Bolas? [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Bolas? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tjuk
07-12-07, 03:05 PM I've been reading in the 3.5 PHB , and i found out that the Bolas has small damage 1d33, and if it's a medium weapon 1d43. Are there even dice for that, and it does make sence for me that they would probably hert someone but why so much? and is this even true, or is it just a typo?

Really confused about it hope someone can come up with a answer:)
RobbyPants
07-12-07, 03:29 PM Typo. It should be 1d3 and 1d4.
Boukyaku
07-12-07, 03:33 PM Thats retarded. I think the bola should just be the same thing as the scimitar, except with bludgeoning damage. What pg # is the bola on?
RobbyPants
07-12-07, 03:46 PM Thats retarded. I think the bola should just be the same thing as the scimitar, except with bludgeoning damage. What pg # is the bola on?
Scimitar? Are we thinking of the same thing?

scimitar
http://www.weaponsemporium.com/WE-Scimitar.jpg

bolas
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/figures/fig12-7.gif

How are they the same??? :confused:

BTW, bolas are in the Complete Warrior, in the very back (don't remember the page #).
Shadowfax7
07-12-07, 03:46 PM It's not so much a "typo" as it is the wrong size. The "3" after 1d3 and 1d4 should be a smaller size representing footnote #3.
Sul_Zain_Aserbet
07-12-07, 06:30 PM hmmmm. If a person took this literally... then the bola is a mighty weapon indeed! These typos pop up from time to time.

For example: Anybody with a AD&D second edition monster's manual might want to look up how much damage a giant cyclopse does with his rock. He is the most deadly monster in the book.
Pallin Rahl
07-12-07, 06:43 PM I've been reading in the 3.5 PHB , and i found out that the Bolas has small damage 1d33, and if it's a medium weapon 1d43. Are there even dice for that, and it does make sence for me that they would probably hert someone but why so much? and is this even true, or is it just a typo?

Really confused about it hope someone can come up with a answer:)

Silly Tjuk, only Katanas do 1d43 dmg.

;)
dknight100
07-12-07, 07:12 PM man, that would be so cool if bolas did that. i can picture it now:

lawful monk: "theif, stop there!"
*theif keeps running, gets bolas, head asplodes*
monk: 0.o "oh good lord... i just meant to tangle his feet up... why does this happen every time i use my bolas..."
InkBlot
07-13-07, 12:20 AM BTW, bolas are in the Complete Warrior, in the very back (don't remember the page #).
No, bolas are in the Player's Handbook.

Barbed bolas are in Complete Warrior (page 154 and 155).
Tjuk
07-13-07, 07:05 AM PHb page 117, anyways thanks for the comments on that one needed that, was starting to make a nice fighter, with alot of weird stuff like profincies with bolas and nets and stuff like that, never actually had a good look at them, but since i've been wielding the spiked chain I've been obsessed by new small weapons which can be very helpfull to myself, but also to my party members.

cheers :)
Lawkeeper
07-13-07, 09:10 AM Proficiency with the bolas or net is entirely optional. They require touch attacks, so the -4 to the attack roll soon proves irrelevant due to the low touch AC of most viable targets. Do it in the first round while the opponent is still flat-footed, and it's also lose its Dex bonus, making it even easier to hit...
RobbyPants
07-13-07, 09:49 AM No, bolas are in the Player's Handbook.

Barbed bolas are in Complete Warrior (page 154 and 155).
:eek: what am I thining about?

Were they not core in 3.0? I have a feeling that I'm remembering them as a weapon from The Sword & The Fist, and translated that to 3.5's Complete Warror. That, or I'm just stupid.

The second option takes less explanation. :P

hmmmm. If a person took this literally... then the bola is a mighty weapon indeed! These typos pop up from time to time.

For example: Anybody with a AD&D second edition monster's manual might want to look up how much damage a giant cyclopse does with his rock. He is the most deadly monster in the book.
This reminds me of the 6th commandment in the Ten Commandments for Practical Optimization (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=592166). :P
Dalthbar
07-13-07, 09:56 AM The point in using bolas has nothing to do with damage. It has to do with their ability to make a ranged trip attack.

Since it's ranged, the target can't try to trip you back and since it's ranged, you don't suffer an AoO if you're non-proficient.

The bola was primarily used for either entangling larger creatures so you could then get an easy shot on it or stunning/killing smaller critters. A bola, even with it's small base damage, would still get your strength mod to damage - which should be able to kill small game without much difficulty.

I think that it's modeled in the PHB fairly well given it's primary uses IRL.
RobbyPants
07-13-07, 09:59 AM The point in using bolas has nothing to do with damage. It has to do with their ability to make a ranged trip attack.
The only reason it was brought up was due to the typo. People probably woudn't waste time on trip attacks if the weapon did 1d43 damage! ;)
Dalthbar
07-13-07, 10:07 AM Oh, forgot to point out that the bola damage is nonlethal - so even though it may "look like a lot", the fact that it's nonlethal is a huge differentiator there.

And keep in mind that many bolas had rocks as their weights - so a few rocks spinning around through the air and clocking you somewhere at the same time will definitely do some damage.
NobodyRemembersThis
07-13-07, 10:56 AM Hmm.....I wonder if you could make the bola completely out of metal - maybe a set of non-bar manacles...... :plotting:
Wolf72
07-13-07, 12:00 PM Robby, there was a dragon magazine article that detailed bolas when it was still 3.0

(edit: dragon mag 275, exotic weapons)
Kursk
07-13-07, 03:21 PM - so a few rocks spinning around through the air and clocking you somewhere at the same time will definitely do some damage.

And in that case not trip you.
Dalthbar
07-13-07, 03:52 PM A well-thrown bola will hit you at it's center-point. Each rope will then wrap around you (the trip action) and then you get hit with the weights as the length shortens due to the wrapping. If the bola has heavy weight, that's when it does damage.

I don't see why it needs to be "one or the other" since that's not how it works IRL.
Kursk
07-13-07, 03:59 PM A well-thrown bola will hit you at it's center-point. Each rope will then wrap around you (the trip action) and then you get hit with the weights as the length shortens due to the wrapping. If the bola has heavy weight, that's when it does damage.

I don't see why it needs to be "one or the other" since that's not how it works IRL.

Bolas are small. If tripping (legs) the damage is too small to list. Certainly, not able to kill you, (1D4 could kill a commoner)
Dalthbar
07-13-07, 04:01 PM Since it's nonlethal damage, I guess it wouldn't kill a commoner.
Kursk
07-13-07, 04:02 PM Since it's nonlethal damage, I guess it wouldn't kill a commoner.

Or knock him out...
Dalthbar
07-13-07, 04:05 PM Um, sure it would.

Per the SRD: "When your nonlethal damage exceeds your current hit points, you fall unconscious. While unconscious, you are helpless."
Kursk
07-13-07, 04:10 PM Um, sure it would.

Per the SRD: "When your nonlethal damage exceeds your current hit points, you fall unconscious. While unconscious, you are helpless."

Not getting my point. If is wrapping around someones legs (to trip) it's not going to do this much.
Dalthbar
07-13-07, 04:14 PM What if it wraps around the torso of someone running away? If you were in a full sprint, you'd probably fall, and take damage as it hits you. Same thing if it was up around your neck.

Either way, the rules aren't really built for conditional damage. A weapon does a listed amount of damage. Some weapons have additional abilities.

This is one of those weapons.

While you may be able to come up with edge cases where it might not do too much damage when someone's tripped, there's just as many cases where more damage (or lethal damage) would be done.
Kursk
07-13-07, 04:15 PM What if it wraps around the torso of someone running away? If you were in a full sprint, you'd probably fall, and take damage as it hits you. Same thing if it was up around your neck.

I'm fine with that. It wouldn't trip n that case.
Lawkeeper
07-13-07, 04:46 PM Tripping doesn't necessarily aim the legs. The objective of a trip attempt is to unbalance the foe - and you're definitely able to do that without even being close from the legs of your opponent. Especially when the opponent is running.
Kursk
07-13-07, 04:48 PM Tripping doesn't necessarily aim the legs. The objective of a trip attempt is to unbalance the foe - and you're definitely able to do that without even being close from the legs of your opponent. Especially when the opponent is running.

Really? I though you were trying to "trip" them. A small bola hitting me in the mid-section isn't going to accomplish this.
Lawkeeper
07-13-07, 05:32 PM Then, you don't picture acurately the intricacies of a human body's equilibrium.;)
Kursk
07-13-07, 05:42 PM Then, you don't picture acurately the intricacies of a human body's equilibrium.;)

Well, if a 200 lbs. safety can't do it... No need for me to picture it ;)
Twylyght
07-13-07, 06:36 PM Actually I can see in some cases the arms, and certainly the head being bola-ed taking someone to the ground.

The arms are a kind of long shot, but the sudden change in balance at full stride, can be enough to disrupt balance. Specifically if they catch part of the torso with it.

The head is very doable. Its not a "trip" as traditionally thought, but if you take someone moving at a run and suddenly shift their head, they will fall down. Its the "clothesline" effect, the head changes direction and the center of gravity tries not to. Comedy ensues. Ever see the video clip where the runing kid gets hit in the head by the full court basketball shot? 100%? nah, but thats what the to-hit and the opposed rolls determine.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tjuk 07-12-07, 03:05 PM	I've been reading in the 3.5 PHB , and i found out that the Bolas has small damage 1d33, and if it's a medium weapon 1d43. Are there even dice for that, and it does make sence for me that they would probably hert someone but why so much? and is this even true, or is it just a typo? Really confused about it hope someone can come up with a answer:)
RobbyPants 07-12-07, 03:29 PM	Typo. It should be 1d3 and 1d4.
Boukyaku 07-12-07, 03:33 PM	Thats retarded. I think the bola should just be the same thing as the scimitar, except with bludgeoning damage. What pg # is the bola on?
RobbyPants 07-12-07, 03:46 PM	Thats retarded. I think the bola should just be the same thing as the scimitar, except with bludgeoning damage. What pg # is the bola on? Scimitar? Are we thinking of the same thing? scimitar http://www.weaponsemporium.com/WE-Scimitar.jpg bolas http://www.wilderness-survival.net/figures/fig12-7.gif How are they the same??? :confused: BTW, bolas are in the Complete Warrior, in the very back (don't remember the page #).
Shadowfax7 07-12-07, 03:46 PM	It's not so much a "typo" as it is the wrong size. The "3" after 1d3 and 1d4 should be a smaller size representing footnote #3.
Sul_Zain_Aserbet 07-12-07, 06:30 PM	hmmmm. If a person took this literally... then the bola is a mighty weapon indeed! These typos pop up from time to time. For example: Anybody with a AD&D second edition monster's manual might want to look up how much damage a giant cyclopse does with his rock. He is the most deadly monster in the book.
Pallin Rahl 07-12-07, 06:43 PM	I've been reading in the 3.5 PHB , and i found out that the Bolas has small damage 1d33, and if it's a medium weapon 1d43. Are there even dice for that, and it does make sence for me that they would probably hert someone but why so much? and is this even true, or is it just a typo? Really confused about it hope someone can come up with a answer:) Silly Tjuk, only Katanas do 1d43 dmg. ;)
dknight100 07-12-07, 07:12 PM	man, that would be so cool if bolas did that. i can picture it now: lawful monk: "theif, stop there!" theif keeps running, gets bolas, head asplodes monk: 0.o "oh good lord... i just meant to tangle his feet up... why does this happen every time i use my bolas..."
InkBlot 07-13-07, 12:20 AM	BTW, bolas are in the Complete Warrior, in the very back (don't remember the page #). No, bolas are in the Player's Handbook. Barbed bolas are in Complete Warrior (page 154 and 155).
Tjuk 07-13-07, 07:05 AM	PHb page 117, anyways thanks for the comments on that one needed that, was starting to make a nice fighter, with alot of weird stuff like profincies with bolas and nets and stuff like that, never actually had a good look at them, but since i've been wielding the spiked chain I've been obsessed by new small weapons which can be very helpfull to myself, but also to my party members. cheers :)
Lawkeeper 07-13-07, 09:10 AM	Proficiency with the bolas or net is entirely optional. They require touch attacks, so the -4 to the attack roll soon proves irrelevant due to the low touch AC of most viable targets. Do it in the first round while the opponent is still flat-footed, and it's also lose its Dex bonus, making it even easier to hit...
RobbyPants 07-13-07, 09:49 AM	No, bolas are in the Player's Handbook. Barbed bolas are in Complete Warrior (page 154 and 155). :eek: what am I thining about? Were they not core in 3.0? I have a feeling that I'm remembering them as a weapon from The Sword & The Fist, and translated that to 3.5's Complete Warror. That, or I'm just stupid. The second option takes less explanation. :P hmmmm. If a person took this literally... then the bola is a mighty weapon indeed! These typos pop up from time to time. For example: Anybody with a AD&D second edition monster's manual might want to look up how much damage a giant cyclopse does with his rock. He is the most deadly monster in the book. This reminds me of the 6th commandment in the Ten Commandments for Practical Optimization (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=592166). :P
Dalthbar 07-13-07, 09:56 AM	The point in using bolas has nothing to do with damage. It has to do with their ability to make a ranged trip attack. Since it's ranged, the target can't try to trip you back and since it's ranged, you don't suffer an AoO if you're non-proficient. The bola was primarily used for either entangling larger creatures so you could then get an easy shot on it or stunning/killing smaller critters. A bola, even with it's small base damage, would still get your strength mod to damage - which should be able to kill small game without much difficulty. I think that it's modeled in the PHB fairly well given it's primary uses IRL.
RobbyPants 07-13-07, 09:59 AM	The point in using bolas has nothing to do with damage. It has to do with their ability to make a ranged trip attack. The only reason it was brought up was due to the typo. People probably woudn't waste time on trip attacks if the weapon did 1d43 damage! ;)
Dalthbar 07-13-07, 10:07 AM	Oh, forgot to point out that the bola damage is nonlethal - so even though it may "look like a lot", the fact that it's nonlethal is a huge differentiator there. And keep in mind that many bolas had rocks as their weights - so a few rocks spinning around through the air and clocking you somewhere at the same time will definitely do some damage.
NobodyRemembersThis 07-13-07, 10:56 AM	Hmm.....I wonder if you could make the bola completely out of metal - maybe a set of non-bar manacles...... :plotting:
Wolf72 07-13-07, 12:00 PM	Robby, there was a dragon magazine article that detailed bolas when it was still 3.0 (edit: dragon mag 275, exotic weapons)
Kursk 07-13-07, 03:21 PM	- so a few rocks spinning around through the air and clocking you somewhere at the same time will definitely do some damage. And in that case not trip you.
Dalthbar 07-13-07, 03:52 PM	A well-thrown bola will hit you at it's center-point. Each rope will then wrap around you (the trip action) and then you get hit with the weights as the length shortens due to the wrapping. If the bola has heavy weight, that's when it does damage. I don't see why it needs to be "one or the other" since that's not how it works IRL.
Kursk 07-13-07, 03:59 PM	A well-thrown bola will hit you at it's center-point. Each rope will then wrap around you (the trip action) and then you get hit with the weights as the length shortens due to the wrapping. If the bola has heavy weight, that's when it does damage. I don't see why it needs to be "one or the other" since that's not how it works IRL. Bolas are small. If tripping (legs) the damage is too small to list. Certainly, not able to kill you, (1D4 could kill a commoner)
Dalthbar 07-13-07, 04:01 PM	Since it's nonlethal damage, I guess it wouldn't kill a commoner.
Kursk 07-13-07, 04:02 PM	Since it's nonlethal damage, I guess it wouldn't kill a commoner. Or knock him out...
Dalthbar 07-13-07, 04:05 PM	Um, sure it would. Per the SRD: "When your nonlethal damage exceeds your current hit points, you fall unconscious. While unconscious, you are helpless."
Kursk 07-13-07, 04:10 PM	Um, sure it would. Per the SRD: "When your nonlethal damage exceeds your current hit points, you fall unconscious. While unconscious, you are helpless." Not getting my point. If is wrapping around someones legs (to trip) it's not going to do this much.
Dalthbar 07-13-07, 04:14 PM	What if it wraps around the torso of someone running away? If you were in a full sprint, you'd probably fall, and take damage as it hits you. Same thing if it was up around your neck. Either way, the rules aren't really built for conditional damage. A weapon does a listed amount of damage. Some weapons have additional abilities. This is one of those weapons. While you may be able to come up with edge cases where it might not do too much damage when someone's tripped, there's just as many cases where more damage (or lethal damage) would be done.
Kursk 07-13-07, 04:15 PM	What if it wraps around the torso of someone running away? If you were in a full sprint, you'd probably fall, and take damage as it hits you. Same thing if it was up around your neck. I'm fine with that. It wouldn't trip n that case.
Lawkeeper 07-13-07, 04:46 PM	Tripping doesn't necessarily aim the legs. The objective of a trip attempt is to unbalance the foe - and you're definitely able to do that without even being close from the legs of your opponent. Especially when the opponent is running.
Kursk 07-13-07, 04:48 PM	Tripping doesn't necessarily aim the legs. The objective of a trip attempt is to unbalance the foe - and you're definitely able to do that without even being close from the legs of your opponent. Especially when the opponent is running. Really? I though you were trying to "trip" them. A small bola hitting me in the mid-section isn't going to accomplish this.
Lawkeeper 07-13-07, 05:32 PM	Then, you don't picture acurately the intricacies of a human body's equilibrium.;)
Kursk 07-13-07, 05:42 PM	Then, you don't picture acurately the intricacies of a human body's equilibrium.;) Well, if a 200 lbs. safety can't do it... No need for me to picture it ;)
Twylyght 07-13-07, 06:36 PM	Actually I can see in some cases the arms, and certainly the head being bola-ed taking someone to the ground. The arms are a kind of long shot, but the sudden change in balance at full stride, can be enough to disrupt balance. Specifically if they catch part of the torso with it. The head is very doable. Its not a "trip" as traditionally thought, but if you take someone moving at a run and suddenly shift their head, they will fall down. Its the "clothesline" effect, the head changes direction and the center of gravity tries not to. Comedy ensues. Ever see the video clip where the runing kid gets hit in the head by the full court basketball shot? 100%? nah, but thats what the to-hit and the opposed rolls determine.