, and act kind of like a revolver. Have a hammer strike the chamber and release the pressure that has built up in each small bolt case.

This will make a couple of changes, one it will decrease the range increment. I think drop it down to 75ft., right under a light crossbow.
LeadMagnet
03-08-05, 08:21 PM A little bit, some steam elements will be in the world.

Ok, well after watching Van Helsing I have come to this conclusions. It was not a mechanic reload. It seem to be more of a conpressed air crossbow of some sort, but I do not want to go that high tech.

Perhaps install a pump type mechanism in the stock that takes a few rounds to pump pressure into the ammo cylinder. This would need to be done every time you reload. That way it will balance what could otherwise end up as an uber weapon.

As a side, why does the word load (l o a d) become **** in the above posts? Bit of an over kill isn’t it?
WunderGoat
03-08-05, 09:50 PM Because the word is not load.

I played withthis sort of stuff before, but I used a wound spring with a geared up repeating light crossbow. Took forever to reload, becuase the spring portion needed to be replaced along with a new clip. Also had the ability to empty its clip, but that had issues of its own (-1 cumulative per shot, treated like a multishot, so only one sneak attack) and was damned expensive for the device itself and for each spring-clip powersource.
HomebrewedMonster
03-08-05, 10:38 PM Well thanks to those with helpful responses. I am going to take it to the game table and talk with my group about the weapon.
Donach Baldirk
03-26-05, 11:39 PM its ridiculous to be banned from saying that word(im assuming that that is what comes up as ****) really we are mostly mature here right?... He, he, he...****
Fril
03-27-05, 10:12 AM Maybe make it like a Pump Shotgun. Pull back on a lever, and it cocks the weapon and loads the bolt.
2IDdoc
03-27-05, 11:13 AM The idea of the projectile it'self having the propellant inside like a rocket, as mentioned before is kinda cool. Heckler & Koch developed a rifle called the g11 that used caseless ammunition to fire its bullets. If the projectile from this crossbow had a chemical propellant the exhaust created could cause the bolt to slide back and chamber a new projectile like a modern fire arm. That means the projectiles would probably not be able to be made of wood, they couldn't handle the pressure and or heat. If this reaction makes heat as a byproduct, does your crossbow auto loader get hot with repeated use? Could it get so hot that it starts "cooking off" rounds automatically until it is empty? How expensive and or time consuming would it be to produce the projectiles? Are the components exotic? If the user gets wet, would the projectiles still function?
Another question, why use a barrel at all if you are just using the force of the bowstring? That doesn't make any sense to me. The whole purpose of a barrel is to contain and direct pressure and a projectile, and optionally to rifle it. An arrow or bolt already rifles itself because of its fletching. With a string powered system, the barrel would just cause more friction, decreasing range, and velocity with no added benifit that I can see.
Interesting concept. Fun to think about.
Oh, and on a side note, after reading your post, California, New York, and Illinois are proposing legislation to ban your new weapon. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
HomebrewedMonster 03-08-05, 04:02 PM	I am currently creating a homebrewed campaign and the goblins (replaced the gnomes) have small gadgets and various little mechanical items. One of their inventions is the barreled crossbow. Crossbow, barreled: This crossbow looks like similar to the standard crossbow, except where the bolt is placed is an enclosed chamber with a barrel attatchment that feeds the crossbow. With a series of counter wieghts and pullies the crossbow can "auto-****" itself. Anyone proficient with a barreled crossbow treats the crossbow as a bow for purposes of firing ammunition (so it is a free action to load). Even though the goblins would claim this weapon is full proof, it is not. If you roll a natural 1 while using a barreled crossbow it becomes jammed, you must spend a full-round action to clear the chamber before you can use it to shoot again. A auto feeder holds 20 arrows and takes a full-round action to change out a auto feeder. Damage (S) (M) Critical Range Increment Wt. Type Crossbow, barreled: 1d6 1d8 x3 120ft. 12lbs. Pericing It requires an exotic weapon proficiency. I changed the critical over to represent that its shot power is more like a bow than a crossbow. The question that I have is what do you think the price should be on this item? I was thinking 500-600 gold piece range. If you need a better visual... http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002KVUKM.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Ogre4Hire 03-08-05, 04:27 PM	So it's basically just a Light Repeating Crossbow with a different threat/crit?
Mirror, Mirror 03-08-05, 04:34 PM	Cost it as a masterwork repeating crossbow. As an aside, a repeating heavy crossbow that magically auto-reloads each round yould be a much better weapon.
HomebrewedMonster 03-08-05, 04:46 PM	So it's basically just a Light Repeating Crossbow with a different threat/crit? And a larger clip. Cost it as a masterwork repeating crossbow. As an aside, a repeating heavy crossbow that magically auto-reloads each round yould be a much better weapon. Its a low magic world, so this is the better weapon.
Watchman 03-08-05, 05:51 PM	Going steampunk, huh ? ...and just because I can't resist... so what the fig cocks the thing between shots ? That was always the big issue with real crossbows, after all..
princelian 03-08-05, 06:26 PM	A simpler and less expensive solution to the crossbow's slow reload rates is the over-under crossbow as seen in the movie Ladyhawk. Captain Nevar (sp) is a great example of the high-level fighter in a world of men-at-arms (1ED terminology; sorry, I date back that far). The Van Helsing-esque weapon you've described would require: A) A tremendous technological base from which to build it. It must have dozens of machined parts that would require tolerances down to millimeters. B) A TREMENDOUS!!! source of energy to **** the weapon between shots. Adamantium springs wound for days before battle, maybe?
HomebrewedMonster 03-08-05, 07:52 PM	Going steampunk, huh ? ...and just because I can't resist... so what the fig cocks the thing between shots ? That was always the big issue with real crossbows, after all.. A little bit, some steam elements will be in the world. Ok, well after watching Van Helsing I have come to this conclusions. It was not a mechanic reload. It seem to be more of a conpressed air crossbow of some sort, but I do not want to go that high tech. So, I am thinking that the goblins have invented an alchemical process that creates pressure within the bolt chamber that pushes the bolts out. The chemicals would be built into the bolt cyclinders, and act kind of like a revolver. Have a hammer strike the chamber and release the pressure that has built up in each small bolt case. This will make a couple of changes, one it will decrease the range increment. I think drop it down to 75ft., right under a light crossbow.
LeadMagnet 03-08-05, 08:21 PM	A little bit, some steam elements will be in the world. Ok, well after watching Van Helsing I have come to this conclusions. It was not a mechanic reload. It seem to be more of a conpressed air crossbow of some sort, but I do not want to go that high tech. Perhaps install a pump type mechanism in the stock that takes a few rounds to pump pressure into the ammo cylinder. This would need to be done every time you reload. That way it will balance what could otherwise end up as an uber weapon. As a side, why does the word load (l o a d) become **** in the above posts? Bit of an over kill isn’t it?
WunderGoat 03-08-05, 09:50 PM	Because the word is not load. I played withthis sort of stuff before, but I used a wound spring with a geared up repeating light crossbow. Took forever to reload, becuase the spring portion needed to be replaced along with a new clip. Also had the ability to empty its clip, but that had issues of its own (-1 cumulative per shot, treated like a multishot, so only one sneak attack) and was damned expensive for the device itself and for each spring-clip powersource.
HomebrewedMonster 03-08-05, 10:38 PM	Well thanks to those with helpful responses. I am going to take it to the game table and talk with my group about the weapon.
Donach Baldirk 03-26-05, 11:39 PM	its ridiculous to be banned from saying that word(im assuming that that is what comes up as **) really we are mostly mature here right?... He, he, he...**
Fril 03-27-05, 10:12 AM	Maybe make it like a Pump Shotgun. Pull back on a lever, and it cocks the weapon and loads the bolt.
2IDdoc 03-27-05, 11:13 AM	The idea of the projectile it'self having the propellant inside like a rocket, as mentioned before is kinda cool. Heckler & Koch developed a rifle called the g11 that used caseless ammunition to fire its bullets. If the projectile from this crossbow had a chemical propellant the exhaust created could cause the bolt to slide back and chamber a new projectile like a modern fire arm. That means the projectiles would probably not be able to be made of wood, they couldn't handle the pressure and or heat. If this reaction makes heat as a byproduct, does your crossbow auto loader get hot with repeated use? Could it get so hot that it starts "cooking off" rounds automatically until it is empty? How expensive and or time consuming would it be to produce the projectiles? Are the components exotic? If the user gets wet, would the projectiles still function? Another question, why use a barrel at all if you are just using the force of the bowstring? That doesn't make any sense to me. The whole purpose of a barrel is to contain and direct pressure and a projectile, and optionally to rifle it. An arrow or bolt already rifles itself because of its fletching. With a string powered system, the barrel would just cause more friction, decreasing range, and velocity with no added benifit that I can see. Interesting concept. Fun to think about. Oh, and on a side note, after reading your post, California, New York, and Illinois are proposing legislation to ban your new weapon. ;)