Post/Author/DateTime	Post
armnaxis 07-04-05, 10:27 AM	Hi I need your expertise... I thought I have seen that somewhere, sometime, but can't find it now that I need it: Is there a chance of buying / crafting / creating crossbow bolts that make bludgeoning (maybe a die step less) damage? E.g. bludgeoning bolts that make 1d6 (b) instead of 1d8 (p) or such? I figure them as tiny little fists. Right in your face! Thanks
NeueRegel 07-04-05, 11:10 AM	They existed historically. They were called birdbolts or bird-bolts or burbolts. I suppose a google on Shakespeare might turn something up, there's a scene/story about them. The point was, the ammunition didn't blow up the target beyond the ability to find the pieces... Somebody else can work out the mechanics ;) Neue
Vahenir 07-04-05, 02:49 PM	Depends on the game. Do you regularly come across creatures with DR/Bludgeoning? If not: Just make the crossbow bolts Bludgeoning and up the price by like 1sp per bolt. If so: Drop the damage one step, increase the price by 2sp per bolt. In either case, you may want to consider lowering the Crossbow's effective range as well, since a 'blunt' quarrel isn't going to go as far as an aerodynamic one.
Rulebook 07-04-05, 07:10 PM	they have bludgeoning damage arrows in Races of the Wild, they could easily be converted into crossbow bolts. they use a bulbous metal head that drops the range drastically. there's also target arrows that have no heads, but i think they do nonlethal damage
Xeviat-DM 07-05-05, 12:11 AM	Blunt ranged weapons like a bolt or an arrow don't make sense to me; subdual is fine though. A rubber head is going to deal subdual, a flat head is just going to not fly as far but will still pierce at close enough range. Musket balls were round after all.
RavenDrake 07-05-05, 04:54 AM	Blunt Arrows were actually fairly rare, but Blunt Crossbow bolts were much more common. They were used against chainmail and lighter armours(especially) since they delivered a blunt blow at high speeds it was like shooting a mace at an opponent, and they dealt strong crushing damage. I'd drop the damage by at least one step, give them a -2 to hit or shorter Range incriment(since they are un-aerodynamic) but give them a crit range of 19-20/x2 since they don't puncuture deeply, but have a greater chance to deal a potentially telling blow even through armour.
Ztyx 07-05-05, 05:07 AM	I'd halve range, lower damage to that of a gauntlet of the same size and change crit to 20/x2 just like a fist or gauntlet. Giving a blanket -2 to hit might convince me to up damage one notch, as might making them exotic (-4 to hit unless you buy a feat).
armnaxis 07-05-05, 05:23 AM	I will propose them to my DM as follows: - Range increment halved - Damage lowered by one step - base price 1gp each (custom made after all) - Craft (metalworking) DC 16 - usually made from iron (shaft) and lead (head), but may work fine if adamantine I'll see what he's up to. Thanks!
Vahenir 07-05-05, 02:48 PM	Iron shaft? That quarrel isn't going anywhere. The shaft of the quarrel should be wooden. A crossbow quarrel's shaft is already very thick and heavy (by comparison to arrows), so adding a weighted, blunt tip is all you need to deal bludgeoning or nonlethal damage. It'll keep the quarrel from travelling TOO far, but making the entire thing out of metal would effectively ruin it's ability to go anywhere, at which time it's worthless.